The fourth annual “Breakin’ the Law” b-boy and b-girl battle brought some of the best break dancers and a capacity crowd to the Memorial Union’s Grand Ballroom this Saturday night. The event was held as part of the Hip Hop as a Movement week, the result of collaboration between a large and diverse group of people from all over Madison and beyond.

The event’s MySpace page sums up the credits nicely: “This could not have been done without the strong collaboration and dedication from the MultiCultural Student Coaltion and the Diversity Education Program, the Office of Multicultural Art’s Initiatives, the Office of Admissions, the Educated Leading Ladies Association, the Multicultural Council, Multicultural Student Center, Wisconsin Union Directorate – Performance Committee, Pathways to Excellence, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Streets of Gold Entertainment, Elements of Change, YouthSpeaks Wisconsin, Wexford Ridge Neighborhood Community Center, Dane101.com, Atwood Community Center, the Lussier Teen Center, Teen Build Up and an amazing group of individuals from both the community and the campus.”

The battle itself attracted crews from all across the country and various parts of the globe. It was single round elimination, with MCs drawing the name of a crew from a hat and then that crew choosing who to call out to the floor for battle. A panel of judges then decided who won each 6 minute round and the winners moved on while the losers were done. In a move that displayed quite a bit of moxie, one crew even called out the judges themselves. Both sides performed admirably, but the judges won the heart of the audience (who had the final call) with extremely adept moves and a lot of attitude.

Respect was the word of the night—each judge in turn urging all participants to check their egos at the door and to focus instead on collaboration, creativity and execution. The mood of the night was intense but joyous. Each dancer, no matter their level of skill, brought everything they had to the floor and showed the wonderfully diverse crowd the meaning of a good time.

(List of crews represented and winners, etc., forthcoming)

For more: http://www.madisonhiphop.com/
Emcees Without Voices has more: http://www.madison.com/post/entries/129526
Photos below by Emily Mills, more from Chris @ Dane101

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