Sticking to my goal of trying new and unusual things this summer, I graciously accepted two free tickets to see the WI Wars break-dancing final courtesy of Curd writer, Joe. The ticket did not come with a free meal, but we were invited to the after party!
WI Wars. Logo found on Yelp. All subsequent photos by Erin Bayliss.
WI Wars was presented by the Pro Breaking Tour and sanctioned by UDEF: the Urban Dance & Educational Foundation, a not-for-profit organization created for educational and charitable purposes.
The event was hosted at MSOE’s Kern center, and the setup for the break-dancing competition was probably a departure from the gym’s usual décor. The break-dancing took place in front of a large DJ booth and the great and mighty competition judges.
Dang.
The competition consisted of 3 vs. 3 battles. There was quite an age range among the competitors, and watching the younger kids dance was very impressive. There were even some enthusiastic toddlers in the audience who attempted to break-dance in an adorable, clumsy toddler way.
Don’t call him a toddler.
It’s hard to keep track of which team was in which place, as the rounds moved quickly. The audience was encouraged to participate by cheering loudest for their favorite dancers. The real voting power was given to the three judges, who I’m assuming had a more discerning eye for the break-dancing moves of which I am now realizing I know not a single name…
The judges, judging.
The final round of 3 vs. 3 came down to Brickheadz vs United Disorderz, and after a suspenseful countdown the judges chose the United Disorderz for first place. The prize for winning first place was an impressive $1200. But second and third place also walked home with a couple of Benjamins.
Pro Breaking is on tour until the end of the year, but there are no longer any shows left in Milwaukee….if you happen to be in Paris September 5th you should definitely check it out! Otherwise, WI Wars will likely be back in Milwaukee next year. Start practicing now, and maybe you could earn a pretty penny if you so choose to compete.
You could dance like this!