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It was a late summer day in Austin, Texas, and Jeyna Ponce looks comfortable and ready. Sitting comfortably on a gray couch in a head-to-toe tracksuit and gold hoop earrings, you wouldn’t know she’s one of the most accomplished young break dancers currently on the track.
Ponce told POPSUGAR: “This weekend is the beginning of a chaotic month because the whole next month, there is no break time. “The Austin of today and next weekend is Philadelphia to beat the national team. Next weekend, after that, I’m going to Minnesota. And the weekend after that, I’m going to LA to shoot a promotional video. Because So that’s a lot.”
Life on the road is part of the package when you are a girl in need. Here in Austin, Ponce is participating in the regional qualifiers for Red Bull BC One, one of the most prestigious breaking competitions in the world. The top smashers (‘b-boys’ and ‘b-girls’) went to Bang Lone Star to compete in a knockout tournament. The last goal? Be among 16 b-boys and 16 b-girls selected to represent their country at the 2022 World Finals in New York City on Nov.
Ponce, 21, has studied dance since he was a child, studying a variety of styles, including ballet, jazz, contemporary American and hip hop. At first, breakthrough did not appeal to her, despite the fact that she has grown from this profession.
“My family is fragile, just like I grew up around Jabberwocky and Super Crew and Full Force, so I have always been influenced by them and the culture, and they are all my family,” Ponce said. I”. “But not until Covid [happened] which I completely broke. “
With the world locked down, she turns to breakouts as a means of escape and expression. The Las Vegas native started training at her local studio, Alchemy Breaking. From there, she started attending their open school sessions. A year later, she took part in her first battle.
She said: “I just love the art form, freedom of expression and my family is very dance oriented and my parents love to dance too. “Everybody dances, so it’s a really big connection and attachment that we have, like a mutual connection between all of us.”
Up front, Ponce takes POPSUGAR through a day in a b-girl’s life, battle-day uniforms and the best shoes for doing a few breakout moves of your own – with caution, of course. .
