The bonds between crew members are forged off the dance floor.
A few days before the competition, the crew could be seen throwing themselves into practice. In stark contrast to the glamour of competition day, their practice was low-key and involved grueling, repetitive drills. Balancing school operations, work, and their studies, each member completed their own individual practice and set aside two or three days a week to get together and push themselves to the limit.
Footage of our practice session filmed by “mini Evo Cinema.” Scan the QR code or tap to watch the video.
"mini Evo Cinema" lets you express your preferred look using 10 different "Z-Dial™ Effects" ranging from the 1930s to the 2020s. Once you’ve transferred the videos you’ve shot to your smartphone, you can also share them via QR code. “Personally, I thought it was fun to have effects that let you change the era—it made me feel nostalgic,” said AYUMI.
"BODY CARNIVAL" has 15 to 20 members on its roster, with about 9 core members who actually perform on stage at competitions. In crew battles, there are moves performed by the entire team, so mutual trust is absolutely essential. That’s what it means to have been a crew for 20 years. They say there are times when they have heated arguments. Maintaining close communication, clashing honestly, and making eye contact—these are the things that matter most.”
In addition, a member who was scheduled to compete in the tournament had to withdraw at the last minute due to an injury. With the tournament just one week away, the team decided to compete with just five members—AYUMI, TOA, HARUTO, OUKI, and TAKE—and preparations proceeded at a rapid pace.
As we roll and bounce across the floor, sometimes bumping into each other, we gradually refine the precision of our movements. We then incorporate the inspiration born from these extreme conditions back into our dance.
Capture memories from your practice sessions with the “instax mini 13™” (hereinafter referred to as “mini 13”). Not only is it easy for anyone to use, but the experience itself becomes a memory.
As if to break the tense atmosphere, there were moments during breaks between practice and matches when someone would pull out an “instax™ ”Cheki’.” Someone would pick it up and peer at the Cheki Print™ that popped out. In that instant, everyone would gather around, and the tension would suddenly ease.
Right after securing a spot in the Top 8, AYUMI gave the signal, “Let’s all take a picture together!” and we took a commemorative photo using the “mini 13.” It was striking to see everyone’s faces light up all at once. With two self-timer options—10 seconds and 2 seconds—and by combining the close-up mode with the mirror attached to the side of the lens, you can take selfies exactly the way you want.
"It's really nice to be able to look at the photos we took like this together and have a good time," said AYUMI. It's fun to slip the Cheki Print™ photos you've taken into a smartphone case.
"While watching 'BODY CARNIVAL,” I realized that breaking allows people of different ages, genders, and body types to express themselves freely and on equal footing. Even now that it has gained attention as a competitive sport, the dancers continue to value individuality and mutual respect, and you can really feel the genuine connection and joy that comes from being part of a community that shares the same passion.
It’s not just about winning or losing; it’s about preserving and sharing the very moments we spent working up a sweat and laughing together. Perhaps it’s only through taking photos with a Cheki™ that we realize just how important those accumulated moments truly are.
