In June of 2025, we were blessed to be able to send 11 Bboys and Bgirls from the Clean North Crew to Playa Del Carmen in Mexico, to compete in the Paradise Battle Breaking Event. This trip marked the first international experience for the entire crew and we thank God, Bradford 2025 and the British Council for being able to provide them with such an opportunity. So many lessons were learnt, connections made and so much culture was experienced in the week that the crew spent there and all of this knowledge will be passed down to the current and future generations of Bradford’s Bboys and Bgirls!
On Wednesday, June 11th, the crew embarked on their unforgettable journey to Mexico, excitement high with unknown expectations. Upon arrival at Cancun airport, the tropical humidity hit them straight away and despite not being dressed correctly for this, it only increased the energy and anticipation between them. A short drive to the Hotel and the crew were once again set back in shock, but this time at the breathtaking scenery of Playa Del Carmen’s coastline. After settling into their accommodation, the crew took time to recharge, relax and bond over a refreshing swim in the ocean, which was well deserved after almost a full day travelling!
The first full day began with a nutritious breakfast, shared as a team, setting the tone for a balanced and mindful few days before the battles on the weekend. Eating clean is a huge priority for Clean North, especially in the run up to an event and they were so blessed to be able to enjoy the food Mexico had to offer. During normal day to day life it can be hard to focus on your body, mind and soul, which is highly important as a dance artist. Fox & Tranquil organised a meeting to remind the crew of how to make the most of the time in Mexico and really concentrate on eating healthy, sleeping well, staying hydrated and doing extra things that sometimes there is no time for back at home. Bgirl Fox brought Castor oil, organic protein and essential oils for the whole team to use to ensure everyone was at their optimal performance when it came to the event weekend.
To celebrate the crews arrival on the first night, Bboy Tranquil and Bgirl Fox organised a fabulous meal at an authentic Mexican Restaurant. From tacos to enchiladas, the meal and time spent as a crew was what we needed to prepare before the heat and intensity of the battles & dance exchanges.
The next morning kicked off with an early beachside stretch and workout session, led by Bgirl Fox. Surrounded by ocean breeze and sun, the crew felt energised and used this time to re-set themselves physically and mentally as well as appreciating each other’s attributes. Battling with your crew is an honour and opportunity to not take for granted and the connection between Clean North’s Bboys and Bgirls is undeniable. Therefore, it was very important for them to come together as a crew and spend that time in each other’s company before leaving for the Paradise Battle.
Later that day, it was time for a workshop with the internationally respected, Bgirl Ramona from Finland. During this session, she focused on expressing creativity and style within the dance. She gave the crew insight into one of her own training methods that she used when preparing for Battle Of The Year. She pushed all the breakers beyond their comfort zone and each member left with a new perspective to training and full of creative fuel.
That evening, the energy shifted as the crew began getting ready to attend the Paradise Battle Neon Pre-party at Senior Frogs, where Clean North connected with new dance artists and reconnected with dancers from all around the world, including Bgirl Nat (UK), Bboy D-Tex, Bboy Kid David and Bboy Legend. The pre-party brought about some entertaining exchanges with Bboy Dexy killing it in the cyphers!
On Saturday, it was finally Time for Clean North to battle and show Mexico what they had come to do. The atmosphere in the venue was electric as breakers from all over the world began to warm up. There were multiple categories throughout the day and Clean North strongly represented in the Crew Battles, the 1v1 Bgirl (Bgirl Ammo) and the Youth Battles (Bboy Elijah & Bgirl Ruby Rock). The Breakin battles were judged by Olympic gold medalist Philip Kim (Phil Wizard from United Rivals and Red Bull BC One All Stars), Ramona Panula (Floorphilia Crew) and David Shreibman (Kid David from Renegade Rockers and Squadron). The energy and vibe of the Mexican breakers is unmatched, they greeted the crew with welcoming praises before returning their focus. Despite the heat and the extremely long event, Clean North remained composed and unified the whole time; The challenges strengthened their resilience.
Among many memorable interactions, a few stood out to the crew. One of them being between Clean North’s Bgirl Ruby Rock, who was only 3 years old and 2 members of Los Mas Buscados Crew, Bgirl Brii and Bboy Rodolfo. Bgirl Brii came over to ask if Ruby wanted to cypher with her crew. This moment between two of the youngest Bgirls in the whole event reminded everyone why hip hop culture is so important and must be carried on through the new generations and languages! It was a special moment for sure.
Another great exchange was between Bboy Dexy and Bboy Legend (Unik Breakers Crew) Legend initiated the call out battle, leading to a back and forth that extended to at least 10 rounds each. Both Bboys delivered a great performance and with Dexy being one of the youngest members of Clean North, this was a great experience for him. Legend took time to talk to Dexy after, offering knowledge that would help him to grow as a strong Bboy.
I met Bboy Legend briefly on the first day of the event and then the next time we interacted he was calling me out. It kind of took me by surprise but I was ready to go and we did about ten rounds against each other as I didn’t want to stop until he did. Afterwards he gave me some tips and we became good friends after that. That was the spirit of many of the Mexican breakers I feel, very real and very determined- it taught me a lot.
The qualifiers proved to be especially intense, but despite the conditions, it was all worth the hard work as later in the evening Paradise Battle announced who has qualified on Instagram. Clean North soon discovered that both the crew and Bgirl Ammo had qualified to the next day of battles! The energy that evening was amazing, however there was no time to relax, an early night was had by all to recharge for the next day.
The following morning, Clean North took part in an incredible workshop with Kid David (USA). In this session, he emphasised the importance of taking time in the dance and allowing the music to guide you. Having previously trained and connected with Kid David, Clean North were able to build on their earlier lessons and allow new perspectives into their practice during the workshop.
The battles resumed later that day. Clean North first had a dynamic match up against BDM crew (Mexico) in the top 8, where they represented strongly, showcasing the pure Bradford style and real crew energy. Bgirl Ammo also showcased exceptional skill and style whilst battling many amazing Bgirls throughout the day. Ammo was on point and before we new it she advanced all the way to the final from 44 top bgirls, against Bgirl Tazmania from Mexico. We knew this wouldn’t be an easy final, but Ammo showed that true Clean North grit and put everything into it that she had learnt over the last year. Ammo secured the win not only for herself but for her crew, Bradford and the UK! We are incredibly happy with her progress recently and this one was a big win that will have an impact for a long time.
The Bgirl Final ( Ammo Vs Tazmania )
Top 8 Crew Qualifier ( Clean North Vs Los Elegidos )
It felt incredible winning the Bgirl battle in Mexico, one because it’s Mexico but two I had my whole crew behind me all day. It was a different kind of energy and I don’t think I could compare that feeling to anything else. Playa Del Carmen was beautiful and the whole experience was one I will never forget.
It also felt great coming back home to Bradford and seeing all the Tranquil Productions family. It made me grateful that we have such an amazing community here, I definitely believe that that is what allows us to succeed abroad.
Representing Bradford strong is always the mission but this trip was also an opportunity to look for that real crew chemistry in others. With Tech Styles 10 coming up, the hunt was on for a Mexican crew to potentially represent right here in Bradford. Through their time at the event, Clean North were able to connect with many Mexican crews and one in particular stood out the most – Unik Breakers. Their presence on and off the floor was undeniable. Real chemistry can’t be faked, it’s built through time, commitment and a shared vision. Unik proved that by taking both the crew battle and 2v2 titles. That is why, for the first time, a Mexico crew will be representing at Tech Styles on the 14th and 15th of November! We have to give a big thank you to Bradford 2025 for making this possible.
To celebrate these achievements, Clean North joined many other breakers at the final after party. The night was a great vibe and the crew had many more exchanges and interactions with breakers, strengthening the global breakin bond. The crew often say that dance is the universal language of the world and this trip proved that fact for sure.
With the battles concluded, the crew were blessed to have a day to explore and take in the beautiful sites of Playa Del Carmen. One part of the town that many of the crew visited regularly was 5th avenue. This vibrant street was filled with hundreds of unique shops, local restaurants and one place in particular which held a place in many members heart- the Butik Mayaxel shop! Big shoutout to Kevin Haley for his welcoming energy and beautiful creations.
They also visited the Island of Cozumel by ferry, beginning with Tacos from a local Taqueria, which soon became the favourite dish of the week and ending in a glass boat trip around the Caribbean coastline. This unforgettable experience included snorkelling as well, where all members were able to see starfish, manta rays and even some shipwrecks. It was indeed a once in a lifetime experience for many of the crew and we thank God for giving them the opportunity to encounter other cultures around the world.
After an incredible time in Mexico, Clean North returned to the UK to pass on the invaluable knowledge and teachings to the Bradford students and next generation. The long flight home gave them time to reflect on the memories and stories that would soon be told and cherished. Tech Styles International is beyond happy of Clean North’s achievements and the crew is thankful for the time they got to spend in Mexico and the connections they made with the Bboys and Bgirls there. We pray that all members continue improving and pushing themselves to their best of their abilities so that our community can thrive and these opportunities continue to arise.
We once again want to say a massive thank you to Arts Council England, Bradford 2025 and British Council for supporting us specifically with this international engagement project. Clean North connected with many crews whilst in Mexico and can’t wait to continue to build upon the friendships made. True connections made through Hip Hop once again, thank God!
If you haven’t done so already, please take a look at the full album of photos on Facebook and Flickr and check out the incredible recap video on YouTube. Please don’t forgot to like, follow and subscribe to our social media accounts, this really helps support us and keeps our community growing.
