By Jonann Brady
Breakdancing, an improvisational, acrobatic form of dancing, emerged from the Bronx in the 1970s during the dawn of hip-hop culture and was, for many, an alternative to gangs and violence. Members of one of the first b-boy (or break-boy) crews, Zulu Nation, said they'd "rather dance than fight." Breakdancing caught fire in the '80s, spreading to the suburbs and the rest of the country, but like most crazes, the flames quickly sputtered out.
But breakdancing never really died, say the teens in this Baldwin High School classroom, who earlier this year approached Dean Alan Hudson, himself a former breakdancer in his hometown of Glen Cove, and asked if they could form a club to hone their emerging skills and gain unity as a group.
Carlos Delvalle, 16, one of the leaders of the club, said that breakdancing moves get passed from generation to generation. He learned moves from his older brother that he's now passing down to his 7-year-old nephew. "It's innovative, creative," said Delvalle. "You can express your emotions through dance."
Chris Miller, 17, added, "You don't have to go to school to learn it."
Hudson looked on proudly as the 15-member club, which calls itself the Dynamic Steps Crew, practiced their moves to old-school funk and hip-hop at an end-of-the-year pizza party last week. "They were harassing me for months to start the club," he said with a smile.
This past year, the crew performed with the Step Dancers at a school fashion show and the Multicultural Festival, and they hope to perform next year at other events such as basketball half-time shows.
Precious Hall, 16, the only girl in the group so far, said she joined just two weeks ago and the guys quickly accepted her as part of the group. Hall has cousins who breakdance and wanted to show them that "the girl in the family can do it too," she said.
Sixteen-year-old E.J. Becker, wearing a woolen cap, careens through the air, his legs twisting in a helicopter motion as he switches gracefully from arm to arm. The others look on approvingly. When asked his best move, Becker turns to Delvalle. "Carlos, what's my best move?"
Delvalle nods confidently. "Windmills. Definitely, windmills."
While Hudson said this year was a trial run for the club to see if it would take off, judging from the enthusiasm in the room, it looks to be a success. "For shy kids, it's something to belong to. It's for kids who aren't athletes but like to dance," said Hudson.
Delvalle says that while the breakers' skills may differ, the unity of the group takes precedent. "Everybody's equal," he said. "We're all trying to establish the same thing. We're all vibing."
