Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
B-boy Benny bringing his flavour to battle
THE WEIGHT of our country’s b-boying pride rests on his shoulders, but he may win a global B-Boy championship doing a handstand.
Alfred Burgess, aka B- Boy Benny, is off to Egypt next week for the Middle East and Africa Cypher of the Red Bull BC One championship, a competition one-on-one battle for B-Boys.
The odds look good for South Africa to win this, with Benny having been to the world finals in 2005, 2007 and 2008. This year’s world finals will be in Seoul, South Korea, on November 30. But to get there, he has to battle dancers from across the continent in Egypt on Friday.
In July, Benny beat 15 B-Boys from across the country to take the South Africa Cypher title. The competition took place at Club Fever in Lansdowne, where Benny won the final round against B-Boy 9-ether.
The 2011 World Champion Omar Delgado, aka Roxrite, was on the judging panel.
He said of Benny’s performance: “He deserved to win… he looked prepared, like he’d been training. He controlled his battles on the way to the final, which is important. He took everyone’s moments when they thought they had it.”
Between increasing rehearsal and exercise routines, Benny took a brief break to speak to The Good Weekend about his progress in his path to the world BC One crown.
The 26-year-old has been dancing since the age of 15. In preparation, he has been observing his competition on YouTube.
“I did look at some of their stuff. There’s dancers from Morocco and Algeria, but they are not big competition,” says Benny.
The B-Boy is not big on crew dancing, this may give him the chance to shine solo.
“I was in a crew but I left because of beef. There is no stress when you are dancing on your own.”
Benny has been flexing and stretching to keep his body in good frame for Egypt.
“I have been training hard for this. I believe I can do this. My body is good shape. I train all morning and practise with my friend in the afternoon.”
This is his full-time job. In addition to dancing professionally, he helps out at a gym and does shows at schools.
Reflecting on his win in Lansdowne, he says, “It was intense. B-Boys talk a lot but I know my talent, so for me it was easy.”
There is not much more he can do to prepare for Egypt. Unlike some crew dance competitions, he cannot take his own music or prepare set routines.
“It’s only me and my moves. I am going to take my originality and my African flavour. The DJs will play break beats and you have to feel the music. You don’t know the music. My plan is to take my flavour – energy.”
This is his first time in Egypt, a place he is aware is politically unstable.
As soon as he gets back, Benny will start preparing to defend his B-Boy title at the African Hip Hop Indaba in September.
“I am going keep working out, keep humble and keep my body in shape.”
● For information on the competition and B- Boys see: www.redbullbcone.com wendyl.martin@inl.co.za Twitter: @WendylMartin