Bust a move: Man explains why he chose to breakdance at town meeting to protest property taxes

CRANFORD, New Jersey — Breakdancing started in New York City as a way for kids to express themselves. Now it’s being used by one middle-aged man in New Jersey as a form of tax protest.

That’s just part of Will Thilly’s story.

Maybe you’ve seen the clip from Cranford, New Jersey last week.

As a man dances in palpable silence at a town hall meeting.

“I probably have an instinct somewhere that talking is a little boring,” Thilly said.

Thilly said did not plan on dancing until a minute before it was his time to speak in the public comments portions.

However, as you can tell from the reactions behind him, many of his neighbors are familiar with his eccentric approach to public speaking.

“So, are you glad that you did it?” ABC News’ Danny New asked.

“I couldn’t have done differently. So yes, I’m glad I listened to my instinct,” he said.

In the days since, the video has picked up a whole lot of news coverage and millions of views online.

One commenter writing, “People in the audience did not appreciate this enough.” Of course though, the question remains: why did Will Thilly decide to bust a move?

Well, first off, he says he wanted to be neighborly, and break the ice at this suburban, biweekly meeting he says can get intense.

“Imagine how awesome a town is when you can hey, we’re all friends. We all love each other. This is the point of living together, right?” Thilly said.

But after breaking out his big move, the back spin, Will got down to business.

“Why did our taxes go up so much?” he asked.

And approached the podium again this time to suddenly challenge the town’s property tax.

Then, he ruffled his papers, and moonwalked away.

Not unlike John Wayne, at the end of “The Searchers” having wrapped up his mission to do what he felt was right.

“I have learned from trial and error that it to me, I believe best always rise up and do what you feel in your heart,” Thilly said.

It may not surprise you to learn that Will is also running as an independent candidate for that township committee.

His slogan should be, “Read my moves: no new taxes.”