Breakdancing in Brixton

31st March, last Friday of the month. Braving a cold, I went to a breakdancing event called Throwdown Live at the Mass in Brixton. I thought it would be pretty rough or dangerous. But, surprisingly, as was the case in Stringfellows, it felt really safe. The boys were almost comically polite and respectful. Even tall, burly guys in singlets would step aside and very ceremoniously let my petite cousin and myself through doors. It felt very very Old World.

The breakdancers were a surprisingly mixed crowd—a veritable United Nations lot actually. Blacks, whites, possible Hispanics (my boy), Asians (as in Indians), Asians (as in Orientals), French Muslims who travelled all the way to breakdance in this event. And this was reflected in the crowd as well. A melting pot of cultures which dispelled my previous impression of breakdancing as a more afro/black event.

The breakdancing itself was fantastic. The stunts the boys and girls (yes there were girls) could do, floored me. Each breakdancer would take the floor and do yet another move that would amaze me further. I actually forgot to breathe a couple of times. One of the girls, "Angel" who won the 2-on-2 with her partner, could spin on her head for the longest time and do some pretty mean stunts. And her partner, which looked like one of the unlikeliest of guys turned out to be an amazing breakdancer with fairly athletic stunts.

And the guys were oh so fit. With A-fucking-mazing chiselled abs and to die for arms. Well... not all of them had drool-worthy arms. But I was just dying for my absolute favourite guy who turned out to be from Leeds (or at least he was dancing for Leeds in the 15-on-15 London vs Leeds), and another black guy also the most gorgeous physique ever. (note: both featured in photos below)

The great thing is, the boys are really passionate and serious about their breakdancing. Before the competition, they were concentrating on warming up and practicing. And some of them were really cheeky and enjoying themselves, smiling and dancing to the music. After the competition, instead of going off and sleazing girls, a lot of them just continued breakdancing and then after that, the Leeds boys just left, including my amazing part-Hispanic looking absolute favourite, and the geeky looking bespectacled boy. I was crushed.

I also discovered that out of the 15 people who danced for London, at least one was from Cambridge and at least four were from Paris. Hmm.... one wonders at the lack of genuine local London talent. There were three Oriental Asians dancing for London as well. And they were actually pretty good, I was well impressed. Although, two of the Asian boys still managed to be bean pole thin, despite the general athletic physiques of breakdancers. It's clearly a genetic thing.

As this was my initiation into the world of live breakdancing, I don't know much at all about it. But I gathered that the second Thursday of every month, there are Throwdown breakdancing battles at Plan B in Brixton, and that this was the launch of the Throwdown Live event at Mass on the last Friday of every month. Throwdown Live includes live hip hop and Drum & Bass acts (this past Friday saw a D&B act with an electric double-bass!—i didn't event know there were such things as electric double-basses) So, for the uninitiated, if you ever want to check it out, I would say: Go for it! I'm the meekest and most easily frightened of persons, but even I felt safe. And after the event (we left at 3 am because I was ill), the area was still brightly lit, there were quite a lot of people on the streets, and there were night bus services available. For more details on the scene, check out: http://www.throwdown.co.uk

Some pictures below. I also have some grainy footage of the breakdancing battles, especially of the 15-on-15.