The 1980s are shaking hands with 2018 Sunday afternoon at a break-dancing competition in DC. Good times! These chirrun (children) aren’t here to play! @WTOP pic.twitter.com/cMsqJn7Ckd
— Liz Anderson (@PlanetNoun) May 6, 2018
WASHINGTON — The 1980s shook hands with 2018 Sunday afternoon at the Competitive Breakin’ League’s national break-dancing finals in D.C.
Dancers compete in one of three divisions: Youth Teams, Teens and Pro Adults. All vied for the U.S. Breakin’ Championship Title.
Judges hailed from five Breakin’ schools from across the United States — and represented cities such as Brooklyn, Denver and Miami.
Yes, some dancers hearkened back to the olden days of Breakin’ and Hip-hop fashion with adidas track suits.
Sunday’s judges were looking for style and execution in six areas including foot work and transitions between moves. Power moves such as head and back spins could also earn dancers points.
But, like other sports, there are boundaries and points can be deducted if they’re crossed.
A DJ dropped the beats and the dancers got down on a square that resembles wood flooring.
“The idea of the box plays two parts,” said CBL founder Antonio Castillo. “One is to help kids know what to do and how to train for the sport. Another aspect of it is also paying homage to the original 80s dancers who used to put out cardboard boxes on the street.”
Hence the competition’s name — Rock the Box.
“So I’m a child of the 80s. I’m actually a B-boy myself. I’ve been Breakin’ for 22 years. And this is my way of giving back to the community.” Castillo said.
CBL grew out of The Lab DC, a break-dancing School that started in 2012. It’s located in Northwest, across the line from Takoma Park, Maryland.
“It started out with one student and grew really fast,” Castillo added.
Parents then started asking about competitions. Those contests started with blue painter’s tape in the shape of a box. It eventually developed into today’s form which is a square that resembles a wood-grain floor with two zones at each end — one red and the other blue — where competitors stand and wait while their opponents are dancing on the floor.
Today, The Lab DC melds the art form of breaking, with the rules and discipline of the sport.
Castillo said CBL goals include establishing a nonprofit organization that will be the governing body for the sport in the United States, similar to an organization like USA Tennis. It’s important that, as the sport grows, it remains tied to the U. S. — the birthplace of Hip-Hop.
Another goal Castillo talks about is the importance of making sure, as the sport blossoms, that lessons remain accessible to everyone — regardless of income level, gender, background or language.
