HOLD UP, TORONTO BREAKDANCE

• Che

  http://www.earwaks.com/read/36

  Photo series: HOLD UP – Breakin’ it down in Toronto
  Photography By Che Kothari, Text by Julia Che

  The bump of the beat provokes these dancers to pop-n’-lock, up-rock, and throw down some of the hottest, most technically challenging moves in the artistry of dance.

  As hip-hop has become a widespread culture, breakdancing has concurrently become a mainstay of our generation. One of hip-hop’s fundamental elements (the others being emceeing, DJing, and graffiti), breaking is the most physically demanding of the four elements and involves moves like freezes, flips, flares, elbow glides, and suicides.* Bringing all these moves into fruition by forming a cohesive and fluid combination is the breakers’ task; in addition to making it all look easy as pie.

  Mastering upper-body strength, isolating limbs, adding speed and personal style make a skilled breaker. With steady balance and complex footwork, it’s the freshest Toronto bboys and bgirls that are showing Canada what’s up. The Canadian break scene has been poppin’ for the past while, but recently crews including Supernaturalz, Drunken Monkz, Groundillusionz and others have brought the scene to a new plateau.

  From the hardwood to cardboard, dance floors to sidewalks, these break crews have scouted any and every place to battle. Showcasing the wealth of breakdance talent in Toronto, photographer, Che Kothari gathers a select crew in a downtown studio. Using space as a compositional tool, Kothari shoots these breakers before a white backdrop creating a sort of optical illusion. Kothari leaves his spectators to define what is up or down, vertical or horizontal, invoking tilts of the head for comprehension and definition of space. It’s the combination of the visual space, breakers’ skillz and unique styles, which form these ill visual effects.

  The full series and video footage can be found at http://www.earwaks.com/read/36.

  Photographer: Che Kothari.

  Words: Julia Che.

  *For definitions of breakdance moves, go to http://www.b-boys.com/bboymoves.…

  Respect to Brian Cleaver : www.briancleaver.com for introducing me to this site.

  Che

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• canuck0

  pbs this spam, son.

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  Dogear

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• Che0

  sorry new to the site, thanks

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  Dogear

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• aliendn0

  are there breaker things going on in toronto? id love to watch, peace! looks good

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  Dogear

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• mr_snuggles0

  cool it with the caps please, you're giving me a headache.

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  Dogear

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