Circle Industry 2016 was dope!

It's unbelievable what was going on at the "Circle Industry Festival" last weekend. This year again the event has proven its diversity and its speciality and has shown with how much attention to detail and innovation the organisation team works behind the scenes without loosing the basic idea and the positive vibes of the urban culture and Hip Hop.

A good choice in the line-up set a solid basis for the event. Mario Walden aka Mario Bee (Netherlands) and Knuffelbunt (Austria) were responsible for the moderation of the event and the animation of the audience and as always Mario Bee set special accents with his demanding charme. The DJs Fleg from the US and Skillkid managed to provide a perfect mix of Oldschool and Newschool Beats & Breaks. Sometimes you were carried away by their music before the battle had even started. A determined jury consisting of the Red Bull BC One Allstar Roxrite (USA), Thomaz (Poland) and Inside Mel (Russia) added the final touch for the great team performance of the Circle Industry Artist Crew.

The preselection took place in the Emailwerk in Seekirchen (Austria), a little bit outside of Salzburg, on Friday 26 February. Due to the high number of participants (about 70 couples for the 2vs2 Breaking Battle and 24 Crews for Checkmate) the preselection ended at 02.00 a.m. and was continued further for another 2 hours on the second day before the official beginning.

For the first time in the Circle Industry history the Perfect Beat Battle which was led by Mario Bee and Mike Tike took place. In this competition the 8 participants got some drum samples which they had to put together to a danceable beat within 60 minutes. Among others Originill, Goodlee, Frague, Schini and DJ Sticky took part. The last one could prevail against Nico Mühringer and Gelly and won the first "Perfect Beat Battle 2016" in Salzburg. The three first-placed DJs are now on the shortlist and can hope for a Red Bull scholarship. DJ Sticky as the winner of the international Perfect Beat Battle has now been invited to the IBE 2016.


What was so remarkable this year was the rich accompanying programme. In addition to a workshop with Bboy Roxrite there was a Hip Hop market (The Legits, Biggest&Baddest, Phejt, Esteem) and a photo exhibition of participants of the Glimpse Photographer Workshop on the schedule. Of course, there was also the legendary After Party in the Republic Café with DJ Fleg and DJ Cosmic. For the first time a wildcard for the Red Bull BC One Austria Cypher 2016 was given to Bboy Che Che from Innsbruck. The second day was filled with additional acitivities and accompanying programmes taking place in and around the venue. Dancer and photographer Photographer Ulrich Aydt went out with some dancers in search of some special motifs in the old city of Salzburg and staged a great outdoor photo shoot. At the Recublic itself you could take pictures on a white wall during the whole evening.

b>In the 2vs2 Circle Industry Battle the favourites Lussy Sky & Drud (UKR) entered the finals although they had to deal with some strong competitors such as Makita & Tricky from the Unstoppabullz (ISR) or Guti & Cherry from the Prodigyy (Austria). A part of the Soul Mavericks Crew came specially from London, among them also Sunni & Spin (UK), who laid down a clear march-through into the final winning against Boyka & Toschkin (GER) as well as Hulk & Poter (ISR) in the semi final. In the end they staged a thrilling final battle with Lussy Sky & Drud, but couldn't persuade for 100% and lost against the two dancers from Ukraine.


5vs5 Checkmate is surely one of the most tactical battle formats worldwide and requires not only good skills but also a sharp mind. Here you can be just a small step away from winning and still loose. This is what happened in the first battle between the Groundwater Crew (SLO) and Italian Clichee (IT). Groundwater with only one remaining dancer, Bboy Vision, who wins against each Italian dancer and thus the whole battle. The final battle was between the Soul Mavericks (UK) and Predatorz (RU). The Russians didn't want to miss the chance and fought fearlessly and with incredible skills round for round for the victory. In the end the Checkmate Winner 2016 was determined - Predatorz Crew from Russia.

2vs2 Circle Industry (Preselection)
The best 16 crews were chosen out of about 70 participating couples to compete against each other in the K.O. system. This way the TOP4 were determined and battled against the 4 invited intermational top teams.

en Guru & Ramin (UKR) //
Makita & Tricky (ISR) = 0:2 Mel (Tie)
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Said & Konsti (GER) //
Pathos & Kuzya (UKR) = 0:3
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Flexholic & Double D (GER) //
Guti & Cherry (AT) = 0:3 (nicht da!)
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Cebrero & Emilio (DK) //
Miracle Smile & Avatar Joe (AT) = 0:3
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Toolskit & Easy Den (UKR) //
Manny & Weigh V (UK) = 2:1
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Zoopreme & Tunde (DK) //
Intus & Harlekin (AT) = 3:0
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Kranskee & Vision (SLO) //
Busta & Denay (UKR) = 1:2
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Taktitom & Iggyboy (CZ) //
Sunni & Spin (UK) = 0:3
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Makita & Tricky (ISR) //
Pathos & Kuzya (UKR) = 2:1
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Guti & Cherry (AT) //
Miracle Smile & Avatar Joe (AT) = 3:0
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Toolskit & Easy Den (UKR) //
Zoopreme & Tunde (DK) = 3:0
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Busta & Denay (UKR) //
Sunni & Spin (UK) = 0:3

2vs2 Circle Industry
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Makita & Tricky (ISR) //
Snod & Tony (IT) = 3:0
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Guti & Cherry (AT) //
Lussy Sky & Drud (UKR) = 0:3
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Toolskit & Easy Den (UKR) //
Hulk & Poter (ISR) = 1:2
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sunni & Spin (UK) //
Boyka & Toschkin (DE) = 3:0
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Makita & Tricky (ISR) //
Lussy Sky & Drud (UKR) = 0:3
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hulk & Poter (ISR) //
Sunni & Spin (UK) = 1:2
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Lussy Sky & Drud (UKR) //
Sunni & Spin (UK) = 2:1


5vs5 Checkmate (Preselection)
The best 6 crews were chosen out of 24 teams. All winners and the Lucky Loser qualified for the final round of the TOP8 against the 4 invited international crews.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
• Groundwater (SLO/AT) // Italian Clichee (IT) = 1:0
• Tru Cru (DE) // Breaknuts (PL) = 0:5
• Natural Groove (UKR) // Sankofa Crew = 5:0

5vs5 Checkmate
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
• Prodigyy Crew (AT) // Natural Groove (UKR) = 0:5
• Tru Cru (DE) // Soul Mavericks (UK) = 0:5
• Predatorz (RU) // Breaknuts (PL) = 3:0
• Unstoppabullz (ISR) // Groundwater (SLO/AT) = 4:0
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
• Natural Groove (UKR) // Soul Mavericks (UK) = 0:4
• Predatorz (RU) // Unstoppabullz (ISR) = 3:0
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
• Soul Mavericks (UK) // Predatorz (RU) = 0:4


To sum up we can take our hats off! During the whole event there was a great mood and both participants and spectators were equally satisfied. You could see and feel the Hip Hop Lifestyle in the cyphers where young and elderly, pros and youngsters jamed together. The organisation team had created a perfect frame for this and can be proud of their great performance.