I was fortunate enough to speak to the York president of the organized LOVE event, Mike Prosserman, a.k.a Piecez, and inquired not only into his roots in break dancing and the cultural environment surrounding it, but also the origin of the concept this event as come to be based on.

“I started breaking at first because the moves interested me. I then became intrigued by the culture that surrounds it and once I got into the crew I’m still with, Maximum Efficiency, it took breaking to the next level for me. My largest inspirations who really got me into breaking were Benzo from Bag of Trix and Floorplay former MEC member and my dad who use to be at all the competitions cheering me on. As time went by I began practicing harder and more often and got to do a lot of shows and traveling. After all of this I had always said I would run an event of my own but I didn’t want it to be anything basic. I took my original concept that I brought from high school, which is currently being introduced into 13 highs schools across the Toronto area and I applied it to the University setting.

“I think it’s important especially with all the incidents of violence in Toronto, to address this problem with positive vibes. We need to get people to realize that even when they are coming from areas of tough times they can still turn to positive things like Hip Hop. We also have to show the community that Hip Hop is about the community and bringing people together. Everything from b-boying to emceeing, we need to show the public that we are doing this for the love. I know that I’ve always done it for love. Not to say that there isn’t negative, violent Hip Hop out there but to me they aren’t representing the true colors of Hip Hop….it’s there choice to make that a positive or negative experience.

“We are here to associate Hip Hop as an anti-violence movement not the opposite. Once we have a captive audience, we bring out the speakers from the charity Leave Out ViolencE to tell their stories on how they have lived with violence and overcome it in their lives. These stories are motivational to all who attend our shows because they can relate to the stories and to the kids that are telling these stories. If they haven’t experienced what the LOVE youth have gone through the audience still gets the message that these negative environments cause…We plan to expand into other Universities as well as high School across Ontario in the next few years. We are currently seeking long run sponsors to give us the backing to be able to take these unique ideas as far as it can go.”

The event included guest speakers, Terrence, Clara and Zane from Leave Out ViolencE who shared their past experiences on how they were involved in violence and overcame them with the help of this organization.

Not only has this event inspired a powerful perspective of break dancing as a positive outlet but it also included the other contributing factors that embody the Hip Hop scene such as beat boxing as performed by DuWaNDem and Subliminal, rap and freestyle served by Arowbe and Rubexcube and a display of graffiti art up for auction. LOVE’s aim at improving community is evident even in the optimistic feedback of the competitors involved as Toby a.k.a Dress to Kill, a.k.a Hardcore Detroit spun his view on the night’s events.

“Great jam…I mean I came out here at 6 in the morning and got not only our money’s worth, but diffenantly out time’s worth too. Good jam, good cause and a lot of fun.”

Competitors showed mutual respect and love towards each other before, during and after each battle thus providing a mentoring example towards the youth. A current student of York University attending the event, Katharina Doumouras whom isurrently majoring in Environmental Studies, lent her assessment of the experience offered.

“It was good…I mean I’ve never been to anything like this before so I wasn’t really sure what to expect. It was such a good atmosphere, people were nice and the competitors were extremely talented. The message of the night was so clear…that there are other outlets for us…other paths. Break dancing is such a creative form and provided the opportunity for people to get together, to relate to each other…it was cool and I’m glad I came out to support it.”

The winners of The Canadian Break Dancing Championships were Shook and City from Montreal, whom not only provided the event with the trophy but won it back along with prizes consisting of $500 cash and a total of $500 in prizes which consisted of two Nike watches, Fila certificates and Triple Five gear. Open circles for the dancers soon followed along with the announcement of the raffle and auction winners. A acknowledgement and thanks to the sponsors of the night: Primerica, Triple 5 Soul, West 49, York Federation of Students, Creative Arts Student Association, Fila, Hi-Fi,, Samurai crew, Bethune College, Nike Timing, Choice Hotels, Think Film, Pepsi, Below the Belt and Punkyfish.

LOVE was an extreme success in initiating thought of the current state of violence within out community but also in cultivating a new image of the often erroneous presentation of Hip Hop and what it can offer as a civic service. The social action of the night’s event offered resources for our youth to connect, share and develop ideas together in influential engagements. LOVE has contributed to the community through action, through deliverance and most importantly through love.

* All photo's taken by Katharina Doumouras (Tati). Not to be reproduced without discussed consent.