By Ivan Pereira
Coming off his close win against New Jersey rival “Loose Lee,” Fresh Meadows break dancer Tiangi Fan said his winning moves were not as complex as they may seem to the naked eye.
While catching his breath after earning the $100 prize during the Queens Community House’s first break-dancing competition Saturday night, the 18-year-old said the combination of his head spinning, hand standing and quick kicks is comparable to building a pyramid.
“It’s all about getting a good foundation and getting that foundation higher and higher,” he said.
Tiangi was one of the winners of the contest, held at 108-25 62nd Drive, that pitted nearly 400 teens and young adults from each side of the country. Those who take part in the Community House’s biweekly break-dance program in Forest Hills were able to compete against students from a California-based volunteer group known as All the Way Live.
For nearly five hours, two groups of competitors — one with members 18 and younger and another that was made up of those 18 and older — showed their best moves to an assortment of hip-hop, reggae and techno mixes that were blasted by huge speakers inside the Community House’s multipurpose room.
While the dancers were taking to the floor, dozens of participants came out to watch in awe.
“I don’t know, I think it’s how they dance,” Florencia Merenda, 14, of Forest Hills, said of the reason she came out. “It’s about gathering the different dancers together and spreading the word.”
Those who participate in the program said it is fun because it helps them express themselves creatively in a way that stands out from other forms of art. Marcel Mateo, 19 of Long Island, who has been break-dancing for six years, said that unlike other sports, there is no formula for winning any competition.
“The crews have to work so hard to get their moves right on the spot,” he said.
Although the competition ended shortly after 8 p.m., the dancing continued for the rest of the night as DJs mixed some beats as the participants, who included dancers from other organizations like the Flushing Y, created some new moves.
Administrators and volunteers in the community said the break-dancing programs also have another benefit for the youth who take part in them. Steve Pallano, director of teen outreach, said dancing keeps them off the streets and gives them lessons that will last a lifetime.
“It teaches them all sorts of things, like how to build a relationship with their peers,” he said.
Pallano said he would like to hold the competition again next year, but could not guarantee it because of pending budget cuts to the Community House’s budget by the city.
“If we had more funding, who knows what we could do,” he said.
Reach reporter Ivan Pereira by e-mail at ipereira@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4546.
