Popping the Electric Boogaloos

At the Street Funk Battle in Shanghai, the moment MC Liao Bo announced, "DJ Alone, drop the beat," Li Yue sprang into action. This two-day competition, held during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday on June 9 and 10, was a qualifier for dancers aiming to join the prestigious Electric Boogaloos Family and EB Kids.

When a DJ drops the beat at a street dance competition, the dancer's body responds instantly, captivating the audience with a freestyle performance.

The Electric Boogaloos, founded by Boogaloo Sam in 1977, are iconic in the popping dance style, having appeared on Soul Train and choreographed for Michael Jackson.

Their legacy continues globally through teaching and performances. Its principal members starred in the iconic dance film Breakin'.

They then began traveling overseas to teach in Japan, France, South Korea and China, leading to the rise of many world-renowned street dancers who then developed into the EB family, a group dedicated to carrying on the style and tradition.

Li, a 28-year-old dancer and dance teacher born and raised in Fuzhou, Fujian province, successfully joined the EB family as a result of an epic battle with the well-known Korean dancer Dokyun during the finals of SFB's open age group competition.

Dressed in black, the two young men displayed their command of EB style elements including the twist-o-flex, the master flex, the Old Man, the Puppet and the Scarecrow, as well as their own understanding of body language, music and space. Since a typical popping routine involves quick jumps and the popping of muscles, they demonstrate an extremely precise control of their muscles while dancing freestyle and react quickly to the melody and beat.

Popping dancer and SFB co-founder Hu Hongjun and his team are the organizers behind SFB, while Popin Pete, one of the founding members of the Electric Boogaloos, is a co-founder of the event, which includes a training camp, competitions and lectures.

"SFB emphasizes the passing on of traditions and creation. All dance cultures have historical and cultural roots, and the more cultural elements are absorbed, the greater potential value is gained for further development," Hu says.