Taking street dance to campus

It was not until he became an undergraduate student in China University of Geosciences in Wuhan that he started to formally learn from dance teachers.

Later, he got to make friends with the other dance lovers at the university.

Without a proper dance studio, they often rehearsed together in the square in front of the university's stadium, the glass wall of which would serve as a big mirror.

"I was chubby and, as a result, not very confident," recalls Hu.

"However, the atmosphere created by these dance lovers inspired me to dance with panache and forget about my body anxiety."

Lin Jinyi is another HD Crew member.

She used to learn dance at a studio in Chaoyang district.

She had to spend three hours traveling to and from her campus in Shijingshan district and the dance studio. During the commute, she would watch online tutorials, complete assignments, review dance moves or listen to music to count the timing and beat in her mind.

"After I joined HD Crew, I found that there are so many others at our university who have the same passion for dance as me. A strong sense of belonging overwhelmed me," Lin says.

"An interesting point is that hip-hop culture inspires people to 'keep it real' while scientific works are underpinned by honesty.

"Although it seems that science has nothing to do with hip-hop. I think they uphold the same values."

Last year, for the first time, they got a chance to perform on a big stage.

They were invited to join the talent show, Campus.