Popping, breaking, and tutting, all for charity. CHS’ Hip Hop Club will be hosting a dance battle in next month. However, unlike other dance battles, next month participants will dance for charity. The event will take place on April 17 in the field house.

Kenny Lin, Hip Hop Club co-president and senior, encourages students to attend the event. “We have planned team battles for popping and breaking,” Lin said. “Everyone is welcome to participate in the battle.” The event will cost $5. The money collected from spectators’ tickets will go directly to charity. “The charity aspect is a great way to funnel what energy we have to those who are in a less fortunate position.” The club plans to utilize the dance skills they have in order to turn a profit for people less fortunate than them. The Global Giving Club will decide the charity in upcoming weeks.

The event is known as, the ND Battle. At the event, Lin has many activities planned that will help the suburban students of CHS understand urban culture. “Hip-hop dance is important because it is a fast-growing culture and is, unfortunately, foreign to Carmel, a suburb of Indianapolis,” Lin said. “(The goal of our event) is to introduce new culture.” Activities planned include team battles for popping and breaking, staples of hip-hop dance and culture. Lin also planned a cypher for the event. During a cypher, the crowd forms a circle in which dancers dance inside to show off skills. “This event will be bigger than last year’s (event) and the hip-hop culture will be strong.”

Nicole Laughrey, Hip Hop Club sponsor, also encourages students to attend the event. “The crew that does show up is a core group of really dedicated individuals,” Laughrey said. This is Laughrey’s first year as sponsor of the club. She said how great it was that the club would be donating all profits from tickets sold at the event to a charity.

For further information regarding the ND Battle, students should listen to the school announcements. Hip Hop Club meets weekly in the commons area from 3:15 until 4 p.m. “Through the art of dance and togetherness of community we hope to turn a profit,” Lin said.

To see Kelley Yu, Hip Hop Club member and sophomore show the steps to perform the six-step hip hop dance move, see below.

1. Begin with a pushup position where you legs are a little further apart than they would be if you were doing pushups.

2. Next, bring the right leg forward, extending it in front of the left. Don’t move the left leg yet. Lean on the outside of your right shoe.

3. Now, pull the left leg forward until it is bent and touching the back of your right leg. The right leg should be wrapped around the left leg. You should almost be in a tilted cross-legged position. Keep your left hand in the air.

4. Go into what is called the crab position. Bring your right leg out from around your left leg. Plant your right foot down next to your left foot about a shoulder width apart. Put your left hand on the floor behind you.

5. Bring your left leg around and in front of your bent right leg, wrapping it around your right leg. Lean on the outside of your left shoe and lift your right hand up. This is a mirror image of step two.

6. Move your right leg behind you and keep your right hand up. This is a mirror image of step one.

To finish the step, move your left leg back so you are back where you started with the pushup position. With enough practice, you will be able to do the step faster and with more ease.