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61Syx Teknique-Breakdancers at ENMU teach to revive a movement

On a national quest to restore hip-hop's reputation, a group of gravity-defying break dancers visited the ENMU ballroom twice Tuesday, where they introduced the "b-boy" lifestyle to an otherwise quiet corner of New Mexico.

During their first visit to the ballroom Tuesday morning, the 61Syx Teknique break dancing crew from Grand Rapids, Mich., offered a dance workshop that had participants doing intricate moves in a matter of minutes.

Aside from the dance moves, 61Syx Teknique shared elements of the b-boy lifestyle, so that workshop goers could understand even more about break dancing and hip-hop and, why not, maybe even become a b-boy or a b-girl.

Break dancer and 61Syx Teknique co-founder James Grzeszak, 22, said that for many, hip-hop is a lifestyle and those who adhere to its tenets are known as b-boys or b-girls. A self-proclaimed strict b-boy, Grzeszak explained the term.

"B-boying is being yourself on the dance floor," Grzeszak said. "Break dancing is just about shows, but b-boying is like a lifestyle. It's not just dancing. It's a passion."

Grzeszak said members of 61Syx Teknique are trying to rectify the bad reputation that hip-hop has been given by educating the public about hip-hop's beginnings, b-boying and of course, break dancing.

"Hip-hop is a positive movement and it's getting lost," Grzeszak said. "The media has made (hip-hop) so commercial, but it's a lot more than that."

Aside from traveling the country and sharing the b-boy lifestyle, Grzeszak said 61Syx Teknique also engages in break dancing battles with other dance crews, events that draw hundreds of people, Grzeszak said.

Although break dancing had its heyday in the '80s and interest in the genre seemed to fade in the '90s, Grzeszak said break dancing is making a comeback.

"There's a ton of new people who want to learn to dance," Grzeszak said.

One member of 61Syx Teknique seems to suggest that break dancing is truly drawing a diverse group of followers. 61Syx Teknique co-founder Nick Delacher, 26, said the crew's youngest member is only six years old.
"Kids are always better (performers) because they have so much energy," Delacher said.

When members of 61Syx Teknique met at the ENMU ballroom Tuesday evening for a performance, their show covered what Grzeszak said are the four components of hip-hop: disc jockeying, graffiti, emceeing and b-boying.

Using dance, acting and humor, 61Syx Teknique took the audience through a hip-hop timeline, from its inception in 1973, the Soul Train days of the '80s, the birth of break dance power moves in the '90s and the addition of new dance moves in the new millennium.

61Syx Teknique member Keegan Loye, 21, was the event's host. Students who had attended the workshop earlier in the day were invited to join members of 61Syx Teknique for a crew versus crew dance battle.

Tracy Henderson, director of the Office of Student Activities and Organizations, said it is likely 61Syx Teknique will be invited to ENMU again.

Henderson applauded 61Syx Teknique's inclusion of ENMU students in their presentation. She said this was something that added a personal touch to the performance, allowing audience members to cheer on their friends as well as 61Syx Teknique.

Henderson said she also enjoyed watching ENMU students do so well at break dancing. "They were right there with the professional dancers," Henderson said enthusiastically. "It was pretty cool."