B Boys Battle

"On the ground level BBoying is very healthy in the UK right now. More and more competitions are taking place. This gives bboys/girls something to work towards, improving their skills along the way. Events like Castle Rocks, Survival of the Sickest and Steps of Style have helped to put Edinburgh on the UK bboy map."

As Breakin' Convention's rep for Edinburgh, and member of Random Aspekts , Tony Mills is the prominent voice Scottish breaking. Having linked up with Dance Base, not least through his solo show last Fringe, he is preparing the November arrival of the Convention at the EFT. First up is a series of workshops with Ken Swift, from 20th to 25th June.

As one of the original members of the Rock Steady Crew, Swift rocks it old school style, and his arrival in Edinburgh on 20 June is part of a early summer offensive, culminating in the Make or Break battle on the 22nd. Over the past decade, bboy moves have popped into the mainstream, becoming either a token nod to the street or a more thorough engagement with the ethos.

Make or Break gets back to the roots: a face-off, it echoes the first crews in the States, who used dance as a form of aggressive display. Almost tribal passions are reflected in hip-hop's language and culture. The EFT seems an unlikely place for hip-hop, but Mill's advocacy has seen it become a centre for breaking and popping, giving the local teams a chance to shine up on the same stage as the ballet and contemporary companies.