Chances are you’ll assume him cute however his swagger is unmatched. Sporting a vivid purple beanie, a four-year-old B-boy is midway right into a clear headspin as surrounding dancers egg him on with loud cheers; fingers within the air. The vitality is infectious. At Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore on a windy, weekday night, this loud cypher (when B-boys and B-girls kind a circle round a performer) has attracted curious walkers as they gasp at each handstand, spin and freeze by Chennai’s new crop of little breakdancers.
It has been nearly 20 years since Chennai welcomed its first technology of breakdancers. The town’s public parks have been their acquainted hang-out since. At the moment, as breaking finds a renewed highlight, with the game making a debut on the 2024 Paris Olympics that formally begins on July 26, Chennai’s personal B-boys and B-girls try to reignite their neighborhood, which faltered by way of the pandemic.
Chennai’s first technology of breakdancers at Nageshwara Rao Park in Mylapore
| Picture Credit score:
Thamodharan B
One of many performative components of hip hop tradition, breaking or breakdancing emerged as a streetdance motion within the late Seventies in New York, and shortly turned a daily fixture in in style tradition. Ask any Chennai breakdancer why they do what they do and so they have a solution on the prepared. “Breakdancing is all about freedom. While you throw it down, you’re feeling that you’re breaking societal and private obstacles,” says B-girl Ra aka Ranjitha Durairaj, one of many first girls breakdancers from Chennai who has been breaking for the final 10 years. As a lady, this resonates deeply with the necessity to push boundaries, says Ra.
The town is now house to 6 formal crews who admittedly had their golden age within the late 2010s, which meant common participation in battles, cyphers and competitions across the nation
| Picture Credit score:
Thamodharan B
First brush
Chennai’s initiation into breakdancing will be largely credited to the identify Antonio ‘Anto’ George, a Malaysian B-boy who mentored younger dancers within the metropolis from the early 2000s. B-boy Black aka Thiyagu who entered the scene in 2007 says that it was Anto who first made him realise how this artform is carefully tied to non-public identification. “None of us had any concept of what hip hop was, earlier than that,” says Black.
“After I was a baby, I used to get bullied so much due to my complexion. After I began dancing, Anto insisted that I take this identify, Black and make it my identification. I used to be proud to be an ‘space boy,’ all thanks to bounce,” reminisces Black who’s a part of the All For One crew. In 2019, Black received the primary and solely Crimson Bull BC1 breakdancing championships held in Chennai.
The town is now house to 6 formal crews who admittedly had their golden age within the late 2010s, which meant common participation in battles, cyphers and competitions across the nation. Some have travelled to Korea and Malaysia to attend worldwide competitions. “Every group had a go-to park or seaside they might earmark for observe like Anna Nagar Tower Park, Natesan Park and right here. Alongside the Marina seaside, you possibly can spot a number of crews lining up earlier than the pandemic hit,” remembers Black including, “We’ve a really shut relationship with town’s parks. That is the place all of it started.”
At the moment, although the frequency of cyphers has diminished, parks proceed to be favoured stomping grounds. As an illustration, each night after 6pm, B-boy Striker aka Jagan and his crew (To Be Determined) meet close to the skating rink at Anna Nagar Tower Park for a fast jam, and common lessons. He says he belongs to the second technology of breakdancers who have been deeply impressed by the All For One crew. A lot of the dancers in his crew have a minimum of six to seven college students below them.
“Many youngsters watch us dancing within the park and are fascinated and curious to study. We began the Breakdance Academy for these kids who search for common lessons,” says the dancer. Similar goes for Arun who trains shut to twenty college students in dance and gymnastics at Mylapore.
Youngsters practising at Nageswara Rao Park, Mylapore
| Picture Credit score:
S Shiva Raj
Stand up
Although the pandemic and the resultant quick video tradition disrupted the tempo, breakers at the moment are reclaiming Chennai in additional methods than one. A current battle held on the Alliance Francaise of Madras titled Again to Circle, had 60 breakdancers from town in attendance. Director of Alliance Francaise of Madras, Patricia Thierry-Hart envisions this as an annual affair. “Subsequent yr, we plan to carry the occasion over two days, with graffiti artistes additionally in participation. France is well-known for its breaking tradition and we plan to ask worldwide breakers to take part within the battle.”
Ra is for certain that the dialog surrounding the 2024 Olympic Video games would assist the artform’s presence within the metropolis. Enquiries for normal lessons at the moment are on the rise, she says.
“Olympics will create extra alternatives for dancers to be seen. However most of them appear confused about the best way to get to a world stage, not to mention the Olympics,” says B-boy Dzee aka Dinesh from All For One who has been breaking for the final 19 years. He believes that you will need to bridge this hole by way of common cyphers and even skill-building workshops. “Whereas the scene was booming in 2015, the tradition of battles surpassed cyphers a lot in order that it pit crews in opposition to one another,” he provides. By way of month-to-month cyphers titled Unity is Key, Dzee and crew, makes an attempt to carry the main focus again to the artform. “The thought is to take Chennai and South India to the worldwide stage,” provides Black.
“For this, it’s important that dancers recognise that we fall below the identical umbrella. Solely then can we crack bigger points like sustainable careers and assist the subsequent technology of dancers in Chennai,” says Dzee. The Unity is Key initiative is a step in that course.
Again within the park, the night has simply begun. Within the span of two hours, the variety of dancers has burgeoned from three to nearly 20. It’s a celebration: as synchronised footwork, with the occasional headstands and freezes take one unexpectedly, and chart out a “rad” choreography.
“The place else do you discover neighborhood, if not right here?” Black asks. Harshitha, a 13-year previous B-girl quips, “That is why I like to bounce!”
B-boy Striker
| Picture Credit score:
particular association
