Break dancing. It’s a little more complicated than spins and flips in the air.
This weekend, the Rock Steady Crew break-dancing troupe celebrates its 25th anniversary by showing the city what the acrobatic art is really all about – from moves like the “hallowback” and “turtle” to live performances of the hip-hop sounds that have always been the soul of the scene – during two days of events around town.
“The free outdoor concert is a throwback to when we first started going to hip-hop parties out in the park and it was free,” says Bronx native Crazy Legs, a.k.a. Richie Colon, 36, president of the group.
“It’s an event that you can go to, where you feel like you’ve experienced true hip-hop. It’s about being yourself and being accepted no matter how you dress and how you carry yourself.”
Every year, Rock Steady, established in 1977, organizes a massive community event that honors deceased members and celebrates hip-hop culture from it’s inception in the early ’70s to the present.
This multi-day event attracts deejays, break-boys and girls, emcees and fans from all over the world.
At 2 p.m. today, there will be a “battle” on concrete, during which b-boys and girls will show off some of their best moves. Battling is considered to be one of the most important components of breaking -“the essence of creativity.” During battles, breakers compete using footwork, acrobatics and freezes to “humiliate” each other.
“The dance is still evolving,” says Crazy Legs. “It’s evolving in the same way that rap style and graffiti art evolved.”
“Right now, breaking is more popular than it was in the ’80s, it just doesn’t get as much news coverage, which is sad because it’s a true American art form – born and created here, out of struggle and the lack of community programs.”
Performing with the Rock Steady Crew are some of the legends of rap music, including Gang Starr, GZA, Dilated Peoples and Beatnuts.
“It’s always an honor for us to perform with them because Rock Steady Crew represents a major part of the hip-hop culture. It’s really good to see people recognizing breaking again and it’s importance around the world,” says Guru, a.k.a. Keith Elam, of Gang Starr.
“The Rock Steady Crew Anniversary is a family thing – like an annual family picnic.”
Today, 1 to 7 p.m.; Pier 54, 14th Street at the West Side Highway.
Tomorrow, 3 to 9 p.m.; Manhattan Center, 311 W. 34th St.
For more information, check out http://www.rocksteadycrew.com.