Page 12 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, August 16, 2019 Boston-based dance team Lil Phunk named USA’s best in back-to-back years Gold medalist at Hip Hop Dance Championship competition – Boston Celtics Junior Dance Team for 15 years LIL PHUNK GOLD MEDAL WINNERS: Shown performing, from left to right, are Aaron Connor, Mya Feliz, Julianna Fonzi (behind Mya), Dante Graziano, Giacinto Graziano (behind Dante), Synnae Fitzpatrick, Madyson Feliz, Damarea Morris and Matteo Graziano. P hunk Phenomenon Dance Complex announced that Lil Phunk (also known as the Boston Celtics Junior Dance Team), its hip hop dance crew of nine boys and girls ages seven to 12, received a gold medal for the second year in a row as the Junior Champions at the 2019 USA Hip Hop Dance Championship. In addition Lil Phunk received the highest score ever by a USA junior crew. The final event, which was attended by thousands of people, was held at the Arizona Grand Resort & Spa in, Phoenix, Ariz., on Saturday, August 10. Lil Phunk moved into the World Hip Hop Dance Championships and placed ninth in the World in an event that drew more than 4,000 dancers from 50 countries, all vying for the title of World Hip Hop Dance Champion in the junior, varsity, adult and other crew divisions. Now in its 17th year, the USA and World Hip Hop Dance Championships are produced by Hip Hop International. The competition has inspired the MTV show Randy Jackson presents America’s Best Dance Crew. Competitors demonstrated a two-minute routine and were required to incorporate several styles of street dance. They were judged on performance and skills. “This is the Olympics of hip hop dance and the skill level is unsurpassed. The Lil Phunk set themselves apart with their intensity, high energy and crowd-pleasing power moves,” said Phunk Phenomenon Dance Complex owner Reia Briggs-Connor, who is also its chief choreographer. “We are incredibly proud of all of our dancers.” She continued, “Successes like this one don’t just happen … To be back-to-back champions at this event is not an easy accomplishment and we are forever humbled and grateful to hold this title … These kids all come from all different communities and backgrounds, but find common ground in their passion for hip hop and breakdance. I hope their accomplishment will inspire other kids to try hip hop … My Lil Phunk Boyz were crowned World Champs in 2009 but this one may be a more sentimental victory as I lost my childhood dance teacher a little over a month ago and I was able to watch my nine-year-old son Aaron capture his second gold medal in his brother Jared’s honor.” This comes on the heels of the announcement that B-Boying (Breakdancing) will be introduced at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. The 2019 results are as follows: Junior Division Bronze medal – Lil Supremes (San Diego, Calif.) Silver medal – Trouble Makers (Pasadena, Calif.) Gold medal – Lil Phunk (Boston) The Lil Phunk team is comprised of the following members: Aaron Connor, 9, of Saugus; Dante Graziano, 12, of Tewksbury; and his two brothers, Matteo Graziano, 9, and Giacinto Graziano, 8; Julianna Fonzi, 12, of Malden; Damarea Morris, 12, of Boston; Synnae Fitzpatrick, 12, of East Boston; Mya Feliz 12, of Chelsea, and her sister Madyson Feliz, 12. The Lil Phunk crew members have been part of the official junior dance team for the Boston Celtics. For more information about the event organizers, Hip Hop International, visit http://www. hiphopinternational.com. About Phunk Phenomenon Dance Complex Phunk Phenomenon is a nontraditional dance studio that reaches out to young people through the art of urban dance. The studio promotes urban dance as a way of expression and as a means of building self-esteem. It is the home of Lil Phunk, which is the official junior dance team for the Boston Celtics, and has several other performance groups that travel throughout the state to entertain a wide range of audiences. The studio also uses dance to promote awareness about Sanfilippo syndrome, a rare, incurable genetic illness that afflicts the owners’ son Jared. For more details, please visit http://www.jaredsfight.org, www.teamsanfilippo.org and http://www.phunkphenomenon.com. Registration The dance studio will be holding Registration signups beginning Sunday, August 25th from 12-3 PM for Old Members; Sunday, August 25th from 5-8 PM for New Members; and for both old and new members, Sunday, September 8th from 4-7 PM. Phunk Phenomenon has a studio in Everett located at 1886 Revere Beach Parkway (behind Dunkin’ Donuts) and we also offer classes for 2 year olds and older. The phone number is 617-389-9111. Email for more info: Lilphunk2@aol.com
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