My 1st day of teaching

So this is the Sharing Center. Is that Him? Abramz! I recognized him from the pictures online. Abramz is the founder & director of Breakdance Project Uganda. BDPU teaches Hiphop dance & Culture to over 400 youth and adults across Uganda. I'm still on charge to be here with these guys that do the same work I do in Chicago with the the University of Hiphop & Stick and Move. There's so much to talk about like F.E.W. &  the Zulus but it's 5 o'clock, it's time to get started.

This is what I've been working hard for the last several months to do (actually years)& now I'm here! The vibe rich even before we touched the dance floor. Everyone was anticipating this moment for months. The excitement and anticipation was boiling over.  It felt like many of the bboys were thinking, "That's him. Hm. Can he get down? Let's see what he can do." I'm stretching and warming up outside trying to get my body up to speed from the time change. The room we were supposed to be in was being used for a special event; so soon all 60+ BBOYS & BGIRLS trickled on over the concrete porch across from the basketball court. There are some rough spots but we pay them no mind as we create our cypher and commence to rocking the beats. OH MY GOD! These are some High Power Africans! and man do these brothers have Style! The dancers range from around 7 yrs-26+ yrs old and their rhythm is AMAZING! The last time I had this much fun was back in the days of Promontory Point! (remind me to make a wikipedia entry about the breakin practices at the Point)  We are on CHARGE about each others style and talent. I feel so at home.

I've been looonging for cyphers like this. In Chicago many people are confused about the dance. They think it's about how much you know how to do. That's all wrong; It's how well you do what you know how to do. Everyone has the basics too and if not, they're eager to learn. The kids can jam with the professionals and they're holding it DOWN too. Of course they have yet to become as strong or know as many moves as the senior artists, but they are COLD with their tops, down-rocks, and freezes. I'm so grateful to participate in circles where dance is the conduit for our Pure expression of joy.

They gets DOWN! They are impressed with my skills as well. They way they look at me is so familiar. It's the same way I saw Smoke,  Kwan, Pharoah, West Rock, Shamrock, The Twins, (I could go on & on with this list) when I was coming up. Those Guys were and still are some of my biggest inspirations in Hiphop Dance and when they move... MAN! it's something that's keeps me motivated even now. The Hiphop Scene here is still young too. In America we have access to generations of bboys who have been contributing to the artform for decades. Now I'm here doing things that they have never seen in person. It's time to SHARE! They certainly have the ability it's just that they have yet to have people to demonstrate the movements they way we do in the States & in other countries. Seeing some one in the flesh busting em is so empowering. Subconsciously you say to yourself "It's very real now & I can do it too".

It's amazing the Creativity in the Youth. Their Transitions, Throw-downs, ins & outs of their freezes, footwork & Rhythm are out of sight. (if you don't know what I'm talking about is come learn @ one of my master classes when I return) Their Learning Capacity is off the charts too. I did tracks 1 time and 3 of the guys picked it up immediately! (Tracks are when one does a head spin on a 45 degree angle spinning with only their  their hands touching the ground every rotation) Awww Silky Silky, we're going to get alot done while I'm here.

Here at the Sharing Center there are new people coming every practice and most of the time is used to share the art with the new emerging dancers. It's amazing how it works. Young people 10 yrs old are leading classes teaching teenagers and vice-versa. The kids from the slums & the kids from the more developed areas come together and Jam. This is truly breakdance for social change. I really would love to get together with the more advanced bboys so we have more focused intense sessions. Then Abramz pulled my coat-tail informed me that we got another space at The National Theater to train with the more advanced bboys, teachers, and the young prodigies 3 days per week. YEAH, It's on.

Talk to you soon

Much Peace!