By Varun Goyal, deputy news editor
This Saturday, dance groups from throughout Boston will gather to perform in the World of Dance (WOD) competition, mingling with dance professionals and masters of the craft.
Kinematix Dance Troupe and Revolve Dance Crew, both groups from Northeastern University, will perform at the event, which will be held at the Back Bay Events Center from 2 to 10 p.m.
WOD is an urban international dance competition that was founded in 2008 by David Gonzalez and Myron Marten, according to Vincent de Vela, the tour and creative director of WOD.
“The idea was to create an experience for dancers and dance enthusiasts unlike anywhere else in the world,” de Vela said in an email to The News. “Our mission is to inspire a lifestyle movement that celebrates that expression through motion, sounds attitudes and artistry.”
Since its emergence, WOD has had a presence in more than 15 countries. “For the most part, WOD tries to be involved in every major city with a substantial dance community,” de Vela said. “We also do market research to scout potential new markets on a regular basis to grow our tour.”
In order to participate in the competition, Kinematix and Revolve had to provide the number of members in each crew, pictures of props, the final music mix and a video of prior performances. They were then evaluated and both crews were selected to perform.
“When we found out that we got the opportunity to perform at WOD, everybody from current members to Revolve alum had a crazy jolt of excitement,” Robert Chen, junior marketing major and administrative director of Revolve, said.
Both Kinematix and Revolve performed at WOD in Boston last year as well.
“When you’re onstage, you’re not really thinking – you’re really living,” Sam Maltezos, international affairs major and treasurer of Kinematix, said. “You get into this little theater and watch these amazing groups go right after each other.”
This year in Boston, featured talent will include Brandon Harrell, Elektro Botz and Kaelynn “Kay Kay” Harris.
For Kyle Tengco, third-year combined computer science and cognitive psychology major and director of Kinematix, the competition provides the unique experience of performing in front of fellow dancers.
“The WOD experience is unlike any other,” Tengco said. “Most of the audience are other dancers so they know how to react. They’ll give you energy, and to know that you’re stepping on the same stage as professional dancers is an honor.”
Photo courtesy Kaan Donmez
