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Pilsen Woman Breakdances In Streets, Explores Neighborhood In ESPN Video

By Kelly Bauer | December 7, 2016 12:43pm
 Personal trainer Erendira Pedraza walks around Pilsen, breakdancing in the streets and talking about her neighborhood in a new ESPN Woman video.
Personal trainer Erendira Pedraza walks around Pilsen, breakdancing in the streets and talking about her neighborhood in a new ESPN Woman video.
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ESPN Woman

CHICAGO — For Pilsen's Erendira Pedraza, breakdancing is life. 

In a new video on ESPN, personal trainer Pedraza walks around Pilsen and other neighborhoods in Chicago, breakdancing in the streets and talking about her passion for dance. The video was made for ESPN Woman, which focuses on women who "live" their sport.

"Dancing was my best friend. It was my parent. It was my first love. It was a bad breakup. It was a good breakup. It was everything in one," Pedraza said in the video. "And dancing still continues to be all those things for me, and I cannot see myself without it. I cannot."

Pedraza, who was born and raised in Pilsen, said it was dangerous to go outside at night when she was growing up. As a child she was used to ducking when she heard shots, she says.

Pilsen has changed since those days, though, Pedraza said.

"The culture here is beautiful," Pedraza said in the video. "I love the people here. A lot of people have a lot of interesting stories. They come from different places."

Pedraza also talks about how breakdancing drives her: She trains as often as she can, making notes about what she needs to do and what her weaknesses are, and has performed in front of large crowds despite her nerves.

Pedraza started breakdancing because it was something she could control, allowing her to "create a compelling vision that was going to pull me toward my future."

"I can't wait to share what I've been working on with the world," Pedraza said in the video. "I can't wait to inspire people to do something greater than what they are."

Watch the video: