Battles vs Contests

Some LA OGs say that judged contests were a rarity in the early street dance scene. When you battled, there were no judges, point systems, or organized face-offs. It was raw. You called someone out. You both went as long as you could. And even if you didn't feel up to it, you never backed down because that's the way it was done. Today's street scene is less spontaneous and more organized in its "battle" approach. And we're seeing that distinction shape the way a new generation understands the dance.

There's different lingo being used now among the new school generation. When you have two or more dancers facing off against each other in an organized match-up evaluated by a panel of judges, then that's a "contest." Usually, there's a time limit and a set number of rounds per dancer. A "battle" is when you have two or more dancers facing off in a cypher where there are no judges, no time limits, and no limits on the number of rounds. What we see on 99% of most advertised events in Los Angeles street scene would be considered contests. Even huge events like Freestyle Session and How Tha West Was Won would be considered contests when talking about their advertised "battles." You'll only see battles happening in the cyphers at these events, at clubs, or other social gatherings.

It's a good thing that there's a linguistic distinction being made. The new generation is re-learning the approach to bboyin', poppin', lockin', and waackin' through this distinction. Contests have their advantage in helping to promote an organized version of the dance that can be marketed to a paying audience. It also helps the debate on what judging criteria to use. Battles have their own place by keeping the raw element of our styles tied to its roots. There's fewer judging politics when you're in a battle as compared to a contest. Being in a battle is truly something that's only experienced by the dancers at war on the dance floor. You can see it in their eyes when they face off.

Whether it's a battle or a contest, the competitive scene for LA's street dance culture is continuing to evolve as we all grow in our skills.