LOGAN SQUARE — Logan Square had an '80s flashback Sunday afternoon when scores of dancers, rappers and graffiti artist headed to the neighborhood's namesake park for an annual party focused on the community's roots in hip-hop culture.
Dubbed the Battle for the Eagle, it was half-celebration and half-heated competition featuring four hip-hop-focused contests: a freestyle rap battle; an "all-style" battle featuring all forms of dance; a two-person team battle featuring a dance style known as popping; and a graffiti art battle.
"You have old people, young people dancing. You have people [of] all races and genders. Everybody gets along, talking and dancing, vibing out, and it's all love," said Lady Champ, an organizer of this year's event.
The hip-hop celebration started abou 2 p.m. Sunday afternoon at the Writer's Bench at the base of the Eagle monument, where dancers have been flocking to break dance since the 1980s. The competition started in 2006.
"The community has changed over the years, but the people accept it, they like it. We want to keep it here. It means a lot to us just because it started here," she said.
"[It's] just to bring the community together, an event for us, by us. It's a free event we do for everybody, all ages, all races. Everyone comes and everyone battles or just vibes out," said Lady Champ. "This is where it started, so this is where we want to keep it."
"Chicago is known for being violent, gunfire and this and that. We want to show them we can get together and still make it fun and be safe," said Lady Champ.
Daria Ni, who has been hip-hop dancing for five years in Russia but has never performed in America before, heard about the contest at a dance studio in Chicago.
"She's definitely a little nervous," said Julia Jackalone, Ni's aunt who translated for her. "It's a little different style, but she's excited to be a part of it."
The competition began with a graffiti artist working on spray-painted masterpieces on plastic stretched across trees in the park. Meanwhile, about 200 people formed a semicircle around a linoleum floor used as an amateur dancer stage as a two-team popping dancing competition began.
Dancer David Noreaga, 21, said last year was his first competition "and I've been in love ever since."
It's more about the experience than the competition, Noreaga said.
"I come to meet new people," Noreaga said. "The thing I'm most excited for is getting down with my dance crew, Electric Funketeers. I come for the love in my heart. Nothing else."
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