Enlarge Pop & lock dancer Africano performs in front of Belk Theater.

Posted: August 2nd, 2010 James Willamor

A crowd gathered on the Tryon Street sidewalk as passersby pulled out their cell phones, taking photos and video. The rain had just stopped and Anthony “Tron” Robinson was spinning furiously on his head. A few seconds later, Joseph “Kwzt1” Kotay jumped onto the makeshift linoleum dance floor in front of Belk Theater. Behind them stood a handful of dancers who each took turns showing off their breakdance and hip hop moves over the course of several hours Saturday afternoon.

“July 31st has been proposed as National Dance Day,” said Donell Stines, director of Create Don’t Hate productions. Stines helped put the event together. “Blumenthal was in full support of the day, and they’ve allowed us to be here. It’s kind of a community day to just celebrate--to lay out the linoleum and have a jam.”

As spectators came and went, Robinson taught a few breakdance moves to several enthusiastic children. “The dancing I display is called street dancing,” Robinson explained. A year ago Robinson moved to Charlotte from California, and now he teaches breakdancing at Open Door Studios on Central Avenue. “I watch a lot of modern and a lot of jazz, and I try to incorporate that into my style. You’ll see other influences such as capoeira and gymnastics. In Charlotte there’s no defined style for how b-boys and b-girls dance.”

“They are incredibly talented performers and they don’t always get recognition to get into the bigger spaces such as the Booth or the Belk,” said Stines. “There’s a negative connotation linked to hip hop, but the old school heads and some of the younger cats coming up are really into a conscience movement [and] advocate for a positive and healthy lifestyle.  You can’t be crazy and try to advocate and reach out to your community.”

Kotay, who had just returned from a street dance event in Atlanta, described the local street dance scene. “Charlotte isn’t at the point where it has big support for street style dancing. In charlotte right now if you’re trying to learn ballet, or modern, or tap, this is the place to be. As far as underground dances, people mostly learn on their own. Hopefully that’s changing. It’s a growing city.”

Robinson, Stines, and Kotay all hoped the National Dance Day event will serve to inform the community of the upcoming 5th annual Battle Slam Jam on August 21st at Grayson Skate Park.

“I think Battle Slam Jam is probably one of the only dance competitions that cater to young adults,” said Robinson. “In Charlotte, there a lot of b-boy events that go on at bars, and a lot of these kids can’t get in there unless they’re twenty-one [years old]. Battle Slam Jam is a good event that brings a lot of kids out to dance.”

“Charlotte’s getting there but right now it lacks,” adds Kotay. “Slowly but surely, as time goes by, I can see different arts and different cultures expanding as people move in from different areas.”

Tweet

Previous Page