Jenna Lee

Staff Writer

It started with watching YouTube videos and learning the moves and progressed to forming an official club at Westford Academy. The Breakdancing Club, combined with students from WA and other towns, was formed last year by junior Tak Wong. They practice once or twice a week in the school and every Saturday at the Westford Dance Center studio.

When asked how the club was formed, Ben Ngai, a junior, said “This club started when we all realized we had an interest in breakdancing and we wanted to practice it together.” By learning new moves from YouTube videos and from each other, the members improve their breakdancing skills every week.

Aside from practicing, the members previously entered some competitions in Lowell and participated in school events such as WA Idol and Westford Academy Theater Arts production, “J.Caes: the Tragedy of Julius Caesar”.

Members practicing at the dance studio

The play was declared a state finalist winner at the Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild’s 80th Annual State Finals in Boston on April 2. The three breakdancers from the play, Tak Wong, Ben Ngai, and Chris Horsey, received an award for Choreography in the ‘All-Star Cast Nominations’. Wong, who won 2nd place last year and 1st this year for WA Idol by breakdancing, comments,“Being part of WATA in the play ‘J.Caes’ was a great experience and it was an awesome way or meeting new people”.

Everyone is invited to join the club any time, and no prior skills are necessary. “We do accept beginners and new members”, Wong says, “as long as they are willing to commit and practice.” The Breakdancing Club also has their own facebook page called “Westford Bboy/Bgirl/Freerunning” which currently has sixty-four members.