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Funkamania XIII: A Night of Funk and Punk |
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Written by Tracy Wong
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For all the hype that was created over Funkamania 2008, the annual hip hop competition held for tertiary students was surprisingly scaled-down this year, relative to last year. Perhaps, the more compact venue for this year's event, the Orchard Youth Park, should have served as a harbinger of the lower volume of activity and crowd turnout that prominently distinguished this year's event from last year's.
However, like most of the attendees of Funkamania 2008, Hooked was optimistically hopeful, going into the event that it would be overcrowded and bustling with activity, not unlike Funkamania 2007 that was held outside Takashimaya.
The silver lining in the entire situation was the fact that HOOKED was able to enjoy an unblocked view of the stage.
Several bands from the Cultural Activities Club in NUS initiated the event with a couple of songs. They appeared to be hitting the right notes, as far the audience was concerned as their performances visibly resonated with the crowd.
Admittedly, their performances were well-timed because the crowd was getting fidgety and agitated with the unduly long, prolonged wait for the commencement of the event. The energy level of the crowd only truly started its rapid ascent when the hip hop contestants took centre stage.
The first hip-hop group was Matriarcx, an all-girl hip hop group, radiating a dominatrix-like vibe in their crisp and polished executive wear. Their girl power anthem was explicated through their grooves to the beat of the music.
Yet another chest-thumper of the girl power mantra was F-Beatx. One of the dancers in the group earned the well-deserved accolade of Best Female Dancer of Funkamania 2008. Indeed, it was a dance full of energy and power, and one of the judges even commented that it was an "explosive" dance.
The male dancers were not to be outdone by the fairer sex. Soul-jas, an all-male group boasting hunky males in its line-up (See photo above) rocked the crowd and drove many a female faint-hearted and shrill-voiced from all the screaming, with its hip hop routine. Their captivating performance was an effective rejoinder to the girl power theme that been making the rounds in the female-dominated crowd throughout the event.
Cue in for the resident clowns of the event. Hoop-side and Last Minute Crew horsed around with an appreciative audience through their comedic skit that was integrated in their hip-hop dance sequence. While their role-playing left the audience, including the judges in stitches of laughter, the judges were more sublime in their comments on the technical finesse showcased in the performance.
The judges acknowledged the ingenuity of the groups, commenting that the performances were "entertaining and different", though the rest of the comments seemed laced with ambiguity.
Static Flow and Wicked Tempo were two other groups that wowed the crowd with their hip hop routines. Static Flow's dance moves were well-oiled and synchronised, peppered with a diverse range of stunts that only left the crowd clamouring for more.
Wicked Tempo, in particular, faced a tall order of giving a vibrant performance that would not detract from their self-conceived punk image and attitude. Their modus operandi: attire.
In line with their projected punk image that necessitates a visible deviation in appearance and behavioural tendencies from the norm, the group opted to wear "skinnies" instead of the more common bottom of choice for hip-hoppers, baggy pants. It was a risky choice because unlike baggy pants, "skinnies" would not have enabled the dancers to conceal the imperfect lines in the dance moves.
The risk paid off as the fluidity and clean lines of the dance movements were emphasized by the "skinnies".
 Entrusted with the challenging task of closing the event with an explosive bang, Soul Out Crew boldly met the challenge head-on and delivered. They emanated a truly infectious feel-good vibe that was encapsulated in their stylish and cheerfully exuberant hip-hop moves. Many in the crowd could not help but be compelled to bob their heads to the music beats and mouth the lyrics of the song, providing a sight that would have been more commonplace in a pop music concert rather than a hip-hop dance competition.
Unlike the other groups, these dancers were dressed simply in oversized T-shirts (group name printed on it), jeans and sport shoes. Clearly, technique and dance style reigned triumphant over the style of costumes as the group emerged 2nd runner up. One of the members even managed to beat many of his more well-dressed peers to clinch the award of Best Male Dancer of Funkamania 2008.
The dancers of E'dee Vance certainly went home with double happiness for they were not only rewarded for Best Choreography; they also came in 1st runner up. If there ever was an award for Best Costume design offered, this group would have undoubtedly bagged the prize as well. The backs of the female dancers were painted with a picture of a skull biting a rose. Uniqueness in appearance and technique was the winning ticket for this group of dancers.
 Last but clearly not the least is the champions of Funkamania 2008, Trademark. Not only were they a crowd favourite, they awed the crowd with their neat and slick moves, facial expressions and their stunts - one of which entailed a particularly difficult move whereby a dancer leapt over the heads of his other group members.
By the end of their performance, the crowd was chanting and yelling their names. Quoting another judge's words, this group "looked like they were enjoying themselves".
Perhaps that was the extra boost that gave them an edge over their competitors. Competition notwithstanding, if you are having fun in what you are doing, it is highly probable that you are going to push yourself to your limits to attain near-perfection in the outcome.
As the weary dancers who triumphed celebrated their winnings while those who lost mulled dejectedly over their losses, and as the crowd slowly filed out of the venue, the dust of the captivating dance competition settled in.
Yes, the turnout for the event was smaller than it was last year, but it will surely not dilute or diminish the momentousness of the occasion for those who sweated through their preparations for the competition, the dancers. HOOKED
Photos courtesy of:
NUS Cultural Activities Club
Meng Kwang
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