Adam Johnson
Northern News Services
Monday, April 16, 2007

IQALUIT - The North's only touring breakdancing group has found itself a new identity, just in time for a round of renewed activity.

Kaiva ñ formerly known at the Nunavut Floor Masters ñ changed its name after a recent board meeting in Iqaluit. The name change came as the group prepared to open the annual Toonik Tyme festival last week, and perform at a fundraiser for the Alianait! festival later this week.

"We wanted something more Northern, not so southern," said organizer/instructor Christine Lamothe (aka Lil Bear) of the new name.

Kaiva means "to spin" in Inuktitut, a concept that fits the group well and is easy to understand, she said.

"We spin, the earth spins..." she said with a laugh, describing the spinning nature of existence.

"It's a universal concept."

The group was founded as an offshoot of the Canadian Floor Masters ñ Canada's oldest break dancing troupe ñ when CFM travelled to Iqaluit to hold a series of workshops last year.

Since its inception, Kaiva has travelled to hip-hop competitions in Ottawa, held workshops of its own in communities such as Clyde River, and most recently, performed all over the 2007 Canada Winter Games in Iqaluit.

"It was great," said member Philip Ningeongat of the experience.

A highlight, he said, was performing with Breakdance Yukon throughout the cultural festival, and at the Games' closing ceremonies at ATCO Place.

"It showed me I have a long way to go," he said of performing with the more experienced dancers.

Lamothe, who worked with the Ottawa-based Canadian Floor Masters, now lives and works in Iqaluit with the Nunavut government, working in tobacco reduction.

With an active board working behind the scenes, Lamothe is hoping she'll have more time to focus on what's important: the dancing.

"Hopefully I'll have more time to organize programming," she said.

With no end in sight to the group's busy schedule, Ningeongat said he's happy and excited for the opportunity to show his city what Kaiva has to offer.

"I want people to think, hey, I know that guy," he said with a laugh.

Throughout its existence, the group has blended Inuit and hip-hop culture, bringing Inuit games, drumming and throatsinging into the mix, something Ningeongat is clearly proud of.

"I want them to think that even though (breakdancing) is not part of our culture, there are parts of our culture in it," he said.

"They can see that Inuk people can do these things."