Meet the Birmingham Hip-Hop Crew That Builds on a Cultural Phenomenon

By Amarr Croskey and Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times BhamBeatBullyz, a 10-member hip-hop dance crew, doesn’t miss a beat. The group performed before a sold-out crowd on the main stage for “Family and Friends” night at the UniverSoul Circus’s 10-day run at Legion Field, which wrapped up earlier this month. The crew, made up of members who are 18 and older, is filled with youthful excitement and an unmatched passion for dance. There is Tyreona Peterson, who has a certain pop and attitude to her dance style—as if each movement is an exclamation point to her confidence in dance. There is Kemiya Carroll, who has an infectious smile and a bubbly spirit to match. Her love for dance and seeing others move brings her a recognizable joy. Kemiya Carroll photographed during a break at BhamBeatBullyz rehearsal. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times) Then there is Christopher Pugh, the founder of the group, who just three days earlier was at Magic City Dance Studio in Fairfield, Alabama, taking his crew through a two-hour rehearsal in preparation for the Legion Field performance. A misstep, a wrong turn, or a moment out of position would spell a redo for the entire dance...