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Dance-off Led to Rumble
The Wichita Eagle ^ | 9/20/2005 | Stan Finger

Posted on 09/20/2005 9:10:11 AM PDT by Rutles4Ever

It sounded like something out of a teen competition movie such as "Drumline" or "Bring it On."

But the brawl that broke out Saturday night at McAdams Park following a spontaneous "dance-off" wasn't a movie scene, and police and city officials on Monday were sorting through the aftermath that left one person hurt and two others -- a mother and a son -- facing criminal charges.

"This is a whole new arena" of crime, said Lt. Jeff Easter of the Wichita Police Department's gang and felony assault section.

The Dancing Steppers, a local drill team, was practicing routines at McAdams Park near 13th and I-135 on Saturday night when members of another drill team, the White Tigers, showed up and challenged the others to what was described as a "dance-off," police said.

When it became clear the challengers were losing, Easter said, a 28-year-old woman struck a 17-year-old drummer with the Dynamic Steppers in the face with a drum stick. The teen, who had left the White Tigers recently to join the Dynamic Steppers, retaliated by punching her in the face. He then ran toward his Ford Explorer and tried to run over spectators with it, witnesses told police.

The boy's mother, who served as a coach of the Dynamic Steppers, grabbed a box cutter and sliced the other woman's right arm, Easter said. The wound required eight stitches.

An estimated 50 people were involved in the altercation, although only two people were facing charges on Monday.

The mother was booked on suspicion of aggravated battery for cutting the other woman, Easter said, and the son faces charges of simple assault and aggravated assault.

Police said additional charges are possible.

Larry Foos, director of parks and recreation for the city, said a park employee told him the Dynamic Steppers had been practicing earlier in the day not far from Barry Sanders Field, but their whistles were confusing players in a youth league football game under way on the field.

The drill team was asked to move to another part of the park so their whistles would not interfere with the football game, Foos said.

"There was no conflict at all from that," he said. "They understood completely."

The brawl won't lead to changes in access or activities at the park, Foos said. To do that, he said, would be "an over-reaction" to Saturday's fight.

"I just believe this is one of those crazy, isolated incidents that happen once in a while," Foos said. "Thankfully, these incidents are rare."

Police may be asked to step up patrols at the park after ball games, he said, to discourage confrontations.


TOPICS: Front Page News; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: brainiacs; danceoff; yougotserved
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To: PaulaB

Catfight!


81 posted on 09/20/2005 10:13:14 AM PDT by TheBigB (“In every generation there is a Chosen One...She is the Slayer.")
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To: dead

IT'S ON!


82 posted on 09/20/2005 10:14:18 AM PDT by TC Rider (The United States Constitution © 1791. All Rights Reserved.)
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To: retrokitten
Not to mention The Great Monopoly Riot of '89.

Dear God what a night that was...little hotels and houses all over the place...you don't even wanna know where that shoe ended up.

83 posted on 09/20/2005 10:14:50 AM PDT by TheBigB (“In every generation there is a Chosen One...She is the Slayer.")
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To: Serb5150
For those of us with no rhythym

Count me in. :) I think I last danced in 7th grade. I remenber that...Elyse Thrasher's BDay party.

Children cried...crops failed...it was ugly.

So very ugly.

84 posted on 09/20/2005 10:17:50 AM PDT by TheBigB (“In every generation there is a Chosen One...She is the Slayer.")
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To: agere_contra

"They're break dance fighting."

-Mugatu

85 posted on 09/20/2005 10:23:29 AM PDT by thefactor
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To: Serb5150

see post #85. great minds, yadda yadda...


86 posted on 09/20/2005 10:25:09 AM PDT by thefactor
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To: thefactor

I really, really tried to find one of Hansel. And the one I did find isn't showing up for me anymore. Tis a sad, sad day.


87 posted on 09/20/2005 10:26:42 AM PDT by Serb5150 (www.illmitch.com)
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To: Tax-chick

Whoohoo!

I wish I coulda been there!


88 posted on 09/20/2005 10:31:06 AM PDT by najida (Once upon a a very long time ago, in a land far, far away.....It was still all Bush's fault.)
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To: baker_girl
"I like your sleeves"
89 posted on 09/20/2005 10:32:45 AM PDT by baker_girl (You are all winners,except those of you who lose.)
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To: TheBigB
Children cried...crops failed...it was ugly.

Crops failed. That is sad. Not as bad as spooking the cows into no longer producing milk, but still sad.

90 posted on 09/20/2005 10:33:18 AM PDT by retrokitten (www.retrosrants.blogspot.com)
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To: Rutles4Ever


Stop this thread!



It's Hammer time!



lol
91 posted on 09/20/2005 10:35:38 AM PDT by TheForceOfOne (The alternative media is our Enigma machine.)
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To: retrokitten

Trust me. Courts have tried to sentence convicted killers to watch me dance. The ACLU stepped in to prevent it....I must agree with them on this.


92 posted on 09/20/2005 10:37:36 AM PDT by TheBigB (“In every generation there is a Chosen One...She is the Slayer.")
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To: Rutles4Ever

I thought this was about buck dancin'


93 posted on 09/20/2005 10:41:45 AM PDT by bankwalker (An accusation is often a subconscious confession.)
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To: TheBigB

That's pretty bad. ;-)


94 posted on 09/20/2005 10:50:00 AM PDT by retrokitten (www.retrosrants.blogspot.com)
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To: Rutles4Ever

"There will be dancing!"


95 posted on 09/20/2005 10:55:19 AM PDT by <1/1,000,000th%
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To: TheForceOfOne

No! No! We haven't made fun of Dirty Dancing yet.


96 posted on 09/20/2005 11:04:44 AM PDT by rock58seg ("Guest Workers," W's version of, "Read my lips." Secure our borders!)
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To: retrokitten

97 posted on 09/20/2005 11:09:11 AM PDT by TheBigB (“In every generation there is a Chosen One...She is the Slayer.")
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To: Mad Dawgg
FYI there is no such thing as Kansas, it is just the Illuminati's code name for the extradimensional void that is west of the Mississippi. (it all has to do with area 51 and the Roswell landing thing.)

Well...a friend of mine contends that North Dakota is a post office box in Chicago! If you meet someone who claims to be from North Dakota, they are actually an employee of the CIA!

98 posted on 09/20/2005 11:09:45 AM PDT by 6ppc
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To: TheBigB

LMAO!!


99 posted on 09/20/2005 11:11:52 AM PDT by retrokitten (www.retrosrants.blogspot.com)
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To: Rutles4Ever

George Bush doesn't care about dancers!


100 posted on 09/20/2005 11:12:53 AM PDT by libs_kma (USA: The land of the Free....Because of the Brave!)
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