Can’t touch this: Step up to the streets of Karachi
As 12-year -old Haider Babar spun on the plywood floor, some looked on in awe and others, his competitors, booed. Introductions were over and the ‘battle’ between the B-Boys had officially begun.
ActOne put up Facebook and radio announcements, asking all the B-Boys - a form of break dancing - to show up at their studio at 5:30 pm on Saturday to show off their moves.
And show up they did, with their hair done up in Mohawks and New York Yankee baseball caps. Roughly 40 dancers invaded the ActOne Studio and despite the fierce looks and competition, off the floor they are all just friends.
B-Boy dancing originated on the streets of New York. Its popularity grew through YouTube and Orkut. There are over 100 B-Boys in Karachi and they are all connected via social networking websites. For most of them, this was their first time performing on a plywood floor. Mehreen Fatima, the only B-Girl at the event, said the B-Boy community usually practiced at the National Coaching Centre NCC in Gulshan-e-Iqbal. The ground is not ideal but it’s the only option as most places kick them out.
The boys began with Pakor - a skill that involved reaching from point A to point B in the shortest, quickest way possible. Twenty-one-year-old Abdullah Ahmed Khan, aka Sanki, was one of the pioneers. His story is sad, albeit amusing. He was practicing with friends in a gym when they were asked to stop by the management. “Bandaron ki tarha tamasha mat karo (stop jumping around like monkeys),” they were told. Mehreen, however, claimed that people smile and stop to watch when they are practicing. Even if they are not familiar with the style, they still find it entertaining.
Though the dancers make it look effortless, preparing for a performance and learning the steps requires a lot of strenuous exercise, stretching and of course - practice.
It is also by no means safe, the dancers end up with sprained ankles, broken bones and countless bruises. “I was at a shoot when I hit my head on an iron bench while jumping off an eight or 10-foot-high obstacle,” Ahmed told The Express Tribune. The Uchong brothers, Vernin and Neil, stood out in the crowd as they appeared the most animated with their constant somersaults. The crowd wasn’t as appreciative though - their back flips were met with snide mutterings of “show-offs”. Ariella Khan, 12, was alight with amazement, “I’ve never seen anything like it!,” she exclaimed. “There really should be more performances like this.”
In the end, for all the friendly banter, there was no winner or loser. They just enjoyed dancing for the love of the floor - and the fact that they didn’t have to worry about getting kicked out any minute.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 17th, 2011.
COMMENTS (6)
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There are many places to practice and train. I'd also like to add that a class named Chaos is held at Body beat recreational center offering hip hop, popping and locking, krump and most importantly B-boying.
The kids here don't realize the true meaning of the culture and only strive on gaining individual credit based on "I can do it too, I'm better than you", resulting on imitating each others moves and lose the respect, not only in breaking but also in the eyes of the masses, as they turn dramatic movement to the drab "seen it, next", norm of the audience. Be Creative and Original
ActOne is the best place we have ever gotten we appreciate so much too ActOne for Bboys to come and practice there moves in front of the mirror with an expensive floor and sound system for only just Rs.100,what else do we need.
no doubt sajjad is awsome
i'll give you the space could you guys contact me on 0321-2815525...
@Anonymous:
is Rs.100 too much for the use of a floor for 2 hours...a floor which is worth 300,000?...sound system worth 150,000, monthly rent of 100,000 plus and electricity of 1500/- per hour? a back up generator expensing out to 1500 per hour more and mirrors???
the 100 rupees is not kept to generate revenue...its kept so these kids value the space and dont take it for granted.
why dont you open up your house and allow them space... encourage arts...instead of critising those who are doing something!
hilarious. take money from them then say theyre relieved not to get kicked out? THEY'LL PAY FOR THE SPACE wont they? hardly an encouragement of the arts is it. what background are these kids from? and why cant anyone give them space for free for a change?