Battle Stars of Middle East

United Arab Emirates crew wins Braun Battle of the Year qualification in Dubai on October 1, 2011

Nothing fits better to fashion stores, gold souks and a multicultural audience than b-boying. In the Emirate of Dubai, Middle East’s melting pot, 11 dance crews from as far as Jordan, Oman and Kuwait battled for the only group ticket available to represent the region at the grand final of the Braun Battle of the Year 2011 in Montpellier, France. The world’s seventh biggest shopping mall – the Dubai Mall – provided the perfect backdrop for today’s regional qualifier. All three levels of the ‘Star Atrium’ were crowded with people enthusiastically cheering the collectives on stage. The ‘Over Boys’ from the UAE break danced to victory and now get their chance at the world championship on November 19, 2011.

Aladdin was on the stage, just as the Kings of Teheran and the Middle Beasts, but no one could beat the dynamic ‘Over Boys’. In a tight battle against the ‘Breakestra’ crew from Bahrain, earned the highest score from the three-headed judges panel. “I want to thank all the boys for fighting so hard and investing so much of their time in the past months and weeks. Thanks to the judges for making us so happy and thanks to all the people who came here today”, was the team’s head b-boy overwhelmed in the minutes after the official decision, jumping almost as high as the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, reaches into the sky right outside the event venue.

The prize for the best show went to the ‘Middle Beast’ collective. They came all the way from Jordan and understood best how to entertain a jury of experts and at the same time a big crowd of spectators who left their buying spree aside just to support the boy crews fighting for the honour of being sent to the b-boying scene’s most important competition.

The winner of the MTV Show “America’s Best Dance Crew”, world-respected b-boy Ronnie Abaldonado, not only attended Friday’s special workshops to pass on his techniques and tricks, but was also part of the jury during the main event. Besides him, Swift Rock (GER) and Neekoe (UAE) critiqued the break-dancers’ synchronicity, stage presence, choreography as well as b-boying moves during their six-minute crew performances and the following head to head battles of the best four crews.

The Middle East qualifier was the last of five main Braun Battle Of The Year qualifiers (including the USA, Germany, Italy and BeNeLux) taking place this summer. Crews from official qualifiers in Japan, Singapore, India, Brazil and South Africa among many others will also compete with each other for respect and bragging rights – and the honour of competing for the biggest prize in b-boying on November 19 at the Park & Suites Arena in Montpellier for the Braun BOTY finals. As well as the battles, there will be a series of gigs, workshops, 1vs1 performances, We B*Girlz
Battles, talks, parties and much more.

RESULTS BRAUN BATTLE OF THE YEAR QUALIFIER Middle East

1. Over Boys UAE
2. Breakestra BHR

Braun Battle Of The Year. Braun BOTY is the biggest worldwide b-boying competition. A total of 35 qualifiers will be held in different countries, with approximately 3,000 b-boys in 350 crews participating. Thousands of spectators watch the crews battle it out, and the 12,000 tickets for the final in Montpellier are virtually sold out.

The Battle Of The Year was established in 1990 and is the longest running. Every year, it features the best and most innovative b-boy crews from all over the world. It has become a platform for b-boys and hip hop culture in general and an opportunity for all participants to express themselves in a peaceful and non-racist environment.

Following its long-term commitments to b-boying, Braun and its cruZer range of shavers and trimmers are proud to present the 2011 edition of the Battle Of The Year. Also involved are Braun cruZer Ambassadors Ronnie Abaldonado (Braun BOTY judge and b-boy champion) and headliner DJ Lean Rock.