Cover photo courtesy of Hung Le
Video courtesy of Red Bull Music
By SAM HARPER/Murphy News Service
Dancer Wealthy Phonseya, aka Mighty Wealthy, is energizing the Minnesota dance scene these days through his teaching in the community and his recent battle at Red Bull BC One North American Cypher in Orlando, Florida.
The B-boy and B-girl scene in Minneapolis is one that some are unaware of. Known as “breaking” or “breakdancing” in mainstream, well, less-hip, parlance, the scene has been expanding in the recent years as more facilities and studios are opened throughout the state. But another factor is due to the actions of key figures in the community such as Wealthy Phonseya.
“Dance has taught me to have passion, self-discipline and patience,” Phonseya said. He said dance has helped him deal with strife and made him a more humble person.
A Fresno California, native, Phonseya moved to Minnesota when he was 2, and started dancing in junior high school. “A a friend showed me some break dance moves and I just wanted to learn the same things he did,” Phonseya said. “I learned a few tricks from him and his cousins.” He became part of his own dance crew, known today as Looney Tunes Crew.
The crew has made a big impact in Minneapolis and the Midwest during the past few years as they have won multiple competitions, including Minneapolis’ Groundbreaker dance battle.
Phonseya has won individual attention from many in the dance community, including Hien Truong, a former University of Minnesota student and member of the U’s B-boy club, U-Break.
Truong said Wealthy Phonseya stands out in the community due to his “style and originality,” two aspects of dance that which are valued very highly in the community.
Recently Phonseya made big news when he qualified to compete in one of the most well known B-boy events in North America. The Red Bull BC One North American Cypher pits dancers in a bracketed one-on-one competition in which the winner continues to compete in the finals in Rome.
It was an event that was way different from what which Phonseya was accustomed.
“I’m so used to competing in an environment where the crowd is circled around me and it’s more intimate,” Phonseya said. “In the Red Bull stage, it is really just you, your opponent and a really big stage.”
Phonseya did not win the competition, yet the fact he competed sent a message about the Minnesota B-boy community and helped to reflect the rising scene here.
“His participation will send a message to all Minnesota B-boy and B-girls that everything is possible,” Truong said. “Now that Minnesota is even more highlighted on the map, B-boys and B-girls here will strive for higher achievements to further strengthen the state’s reputation,” Truong said.
Phonseya has been making an impact on the community in other ways, holding workshops and teaching others. Phonseya and a partner have opened a dance studio, House of Dance, 11 7th Ave N, Hopkins, Minnesota, with a mission, according to its Facebook page to create “a space and providing opportunities for self-empowerment, community development and inspiring youth.”
“House of Dance has helped me better myself as an instructor,” Phonseya said. “I am happy to be a part of a team who works toward providing opportunities for the youth and community.” That is something Phonseya says wasn’t available to him when he was younger.
Reporter Sam Harper is studying journalism at the University of Minnesota.