On 10-12th there were organized M357 Grand Workshops of such dance masters as Buddha Stretch, Salas (Hip Hop), Marjory (House) and Grichka (Krump), which gravitated a lot of dancers from all over Russia and abroad to Laboratory Of Dancing Arts Model-357. Students were thankful to Model-357 for the unique opportunity to take classes of legendary teachers, dancers and also juries of M357 BattleZone and preselections on 11th of April. In Hip Hop nomination registered more then 100 dancers, but only 32 were chosen for taking part in battles, 16 in House and 16 in Krump nominations. As far as krumpers, they were ready for the great battle despite of their guru Tight Eyez wasn’t able to come because of visa problems. But they proved their buck power next day on all 100 %!

At 5 PM 1Rock Club started to welcome guests: there was music everywhere, everybody was dancing, waiting for the entrance. Motorcycles and sportcar with M357Battlezone 2009 flags were driving around the club, so all the people could easily find out it was smth outstanding, that was going on this spot. Club was filled up with dancers. Performances of Model-357 teachers and their students opened M357 Battlezone 2009: Anton Jukov, Oleg Abyshev, Konstantin Rosaluk, Evgeniy Chausov & Alex Tronov and Viktoria Blinnikova. Model-357 students has been training in special groups during several months and passed casting to stand on the Battlezone stage, show their skills and prove, that they are future of dancing!

And then battles started: they involved many international underground dance scene representatives. Battles on Hip Hop was judged by legendary Hip Hop founder – Buddha Stretch (Elite Force Crew, USA). First battles were for beginners: students from all dance schools could take part this year. On 5th of April there was preselection in Model-357 Lab., where from 101 participants 16 students were chosen for finals in 1Rock Club. Before final round there was showcase break – very technical and clear performance of Jack’s Garret team, public was stuck by their creative choreography… In final Battlezone battle met M357 students – Inna Beylina and Yana Nevskaya, the fight was very intensive, but jury’s decision audience’ll know at the very end.

After colorful and hot performance on Rhythm Is A Dancer by housedance masters called Mochito Tricks everybody in the club was ready for House Profi battles. And everybody screamed for Marjory Smarth -next M357 Battlezone 2009 judge. She was absolutely impressed by friendly atmosphere of the battles and thanked all the dancers for that. Before final there was another show of b-boys from O.B.C. Crew. In last round in House nomination met Washington, just returned from native Brazil, and Roman Burykin, both are Model-357 Lab. teachers. Audience was so curious to know the winner, but Marjory also had to keep her decision in her mind till awards ceremony.

Nobody could think about it no longer, cause right after the finals there was great show of RAF Crew (France). That was unforgettable: every emotional flash performance, which showed the real character of such an event as M357 Battlezone 2009. RAF show was followed by the presentation of brand new unique Model-357 project, called 1st Dance Channel: first dancing on-line videosaver www.1Dance.tv with live reports from the biggest dance events, exclusive videos of all over the world dancers and users profiles.

And right after Hip Hop Profi battle started, judged by Hip Hop legend Buddha Stretch. It was hard competition between 32 participants, cause among them there were only selected strongest dancers from Russia, Ukraine and France. Semifanals: Ruslan Zulu (Kiev) vs. Zaur Dzahoev (Krasnoyrsk) and Alexandra Stepanova (Spb) vs Francis (Paris). Fights were too hot, that’s why it was made a little break for competitors to have some rest. But there was no rest for emotions, because longer expected show of Salas, Niako & Pepito (Legion X) was performed on the Battlezone stage. That was may be the reason why really international Hip Hop final between Zulu and Francis turned out to be so interesting and impressive. Stretch even has to ask for extra round to choose the winner. But he kept his name secret according to rules.

And then… there was calm before the storm. Krump! Everybody got some deep breathe – and real buck began! That was Slamz Fam performance on special Tight Eyez’s track – 357 Buck. Instead of Tight Eyes this year on M357 Battlezone it was Grichka who judged Krump battle. Main confrontation was going between members of strongest family of Russia and Europe – Slams. In demifinal M357 Battlezone 2008 winner MAG was battled by Pashulya (Big Slam). Semifinals: Tention vs. Lil Slam and Big Slam vs. J Slam. In final met two main opponents Tention and Big Slam, and it took Grichka some time to make his choice. And his decision was announced on upcoming award ceremony! Attention, please!

Winner of Student Hip Hop Battle – Inna Beylina! Judge of the battle, Buddha Stretch, presented to her M357 Battlezone 2009 cup and other prizes: Model-357 Lab. club card for a year, money prize 500$, souvenirs from 21 Shop and Model-357. Hip Hop Profi Battle winner – Ruslan Zaporojetz aka Zulu (Live41, Kiev), who was paid the travel expenses from Ukraine. In House Nomination won Roman Burykin (D1), in Krump – Anton Pashulya (Slamz Fam, Moscow). All the winners in Profi category got money prize 1000 $, diplomas, souvenirs from sponsors and Model-357 Lab. and exclusive M357 Battlezone cups. But the party wasn’t over: all the people burned 1Rock Club danceflloor till the very morning. While everybody was dancing in the rain of silver spangles, iDance asked Model-357 owner Alexander Azymov some questions about the event.

iDance: Well-known that it’s crisis time in Russia now. How did you make up your mind to organize such a huge and important festival when most of organizers leaving their projects?

Alexander: I was thinking a lot but finally my decision was that crisis couldn’t stop us. I was planning Battlezone for a long time so I wasn’t going to leave my ideas at the last moment. Whatever that’s Model-357 project, what means special status in the dance world and responsibility – that’s why M357 Battlezone event happened and happened on highest level!

Why did you establish such a low price of entrance?

Because of crisis situation I tried to make Battlezone kind of event reasonable for everyone. That’s why I haven’t changed the price since last year, though ruble and expenses have grown. To balance it I introduced fees for participants and tables booking. By the way, on the event all the quests could get M357 Battlezone 2008 DVDs for free – now you could take them on the reception in Model-357.

What are the opinions about M357 Battlezone 2009?

No doubts, first comments are only positive, cause this time we corrected all the mistakes of the last year and improved a lot. This year we’ve chosen the best jury: Buddha Stretch and Marjory are loved respected by everyone, they are professionals of high spirit and authority. That’s why there are no negative comments, of course I noticed some little marks but they’ll be deleted next year. I could proudly say that I’m almost glad, that’s merely a unique situation *smiles*.

The most popular rumours in the dance world, that judges are grafted – how could you comment this statement?

I think, of course that’s theoretically possible somewhere. But there’s out of my interest, who wins, so I’m just watching the event and enjoying the result of my efforts. I really don’t care who wins and how, that’s why I think it’s ridiculous and senseless to graft judges. If you want be and look ridiculous – go ahead! I could make a statement, that judgement on my event was 100 true and honest. It’s not interesting for me to buy winners and favour someone – I want winner to be well-deserved to attract dancers from different sides of Russia, Europe, world finally – to select the best of the best. And as the result they could be chosen as Model-357 teachers, cause it’s in our plans to make representatives all over the world.

Summing your conclusions after Battlezone, what could you say about Russian dance culture and level nowadays?

We’re growing very fast. More and more dance events appear – thanks to iDance.ru and it’s web-support. Since this year I see more responsibility of dancers – they also doing theirs best trying to help us, organizers, and this way they help us a lot. Dancers became more punctual – they’ve registered by email in good time and even come to preselection 2 hours earIier when we asked to come just thirty minutes beforehand. During the event all the participants were so well-organized. I’m glad that we understand each other and I’m really thankful for that. I also would like to pay attention to our students choreography – they showed much higher level. And our teachers felt very responsible preparing for Battlezone. Comparing to last year, I see so much progress, that means next year promises to be more and more perspective.

In your opinion, could Battlezone compete with abroad dance events?

There’s no competition. But I want to reach Juste Debout level in future. I don’t know how many years it takes us to achieve that, but I guess in 2011-2012 we could expect audience of 3-4 thousands people. If we could only have no visas for Europeans, that’d be much easier. As we see, dancers from CIS and Europe would like to come to take part in Battlezone. We’re going to improve and working heard.

How did you manage to provide accommodation for so many guest dancers?

This year again we provided opportunity for visitants to live in Model-357 and make it comfortable for them. This time more then 30 dancers lived in the studio – hope they liked it and it seemed to be fun for them. Using Model-357 as free access hotel we helped dancers to minimize their expenses for accommodation. Next year we’re promising to provide more services for newcomers, cause the main purpose of Battlezone – to join and gather more dancers in one time in one place. And Model-357 Lab. administration staff wants to thank the dancers for keeping the rules established by the studio for its guest.

You weren’t thrown out of joint by the fact that Tight Eyez wasn’t able to come to the event, were you?

We just didn’t let this fact to get us out of ours groove. We were ready for different incidents. Image of Model-357 as company which does maximum possible helped us to stay calm and to insure krumpers that event was up to happen. But we were in shock when Tight’s manager let us know about refusal in visa – we did ours best to change the situation but unfortunately haven’t succeeded. Thanks to Grichka we could organize workshops and judgement, so Battlezone was ok. Krumpers supported us and that was great! We’re only feeling sorry about dancers who came far away just to see Tight Eyes. He has sent special video with his apologizes for them. So I decided next time not to make announcement of his arrival without insurance that he gets the visa. And when he comes we’ll how him the REAL MADNESS! *laughes* By the way, he’s making new exclusive track for Model-357, so we could guarantee great buck very soon. And one more time I apologize to krumpers for that incident…

And what about M357 Grand Workshop? How was it?

All the places were reserved in advance, so there were no doubts in success. Buddha Stertch – Hip Hop legend, he’s not first time in Russia, but dancers never miss opportunity to come to his class. And Marjory Smarth – she’s real queen of housedancing and she’ first time in Russia. As far as French dancers Grichka and Salas, Juste Debout 2008 winner, – they are very popular. M357 Grand Workshop continues – look forward for Hip Hop, House and Krump gurus from USA in Model-357 Lab. very soon!

Talking about your projects and plans: what else could you announce?

On Battlezone I’ve announced 1st Dance Channel opening. This is newest dance project of first Internet TV-channel on www.1Dance.tv particularized for dancers. Here and only here you could find professional videos from dance events, online dance classes and users profiles. This project will be connected with my dance web-site iDance.ru, which’ll be renewed soon.

Has M357 Battlezone 2009 justified you hopes?

Everybody knows that I require no less than maximum. And if Model-357 organizes event it’s done on the highest level or isn’t done at all. That’s why year after year I want to get better. So M357 Battlezone 2009 made one more step up – it became International Championship, it attracted 1500 guests, more then 350 dancers from Russia, CIS, Europe. Media support also became wider: 4 photographers, 4 videocameras + MTV. This year opened M357 Battlezone web-site www.battlezone.ru, where you could find all the precise info about the event and how to contact us. I’m sure next year Battlezone’s going to be something more outstanding!

It’s evident that Battlezone prestige is growing, many dancers and teams would like to take part or make a show and would like to know if its possible…

We’re opened for everybody: if you have show-program you just could send me links to my e-mail m357@inbox.ru.

What are your upcoming plans?

357.ru web-site will be renewed very soon – it’s going to be fantastic design, new colors and service abilities. In autumn we’re renewing iDance.ru as well – it’s going to be integrated with 1Dance.tv and updated by new services. Stay with us, keep dancing in Model-357!