In fact, last week two of the dancers in the club, Somboun "Boo" Inthavong (senior-marketing) and John "Druid" Meija, a State College resident, danced at a competition in Pittsburgh. The competition was single elimination, with each dancer going twice for three rounds. The Penn State Dancers were out in the first round, but Mejia did not seem discouraged.
"The people we were up against were breaking for seven years," Mejia said.
Mejia's love of breakdancing began when his uncle showed him the basic moves.
"My mom made me quit, she thought I was going to hurt myself," Mejia said.
His interest was rekindled when he saw some kids breakdancing at a club in Philadelphia.
"I started teaching myself for the last three years," he said.
Inthavong said he became a member of the club after he saw some kids breakdancing at a party and he joined them.
His start came long before Penn State though; he began breaking in high school after seeing it in music videos and other various places.
The club's size fluctuates, according to Inthavong. "People come and go, some days there are 20 people, sometimes two, sometimes no one," Inthavong said.
Yet, Inthavong and the rest of the club are willing to teach anyone to breakdance --for free.
"It doesn't cost any money," Inthavong said, " except maybe the medical bills."
Kelsey Sivick (sophomore-microbiology), agreed with Inthavong, adding that it only takes a day or two to learn the basics.
"'Boo' basically taught me from scratch," Sivick said.
Fellow club member John Tocke (sophomore-biology), chimed in, "'Boo' is my godfather, too."
The foundation for breakdancing is starting out by "top-rocking," then the dancer moves to the ground to do what is called the "six-step."
According to the club members, the basics are easy to learn but hard to master. Many students become discouraged because they haven't gone past what they first learned. "It takes a long time to get it good without thinking about it," Inthavong said.
Once a beginner can master the basics, the breaker can add more complex dance moves like flares, windmills and headspins.
While the group was dancing and encouraging each other to try new moves, they were all visibly becoming fatigued.
"At practices, there is a lot more catching your breath than dancing," Inthavong said.
Sivick added, "Just one rotation takes a lot out of you."
"Breakdancing is really good exercise," clubmember Dave Kim said.
All of the club members said breakdancing is easier to learn if somebody has gymnastic or dancing experience. "It's a lot easier if you have muscle to begin with," Sivick said.
"My roommate was a Junior National Gymnast and he picked it up like that," Tocke said.
Of course, the art of breakdancing is utilized to its fullest potential in its orginating atmosphere, parties. "I think it definitely makes parties better," Tocke said.
"It's a cool party trick," added Inthavong.
When asked if it got him more girls, Tocke laughed. "Theoretically, it should," he said. " But it doesn't."
Kim, who got started dancing with "Boo" at parties, said in the festive atmosphere his friends usually goad him into performing for them. It is something for entertainment," Kim said. "It gives the people at parties a little 'wow.' I mean half the people don't know about this. This town really hasn't gotten to know breakdancing yet."
But with the club's activity, State College should be getting more knowledge on the dancing skill. The Breakdancing Club performed at last year's KRS-One concert and also at this year's Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon.
The club encourages people of all ages to come out to learn to breakdance, and it has its meetings on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 5:30 pm in Rec Hall.
Just follow the sound of the old-school hip-hop.
Time: 5:30 p.m.
