Breakdancers from around the East Bay squared off against each other in groups of two to win the $200 prize and represent their crew at Funktion, a dance competition hosted at James Logan High School last Friday.

Funktion is hosted and produced by Hip Hop Elements, a dance program at James Logan High School that has been around for 15 years. Organizers stated this was the first time the competition was hosted at the school.

A group of breakdancers created the program in 1998 and the goal was to have youth express themselves through the culture of hip-hop.

Funktion brought breakdancers from around the Bay to battle and show off their skills against other crews. There were about 100 people who came to the event, 11 breakdance crews, and seven solo dancers.

People sat in a large circle clapping to the beat while a spin of a bottle would decide which of the two dancers would start first doing flips, footwork, and spinning on their hands and heads trying to impress the judges and crowd while trying to outdo their opponent.

“I am proud of the event,” Kevin Torion, one of the hosts of Funktion. Building the community by promoting health and anti-violence to the youth and showcasing young dancers to the dance community were the main reasons for throwing the event.

“Being affiliated and sponsored by Logan Health Center could help us tie into a lot of positive things such a building community and providing youth a way to express themselves without resorting to any form of violence.”

Dionte Als, East Bay’s Urban Dance Club president said, “The jam was okay, I made it to the semi-finals.” Als represented his crew Squadron Killas, as he and his crewmember battled East Side Union, the winners of the battle.

The final battle was East Side Union against Oakland Breakerz where both sides tried to outdo each other, spinning on their hands and