’Blitzkrieg’ a Manipal dance crew to Las Vegas stage

Mangalore Today News Network

Manipal , Aug 2, 2016: ’Blitzkrieg’, the dance group that catapulted a  Manipal University to global dance platform, was feted at a function hosted by a MIT, Manipal Institute of Technology at its library auditorium recently, for its performance at the Hip Hop International India, Mumbai, where it finished first and was selected to represent India at the World Hip Hop Dance Championship 2016, to be held from August 8 to 13 in Las Vegas.

The audience also wished luck to the 22-member group, which leaves for the world competition on August 4. Over 50 countries are expected to participate in the championship but Blitzkrieg team leader John Daniel, a final-year Mechatronics student of MIT, expressed confidence in his team.

"We have been winning competitions across the country over the past two to three years and we are confident of performing well in the US as well," he said. John joined the dance group four years ago and took over as its leader last year.

Vasanthi Pai, wife of Chancellor, Dr Ramdas M Pai, Pro Chancellor, Dr H S Ballal, G K Prabhu, Director MIT and others were present to encourage and support the team members who also performed for the audience. The team, which focuses on western, hip hop and break dance moves, comprises two students from School of Communications, Manipal, one from Manipal College of Dental Sciences, one from School of Management and the rest from MIT. The group does not have a choreographer of its own and John himself creates about 80 per cent of the dance moves. Suhash Amin, another MIT student, also chips in with his bit.

Competitions at Las Vegas are set to be held in various categories including solos, adult division, varsity and mega crew.