22th of November in da Feel Good Club Moscow dancers became evidents of second Dance Championship M357 Battlezone – Autumn Fight’06 for Model-357 students. That was the next event, organized by Laboratory Of Dancing Arts Model-357, where everybody could come to dance, join the contest Dancefloor Star and get some cool prizes, watch the best students performances and team shows and special guests – Band’Eros crew live! Also everybody could get DVD Spring Fight’06 absolutely for free.

No doubts that this dance contest by Model-357 is outstanding event for all the dance community, spreading dance culture in Moscow city. M357 students showed and influenced the rest their passion to dance. Ans team performances looked like real master-class for everybody. Feel Good Club was filled by plenty of people who were thirsty for awesome dancing, great sound and unforgettable drive. It was provided also by M357 Battlezone speaker Igor Burnishev (Band’Eros) and Dj Light.

M357 Battle Zone – Autumn Fight’06 consisted of two parts: nonofficial and official. The goal of first one was to drink, to dance and to wait for everyone who wishes get inside the club. Warming up was provided by Emil Sultanov – Model-357 Lab. teacher, performances of Stas Alekhin’s groups and special course Girls Only direcred by Ksenia Rylskaya.

Official part was directly dance contest, but before its jury was introduced to the audience. Its membership didn’t change since M357 Battlezone Spring Fight:
Alexander Korginov (Mirazh)
Max Yurov (Foxes)
Valentina Selivanova (Planet Fitness)
Ksenia Rylskaya (Telochki)
Boris Zavaritskiy (Planet Fitness)

This well-known and much loved Model-357 teachers have to judge the competition and keep the battle rules. And the rules were:
I round – home made for one minute and a half – and 4 people have to leave.
II round – round battle. Dj is playing for every participant two tracks per 20 seconds, so each person goes two times. And again 4 people have to leave after this round.
III – final battle with two winners at the result.

There were 12 participants, among there are 5 ones who has already taken part in previous Battlezone, where Lera Manikhina has won. Before all the names of new heros would be announced, Orange team made a show, stimulated cheers. And then all the participants have to perform thir home task. After first round thre was Dance Idea project show, who helped to relax the atmosphere before judgement. Head of the jury Alexander Korginov stepped on the scene and asked students not to be shy, to act, to express themselves, feel free on the stage– make their dancing live.

The eight names of next round participants were announced. This people really deserved to be proud of, because of their effort and hard conditions – small stage and stuffy air. But the small space wasn’t a trouble for extreme-crew No Limit, showed head spinning tricks. That was really unlimited, no doubts! And then there was a contest for audience: 4 people from the crowd have to dance on the stage, and the best got music-player. After the contest it was turn for M357 project Modelz performance, directed by Valentina Selivanova. This project exists about a year but already became well-qualified.

After Modelz show very nervous moment came: among eight participants it must be chosen only four ones for final round. Boris Zavaritskiy said that everybody grew a lot comparing to year before. «Just keep it real!» Valentina Selivanova also thanked everybody for joining the competition, cause they were already winners. It’s very hard for students to perform in front of big crowd. In final met Gocha, Katya Orlova, Luba Burova and Ulyana Korosteleva. That was a great fight, where all of them had to battle with each other, everyone had 3 entrance per 40 seconds. But he fight turned out not to be straight out, but very interesting and dynamic, cause dancers used their acting technique and sense of humour.

Before the awards ceremony Alexander Korginov said thanks for all the Model-357 Lab. Teachers, who shares their skills, and special respect for Igor Burnishev and Dj Light for their job. Second place of M357 Battlezone Autumn Fight’06took Ulyana: she’s got M357 crystal cup, club card for 3 months dancing in the studio, player iPod Nano, diploma and souvenirs from Model-357. And 1st place won Katya: she’s got a winner crystal cup, club card for half a year, stylish watches r’n’b J&Co, mini multimedia-center iPod Video and Model-357 souvenirs. At the ending the winners of Autimn Fight showed their dance, accompanied with cheers. And of course everybody screamed in honor of Alexander Azymod, Model-357 Lab. owner and the event organizer.

iDance: Alexander, you deserve to be congratulated with second successful championship. Are you satisfied?

Alexander: Not almost… If I am always satisfied, everything’s going to stop on this level. I see some details that are worth to change and improve, but at the same time I understand that everything turned out to be better. I need to improve and renew my events all the time.

That’s full house in the club and everybody likes the event. Could you tell how the idea of Battlezone was created?

I want that people, connected with dance, associated Model-357 with the best teachers and with the best events as well: projects, shows, championships, battles… I’m sure that Model-357’s going to get image of the most progressive dance company very soon. Nobody organizes events that could compare with mine in quality and scale.

Igor Burnishev insures that there’re the best dancers teaching in your studio. How do you think, what else helps students to grow?

I guess it’s desire to perform on the stage, when the real passion coming true. Tese students took it very serious and seriously prepared for this event. As fas as me, I give them opportunity to perform in front of the audience – that’s the greatest pleasure for every dancer.

How long does it take to reach such a level as today winners?

With our teachers and our programs – no less then 3 month.

On the one hand, M357 Battlezone seems to be a profit business, on the other – very popular event in Moscow dance culture. Is there any contradiction?

I can’t speak about profitability – such events are usually profitless and it’s normal. Another side is more important: it works for creating studio’s image, and in this way Battlezone is commercially useful instrument. Is there wasn’t this championship, nobody sees shows of the top crews and has opportunity to share with them… Dance business closely connects with dance culture and there’s no contradiction. Dance culture is moves by dance studios, and only the best could do more.

Prizes are given and the results are summed up. But it’s not the end! Club was burned by Band’Eros – popular russian R’n’B project featuring Street Jazz. After the show iDance.ru managed to talk to Igor Burnishev, Model-357 teacher, Battlezone MC and of the Band’Eros members. By the way, he’s one of the strongest b-boys and funk style dancers, frequent winner of Breakdance Championships. He believes that if person is able to dance, he just must have individuality.

iDance: Were there your students who took part in battle?

Igor: Yes, Gocha. He’s been training with me for two years. Actually he’s really cool – he has grown a lot last time and this battle showed it. If it were the third place, he’d take third place, no doubt. Girl were more universal but Gocha turned out to be more original, he deserves a prize for originality.

What the purpose of Band’Eros performance on this event, how do you think?

To let them thing their songs *laughes*. Actually Band’Eros band also connected with dance, because there are two break dancers – Ruslan and me. I’m dance teacher and choreographer as well. My first profession is producer, next – choreographer and only the third is singer. Batishta also dances – so all our project is dancing, we’re close to hip hop style of dance and music as well.

Is it usual that Band’Eros turns on the crowd so much?

Yes, it’s always like that! We have 21 concert per month on average, but everywhere we are, we’re supported by people and we give them all our energy. Recently we had a tour around Russia and we broke all the records – the clubs where we’ve performed, gathered plenty of people.

And were there unsuccessful concerts in your career?

Yeah, there were, but only because of organizer’s mistakes. Just we called them unsuccessful, when in the club for 1000 people there are only thirty. But as for us, we had complicated concerts. And of course, we’re analyzing every mistake to delete them forever. Unfortunately, it’s not only up to us: the biggest percent of mistakes is from organizer’s side.

How do you manage to combine dancing and musical work?

With fun and enthusiasm, there’re no barriers to combine dancing and music, cause they go hand in hand.

What does dancing mean for you? Has it became the way of life or it’s hobby or kind of job?

Now dancing for me is just secondary thing, unfortunately, cause during many years of my life it was my everything. And when I started to work in Band’Eros collective, dancing moved to backstage, but in my job my dance skillz are very useful, that’s no doubt.

Is it possible to create unique image because of dancing in our show-business?

It’s complicated question… For example, foreign hip hop culture is grown on rock’n’roll, tap and other dancers – there were no breakdance without footwork and tap. In Russia we don’t have this roots and everything there is going rather slowly comparing to East and now our dancers are trying to reach it’s level. I guess it’s possible to stand out if to do it right – understanding the style and spreading the style. If you dance hip hop, you should know hip hop culture in common and follow it.

Do you have idols, I mean in dancing?

Of course there are some people I like to watch: Paul Swear and Mr. Wiggles in funk style, b-boy Machina in breakdance – I like american style. If we talking about hip hop, I like Boris Zavaritskiy and among singers I like Ciara. For me the most important is uniqueness and stylishness. If person is able to dance, he just must have his own individuality. He must have a unique style.