4 Utah kids preparing to compete in breakdancing at the AAU Junior Olympics

SALT LAKE CITY — Four Utah kids are heading to Texas this summer to compete in the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympics in breakdancing.

One of the kids, nine-year-old Cash Hutchings, aka B-Boy Cash Money, has been breakdancing for four years and has already advanced into the Top 16 at the AAU Junior Olympics.

“I like how you can dance to the music,” Cash said, “and do whatever you can do.”

Cash Hutchings breakdancing (Verl Johansen, KSL NewsRadio)

Fourteen-year-old Valin Saiki, known as B-Boy Saiki, started breakdancing when he was three. But he said he didn’t take it seriously until he was 11.

“I can express myself and also just be free when I’m dancing,” he said.

Valin Saiki (Verl Johansen, KSL NewsRadio)

The social aspect of breakdancing appeals to 13-year-old Benson Adams, known on the dance floor as B-Boy Air Sugaa.

“I like the community and the fact that I get to meet new people,” he told KSL NewsRadio.

Benson Adams (Verl Johansen, KSL NewsRadio)

Fourteen-year-old Vivian McGinty, who goes by B-Girl Lokita, said she’s proud she’s made it this far. And a little nervous.

“I’m kind of nervous because I have to go against like a lot of people,” Vivian said. “But I’m feeling confident about it.”

Vivian McGinty (Verl Johansen, KSL NewsRadio)

Vivian, Valin and Benson will battle through the preliminary rounds to catch up with Cash in the Top 16.

Abbie McGinty, Vivian’s mom, said that normally the kids battle other dancers in front of three judges. But at a national competition, there will be five judges.

“So each person goes out, they each have a turn battling,” McGinty said. “Then they always go congratulate each other, you know shake hands, hug, tell each other good job, go back to their sides.” 

McGinty says the judges normally count down from three and then point at the winner. But at nationals they won’t start pointing to show who won until the Top 16.

 

“I’m really excited. I think it’s going to be a good opportunity for me and everybody that’s going,” Valin said, “and I think the competition is going to be way better.”

“It was hard work for sure,” Benson said. “There was a lot of training involved with it, but overall I’m super happy that I was able to qualify.”

The opportunities breakdancing can offer youth

Cash’s mom, Staycee Hutchings, said breakdancing has grown since Cash started dancing five years ago.

“This is its first year with breaking in the AAU Junior Olympics, so it’s a really cool opportunity for us in the breaking scene … because we haven’t really had much opportunity for breaking. Because of the culture that it is,” Hutchings said.

“But … its awesome because as the youth are progressing there’s more opportunities for them. They are able to get scholarships. Our kids are pretty young but once they get to high school they’ll be able to get those scholarships through the AAU,” Hutchings said.

“That’s really really special because it’s never happened before.”

When to watch

Cash, Vivian, Benson, and Valin will sometimes busk, or perform in public places, together in downtown Salt Lake City. And while all of them are a little nervous, “I’m really excited to go,” Valin said. “And I’m excited to go with all my friends.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The AAU Junior Olympics run from July 21st through July 25th. Breakdancing starts on the 24th.

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