By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
Some may say that it is just a trend, others think it is entertainment, but for Gambler Crew, the Korean contestant of ``R-16 Korea Sparkling, Gyeonggi 2008'' and one of Korea's top break dancing troupes, ``b-boying'' is everything.
The Korea Times met the crew at their studio, UV Dance Academy, which was already packed with members who were practicing their moves in preparation for the upcoming event on May 31.
``B-boying is all about technique. The harder the technique, the better you are. One of our members can do a move that only a few in the world of people can do,'' the 27-year-old leader of Gambler Crew known as ``Sick'' said.
A couple of members started the troupe back in 2002, and from there 14 members began their journey as b-boys. A few years later, they started to win various events, including the 2004 Battle of the Year in and the United States of America (U.S.A.) B-Boy HoDown, which was the first time for a non U.S. team to win. The team has been, and will continue, concentrating their efforts overseas, only because the Korean market is still in its initial stages.
``Korean b-boy crews are famous overseas. At a village in Germany (where the Battle of the Year was held), strangers came up to us and asked if we are b-boys, just because we were Asians,'' Bruce Lee, a 23-year-old fellow b-boy of the crew said, adding that they will work hard to lift Korea's b-boy industry.
They explained that Korean b-boys are renowned for their speed in learning and creating new moves. Compared to the United States or other European countries, where b-boying was first introduced in the 1970s, Korea started only 10 years ago.
``Other countries try to make Korean troupes compete with each other. They say it's surprising for teams from a country with a short history of b-boys to perform so well,'' Lee Jun-hak, or Soulsoy, a 24-year-old member said.
The members said that people tend to think that b-boys are not professional and are just interested in ``sweeping the floors.'' But before a competition, even good friends become enemies.
``There are several b-boy crews and we frequently get together to share ideas. But prior to a contest, we stop seeing each other. Every team has their own color, and it's important to keep our identity,'' Sick said.
So what is it that makes all these young dance and music lovers continue exploring dangerous and thrilling moves?
``Many of the b-boys start because it looks cool. But as time goes by, you forget how it looks, and find yourself addicted to it,'' Sick said.
For Lee, it was about finally succeeding perfecting a difficult move.
``I think b-boying is one of the hardest form of dance in the world. Some techniques takes two to three months, some actually take more than two years to master. When you finally conquer the technique, there's nothing like that feeling,'' he said.
Because there are no textbook techniques or movements, it is up to the b-boys to come up with more difficult and fascinating moves.
``We have no boundaries. It's not about practicing the same routine. It's all about creating new moves that will wow the crowd and other b-boys,'' Soulsoy said.
What does b-boying mean to the professionals?
``Some may say this is ridiculous, but it's my life. I can't imagine my life without it. It's the life I am living, and the life I will still pursue as I get older,'' Lee said, with his fellow members nodding at his words.
The R-16 event will start May 31 at Seongnam Arts Center. For more information, visit www.r16korea.com or www.gamblercrew.co.kr.