Thomas Hergenröther: More Than BOTY Competition Organizer
When I think about Thomas Hergenröther, I don’t just see the organizer behind one of the world’s biggest breakdance competitions. Battle of the Year. I see someone who helped turn a passion for hip-hop culture into an international movement.
Thomas, also known as Doze 52, comes from Germany and has been involved in breaking in many different ways — as a dancer, graffiti artist, organizer, manager and promoter. He was also a member of the crew Burning Moves.
What I find inspiring is that he didn’t just participate in hip-hop culture. He created opportunities for people from all over the world to meet, compete and become part of something bigger.
The Beginning of Battle of the Year
In 1990, Thomas helped create Battle of the Year (BOTY) in Hannover, Germany. What started as a relatively small event eventually became one of the most important breaking competitions in the world.
For me, BOTY has always been about much more than winning. It was a place where dancers could meet, exchange ideas, make friends and experience hip-hop culture together.
And I actually became part of that story myself.
My First BOTY Experience
In 1992, my friend Mattias Bäcklin and I travelled down to Celle, just outside Hannover, for Battle of the Year. At first, it was really just a fun trip.
But when we arrived, we met Storm, who told us that his brother, Marc “Speedy” Robitzky, wanted to compete — together with the two of us!
So suddenly, the three of us entered BOTY against crews such as Second to None, Battle Squad and many other top crews from Europe.
We didn’t make it to the semi-finals, of course, but that really didn’t matter. It became one of those crazy memories that stays with you forever.
Thomas also reminded me about the Hip Hop jam in Uppsala, 1992, where he was one of the organizers to get the big bus with more than 50 hip-Hopers visiting from Germany.
Coming Back Again and Again
I returned to BOTY many times. One particularly special year was 1995, when I went together with Out Of Control, who were competing.
Watching them battle The Family in the semi-finals was absolutely awesome.
Then came 2000, when BOTY was held at the Expo in Hannover. For me, competing there was a real lifetime achievement and experience.
Being surrounded by dancers and crews like Barcelona Addictos, Flying Steps and Suicidal Lifestyle, both on and off stage, was incredible.
And there was another crazy moment. That evening, while me and Patrik “Prime” were in the crowd, we met Pop N Taco. Out of 10,000 people, somehow we ended up meeting him! We became friends afterwards, and he later visited me several times in Sweden. But that’s another story for another time.
battle of the year: More Than a Competition
Another important part of my BOTY memories were the bus trips organized by Alex “Renegade” Cetina. For many years, probably from around 1996 to 2006, he arranged trips from Scandinavia to BOTY, and I went many times.
Looking back, I realize that Battle of the Year wasn’t just a competition. It was a meeting point for a whole generation of dancers.
That is what I think Thomas Hergenröther’s greatest legacy is: creating a place where competition could bring people together, friendships could begin, and hip-hop culture could cross borders.
And I’m grateful that I got to be part of that story
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