Give the Kids a Break

When I started Breaking as a teenager, it was something I generally kept secluded from the Armenian community.

The idea that my parents or community members would be morally (let alone financially) supportive of seeing their child doing a dance that was out of the norm and completely outside the confines of our traditional culture was unfathomable.

You can then probably imagine how pleasantly surprised I was to see a packed auditorium full of Armenian parents cheering for their kids in a Breaking contest this past weekend.

The competition was hosted by the "Aleks Style" Breaking school, which is located in the Arabkir region of Yerevan. It was held exclusively for the over 60 students that go to the school. I was one of the invited judges and got a front row seat for the daylong contest which featured four separate categories: kids, juniors, girls, and older boys.

Aside from the dancing, I couldn't stop looking into the audience to see how the parents reacted to their kids battling it out and putting their moves out on the floor. It was great to see the pride and joy on all of their faces as they watched their kids have fun and compete with respect.

I should note that this is a school where parents pay for their kids to go to learn the dance (something which doesn't even exist in LA, to my knowledge)--and it is by no means the only one. I can count at least 10 separate schools here where kids go on a weekly basis to learn and practice their skills. 

The interest is high. There are literally hundreds of kids Breaking in Armenia.

Although I was impressed by what I saw, I also have to admit that the "school system" of teaching and practicing Breaking definitely gives the dance a different flavor. There is something that is taken away when all the Breakers know is instruction and regiment, with very little social dancing.

Even the competition was very tournament-like, with an official award ceremony at the end and everything. The dancing and expression element was not totally absent, but it was definitely lacking.

Nevertheless, there was a lot of talent and unquestionable love for the dance in the building.

Next stop is the national "Grand Street Jam" coming up this Saturday, which I'll also be judging. The top five Breakers from the competition will be going to Georgia in April to represent Armenia at the Red Bull BC One Caucasus qualifier.

Should be interesting.