Leading Dancers from DC & Around the World to Compete; Other Activities Include Live Graffiti Art, Dance Workshops.
WASHINGTON, DC – The Lab DC Breakin’ School, the only dance school specializing in break dancing in the DC metro area, will host DC’s first-ever break dancing festival from 12:00pm – 7:00pm on April 26th.
Kids as young as 5, teens and adults will compete at the first annual Rock the Box Breakin’ Festival. Competitors will include talented DC area residents, as well as some of the top dancers traveling from other countries and across the U.S., competing one-on-one for $5,000 in prizes. There are three divisions: B-boy, B-girl, and a Kid competition for ages 5 -11.
World-renowned professional breakers B-boy Float, B-girl Beta, and B-boy Born will judge the competition, and B-boy Tazk of The Lab DC will host.
Aside from the competition, Rock the Box Breakin’ Festival will feature family-friendly activities outdoors and inside, including a live graffiti art exhibition by ECK Productions, dance workshops for all ages, face painting, health screenings, food trucks, and vendors.The location is inside and outside the Aqua Club & Lounge at 1818 New York Avenue N.E., Washington, D.C., 20002. For spectators, the entrance fee for the Rock the Box Breakin’ Festival is $12 at the door and $10 via pre-purchase on the festival’s website, rocktheboxfest.com. Children 5 and younger enter for free. The competition fee is $25 at the door and $20 via pre-purchase on the site.
The festival will showcase talent in the hip hop arts community and encourage creative self-expression and healthy lifestyles.
“We’re really excited about Rock the Box here at The Lab DC because it’s going to get people moving and really build on our goal to inspire, motivate, and create new things in the community,” says Antonio Castillo, also known as B-boy Tazk, owner and founder of The Lab DC, which is hosting the festival. “We want to bring together everyone in the DC-area who likes breakin’ to have fun and see many of the top dancers. I can’t wait to watch my students compete against some of the best breakers from other states and countries.”
Dance workshops in a variety of styles will get people moving in the spirit of artistic self-expression. Roda Movements will conduct a workshop on Capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian blend of martial arts, dance, acrobatics, and music. Child of This Culture will lead a workshop on Breakin’, the American Embassy of Dance will host a workshop on tap and hip hop, and Esperonto Bean will direct a workshop on house dance. Health screening and information on health issues such as smoking, nutrition, exercise, and heart health will also be available.
For more information about the Rock the Box Breakin’ Festival, visit rocktheboxfest.com or the Rock the Box Facebook page.
Competitors and the press are invited to attend an event to preview the plans for the festival the evening prior at 7 PM at the DC Lab, 6925 Willow Street N.W., Washington, D.C.20012.
The Lab DC Breakin’ School, located in Takoma Park, provides classes for all ages, from children aged 2.5 to adults, with instructors who have been dancing for over a decade. With a mission to Inspire, Motivate, and Create, exciting programs empower youth and adults to get fit and express their own personal style while dancing to funk, hip hop, and breaks. For more information about The Lab DC Breakin’ School, visit thelabdc.com, The Lab DC Facebook page, and The Lab DC Twitter account.
Please contact Antonio Castillo at bboytazk@gmail.com to register to attend or to request interviews and a more detailed schedule.
