Breakdancers battle for Bulldog Glory

Crews from Omaha, Neb., Chicago and Milwaukee flocked to Lawrence this week to go head over heels and get their grooves on. The third annual Bulldog Battle showcased preliminary breakdancing and popping and locking competitions at the Pool Room Friday and final rounds at the Granada Saturday.

Brandon “Bam-Bam” Roberts, Free State High School student and member of Lawrence’s Buggin’ Out crew, came out in full force for the one-on-one b-boy finals Saturday. Bam-Bam kept his eyes locked on Chicago’s Huascar “Waka” Alcantara of the Brickheadz crew as he made a b-line towards him once the battle began. Ignoring the third competitor, Bam-Bam broke out backspins and head spins and even threw his leg behind his head right in front of Waka. He said he went after Waka because he felt he was his biggest threat.

Waka’s reaction completed the battle, which looked like something out of West Side Story, as he stared down Bam-Bam during his routine of windmills and elbow spins.

“The way he came out at me, I gotta come out there too,” Waka said.

The high-energy competition almost resulted in numerous kicks to heads as dancers moved dangerously close to each other.

Saturday’s Bulldog Battle got off to a slow start. Scheduled to start at 4 p.m. “sharp,” the events did not begin until around 6 p.m. This left plenty of time for dancers to practice their moves and the Granada crew to get lights aimed at the floor in front of the stage. The competitors agreed they preferred the larger area of the floor in front of the stage, openeing the stage as an extra viewing area for the 150 people in attendance.

Friday’s one-on-one and two-on-two preliminary and semi-final rounds proved taxing on both the dancers and the crowd. Emcee Edwin “DJ Konsept” Morales told the audience Saturday, “I know you’re tired,” but asked the crowd to put in as much energy as they could into the battles.

Competitions remained heated throughout the evening, but tension and energy peaked during the crew-on-crew battles. When a dancer attempted an impressive move in front of the opposing crew, a member of the rival crew would mimic the maneuver as a virtual slap in the face. While the music was playing, b-boys and b-girls looked as if they were about to jump into a mass brawl, but once the beats stopped, the Granada filled with hugs and compliments.

“It’s all fake,” Bam-Bam said of the hostility.

When the battles ceased and the winners were announced at 9 p.m. Saturday, Waka emerged the victor in the one-on-one clash. Bam-Bam was all smiles though as he congratulated his competitor and his friends ran over to the stage to give him support.