Breaking: Happy Valentine's Day

What yo man cannot do


Highlights from the show including the grande finale


Some really awesome breaking


Interview with the dancers

Artists: B-Boy C Nice (Leopard suit), B-Boy Architect (dreds) and B-Boy Most (helmet)
Medium: Break dance
Location: Union Square station L platform

Sometimes a major subway construction project is a good thing, at least for me and my artist pals. If the Brooklyn bound side is running every 15 minutes, and the 8th avenue bound side ain’t running at all then you’ve got plenty of time and a captive audience for any performance you might want to do. In this case I think things worked out particularly well. B-Boy Architect, B-Boy C Nice and B-Boy Most had a fun, interactive show which was almost perfectly timed to the train schedule.

Architect
Although I filmed twice and he was only there once, B-Boy Architect didn’t need a second run to make his skills apparent. A master of motion, Architect has refined his skills over years of practice. Growing up in the Bronxdale projects in the 70s, Architect got into dancing and art just as hip-hip was exploding around 1974-1977 and Architect embraced the movement with open arms. A dancer, skater and graffiti artist, Architect asserts: “I practice hip-hop culture.”

Architect has as strong connection to the roots of hip-hop and “in ’78-’79…when a lot of B-Boys came to the streets and started performing – which we called hittin’,” Architect came too. Breaking and performing was, for many, “a poor man’s meal ticket” and “[f]or a lot of brothers that didn’t have no money and couldn’t a lot of doors open for them, this is how they made their presence known.” Architect continues to make his presence known through his art. He says he continues to love dancing and performing because he can express himself without anyone setting boundaries and enjoys seeing peoples’ reactions. Architect actually prefers working in the street to gigs, explaining that because breakers are, by and large, poor, people who set up gigs always try to short change them. On the other hand, in the street you can work until you’ve got what you want.

C Nice
The showman of the group, Queens resident B-Boy C Nice is one part comedian, one part announcer and one part outrageous dancer. Decked out in his leopard print spandex C Nice is a dancer to be reckoned with, combining breaking techniques with acrobatics, tumbling and a fair amount of contortion. Seriously, if you’re just reading this and you haven’t watched the videos yet, go watch the videos. C Nice gets his amazing abilities from yoga, which he teaches when he’s not dancing.

C Nice has been breaking for about 4 years and says that if you want to be as good as him it takes “hard work and dedication.” But he also says that “the world evolves around energy, if you don’t have energy and positive people around you, the show cannot do.” As a result C Nice is always trying to pump up the crowd and get them laughing. Also as a result, he prefers to work outdoors in the sunshine and fresh air. His main reason for coming down into the subway is because “it’s cold outside.”

Most
Most has known Architect and C Nice for years but only in the past few months have all of them been breaking together regularly. You may remember that Most was in a previous dance group on Concretebeat with Float Master John. Unfortunately, John was locked up but Most refuses to allow that to keep him from dancing. “I was dancing before I’m going to keep dancing.” Most describes the break dancing community as a big family. When John got locked up, he was able to hook up with Architect and C Nice and get back to work. “I’m cool, they’re cool, we just get together, it’s nothing big…it’s just like a big family.”

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Poppers and Breakers: Float Master John, Slip, Most, Tiny Love and Nikita

Some unique tricks (keep you eye on the cigarette)


Look ma, no feet


Some really tough breaking manouvres and a nice matrix


Only in New York: The group pulls a random kid from the audience who can actually dance


Interview with the Float Master John, Slip, Mos, Tiny Love and Nikita

Location: Union Square by the University Place and 14th st. train entrance
Artists: Floast Master John (all black), Slip (Tan T-shirt and hat), Most (white shirt), Tiny Love (white guy)
Medium: Breaking, rocking and popping

When I first ran into these guys they were trying to set up in Union Square. Unfortunately, the cops weren’t having it. For about an hour and half the group waited in Union Square for an opportunity, even attempting to set up across the street. Apparently, a fellow who lives in Union Square is good friends with the Mayor and doesn’t appreciate loud noises in the square. This makes it difficult for artists but particularly difficult for breakers who use amplified music and, according to Float Master John, have a hard time getting permits from the police. After a lot of waiting I left with the promise of meeting up with the group later. When I returned to Union Square later that day, however, I was happy to see that the gang had caught a break and was just starting their show.

Dressed entirely in black, Float Master John makes dancing look easy. But then again, he has been in the game for 35 years. A specialist in floating, moonwalking and other insane tricks (including his patented smoking routine), John has danced in the street and on stages for most of his life. Despite a long career, Float Master John is constantly looking for improvement. “[I dance in the street for] feedback from the crowd. [the] New York city crowd…gives the best feedback. It’s honest, it’s critical…if you’re good they’re gonna tell you, if you’re not good they’re gonna let you know. So it’s better I get someone who’s truthful about criticism [and] this is the hardest crowd.” John explains that the group met from doing gigs, practicing in public and seeing each other on the street. Now John performs on the street as a hobby and regularly teaches the skills he’s acquired at Boy’s Helpburn and O. Henry.

Influences: James Brown, Michael Jackson.

Jerry A.K.A. “Slip” comes to dance all the way from Elmont, LI (that’s pronounced Lawn Guyland). In HS. Jerry got into breaking by watching movies. When he and his friend saw a guy actually dancing, his friend decided to ask the guy to teach him. It wasn’t long before Jerry got into it. At the urging of his friend, Jerry began breaking in the street and met his current group. After two and half years of dancing, Jerry comes out for fun and to continue learn.

Influences: Breaking I and II, Wild Style (movies)


Z A.K.A. “Most” lives in the Bronx but was born in Bahia, Brazil. Z has performed all over world in places like Germany and Paris. Z says he got into Breaking because everybody in his village used to practice capoeira and he wasn’t into it so he learned breaking by watching videos. After teaching himself, he came to New York for “like, the vibe and everything, the music…I mean, like the [breaking] movement is actually bigger over here compared to where I’m from. This is the place to be…We got capoeira but it’s not really the same.” Z keeps it real, he performs on the street because he can feel the crowd and because it’s where he comes from. He may perform on the biggest stages but he still has to bring it to the street because that’s where be comes from. Z is laid back about what he does, after 10 years of dancing and DJing, he explains that art is to “give people that smile…[maybe] get a few dollars but it’s no big deal about it, [it’s] just chillin’ I mean it’s summer time, it’s so nice.”

Influences: Capoeira and kung fu movies but mostly himself and his imagination.

“Tiny Love” came to America from communist Romania. Tiny got into breaking in the 80s in Romania. Took classes occasionally but mostly taught himself through watching videos. Came to New York with his mom who left Romania to find a future. Loves dancing on the street – “it’s a great feeling. This is a street dance, it’s not Broadway…this is my passion.”

Influences: Old school dance like Soul Train

The group also likes to randomly pull kids from the audience to join them in a dance. Today's lucky youngster is Nikita:

Nikita is the type of talented random participant you can find on the New York streets. He comes from Russia where he and his friends got into breaking. After seeing some shows after he moved to Canada, he started taking classes for real when he moved to New York. This resident of the Lower East Side has been breaking for about a year.

Like what you see? Take some lessons with
Tiny Love at PS 93: 917-713-6319 or
Float Master John at two schools in Manhattan: 646-752-6554

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Breakdancing: Mike and Scoogie from DDT Entertainment

Mike and Scoogie breakdancing


Mike and Scoogie breakdancing


Mike and Scoogie breakdancing


Introduction to the show (no dancing but no NYC dance show is without one)


Interview with Mike and Scoogie

Artists: Mike and Scoogie – DDT Entertainment
Medium: Breakdance
Location: Times Square station near the shuttle

Mike and Scoogie are members of DDT Entertainment, a Bronx based operation. Their style of dance incorporates elements of breakdancing, capoeira and gymnastics which makes their shows especially dynamic and entertaining.

Mike fell in love with breaking and performing the moment he saw it and decided to do it himself. Fortunately, his brother had a group and he joined them and refined his craft. Mike, now a master of his art, teaches others how to break in his own group as his brother once did for him. Mike truly loves the art and says he’d like to teach the whole world for free.

Scoogie is Mike’s student and attests to Mike’s skills as a teacher. Scoogie enjoys the fusion breakdance/capoeira/gymnastics he does because he believes it is on the cutting edge of hip-hop culture. Scoogie admires Mike’s talent and joined his group to learn to perform and entertain better.

Scoogie and Mike dance in the Subway for exposure, pocket money and the entertainment of the people. Although they love their art Mike takes a practical view and says “[dancing] is a hobby, you also gotta have a job to fall back on.” Regardless, Mike and Scoogie are proud of what they do and encourage everyone to “always think positive, never negative. What we’re doing down here, we’re doing something positive, not down on the corner or robbin’ or stealing. Always find something positive – keep that in mind.”

Like what you see? Contact them and hire ‘em for a gig
B_boyscoogie@yahoo.com