Making Heads Spin

JMU Breakdancing Cub attracts national fan base with fifth annual competition

Busting a move is about to take a crazy turn at the upcoming Circles 5 break dancing competition, which will be held March 20 from 6 p.m. to midnight, in the Sinclair Gymnasium.

Circles is the JMU Breakdancing Club's annual charity competition to benefit the Harrisonburg Boys and Girls Club, according to junior Steve Shoup, UPB director of variety entertainment. The University Program Board is aiding in organizing and promoting the event, which is in its fifth year. Circles is a national break dancing competition and convention, and will be emceed this year by veteran disc jockey, Freestyle.

The point of the occasion is not only to generate interest in the area of break dancing, but also to watch new moves learn from other groups and showcase an unusual talent to a virgin audience. "Crews that will finish at the top will always have new things to learn and that brings a lot of excitement," Shoup said.

It's all about polishing and sharpening talent. "The real fun about Circles is that, for most people, it is not your average event, you really get to see something you haven't seen before," said senior Justin Busacca, former president of the JMU Breakdancing Club.

The event will be composed of numerous elements to help whet the taste buds of a hip-hop-infused fan base. There will be a graffiti expo, an emcee battle for $100, a disc jockey exposition featuring internationally recognized DJs Geometrix and Lokee and a performance by Madison Dance Club, according to Shoup.

Graffiti artists exhibit their work on canvases 6 to 8 feet high, he said.

"This is one of the bigger competitions you'll see," Shoup said. "Last year ended in a tie and was followed by two rounds of very intense tiebreakers."

Crews, or groups of break dancers, will attend from all over the country, according to Shoup.

Circles 5 will boast many JMU groups at the event including well-known crews Air Floor Dynasty, Not The Awesome and Soup D'Jour. The night will entertain with the concoction of two battles, including a "Bonnie and Clyde Battle," which consists of one female and one male break dancer on each team.

The main event of the night will be the final battle: a four-on-four BBoy, or break dancer, battle with the reward of $2,000 to the winner.

"Circles identifies areas of the underground hip hop/BBoy scene that many people are unaware of," said sophomore John Eppes, a member of JMU's Breakdancing Club. "The showcasing of talents and intense battles will leave you breathless.

"This is what real dancing is all about," he said. "Straight up in-your-face action." Every year, attendance only has increased steadily, from only 100 people in March 2000 to over 800 people at last year's event, according to Shoup. This year, organizers are expecting over 1,000 people from all over the East Coast to compete or attend, he said.

"Last year's Circles coincided with Relay for Life and it doesn't this year, so we're hoping that will help us out," Shoup said.

All proceeds will be donated to the Harrisonburg Boys and Girls Club. Last year, the Breakdancing Club donated $5,000, according to Shoup. "Circles is one of the main reasons why the Breakdancing Club exists," said junior Geoff Troidl, president of the JMU Breakdancing Club. "It is our chance to not only throw a fun and entertaining event, but it is a chance for us to give back to the community."

The event costs $7 with a student identification, and $10 for general admission. There will be an additional $5 charge for video cameras. Doors open at 5 p.m., and battles begin at 6 p.m.