VIBE MAGAZINE 2000 issue
THERE REALLY IS NO SUCH THING AS BREAKDANCE !
By Thomas Guzman-Sanchez
A missing piece in the big puzzle of American Urban Pop history has been discovered and brought to the forefront. This has caused a generation to re-think American Urban Dance history. An eight year study led by Urban Dance historians Thomas and Paul Guzman-Sanchez, reveal that a person is either Locking, Popping , Up-Rocking or B'Boying but not "break dancing". The brothers have focused on the history of Urban Dance from 1970 to 1985. The current meaning of the word "Break dancing" (American Heritage dictionary) is: A style of dancing in which agility, and often spectacular gymnastics skills, are combined with pantomime and performed especially to the rhythm of rap music. The "spectacular gymnastic skills" would be in reference to the Power Moves and tricks that are a main part of Rocking or B'Boying. The "pantomime" would refer to Popping. The "agility" could refer to Locking. And of course "the rhythm of rap music" is the O.G. (original generation) Funk. What could have caused such a misconception by society?
In 1982 the movie Flash Dance was released. The back spinning antics in this film caused the national media to focus on it because it was amazing to watch. This allowed the young back spinners in the film to manipulate the world press in regards to the trend that would become known as "Break dancing". The term "Break" or "to break" is originally a street term used as an alternative to describe "the act of dancing".
There has never been and is no actual dance style or dance form called "breaking" or "Break dancing". The word "break" was created by the O.G. Dance Group Chain Reaction in 1974 to describe a move in the dance form called "Locking". This move is where the arms are bent sharply at the elbows or a "Break" at the elbows. It then evolved to describe the act of dancing or to initiate a challenge, as in ,"Can you break?", or "Break!".
The 80's press grabbed this word "Break", creating an out of control monster and fed it to a naive America. A sad side effect was any prior history of these Urban Dance art forms were completely wiped out and stamped with the generic term of "Break dancing". Because so many people in the world today have embraced and adapted the Hip Hop trend as their so called "Culture", the propaganda that was initiated in 1983 is the only information that our society has as to build a foundation upon. But ignorance to history is no excuse. Just because a group says something is a certain way, doesn't make it so.
This project has been an ordeal since 1991 for Thomas Guzman-Sanchez who originally decided to write down his memories of being a dancer. "People looked at me crazy when I would speak about my past. So I thought I should write it down before I was to old to remember." After speaking to his brother Paul Guzman-Sanchez and the members of his group Chain Reaction, he decided to write a book on the history of Urban Dance that he was not only fortunate enough to witness but was also a key part of its creation. Thomas searched for three years to find the other creators and innovators of Locking and Popping. All who have been forgotten by the MTV generation that has helped to perpetuate the art forms they created. This eventually led Thomas to make a film that would encompass these O.G. Dance Masters (all of which are from California) speaking on where, how and why things were created, combined with archival performances proving when and what these dances were originally intended to look like.
This has become the controversial Feature Documentary "Underground Dance Master: History Of A Forgotten Era". This Clockman Vision production film was released1998 and is now available on VHS. Its the films music sound track that make up the eight Volumes called ,O.G. Funk - Underground Dance Master Music Series - Locking Volume 1 & 2 and Popping Volume 1 & 2, available now Up-Rocking Volume 1 & 2 and B'Boying Volume 1 & 2 due out in September 2001 . Many of these tracks have never been released on CD. The liner notes are filled with never before seen photographs and excerpts from the book that inspired this whole ordeal.
In 1998 was the First Annual International Underground Dance Master Tournament and Guinness Urban Dance World Record competition, that is now available on VHS. The second tournament was filmed at Universal Studios in 2000. This biannual extreme sports event draws dancers from all over the world to battle for the title of international champion and also to set new Guinness Urban Dance World Records.
Now with the true history of Locking, Popping, Up-Rocking and B'Boying known, society can now see the actual origin of what has become known as "hip hop dance" and that there really is no such thing as "Break dance".
For more Information E. mail:
iudma@dancemaster.com
VIBE MAGAZINE December 2000 ISSUE
Letter to Editor:
Dear VIBE MAGAZINE Editor,
In regards to the article that appeared in the Anniversary issue, "Lock, Pop and Quarrel". The writer RJ Smith for some reason chose to negate a seven year study and a two hour documentary on the origin of Locking and Popping, when he decided to convolute the facts and make that article into an opinion poll. This study was done to establish the true history of these American art forms, that until now have been a part of street history. Street history is orally passed down from generation to generation creating myths, lies and legends. This study which has become a book, a sound track (called O.G. Funk - Locking Vol. 1&2 and Popping Vol. 1&2, which is now available nationally) and a feature documentary has destroyed all the myths, lies and brought to light the real legends of a forgotten era between 1970 and 1985. I have traced the absolute beginning of a dance called the "Campbellock", created by Don Campbell in 1970 who happened to live in Los Angeles California. It shows the further development of "Locking" and the creation of the term "Break" in 1974 by the dance group Chain Reaction, who were from Reseda California. It covers the creation of "Popping" in 1977 by a dance group from Fresno California called the "Electronic Boogaloo Lockers". All of this has nothing to do with east coast verses west coast.
The film is made up of archival footage with legitimate air dates. This has created an unshakable time line that establishes for the first time a piece of American pop history that has never before been recorded. I have always said, "Don't believe me, just look at the air dates". You can't fake 1971 Soul Train or 1973 Johnny Carson. This has upset many people who were led to believe in certain myths. This has also excited many others who are truly interested in finding the truth about this part of history. A strange result of this study was discovering that this is also the origin of what has become known as Hip Hop dance today.The fact that RJ Smith asked people their opinion in regards to the validity of my study is one thing. But to ask individuals who are clearly "new guys" by their own admission about something that happened ten to twelve years before them is absolutely ridiculous and not good journalism.
In the 1600's the world was believed to be flat. This opinion was common knowledge supported by both society and the Pope. It was not until Galileo came along and proved the world was round. Because of this he almost lost his life through torture until he renounced his statement. Just because society believes that something is common knowledge does not make it true. Only a fool would site common knowledge as a basis of validating a statement.
Sincerely,
Thomas Guzman-Sanchez
Producer/Director/Urban Dance Historian
www.dancemaster.com
