Feb. 5, 2014

By Signe Trewyn

By Abrielle Backhaus

You don’t have to break your piggy-bank to check out the break dance skating group Breaksk8 at 8 p.m., Feb. 8, in the UC Hamilton Room.

Breaksk8 is a fusion of breakdancing and roller skating, originally founded by Shannon Anthony and Jessy Nice out of Kokomo, Ind., in 2000.

Nice said he has loved dance since childhood and finds inspiration through his passion of performing.

“Dance gives me the freedom of expression and the fact that there is no right or wrong,” Nice said.

Nice has been a group member for 14 years and said practice is  key in show time preparation.

The group practices for five hours before shows to get into performance mode, Nice said.

“My favorite part of the show is seeing everyone smiling and dancing along to our talents,” Nice said.

Nice said the music will appeal to many listeners and the show holds numerous radio hits.

“The show has music from the radio,” Nice said. “And features a Michael Jackson tribute near the end which lasts three minutes.”

Breaksk8 gained popularity by traveling through the Midwest, stopping at various rinks spreading word about their group.

Carey Passer, SEAL large event intern, said SEAL Manager Sara Molnar saw the Breaksk8 group perform at a convention in the spring and decided to show everyone what they can do by bringing them to UW-Whitewater.

Breaksk8’s talent hit the main stage in the show America’s Best Dance Crew in 2008 and went on a national MTV tour with ABDC, headlining in 25 major cities throughout the United States.

“We haven’t brought in any other groups to UW-Whitewater with this much attention focused upon it, and they are new to the scene,” Passer said. “It is a different group that many students will like.”

Passer said he believes the students will highly enjoy the unique performance, and they will leave the show feeling entertained.