Student Dance-Off Turns Violent as UCPD Intervenes

A dance-off among high school students on Friday night in Barrows Hall got out of control when a chain-reaction fight broke out, requiring UCPD to evacuate the building.

The event was part of monthly "turf wars" sponsored by Bones Entertainment to promote non-violence through dance, said Raashida Manning, a Richmond resident who founded the group.

"It's never like this," said Kawika Carranza, a high school senior from New Vision High School in Stockton, who has participated in the turf wars for about six months. "It's just an event for kids that dance-a competition just to stop violence."

The fight started at 8:30 p.m. and involved about 20 people, Manning said.

A police officer on the scene estimated that 400 people were in the building.

The dance-off was prearranged with the building managers, said UCPD Sgt. Frank Jacques.

Turf wars refer to the style of dance called turfing, which combines street dancing, hip-hop, popping and mime.

Carranza said the event attracts high school students from all over Northern California.

There were no arrests or injuries, Jacques said.

Carranza said that after the one-on-one dance competition ended, the group competition began and a fight broke out for unknown reasons.

"There was yelling in the hallways," he said. "People were getting in each other's faces, there were chairs flying, people swinging."

People crowded out to the balcony to escape the fight, Carranza said.

"I was mad because our group didn't even get to battle," Carranza said. "You just can't have fun without people acting immature."

Manning said that there have been four previous events without incident. She also said the individual responsible for the fight has been banned from all future turf war events.

"I've worked with all the dancers in the area and they do it to stay out of trouble," she said. "If I can do this to prevent some lives from being taken away, that's why I do it."

There are two more turf war events planned for this month, she said, pending a meeting with the school.

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