UK and USA Street Dance Crews Prove They are the World's Best
UK's 'Plague' and USA's 'Future Shock' and 'Mix 5' win Gold at the World Hip Hop Championship Los Angeles' 'LA DKDA' wins Gold at the USA Hip Hop Championship
For three days, with standing-room only crowds at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, national and international street dance crews served up their hottest moves and choreography to win the 2005 USA and World Hip Hop Championships. World Gold medalists in each age division were: "Mix 5", Los Angeles (Junior, 7-12 year old); "Future Shock", Oakland (Varsity, 13-17 year old); and "Plague", UK (Adult, 18 and older). Los Angeles "LA DKDA" won gold in the USA Adult division.
This "Olympics of Hip Hop Dance," produced by Hip Hop International (HHI) gave participants a platform to be seen and recognized for their accomplishments in front of judges whose credits include choreography for Usher, Michael Jackson, Missy Elliot, Gwen Stefani and more.
"Hip Hop dance is the part of Hip Hop that everyone enjoys," said HHI's President and Co-Founder, Howard Schwartz, when asked about the large multi-cultural diversified audience drawn out to see the events. "Dancers from as far away as Japan, India, and Trinidad and Tobago, and as close to home as Los Angeles and San Diego, interacted over the course of a few days sharing their passion for Hip Hop and the dance culture."
On Sunday, August 21, homage was paid to the origins of Hip Hop dance during the evening's World Hip Hop Championship final when two of its Living Legends, Don Campbell (Founder of "Locking") and Tommy the Clown (Founder of "Clowning" which has evolved into a raw intense form of dance called "Krumping"), were awarded commendations along with retrospective dance tributes. One emotional award winner, Don Campbell, said: "I have been lucky enough to have some great things happen to me, but tonight is one of the most unforgettable moments of my life."
The Championships' 2005 sponsors were Pepsi Bottling Group, Paul Mitchell, and BoogieZone.com. The competition ended with medals awarded and the playing of the winners' respective national anthems.
For more information, please visit www.hiphopinternational.com.