Jump Monkey Blog

Derrick “Empire X” Murph
Hometown: Sarasota Florida

1) What kind of dancing do you do? I’m a freestyle dancer. I do think breaking is cool but I don’t like the fact that there’s no creativity involved. I see the same move’s done over and over again. To me there’s a lot more to dancing then just power moves and freezes. I don’t really see any creativity with a lot of dancer’s these day’s. When I was hardcore in to dancing it was about being creative doing moves no one else has done. You still get this with freestyle dancing and house dancing but to me breaking has lost the since of creativity. Doing a flair and a 90 to me does not make you a dancer. Be more creative it’s not all about power moves.

2) Why do you dance? First off I dance for me. Not for the people that may be watching and definitely not to show off. Don’t get me wrong dancing is an art form that should be shared but it’s not about how much better you are then someone else.

3) In what year did you start? I have been dancing since I was about 10 years old. As of late I have slowed down a bit do to the lack of good clubs and good music.

4) What do you like most about dancing? The since of freedom I get from it. When I dance it’s like I can let everything go and forget about all the bull that’s going on these days.

5) What do you not like about dancing? The one big thing I hate is that fact that I know one day I will be too old to do it. I don’t like that the younger and new dancers are somewhat lost on what it’s really about. I would like to see more creativity coming from these new dancers. Show me more then just power move’s.

5) What inspires you or makes you want to keep dancing? My dancing partner and best friend REWIND. The only time I really dance anymore is if we are both out doing the damn thing.

Hometown: Columbus, OH (born), Baldwinsville, NY (raised), Sarasota, FL (living now).
Body type: Athletic, Flexible
Religion: Catholic
Smoke/drink: Don’t Smoke / Drink occasionally.
Children: Plan on having a b-boy /b-girl someday.
Education: Graduated from the State University of New York at Oswego, BA in Information Science.
My name is Kevin Wright, but I’m known on the floor as Lynx, and my Capoeira name is Padre. Lynx came from people telling me I have “speedy legs” for up/top rocking. Padre means Father (like a priest), and I got that because I would always wear white everyday, carrying a small leather journal so I could write down song lyrics. I’m an American white boy who grew up in a small town, listening to HipHop ever since I had access to a tape player. My parent’s didn’t really like it, but “parents just don’t understand.” On the musical side, I feel the passion of artists/groups like Nas, Gangstarr, KRS, Roots, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, etc. If you drop a New York beat like Nas’s “Memory Lane” and you’ll light a spark to my soul.

I BBoy for my culture, which is HipHop. HipHop has given me so much. BBoy Junior from NYC, a good friend, who gave me a style to run with, once said “HipHop gave me wings.” That statement sums it up.

I first started playing Capoeira in 2001. It gave me some rhythm and deeper understanding of life. Later in college, 2003, there was a crew forming, so I thought to myself, I love Capoeira and HipHop… why don’t I combine them? So I did. I became addicted instantly with only a couple sessions. We set up practices, at least 3 times a week, and shows every month or so. We tried to network with everyone we could, pushing the positive movement. Eventually, we named our crew “B-Boy Lifestyles.” There is a strong NYC style within the crew, hitting beats hard with a strong uprock.

What I enjoy most about breakin’ is the unity. It brings all cultures together, regardless of religion, race, or gender. There is beauty in every movement, whether it’s graceful or fierce. Watching someone explode with strong set really motivates me to work my hardest in tuning every movement I make.

I haven’t broken anything yet from breaking, but I do put my body into positions that it doesn’t like too much. So, occasionally I will over extend my shoulders or back, and it’ll be sore for a week or so. I did hurt my knee (bursitis) about 6 months ago, but I’m making good recovery time. I just gotta watch how much stress I put on that one knee. During my down time I work on handstands because I had to do something but I couldn’t put pressure on my knee at all. I couldn’t just sit and watch my crew train, that bums me out to much. If I lose my legs someday, I’m still gonna find a way to break… you can’t let things like that hold you back. You stuck in a wheelchair? Rock that sh*t.

What inspires me most is to keep myself surrounded by HipHop every day. I listen to music in my car, I watch video’s on bboyworld.com my lunch break, train when I get home, and think about it before I fall asleep. It keeps my life full of positive energy.

Hometown: ROCHESTER,N.Y
body type: ATHLECTIC
Religion: CHIRISTIAN
Smoke/drink: NO/SOCIALY
children: 1
education: HIGH SCHOOL

Name: Omar A Lopez
Born: September 2nd 1981
PUERTO RICAN  Born in Caguas, Puerto Rico in 1981′ at the age of 4 Omar was taught to Dance by his Uncle and Mother. Omar and his Mother moved to the U.S in 85′ Omar kept the tradition alive and all his life he has danced in talent shows T.V Show Theatrical shows and in 2001 discovered by the God Father of Hip Hop’s Afrika Bambaataa he was asked to tour all over the world where he has made a name for himself as a powerful Explosive Risk taking dancer. Now at the age 25 Omar has toured all over the world from London,France,Irland to Japan, Korea,Brazil to Germany,Ibiza Spain you name it . He Now Lives in Orlando Florida where he is teaching Hip Hop and Breaking classes and Dances for the World Famous Dance Groups High Voltage also know as Street Breaks in Universal Studios Orlando,FL,Break the Urban Funk Spectacular and G-FORCE He is Now currently choreographing a Break Dancing piece for a new upcoming R and B artist known as Lren C and also dancing for new R and B artist ESTY www.myspace.com/estytou.

Status: Single
Home town: San Francisco C.A
Body type: 5’ 8
Ethnicity: AAA (African Asian American) 25%azn
Religion: Christian
Zodiac Sign: Aries
Smoke / Drink : No / No
Education: High school/Collage

1) Why do you breakdance?
I bboy cause when I was a kid, I didn’t know how to dance at all. Until family from the NY came down and schooled me on music and bboying. A year later it became more then just a dance. If became part of my like just like graffiti did.

2) What year did you start?
I learned when I was a 6th grader. Stopped because of school and I started again the summer of 2003 with some friends from Burton High and one friend from my middle school.

3) How many times have you broke something or hurt your self?
Haven’t broken anything, just injured. But I did get a concussion attempting a airflare in 11th grade
What are those things?
I mostly injure my left wrist because thats the hand I use 2 do air freezes with. It happens at least once every 3 months now cause of all the pressure I apply.

4) What do you like most about break dancing?
I love the competitive side of the dance. U can get the same feeling u would get if u was playing sports. It’s a dance that isn’t out there like hyphy, gig, turf, and crump. Also it separates me from stereotypes.

5) What inspires you, or makes you keep break dancing?
Family, The original Burton High Crew, Rat Pack, Boogie City Residents(my crew), Jive Core, Rock Force Crew, Forever We Rock, and may my little brother Jonez and cousin Chris Mass from NY rest in piece).

6) Do you teach and if so how might some get a hold of you if they wanted to pay you to teach them?
Contact me through myspace. com/bboyyinyang and my sn:Blak Belt Jonez. I teach at Visitation Valley Middle School. And I can show you other people who can teach because there are better teachers then me.

Status: Single
Home town:King of Prussia
Body type: 5’11
Ethnicity: Black
Religion: Christan
Zodiac Sign: pisces
Smoke / Drink : No / No
Education: High school

1) Why do you breakdance?
I saw this show and saw breakdancers i thought it was so cool and then I started watching videos online and trying stuff out

2) What year did you start?
06

3) How many times have you broke somthing or hurt your self?
I haven’t broken anything yet but I have gotten hurt a couple of times

4) What do you like most about break dancing?
I don’t know what I like most about it

5) What inspires you, or makes you keep break dancing?
it just a feeling its fun

6) Do you teach and if so how might some get a hold of you if they wanted to pay you to teach them? They can message me on myspace

http://www.myspace.com/g760van

Status: Single
Home town: Denver, CO
Body type: 5’ 9?
Ethnicity: Bosnian
Religion: Muslim
Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius
Smoke / Drink : No / No
Education: Some College

1) Why do you breakdance?
Its fun, and it lets me explore my limitations

2) What year did you start?
2006

3) How many times have you broke somthing or hurt your self?
Ive had 2 serious injuries but im good now.
What are those things?
Tore a leg muscle and hurt my shoulder

4) What do you like most about break dancing?
The different ppl you get to meet and atmosphere

5) What inspires you, or makes you keep break dancing?
The challenge and creativity.

6) Do you teach and if so how might some get a hold of you if they wanted to pay you to teach them?
Ive tough around the basics but I would never charger money.

Status: OCCUPIED
Home town: Tulsa, Ok
Body type: 6′4
Ethnicity: Black/Native American
Religion: Universal Christian (all bibles have the truth in it)
Zodiac Sign: Virgo
Smoke / Drink : No / Yes
Education: GED.. some technical schooling

1) Why do you breakdance?
I break dance.. to remove myself from negativity … instead of slanging drug …fighting… and robbing people… I rather do something positive that young kids can look up to .. And to balanced myself as one.

2) What year did you start?
I started back in 03 04 but I’ve had a few detours with the government…lol.. Been popping since 02

3) How many times have you broke something or hurt yourself? What are those things? Hurt is something that’s going to happen … I try doing front flips standing in one position and landed dead on my neck.. Which looks akward as hell cuz I’m tall ..lol

4) What do you like most about break dancing?
Unity…. I just don’t get down with people touching me. That’s what get’s people locked up. I love it all. just don’ touch 

5) What inspires you, or makes you keep break dancing?
People saying that tall people can’t break dance.

6) Do you teach and if so how might some get a hold of you if they wanted to pay you to teach them? I don’t teach right now. I have too much work to do. But I used to.

 http://www.myspace.com/lblockincorporations