2008 Woodie Awards
Spotlight on Yuichiro Mitsutomi
President of GT Breakers speaks about his favorite form of artistic expression
Lauren Smith and Jodie Zhang
Issue date: 3/17/05 Section: Arts
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The Middlebury Campus: How did you become interested in breakdancing?
Yuichiro Mitsutomi: I started breakdancing freshman fall after watching Morgan Alexander Jones (aka Mojo, who graduated last year) breakdancing at a party. I didn't have any prior experience with dance or gymnastics or anything, so I basically started dancing when I got to Middlebury.
The Campus: Tell us about the breakdancing club, The GT Breakers, at Middlebury.
Mitsutomi: In my opinion, GT is probably one of the most diverse and dramatic clubs on campus. It started out small, but the small community allows us to be more like a family. We're really close. We hang out together and there can be so much drama within the group. We love each other, we hate each other - there's always this dynamic struggle. But right now, GT is pretty much all about love.
The Campus: What is your role in the organization?
Mitsutomi: I started out last spring as the public relations officer for GT, and this spring I became president. One of the things I want to do for this crew is to create an atmosphere where people can develop their love for breaking and hip hop.
The Campus: What do you struggle with the most in terms of breakdancing?
Mitsutomi: I think some of the hardest things has to do with my personal limitations. There are times when you feel like your power and style seems stagnant, like you aren't getting anywhere. That's what I struggle with the most.
The Campus: Has breakdancing helped you in other aspects of your life?
Mitsutomi: Definitely. Breakdancing has given me confidence and an identity - things that go beyond borders. I grew up in a lot of different cultures, so I had trouble identifying with one specific nationality or ethnicity. But after finding breakdancing, I developed a sense of identity, because you don't have to be a specific nationality to break dance. It's global.
The Campus: What is special to you about breakdancing?
Yuichiro Mitsutomi: I started breakdancing freshman fall after watching Morgan Alexander Jones (aka Mojo, who graduated last year) breakdancing at a party. I didn't have any prior experience with dance or gymnastics or anything, so I basically started dancing when I got to Middlebury.
The Campus: Tell us about the breakdancing club, The GT Breakers, at Middlebury.
Mitsutomi: In my opinion, GT is probably one of the most diverse and dramatic clubs on campus. It started out small, but the small community allows us to be more like a family. We're really close. We hang out together and there can be so much drama within the group. We love each other, we hate each other - there's always this dynamic struggle. But right now, GT is pretty much all about love.
The Campus: What is your role in the organization?
Mitsutomi: I started out last spring as the public relations officer for GT, and this spring I became president. One of the things I want to do for this crew is to create an atmosphere where people can develop their love for breaking and hip hop.
The Campus: What do you struggle with the most in terms of breakdancing?
Mitsutomi: I think some of the hardest things has to do with my personal limitations. There are times when you feel like your power and style seems stagnant, like you aren't getting anywhere. That's what I struggle with the most.
The Campus: Has breakdancing helped you in other aspects of your life?
Mitsutomi: Definitely. Breakdancing has given me confidence and an identity - things that go beyond borders. I grew up in a lot of different cultures, so I had trouble identifying with one specific nationality or ethnicity. But after finding breakdancing, I developed a sense of identity, because you don't have to be a specific nationality to break dance. It's global.
The Campus: What is special to you about breakdancing?