B-boy Oh Boy

Three years ago,Mumbai-based Sagar Naidu watched his friends perform complicated dance steps in a nearby park. Some balanced their bodies on their palms while others flaunted their head-spinning skills. Impressed and inspired,Naidu began pursuing the dance style,b-boying. Now,he is representing India at the semi-finals of the prestigious b-boying competition,R 16 (Respect 16) Solo Battle Championship,being held in Taiwan from June 8 to 10. The finals will be held in Korea and the event is sponsored by Korean Tourism Organisation.

Naidu,20,now goes by the name B-boy Nevermind. “Everytime I’d fall down while practising,I used to say ‘never mind’ and that’s when a crew member named me ‘B-boy Nevermind’,” he says with a laugh. A first-year B.Com Honors student of H R College,Naidu is part of the Freak n Stylz crew and has participated in various crew championships in India and abroad.

It was after an intense competition with a hundred b-boys from all over India on May 20 that Naidu got selected to represent the country. B-boys Sukist and Great man from Taiwan,B-boy Keith and B-girl Musick from India,and B-boy Aika from Nepal judged the India circuit. Naidu is the first Indian b-boy to take part in the tournament alongside participants from 15 other countries.

“I practise for about three hours every day and also teach students. I love doing the combos — hand stands,elbow free­z­es,head stands,sidebaby freezes and windmills. This will be my strength at the competition,” concludes an elated Naidu.