Moment of Clairification

The breakdancing documentary “Inside the Circle” was a 2007 SXSW movie fest hit, but I just saw it for the first time two weeks ago at Alamo Drafthouse’s music Monday screening. The film, which chronicles the lives of several Texas b-boys over four years of ups and downs in breakdancing competitions, was the most engaging and moving documentary I’ve seen in a long while. Coming from the documentary geek that I am, that says a lot.

I’ve been catching the B-Boy City competitions, organized by Austin b-boy icon Romeo Navarro, for a few years now, so the magic in this documentary was no surprise to me. In my years as a barista at Ruta Maya on South Congress, I saw the Austin b-boy troupe practice and compete on several occasions, and their skill is even more impressive in person. Some of the documentary, actually, was filmed at Ruta Maya, capturing images of the particularly Austinacious coffee shop before the porch-dwelling regulars took it upon themselves to spend weeks painting the outside concrete columns with detailed Native American-style artwork. I’ve met Navarro and served many a Red Bull to these hardworking breakdancers on several occasions, and having experienced their sincere and dedicated attitudes firsthand made watching “Inside the Circle” even a more heartfelt experience.

Simply put, I had mixed feelings about this film, and what a pleasing mixture it was. I felt hip-hop love and Austin pride (not only were there scenes from my beloved Ruta Maya, but toward the beginning of the film there’s a quick close-up of a Daily Texan newspaper stand). I wanted to cry and dance at the same time. I was amazed and intrigued by the skill and dedication of Omar, Josh and the other b-boys chronicled in the film, and I was delighted by their ability to stay in good humor during even the most stressful times. Most of all, however, I was utterly inspired by these boys’ ability to stick together, achieve their dreams, and inspire so many others despite each of their very arduous life circumstances.

Omar explains in the film that the “circle” is not about “friends dancing in a circle.” What happens in the circle are called “battles,” but they are battles that both unite and create conflict, and that conflict gives rise to respect and self-purpose. And as Romeo notes, the circle must always be complete.