Hip-hop seemed easy before the guys of 61Syx Teknique were doing it.

They’ve mastered how to break, pop, lock and freeze, but when they tried to teach some of the basic steps to a handful of Grand Valley State University students last night in the Grand River Room at the Kirkhof Center, it suddenly seemed impossible.

The four members, Seoul, Goblin, K2Roc, and Vertchu, made it look simple. Their bodies moved together in sync with ease as they dropped to the floor and flipped through the air.

As their name might give away, they’re from Grand Rapids, Mich., but last night was the first time they have performed at a college in West Michigan. And they loved it, not just because it was a short 30-minute drive, but being home allowed all of their friends a chance to see their show, some for the first time, Keegan “Seoul” Loye said.

Seoul emceed the show, which proved to be another talent of his. He even stopped dancing to recite three poems and play a mathematical mind trick on the audience. It was unexpected, but hilariously entertaining.

Many empty seats left him a little disappointed that more people didn’t show up, but he said it was probably because they didn’t start until after 9 p.m. on a weekday.

And it didn’t end until after 11 p.m., but the two-hour performance flew by with each trick they did.

Aerials and head spins that look that good will never, ever get boring.

And neither will this group. They have a dynamic that works together, and they show so much passion about dancing that it made the audience want to get up and try it. Even though Seoul warned at the beginning, as one of his three rules, to not try any of their tricks at home.

His other two rules were to clap and make noise for the moves that were awesome – and the moves that weren’t as awesome. The audience followed the last two rules because everybody was laughing, smiling, or cheering the entire time.

The show started out with an introduction to the four members and a group of friends and students that Seoul brought with him, where they each broke it down showcasing their own creative style. It felt like an amped-up version of MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew was at GVSU.

With clean footwork and choreography that looks impossible, they could be on ABDC. But they don’t dance for money, or fame.

Seoul wants people to understand the real art and meaning of hip-hop, and his enthusiasm and excitement about it is contagious.

61Syx Teknique didn’t just show off dance moves and incredible tricks, they gave the audience a hip-hop history lesson by showcasing some of the different eras it went through. They started in the ‘70s with jean vests and basic steps, and then changed into jumpsuits for the ‘80s, showed how it went underground for the ‘90s and then how it’s evolved into what HipHop looks like today.

GVSU only got a small dose of these guys last night for the first time and hopefully, it will not be the last.

Seoul said they always hang out at the 61Syx Teknique Street Dance Academy, which he owns on Alpine in Grand Rapids, and that he always wants to meet new people who love dancing. For more information about the group or dance academy, check out their website at 61syx.com.

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