From the Pit at the heart of campus beats the pulse of a subculture — a culmination of kicks, side-steps and spins against a backdrop of remixed beats that forms the language of breaking.
“Breaking is not about conforming necessarily,” said Chima Ohadugha, president of UNC’s breaking group Mighty Arms of Atlas, which was formed in 2002.
“Breaking embraces uniqueness and change.”
Though the style is well-regarded among students, who frequently flock when they hear the b-boys perform, the artists are generally unknown, performing primarily in guest appearances at other groups’ events and in impromptu practices in the Pit.
“Breaking doesn’t really allow for us to hold an entire show since we don’t have any choreographed routines,” Ohadugha said.
In order to expand to a wider base and branch out from break dancing, the group Dancing in the Moonlight came onto the scene last year, and finally became officially recognized by the University last week.
“We wanted to create a group that took the intimidation factor out of breaking by incorporating some choreography, but still stayed true to the style,” said sophomore Poyun Tung, vice president of Moonlight.
“I guess you could say we’re sort of a stepping stone — a bridge between choreo and true breaking.”
Though there are now two factions with breaking at their cores, the groups don’t consider themselves rivals.
