Dance Cyphers are for showing up and showing out. They are for a shared connection in so many forms. Cyphers are Whack when they present as "one dancer after another" all with their individual performances. This isn't a showcase, it's a cypher! They are not a place for practicing. That time is long gone. We are hear to rock and dance with one another. Do not practice during the cypher. This is a place to freestyle. And Don't stretch on the sidelines either... Cyphers originated from jams and party's. No one wants to see someone stretching at the club, your bringing the vibe down. Take it elsewhere. Each dancer builds off of one another and shares their ideas in a live format. Dancer A ends with a movement and Dancer B picks it up. It's common place for dancers to commando each other if they see someone rocking the sidelines during their round. Cyphers are a good place to expand your horizons in a way practice never can. Sharing ideas with one another via movement to inspire your own dance! Cyphers are places where the REAL battles happen. The bracket is often randomized, but the Cypher is intentional. They are a place for Callouts. When you have issue with a dancer, it is often times improper to stop events for your selfish reasons. It's lame to ruin social outings or damper the mood at the session. The cypher is THE SPOT for leaving it on the dance floor. No words are needed. Direct your energy and your dance and let it happen live in front of EVERYONE. Cyphering means sharing both positive and negative energy. This is a TRADITION. It's a Call Out! No judges, no time limits, no rules. You know who wins via the energy in the circle. This is tradition, this is RESPECT. Even when the skill level is lopsided between the dancers, it is about standing up for something. Loosing can sometimes be inevitable, but stand your ground and earn your respect! Before battles went to the stage, they happened in the circles. Never forget! The most whack thing of all is the single large circle and dancers throwing out rounds on the sidelines. We here to connect with one another and to dance. It is natural for large events to have 3-5 active circles with the sizes changing as people come and go. Each circle with it's own unique flavor and presentation. STOP DANCING on the sidelines. Groove and vibe to keep the energy up, but don't throw rounds. If you want it so bad then force your way into the circle or go make another one. If you rock with a dancer then rock with them. If there are no cyphers at the jam then MAKE THEM. Cyphers were originally spontaneous. Anytime there was music... rather it be at a jam, a battle, or in the wild... The cyphers were bound to emerge. We may create events specifically for the cypher nowadays, but never loose that initial feeling. Keep the tradition alive.