The Book of Styles Northwest qualifier for the dance style known as “popping” electrified audiences at the Octopus Bar in Wallingford this past week. 

Popping is a style originating in the late 60s and early 70s that focuses on hitting the beat of the music through acute muscle control, giving the appearance of a “popping” motion. But the dance isn’t fixed on this one aspect. There are many different styles and techniques including animation, the robot, floating, fixed point, isolation and many others. 

Book of Styles started as an event on the East Coast in 2012. Hosted by Urban Artistry and Funk and Focus, the events revolve around the preservation and education of street dance. The April 19 event in Wallingford featured a combination of these focuses according to Ryan “Future” Webb, one of the judges and a member of Urban Artistry.

40 participants went toe-to-toe in the competition. In their dance, competitors showcase different techniques as presented to them through the Book of Styles. This is, in part, a way to keep older styles of popping alive and to connect dancers to the past practitioners of the art form. 

Before the competition date, dancers are informed of the popping style three to four months in advance. By requiring that competitors know these different styles, it makes space for learning and preservation of the art form.

When judging the competitors, Webb pointed out a few things that can make a competitor successful. 

“Who’s enjoying the music, who’s being spontaneous, who’s expressing themself and showing who they are is the first priority,” Webb said. “The second priority is, can you accomplish the task… I’m not too strict on if it’s perfect.”

The Book of Styles finale will be held at Urban Artistry’s Soul Society Festival in Washington D.C.—a week-long festival that includes club nights, workshops, panel discussions, four dance contests, hip-hop, house dance, open styles and the Book of Styles. 

People came from all over the U.S. to observe and compete, including Urban Artistry member Christina Lim, who traveled all the way from Maryland to spectate, compete and film the event.

“Dance has the creative outlet and the community connection, but also a connection with history and the cultures that these art forms are based on,” Lim said. “I’m part of Urban Artistry in D.C., and we push values like cultural preservation and really caring for the legacies of the people who came before us, especially people who started these art forms.”

According to both Lim and Webb, community is at the core of this. People support each other even in competition whether they are friends, strangers or teammates. If someone gives it their all for the love of the art form, they are lifted up positively. 

One does not have to be a dancer to attend and be a part of the community though. Sonja Chae, a member of the Air Force Reserves, attended out of wanting to support the community and witness other people’s art. 

“You get to see what other people are into and the culture of dance,” Chae said. “I’m not a dancer myself, but I can appreciate it and I think it’s cool because there are so many different styles of dancing. It’s like an educational piece for me as well. I think it’s just awesome that people come from all over the world, or even from different parts of town to dance and connect with each other.”

Lim emphasized that regardless of experience, the appeal of dance is its sheer accessibility.

“Think about music that you connect to and like the way that your body moves naturally to that music. Whether it’s like your head moving back and forth or like you’re nodding and just build from there,” Lim said. “It is about the music and the connection to the culture, so expressing that joy and that love.”

The Washington D.C. finals will be hosted June 22, 2024, and will serve as a showcase for Funk in Focus’s mission of cultural preservation and artistry.