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Bubbly Nurul Izzah is contagious. For this ardent follower of the hip-hop culture, it is not enough for her to just watch. She has been going across the nation engaging enthusiastic bboys in competitions and workshops. To Izzah, the misconception of bboy being problematic and directionless is outdated, as it takes discipline, perseverance and creativity to achieve the right skills. Izzah wants to change that perception and funnel the energy from these passionate youth to cast a positive image of the hip-hop culture.
WHAT ?
Battle 21 International 2012 is an international street dance competition created with the aim to support the development of urban culture open to participants 21 years old and younger. The number 21 has a lot of symbolism such as unlimited potential, success, and fearless adventures.
WHY ?
While there are other bboy competitions in existence, they usually cater to the professional and semi-professional dancers, and inadvertently lock out younger enthusiasts. Izzah wants to discover hidden talents within the young group of dancers. She believes that the opportunity to perform and showcase their talents is what these teenagers need to boost their confidence and mold their future in popular arts.
HOW ?
Izzah’s belief in her project inspired her and her group of friends to use their own fund to organize the first Battle 21. The event attracted big turn-out despite its limited budget, and managed to pull in other sponsors. Following this, next year’s event will be held in two venues: Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu. It will involve dancers from Malaysia and the region. Free street dance training workshops will also be held to reach out to the young and the underprivileged through street art.
