When hip hop began it was not as popular as it is in present day. DJ Kool Herc looped parts of the song with the best beats so the people would continue to dance. This became known as break dancing. Afrika Bambaataa organized one of the first break dancing groups The Zulu Kings. Break dancing was a harmless release that propelled the popularity of hip hop. These beats created a new way of dancing that had never been used before. Break dancing faded but then came back in the style that may are familiar with today. I find break dancing fascinating. These dancers not only have rhythm, something I envy, they have to be incredible athletes.
I used work for Universal Cheerleaders Association and had the opportunity to meet interesting people all over the US. One of the most amazing people I have ever met was a break dancer turned cheerleader. While on staff I met another staffer who also cheered at an East Coast university. We were hanging out talking one night just getting to know one another when he shared with me one of the most encouraging stories I have ever heard. He told me how his mother was a drug addict and because of her addiction his family had lost everything they had. At young age he and his brothers were homeless. He told me how he and his brothers used their break dancing as a way to make money. They would perform on the streets for people making money to eat on all the while living on the street or in shelters. They were so talented that eventually he got offered a scholarship to be a college cheerleader. His break dancing skills make it easy for him to learn to tumble (he could already do a ton of flips) and cheer. This is also how he got his job with UCA as a cheer instructor. It was his break dancing that opened doors for him making it possible for him to get his brothers off the streets. When his brothers were old enough they became college cheerleaders at the same school. Each time I think of this story I am almost moved to tears. Mainly because BeeZ was so happy that you would never know the hard ships that he faced. This is one amazing example of the power of hip hop and the human spirit.
http://www.jam2dis.com/j2dbreakdancehist1.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=321f_e8Ap0M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7gcEJjcRUE&mode=related&search=
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What an amazing story about how something as simple as break dancing changed this kid and his families lives for the better. You know you always hear of how sports stars are on the streets playing basketball and in out in parking lots playing stick ball for all hours of the night just to one day realize the dream of making it. I think your story hear shows a perfect example of how break dancing became a permanent piece of this kids life and how important the people like African Bambatta and Kool Herc were to have created this style for the people that followed them. I think you can also see this in the movie "BReakin", these kids are doin everything they can to make it but the one thing they love and have a passion for is break dancing. No matter what other people are saying to or about them, they always have break dancing to go back to. It is their passion.
Earlier this year i was in New York City and in the subways you can definitely see the impact of Kool Herc and Bambatta, as every corner had a piece of cardboard and a boombox, while two kids of all races were "breakin" it down. All of these people who were getting on the train were so impressed by this that they had formed a huge crowd to watch these kids. By the time they were through their jar was full and this ultimately meant they would be able to eat and provide for their families for the night. What a small thing that these legends did, just like Bill Russell in basketball or Roberto Clemente in baseball, African Bambatta and DJ Kool Herc laid the foundation for kids dreams to come true for years to come.
Thanks for letting us in on such a powerful story. Great Blog
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