Last December, Jingwen “JZ” Zhang took home the win at our inaugural Sleigh da Funk, a novice popping battle designed to give Shadow Puppetz students a supportive, low-pressure environment to gain battle experience, build confidence, and celebrate the progress they’ve made over the course of the year. 

As one of Shadow Puppetz’s longest-time students, JZ’s win reflected years of steady training, growth, and commitment. More importantly, it showed the power of joy and authentic self-expression in a style where dancers can easily get caught up in the pressure to perform. “My biggest takeaway was to remember to have fun when dancing, even in battles,” JZ says. “I usually get very nervous at battles, but I had so much fun at Sleigh da Funk. It was the battle where I felt the most relaxed and the most freedom to do my own thing. I think that mentality showed through in my movement, and I hope to carry that with me.”

The opportunities provided by Shadow Puppetz programs–such as Sunday Funkday and our specialized intensives–paired with Solo’s commitment, consistency, and hard work have led to major breakthroughs in his growth. Shortly after participating in our recent Machine Learning 2.0: Animation Intensive, he placed in the Top 4 at Devil’s in the Details, Chicago’s inaugural robot and animation dance festival. Within only a few short years of training consistently in popping at Sunday Funkday and with Chicago’s own OG Torrence “Tea-Buggz” Griffin, he also became one of the few Chicago dancers–and one of the first Shadow Puppetz students–to break into the Top 32 at Out of the Shadows, the largest annual popping festival in the Midwest. 

What tied everything together was the sense of ownership from the community itself. “The dedication from everyone to the theme and style,” another participant reflected. “It truly felt like an event for animators, by animators.”

By the end of the weekend, Devil’s in the Details had proven itself as more than a first-time event. It showed how battles, showcases, workshops, and tech demos can work together to bring generations and ideas into the same room, and how robot and animation continue to grow when given space to shine.

This three-day celebration will bring together artists, dancers, engineers, and stop-motion animators for a multidisciplinary exchange featuring battles, showcases, workshops, and technology demonstrations.

“Shadow Puppetz is most well known for creating a platform for popping in Chicago,” says Jude Brummett, Executive Director of Shadow Puppetz. “With Devil’s in the Details, our vision is to build that kind of platform for robot and animation—niche forms that deserve to be preserved, celebrated, and passed on to the next generation.”

At first, attending the weekly sessions was just a way to get out of the house during the long, solitary weeks of lockdown, but it soon became about much more. “I've stayed because I found a community through Shadow Puppetz,” Steve says. “One where I can grow my artistic expression alongside people who care about it as well.” When restrictions began to lift, Steve decided to give back to the community that had helped him feel like he belonged.

This month, Shadow Puppetz returned to Cleveland for the fifth anniversary and final edition of Lords of the Land, 10K Movement’s International Hip Hop and Street Dance Festival. Sid Tucky advanced all the way to the finals for the second year in a row, going head-to-head with Rishi “Rift” Desai. Rio McFly made it into the top eight, while both Prototype and Tatiana “Tanya” Armendariz placed in the top 16–competing among a pool of more than 50 dancers.

Co-founded by Lani “LaniLocks” Anderson, Marida Ianni-Ravn, Steve “Bearly Normal” Discont, and Shadow Puppetz members Alex “Prototype” Malblanc and Kevin Yu, Gridlock is a brand new collective working to revive locking in the city—starting with a free monthly class and session dedicated to the style.

Backed by his hometown crew Flow Roots and a room full of support, Rift walked away with both the 1v1 and 3v3 titles. The moment hit different—not just because of the wins, but because of who he shared them with. “Shadowz and MJG were the ones who took me to my first out-of-town events,” Rift said. “I was in the backseat, watching them battle. To be on the same stage with them now, and take a win together—that’s something really special.”

As the two-time reigning 3v3 crew champions at Out of the Shadows, The Architects have set the bar high. Their synergy and chemistry as a crew has yet to be matched, and now they’re back to defend their title and chase a historic third consecutive win.

Chicago’s premier popping event, Out of the Shadows Vol. IV, returns this May 9-11, 2025. Hosted by Shadow Puppetz, this three-day festival is expected to draw over 200 dancers and spectators from around the globe for an immersive experience featuring workshops, battles, showcases, live music, and art. 

In the first weekend of the new year, Shadow Puppetz had the privilege of collaborating with 10K Movement on their Crobar Circuit Popping Battle in Cleveland, Ohio. This partnership exemplified our shared commitment to uplifting and showcasing the Midwest’s popping dance culture. In a region where communities are more dispersed, fostering collaboration like this is vital for strengthening connections, amplifying talent, and creating opportunities that might not exist otherwise. 

We’re excited to share an important update to our weekly sessions, now renamed Sunday Funkday in honor of Electric Funkateer’s legacy. For decades, the Electric Funkateers have been a cornerstone of Chicago’s popping community, leaving a lasting impact that continues to shape the dance scene today. Founded in 1980, they played a foundational role in establishing and nurturing the art form in our region, and we are proud to carry their tradition forward.

In December, we hosted Sleigh da Funk, our inaugural novice popping battle, designed to give new dancers their first taste of competitive popping in a welcoming, supportive environment. The event also showcased the progress we’ve made in creating inclusive spaces for women, with all of our top 4 finalists being women—an inspiring achievement in a male-dominated scene. Events like Sleigh da Funk play a critical role in offering entry points for dancers to grow, take risks, and build confidence, ensuring that everyone, regardless of gender or experience level, has a place to thrive.

We’re thrilled to announce that Out of the Shadows, Shadow Puppetz’s annual popping festival, has been selected to receive partial funding by the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE).

We are excited to announce that Tatiana “Tanya” Armendariz, Co-Founder of Shadow Puppetz and Founder of Flow First Waving Collective, has been honored with the DanceChance Award by Chicago DanceMakers Forum. This award provided Tanya with a unique opportunity to choreograph and perform an original work that showcased waving, a style she has been championing throughout her career.

We believe that great dancing comes from exploration, and that exploration can only happen in a space that values trust, respect, and transparency.