Fresh off their performance as background dancers for Hip-Hop duo The New Boyz, the Total Domination Youth Ensemble will perform Saturday night at the Austin YMCA.
Total Domination is one of three special guest performances scheduled for the first “Battle of the Sides” team dance competition presented by the Final Explosion team of performing arts. The competition will pit five teams from the South Side against five teams from the West Side of the city.
Two of the West side teams hail from Austin: Main Attraction and Final Explosion, who practice at the Learning Network Center, an alternative elementary school located at 5911 W. Midway Park Ave.
Final Explosion will donate a portion of the proceeds received from ticket sales to the Learning Network Center to help supply students with basic school supplies.
The competition will be judged by a panel of four judges, with the top two teams winning $400 and $200 and the top three teams receiving trophies.
Latricia Walker, founder of Final Explosion, said events like this give children “hope and experience.”
“We try to do a networking and community type thing. [The children] meet new people, learn new dances and also get to see other more experienced dancers,” said Walker.
Luther Syas, executive director of the Learning Network Center, said the competition gives the youth something to do physically and mentally.
“It’s beneficial all around, there needs to be more things like this.”
Aside from the competition, spectators will be treated to three guest performances, including one by the Total Domination Youth Ensemble. Total Domination is part of the Full Effect Entertainment Theatrical Dance Company whose groups have been featured on BET’s Wild Out Wednesday, MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew, and music videos by performers such as Missy Elliot and Ciara.
Dane Campbell, the artistic director of Full Effect, said he “really liked what [Walker] does with Final Explosion.” The Total Domination Ensemble is a good fit for this event, Campbell said, because the dancers are 8 to 17 years old, like the other groups that will be competing this weekend.
The Battle of the Sides competition begins at 6:30 p.m May 8 in the Austin YMCA’s small gym. Tickets cost $12 at the door.
For more info, contact Latricia Walker at (773) 558-1813 or Final.explosion@yahoo.com.
austintalks.org@gmail.com
Correction: MAIN ATTRACTION is not a part of the Learning Network..
The Main Attraction Dance Crew was started in 1992 and founded by Mr. Terrayne Ellis…….The crew currently is housed at the Austin YMCA…The Mission of the Main Attraction Dance Crew is to entertain, educate, empower, equip. and expand. In 2004 the Main Attraction Crew (aka) Austin Unity Dancers appearred on NBC Channel 5 Showtime at the Apollo hosted by Monique. For more info you can contact Terrayne Ellis 773-491-5470