Tonight, Zorn Arena will become an upbeat, hip-hop stage where six artists will perform a combination of intense tumbling, dancing and spinning moves to music played by a live DJ.

The artists will blend into the background and stomp to the beat of the music, electrifying the crowd, organizers said.
Break! The Urban Funk Spectacular is expected to attract between 800 and 1,000 spectators, Arts and Events Coordinator Jennifer Brockpahler said.

The performance will have a street-performance atmosphere, Brockpahler said.
“I think it’s going to be a very physical, high-energy performance,” she said.

Senior and special events intern Catherine Heidke said that Break! is made up of many different elements with African and hip-hop inner-city roots.

“They combine dance, rap, DJing, graffiti and fashion,” she said.

Heidke said Break! has performed with many famous artists like Madonna, 50 Cent and P. Diddy.

The members will perform popping and locking dance moves, as well as power tumbling, Brockpahler said. Martial arts-type moves will also be included.

The group was chosen for the Artists Series for a number of reasons, Brockpahler said. The main reason was because of the students who work with the series.

“According to the students we work with, hip-hop is in,” Brockpahler said. “The Artists Series is trying to do something fun.”

Heidke agreed. She thinks this is one of the most contemporary events the Artists Series has brought to campus.

Senior Mikale Probst said he thinks this is a good performance for the series to sponsor.
“If they want students to go, they have to relate to students,” he said.

Heidke said the arts and events staff try to bring diversity to the Artists Series. Student support impacts what the staff chooses for its programs.

“If students come to the event, we can bring more events like this to campus,” she said.
Probst said he thinks students would attend more events like this one.

“I think the demand is there,” he said. “Students want to do something.”

Break! was also chosen for the Artist Series to celebrate Black History Month and to kick off the semester with a high-energy event.

The Break! performance of the Artists Series is funded by student segregated fees and a grant from Art Midwest’s Heartland Art Fund.
Brockpahler said tickets are available at the University Service Center and at the door. However, she said lines at the door will likely be long.

Tickets are $5 for children under 17 and for UW System or Chippewa Valley Technical College students, $13 for adults over the age of 62 and for UW System or Chippewa Valley Technical College faculty and staff, and $15 for the public.