Posted on March 29, 2007
The JMU Breakdance Club is hosting Circles, one of the largest hip-hop charity events on the East Coast, for the eighth year in a row this Saturday.
“There’s really nothing out there like it,” said Breakdance Club President Raphael Villacrusis. “It really is its own event; it drives itself from when it starts to when it ends.”
Circles began in 1999 when the first Breakdance Club president wanted to find a way to raise money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society. The first Circles barely had 100 spectators, Villacrusis said.
Last year, Circles 7 had an estimated 1,500 people in attendance. The growth of Circles has allowed the Breakdance Club to donate to many causes, including the Boys and Girls Club, Mercy House, Kamp Kaleidoscope and the American Red Cross.
It’s this emphasis on charity that motivates the Breakdance Club to make Circles better each year, Villacrusis said.
“We try and help out Harrisonburg as much as they help us,” Villacrusis said. “We just try to give back what they give us.”
While Circles is intercollegiate, people of every age travel from all over the country to participate, including some professional crews. There will be three crews and approximately 15 people represented on Saturday, Villacrusis said.
“It’s sort of a surprise, but we have some big names coming out in terms of participants,” he said.
In separate competitions, breakdancers will compete in teams of four to battle for a $3,000 grand prize, or teams of one boy and one girl in the “Bonnie and Clyde” battle for a $250 prize.
Other events at Circles 8 will include an Emcee freestyle battle, a live DJ and a graffiti showcase outside Godwin Hall.
Villacrusis said that even in its eighth year, he’s not sure what to expect from Circles.
“Every year is different,” he said. “It’s organic, each year different people come out and participate.”
Senior Megan Griggs said the JMU community has a lot of respect for the Breakdance Club as performers.
“I think it’s a good thing when JMU students use their talents to help others,” she said.
Junior Stephen Santayana has attended Circles before and is looking forward to Circles 8.
“Circles is unlike any other event that I’ve attended here at JMU,” he said. “The talent that is showcased is something you wouldn’t believe unless you actually watched it.”
Circles 8 will be held in Godwin’s Sinclair Gymnasium on Saturday, and the doors open at 4 p.m. It costs $7 with JAC Card or student ID and $10 without. There will be an additional $5 charge for video cameras.
