Raygun takes up current breakdance jokes and organizes a competition
Raygun, the Des Moines-based store, hosted a breakdancing competition on Saturday in response to the Olympia break that made the name (even) more famous.
The breakdance boom is not over yet. Raygun held a dance competition for all ages in front of his shop on Saturday.
In case you missed it…
Breaking, formerly called breakdancing, made its debut as an Olympic sport at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
On the first day of the competition, spectators from all over the world were treated to the introduction of one of the athletes: Rachael Gunn, an Australian breaker who competes under the name “Raygun”.
Mike Draper, owner and founder of Raygun, the original Midwest clothing brand, said his inbox was immediately flooded with messages after friends and family saw Raygun the Breaker at the Paris Olympics.
Since then, the store has expanded into raygun jokes and puns, and has also delved into the world of dance itself.
Raygun says they “lean in”
To make things more entertaining, Raygun got help from her friend Anthony “ASan” San, a local breaker from Iowa.
San officially began teaching kids at the Des Moines Social Club, Art Force, and Harding Middle School in 2014, and trained the Harding Breakerz. Currently, his home is one floor outside of his house.
Many of San’s students showed up to give the East Village a breakdancing lesson and encourage passersby to loosen up and join in.
More: Breakdancing helped Des Moines’ youth find a sense of belonging. Why you’ll be seeing more of it in the future.
From kindergarten to high school football players took part
Some of the youngest dancers on the dance floor were San’s students, who weren’t afraid to show off their style and rhythm. San said he teaches students as young as 3 to recent high school graduates, but works with all ages.
San said he always tries to make something positive out of something negative and that’s what breaking is all about.
“Breaking started in the Bronx in the ’70s and was a positive dance,” San said. “That was a negative time. So, you know, that was my message: turn something negative into something positive and then just flaunt it.”
Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter @VictoriaReynaR.
