Monthly Archives: April 2007

Breaking the Beats is the project I worked on a little while ago. It is a documentary photo essay about B-Boys, breakdancers. I was really fortunate to have met such group of interesting and cool B-Boys. They accepted me as part of their group right away, and take care of me everywhere we go. It’s been a while since I had to line up or pay for clubs :) I am not sure what the stereotype is out there about B-Boys. For me, I am really appreciative for them to take me in the circle so fast, as I am such an unlikely kinda guy to be in the sub-culture.
Anyways, in the two months we hung out together, I was taken to clubs, trainings, performances, parties, gyms, trains, homes, everywhere! Just basically lived the life they have. We even almost went to Copenhagen together! There is no drama in the documentary piece, but I hope their personalities shine through in the pictures. The stories are in 4 small segments. Life, Jams, Work, and On Stage. I think break dance is one of the most amazing dances in the world. The motions are so beautiful, fluid, and athletic. Graceful sometimes. Aggressive sometimes. Full of surprises all the time… Alright, without further ado,
Breaking the Beats


03/22/2007 Hackney, London.
Alatin hangs out by his car with his twin brother Slatin at the garage where Alatin used to work. Alatin is currently jobless so he can only do break dance training one or two times a week when he has the money for pay for shared studio time. Other than break dancing, Alatin’s favourite thing to do is driving around town in his Vauxhall Corsa.

04/04/2007 Holloway, London.
Bliss poses with his three best friends outside of a friend’s council flat. It was a Wednesday afternoon but none of them needed to be at work or school. Bliss skipped his job assistance class earlier that day.

03/01/2007 Oxford Circus, London.
After leaving a club seemingly unsatisfied with the dance he got to do that night, Alatin jumped on his car hood to do a freeze. A freeze is an athletic breakdance move that involves the dancer supporting him/herself often with one hand in acrobatic positions.

04/04/2007 Holloway, London.
Chatting away about music with his friends in a council building, Bliss pauses for a second to contemplate.

04/04/2007 Cockpit Theatre, London.
Bliss works as a theatre production assistant sometimes to supplement his income. While waiting around for instructions from the stage manager in the equipment room, Bliss kills sometime by practicing his breakdance moves.

03/24/2007 Lilian Baylis Theatre, London.
Marley listens to instructions intently from the choreographer. Marley is a member of a youth dance group, Raw SKillz. He also majors in dance in college.

02/03/2007 Liquid Club, Peterborough.
Bliss concentrates on thinking about his next move at this breakdance jam in Peterborough. To promote the club, the club manger paid The Imperial Steps Crew, among others, to travel to Peterborough to dance at this special “B-boying Night”.

03/22/2007 The Social Club, London.
Oblivious of the crowded dance floor, a couple kisses passionately. Meanwhile, Vit navigates in the crowd trying to find a bigger space to perform his athletic breakdance moves.

04/04/2007 Cockpit Theatre, London.
After finishing a day of work as a production assistant, Bliss brags how much better he is than some of the performers that night while performing a hand stand to prove his point.

04/07/2007 Riverboat, Windsor.
Illegal waits to perform with two other dancers from the Imperial Steps Crew at an Indian girl’s 21st birthday party on a riverboat. Illegal is a semi-professional dancer who sells used cars as a day job.

04/07/2007 Riverboat, Windsor.
Vitamin warms up while waiting to finalize some performance details with the birthday party host. For about 15 minutes of work Vitamin and 2 other dancers (Illegal and Kid) got paid 200 pounds. However, Vitamin said gigs at birthday party or weddings only come their way about once every 2 months.

03/24/2007 Lilian Baylis Theatre, London.
Raw Skillz performing on stage in front of a full house in a youth dance show. The crew prides themselves on their fusion style that combines contemporary dance with breakdance.