By Lisa Parent

Canada’s largest break-dancing conference develops future stars

Jun 12, 2023 | 1:38 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Breakdancing is an outlet for dancers to express intense emotions that can often cause heated competition.

However, this weekend breakers from across Canada stopped in Medicine Hat to rally together with a love of the art form.

The Last Standing is a breakdancing conference, including competition and workshops. Asher Melanson is a local breaker who won the youth competition on Saturday. Melanson has been breaking for as long as he can remember.

“Well, I started breaking since I was born. My mom always used to break dance with me when I was like one. And yeah, so I have been breakdancing my whole life,” Melanson says.

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Melanson has been entering competitions to gain points to go to the Youth Olympics. He has plenty of support from his family, who are all breakers too.

“He’s 12, but he’s got a bunch of wins and he’s just going and he’s passionate. He works hard and I’m just happy,” says Aaron Melanson, Asher’s father.

Aaron Melanson has a rich history of breaking, and even met his wife at a competition.
Now, his son is following in his footsteps.

“You know, he did fun things where he did one of my moves and I was sitting behind him and right before he went out he’s like, ‘this is for you dad.’ And it was like literally my old move, like everyone knows it. And it was just like, yeah, couldn’t be more proud,” Aaron says.

One breaker flew in all the way from Taiwan to be at the event. Karl Dyzee Alba held a workshop for up and coming breakers, and says it’s important to pass on what he’s learned to the younger generation.

“It’s super important because I believe that when you know your history and you know where you’ve come from and you know the mistakes that we’ve made in the past, then it helps guide people in the right direction, the next generation,” says Dyzee.

Dyzee is a 13 time world championship breaker, and has travelled across the world to compete in the art-form. But Dyzee says Canadian breaking has a special place in his heart.

“Like Canada has such a unique way of breaking that’s different from everywhere in the world. Everyone looks at our style as like the best style. I mean, just in terms of our movement and the art of it,” Dyzee says.

And Canada’s future in breaking is looking hopeful.

Asher Melansons says, “I wanna try to do it the rest of my life until like I can’t anymore.”

The Last Standing was funded by Canada Council for the Arts, and organizers are hoping to get similar funding next year to continue hosting the large event.