There are no designated instructors. There is not even a selected list of participants. To the mesmerizing entertainers that participate in Syracuse University’s Breakdance Club, these are merely unimportant details. With a fluid and evolving dance style, Breakdance Club members constantly improve their moves through improvisation.

‘We take from every style of dance,’ said David Lopez, a junior accounting major. ‘If someone comes in with something different, we’re going to try and pick it up.’

The club members meet Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week. They continuously teach and learn from one another each night.

‘For me, it’s pretty much like a family,’ said Thuc Mai, junior physics major.

Mai has been breakdancing since high school, and he’s not alone. Many other dancers in the group also started dancing before they attended SU. ‘This is the first club I joined when I came to college,’ Mai said. ‘It’s fun. When you start off, you just get hooked.’

The club members cite their constant hard work and competition as a key to the club’s success. When they’re not practicing, they’re traveling to Boston, New York City and Buffalo, N.Y., for dance competitions.

Alex Keeling, a freshman chemical engineering major, joined the group last September with no prior dance experience. ‘I’d always wanted to learn,’ he said. ‘I really enjoy it a lot. It’s a lot of hard work, but it pays off. You can’t be afraid to look stupid – you have to try.’

Members who join the club with no previous experience show that the club does not discriminate based on skill level. Club members believe everyone should give breakdancing a shot, regardless of talent. This openness even extends to the Syracuse community, as Syracuse locals are welcome to come on campus and dance with the club.

‘Don’t be intimidated just because you’re a beginner,’ said Benjamin Lin, a junior interior design major. ‘It’s nice to see different cultures not be afraid to come together. We share the same passion.’

Published on January 25, 2010 at 12:00 pm