Summer dance battle competition continues for third year

A dancer performs in a breaking competition outside in a park.
A dancer competes in the 1 vs. 1 footwork battle during Full Force San Diego’s Force of July breaking competition at Civita Park in Mission Valley on Saturday, July 5, 2025. Brittany Cruz-Fejeran/Daylight San Diego

Last weekend, Force of July kept the summer breaking tradition alive through a full-day of contests.


Photo Essay by Brittany Cruz-Fejeran, Edited by Lauren J. Mapp


A local dance crew brought together over a hundred spectators and breaking competitors to their third annual Force of July breaking event in Civita Park last Saturday.

Full Force San Diego founder Eddie "Eddie Styles" Gutierrez and his breaking crew came up with the idea for Force of July after several years went by without any Fourth of July weekend breaking events bringing people together. A summer gathering for all, Gutierrez said he and his team one day want Force of July to become a full festival with rides, vendors, art and more dance battles.

Whether it was for a competition or just for fun, there were always people dancing on the floor.

A dancer performs in a breaking competition in a crowd outside in a park.
A competitor does a chair freeze during the Full Force San Diego’s Force of July 3 vs. 3 dance battle. Brittany Cruz-Fejeran/Daylight San Diego
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A dancer is hyped up during the Full Force San Diego’s Force of July 3 vs. 3 breaking competition. Brittany Cruz-Fejeran/Daylight San Diego
A dancer performs in a breaking competition outside in a park.
A dancer does a freeze during Full Force San Diego’s Force of July 1 vs. 1 breaking competition. Brittany Cruz-Fejeran/Daylight San Diego
A dancer performs in a breaking competition outside in a park.
A competitor’s move takes them midair during a power move sequence during the 3 vs. 3 contest. Brittany Cruz-Fejeran/Daylight San Diego
A dancer performs in a breaking competition outside in a park.
In a power combination, a dancer transitions up to one arm and then back down to the ground at the Full Force San Diego’s Force of July 3 vs. 3 dance battle. Brittany Cruz-Fejeran/Daylight San Diego
A dancer catches a headspin into a freeze during a cypher, a breaking tradition when B-boys and B-girls form a circle and take turns dancing in the center. Brittany Cruz-Fejeran/Daylight San Diego
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People watch a breaking performer dance outside in a park
The crowd reacts to dancers competing at Civita Park. Brittany Cruz-Fejeran/Daylight San Diego
A dancer reacts to another dancer by dropping down to their knees in a breaking competition in a crowd outside in a park.
A competitor reacts to a dancer’s moves during the 3 vs. 3 Full Force San Diego’s Force of July breaking competition. Brittany Cruz-Fejeran/Daylight San Diego
A dancer performs in a breaking competition in a crowd outside in a park.
A dancer lands an airchair during the Full Force San Diego’s Force of July 3 vs. 3 dance battle. Brittany Cruz-Fejeran/Daylight San Diego







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