Club brings breakdancing back to IU

B-boying, better known as breakdancing, began in the Bronx, New York, in the late 1960s. Its popularity has risen and fallen throughout the decades, but recently, the growing popularity of hip- hop music is causing b-boying to make a resurgence all over the world. \nEven at IU, the craze is taking over. In 2001, senior Sion Owen and junior Julian Chunovic started a breakdancing club at IU to create a forum for people to meet and practice their dance moves.\nNow the club is looking for new members.\n"The more people you are dancing with, the better the vibe is," Chunovic said. "The more ideas people can offer you, the more fun everyone will have."\nAfter many seniors from the club graduated, a call-out meeting was recently held. About 10 people came to the call-out, including freshman Janelle Nickelson. \n"They were so laid back and cool," Nickelson said. "They said you come and do what you do, and if you want to move on they'll help you." \nAt the meeting, managers of club affairs senior Ljubomir Krispinovic and Owen taught some basic moves. At a typical meeting, held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. every Monday and Thursday in the Flame Room of McNutt Residence Hall, the floor is open to practice. Everyone in the club is at different levels and no prior dancing experience is required.\nThe club also tries to support other elements of the hip-hop culture across campus. It is involved with the Hip Hop Congress, and MC and DJ battles. Members also work to spread the awareness of hip-hop culture, Krispinovic said.\n"People forget what an integral part of hip-hop breaking is," Chunovic said. "It's not just the music and records, it's graffing and b-boys too."\nThe origin of breakdancing competitions dates back to 1969 when the Zulu Kings was formed, consisting mainly of gang members. The members used dance battles to settle disputes rather than using physical violence. \nWhile battles are not held to settle gang disputes now, b-boys across the United States still attend the competitions. The IU club has participated in various competitions in Chicago and Dayton, Ohio. Krispinovic recently competed in "Who Got Skillz" in Indiana.\n"The whole b-boying culture gets in the circle and you show what you've got," Krispinovic said. "It doesn't even matter how good you are as long as you try."\nThere is no typical body type that is ideal for breakdancing, Krispinovic said.\n"Different body types are better for different moves. You find your strength and form a style," he said.\nBreakdancing gained popularity through the footwork demonstrated by James Brown during a performance of his song "The Good Foot." In the late '70s though, breakdancing group The Rocksteady Crew came up with new acrobatic moves that not only reestablished the popularity of breakdancing, but added a whole new element.\n"And it's never too late to start dancing because I think it's a freedom that most people never fully realize," Chunovic said. "You become aware of how amazing the human body can be when you push it."\nThe power moves are what most people recognize as breakdancing. Power moves are flashy and dynamic, such as windmills, flares and air flares. Practicing these helps build the moves into muscle memory.\n"The challenge is to come up with a stylistic way to work the power moves into your dance routine," Krispinovic said.\n-- Contact staff writer Jenny Messmer at jmessmer@indiana.edu.