A Hot July!!!

What's up family!!! This Summer is already halfway through but we've got so much to do! But, we've done so much! We hope all of you out there can say the same! If not, what are you waiting for?! Ha ha.

 Rok and Kwik had travelled to Senigallia, Italy and came back earlier July just in time for stage performances at the New Victory theater on the ever-so-famous Broadway. Right on 42nd street! Rok and Kwik were "Bridgin' the gap" between here and Italy (a little foreshadowing there in this month's article--hint hint). Hip hop knows no bounds!

Our very own Kid Flash repped Full Circle at the Master Mind rockers event with footwork.

This is a quick shot of a scene in our piece "Bach to the Future" called "Rules of the Cypha."

Successful run for "Bach to the Future" in the New Victory theater on Broadway.
From left to right: Cristina Altamura on Piano, Amit Bhowmick on the mic beatboxin', Kamsy Flash Duarte, Raymond Spex Abbiw, Angel A MçÑeal, Ana Rokafella Garcia, Gabriel Kwikstep Dionisio, Odylle Beder, John Flonetik Vinuya, Nubian Nene, and Darlene Arrington at The New Victory Theater.

Thank you to Mary Rose Lloyd and Cora Cahan and the entire team at the New Victory theater! You were all so professional and dealt with the craziness that comes with performing.

Our very own Angel McNeal was nominated for the BESSIES (Google it if you don't know what it is)!!!
October 20th is the day the winners are announced at the 30th Bessie Awards Ceremony taking place at the Apollo theater!!! Go 'head Angel!!!

We had the honor and pleasure of having Brazil tear up the floor for 4 days here in New York. A little welcoming party and preview to Behind the Groove took place for them at Lincoln Center.

A Batalha do Passinho performance in Lincoln Center. Breathtaking back layout! 

Thank you Bill Bragin for inviting us: Kwikstep to DJ and Rokafella to judge for the Lincoln Center Out Of Doors 'Passinho' event. It was as much of an honor as it was difficult to judge. Winners all around!

Behind the Groove was pure FIIIIIIRE this July! Guest dancers from Brazil "A Batalha do Passinho" once again keeping the cyphers hype along with a performance from Slick Rick the Rulah himself which can be seen RIGHT HERE and an amazing exhibition battle VIEWABLE HERE between:

Jiggz and Ken Fury (Supreme Beingz)

Miguelito and A-Rod (Beast Coast)

Samo and Chem (X-Fénz) and last but not least

Gravity! 

We want to thank Ralph "Uncle Ralph" McDaniels of Video Music Box (celebrating its 30th anniversary! WHOOP WHOOP!) for hosting July's B.T.G. and Zulu Jeff for his support. ALSO, thank you to U.D.E.F. Pro Breakin Tour for providing their Bboys for the exhibition battle.

Remember earlier when we mentioned that bridge? Ha ha. Little Hip Hop Humor there.

Igor and Kim D. Holmes rocking a cypher exchanging!!!

There will be no Behind the Groove at Le Poisson Rouge in August since Summerstage has invited BTG'S founding DJ KS 360 to spin an outdoor edition at Marcus Garvey park on August 19th 4pm til-- you know how that song goes! Feel free to donate to support our monthly dance event at Get Behind the Groove.
We're here for you all and can't make this happen without you all. 

A Ladies of Hip Hop performance with Mantis and Rokafella.

En route to a performance in Ashland, Oregon!!!

First successful performance done in Ashland, Oregon!!! Stay tuned for more!!!

Join us for the 2nd Annual Fresh Kids Brooklyn Breakers Reunion at Coney Island's Peggy O'Neill's 1904 Surf Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11224 on August 23rd!

You can also still purchase "All the Ladies Say" right HERE! 

This is a documentary bringing to light the world of women in hip hop dance. The tears, struggle, and stories of very well known dancers in our community. Stories that likely would not be known to the world otherwise.

And don't forget to get some Fat Lace Earrings!!!

Be sure to follow our news and events on Facebook

at the "Full Circle Prod Inc" page!

An Action Packed June 2014!!!

Hello everyone!!!

It was the 6th month (halfway point) of the year and we were blessed to have so many great things going on!

We wrapped up our residency at Casita Maria on Friday June 6th with a free in formal preview of the initial draft of the piece we have been commissioned to create for Kennedy Center's Family Theater in Washington D.C. 

Thank you to the staff at Casita Maria for the unbelievable amount of patience and support they offered to our small cast and crew. Thank you to the Bronx Council on the Arts for making opportunities possible for artists to strive and make their vision a reality. 

The FC Souljahs participated at SOBRO/Dancing in the Street's block party in Mott Haven on the 14th and Rokafella hosted the event. Congratulations to Violet/ KR3T's and Buddha Stretch Styles Academy and to the drummers in the drum circle and all of the performers. 

Our monthly dance event called Behind The Groove just experienced a milestone in May when our resident DJ DP One proposed to his girlfriend Shivi during the party and we celebrated their wedding at this month's BTG along with Kwik and Rok's 14th wedding anniversary and Kwikstep's Birthday. 

Thank you to all who attended, to Mario for the photographs and to Full Circle Souljahs for the teamwork that makes the party flow smoothly! Thank you to Boogie Blind and to Zulu Jeff for the support! 

Our dance event (BTG) is not framed by competition or prizes though sometimes we offer battles. 

Instead we offer non top 40 dance classics and new grooves to our dance community of diverse street and club genres. Some of the dancers who attend are local, international, novices and some are straight up masters and/or beasts!!!

It is a great exchange of positive energy and the club has always embraced our event for its unique drive. 

However, inflation is up on us and we don't want to suspend this much needed space for dance to live and reflect the legacy of NYC's infamous dance scene. 

If you haven't already done so, please give a donation to our monthly dance event's Go Fund Me campaign so we can cover the overhead expenses and continue providing this kind of platform to the community.

We are Full Circle Prod Inc, a non-profit company, offering various kinds of dance programming year round and this particular platform extends the invitation to dancers who look to put their moves out there in a social exchange, reminiscent to the heydays of NYC club and street vibes of the 70's and 80's. 

For the young talent, its a place to grow and make your presence known, for the middle school its a place to refine the skill and for the masters its a chance to relive the encore with much applause! 

For the non dancers, its a place to awaken the idea that anything is possible-- 'cuz look at these sweaty beautiful stars in front of me!! 

For me, its a place to witness the spontaneous combustion that once compelled me to throw down over and over again 'til the last song was played.

I hand out pineapples and strawberries close to the end of the party to reward those 

who stay til the end... like I used to once upon a fake ID!!!

Behind The Groove is another one of Kwikstep's visions...this party will beat the odds.

We can do it...with your help!!!

Feel free to share with your networks. 

Rokafella aka La Roka

Support Behind the Groove

We have just launched a new website and will soon disable the old one. 

please check out www.fullcirclesouljahs.com and stay in touch with the Facebook group page and our Twitter. 

Kwikstep was part of the newest phase of New Yorkers for Dance campaign to raise awareness of how important and necessary dance is to our city. 

http://youtu.be/5nw-5VqLtTM

Kwikstep, Rokafella and Bgirl Mantis attended the celebration and witnessed the unifying movement that Dance NYC is creating behind the NYC dance community. 

Full Circle will be performing along with 3 other dance companies. We will present a 20 minute set at the New Victory Theater's Summer dance program "Victory Dance" on July 17th at 7pm Tickets $10 Within our segment we will preview Outside The Bachx with Cristina Altamura playing a Bach selection and Amit Bhomick providing the beatbox. 

http://www.newvictory.org/Show-Detail.aspx?ProductionId=5739

Ladies of Hip-hop July 11-13th.. please log on and check the line up!! 

http://www.ladiesofhiphopfestival.com/

On July 22nd Behind the Groove will take over Lincoln Center's Atrium to welcome Brazil's newest funk movement from 5pm-11pm Free to the public and continue til the 24th with a wrap up party. 

Stay tuned to the Facebook Behind The Groove group page and Fullcirclesoul Twitter for details!

PLEASE mark your calendars---The Fresh Kids Brooklyn Bboy's Reunion is scheduled for August 23rd at Peggy Oneill's in Coney Island and the following week is Behind The Groove at Marcus Garvey park in Harlem. We "doing it in the park"! Ha ha! You don't want to miss these events!!

We are traveling to Oregon Shakespeare Festival on July 30th with the ladies of FC for an "All Girl flava" outdoor performance at the Green Show. Kwikstep will provide the sounds as Mantis, Darlene, Angel and Nubian Nene rock the stage two times along with Rokafella! 

Our All The Ladies Say documentary is available for purchase RIGHT HERE!!!

Please let your schools and dance programmers know that there is a tutorial and a teacher's tool that comes along with the package. 

Check out trailers and our events for All the Ladies Say

Thank you to our board of directors and to you our community for keeping us moving forward. 

www.fullcirclesouljahs.com

www.alltheladiessay.com

MAY 2014

May weather in NYC was very chill and so was our vibe. 

Angel and Bboys Shea and Flonetik pictured above rocked the Poetry show 

at Brooklyn Academy of Music in a section with the infamous Toni Blackman
and then later on in the show in a segment that showcased their Hitting
background on a subway train. Shout to 

DJ Reborn, Monica Williams and John Foster for the opportunity to represent!

Rokafella began teaching at the Hip-hop Academy in Bronxworks 

with a culminating showcase on June 13th. 

Thank you to Pepatian for always reaching out to the youth 

of the Bronx. Shout to Toofly, La Bruja and DP One for adding to the elements.

Behind the Groove was great warm weather testimony--tho it did get chilly again 

afterwards-- but DP One's engagement to Shivi during the party

kept everyone warm for days!! 

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Right after wrapping up the last dance at the party,
some Full Circle memberss 

flew to Puerto Rico to compete in

 the 14th "Express Your Skillz" event 

in Canovanas. Kwikstep DJ'ed for the Popping battle 

and Rokafella judged the 1 vs 1 Bboy and the Bgirl battles. 

Congrats to Mantis and to Angel for taking home 

the money and the trophies!! Big shout to Alex Rex Jay and Time Machine Squad

and the winner of the 1on 1 Bboy battle Bboy New Jack pictured below!

Full Circle has begun its journey towards creating a new evening

length piece entitled "Outside the Bachx" by developing new ideas

at Casita Maria for a 3 week residency. It will culminate with 

an informal sharing on June 6th at 5pm if you would like to join us at Casita Maria,

it's a free event and will have a Q and A immediately following the 

sharing which includes Cristina Altamura-a concert pianist, 

Baba -Beatbox extraordinaire

two ballerinas- Angel who Pops 

and Mantis who Breaks and 

 Kwikstep and Rokafella. 

Rokafella participated in the "Ladies Love Project" art fashion and music

outdoor event with Circa 95-shout to Reph Star and Patty Dukes!
 Pictuerd above are the cupcakes that were on sale and Rokafella's earrings.
Stay tuned for more events coming up

where you can purchase Fat Lace Earrings hand designed by 

Rokafella.
www.fatlaceearrings.com is the site.

On June 14th Full Circle will perform at the SOBRO/Dancing in the Streets Block party in 

Mott Haven--a A 6-hour block party that captures the sizzling vitality of grass roots Bronx culture. Saturday, June 14, 2014 12:30-6 pm Lincoln Avenue between Bruckner Blvd & E. 134th St., Bronx

Many local and NYC area artists will perform,

Rokafella will host and Grand Wizard Theodore will be spinning! 

June 21st Full Circle will also perform for Hi Arts Blackbook event 

on 100st and 2nd avenue at 3pm. 

We hope you continue to support our organization as it 

steps into Summer with camps, performances and the beginning of a 
new residency late August.

Kwikstep has launched a Go Fund  Me fundraising 
campaign to sustain "Behind The Groove's" monthly dance event 

 overhead expenses. It takes a village...
Our village is made up of dancers--some are NY'ers and some 
are not. But they all need a space to work out their dance moves
and Behind The Groove has been it. A safe space where
the songs inspire spontaneity and mastery. At a time when NYC bars and clubs deter dancing,
Behind The Groove welcomes and embraces the original 
NYC ambiance of the dance scene. We even offer
non alcoholic drinks so dancers can re energize and groove til the last song.
Birthdays, engagements, exhibition battles, musician mash ups, 
a classic dance song anniversary and DJ royalty making guest appearances 
are of few of the milestones defining how 
this monthly non top-40 open format dance party has opened its doors to the dance community.
Please make a donation so we can keep the beat going.. even if it is a small 
donation .... BTG will reach its 5th year and beyond!  

www.gofundme.com/getbehindthegroove

Rokafella and Kwikstep will travel to Italy at the end of June

to bring NYC Hip-hop culture to students looking to develop their 

community and business potential. 
The event is called The Bridge and organized by Paolo Frigo.

Check out the promo video!!

http://youtu.be/ZIgcjYEKS8c

Big THANK YOU goes out to our community
that always lends a helping hand and resources so that
we may continue to fulfill our dance mission.
Our AIDSWALK team raised $250 and we'd like to thank
our family who supported us.. you know who you are!
If you would like to volunteer at any
of our upcoming events, help out with media support or would like
to book a performance or workshop, please email us at
fullcirclesoul@hotmail.com
Follow us on Twitter at Fullcirclesoul and Facebook group pages
Full Circle Prod Inc, Behind The Groove and All T he Ladies Say.
Kwikstep's Sound cloud is DJ KS360 and
Rokafella's Instagram and Youtube channel is BgirlRokafella
"For those who never really loved it, there exists a "Post Hip-hop world"..
For us, we are still in the thick of it.. locally and globally!!"--RKFL
See you at the partayyy!!

see

APRIL/MAY 2014!!!

April began with two of Full Circle's newest dancers performing an exhibition 

battle for HARLEM STAGE E Moves dance series. Thank you Charmaine Warren and HS team for an amazing line up of emerging talent!! Video will be posted up soon. 

But you can check out this video made by Kat Lazo about the Anti Street Harrassment Rally by the HollabackNYC organization. THANK you EMILY MAY!! 

Check it out  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJsozCS4hlE

Porshia Andrea Derival and Spex celebrated their birthdays with us this April. Aries Power!

We were also graced by the presence of DJ Sabine Blaizin!!!

Everyone had an amazing time at “Top Notch”

 taking place at the The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts! DJ Fleg was the DJ, Rokafella was a judge with Bgirl Narumi and Bboy Toyz and Kwikstep kept the crowd engaged as a hilarious Host!

Hosts, Judges, Winners!!

Check the video link for the footage of the EPIC 

battle on April 12th at Kennedy Center's Top Notch 

Breakin event within the One Mic Festival 

curated by Words Beats and Life! 

http://www.kennedy-center.org/explorer/videos/?id=m5777&type=a

Rokafella's workshop students at Top Notch!

Positive vibes after the event! Thank you Amy Haayer for the hospitality!

Full Circle repped in Blue in Rochester as well at Buffalo Breakdown!

Angel and Rokafella attended the 7^th Anniversary Salsa Mondays party at the Taj! Congratulations to Marlon and the whole team of Latino flyness!

WEPA!!

May 8th & 9th Full Circle will participate in the 
Birth of a Hip-hop Nation poetry performance
 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. 

Congrats to BBoy Shea, Bboy Flonetik and Angel-- 
They will be representin! 
Congratulations to Monica Williams as the director, Rokafella as the Choreographer and to all the young Poets/ MC's participating!

Full Circle will also be participating in the annual AIDS Walk this year. Please, feel free to donate, or at least pass this information and link on to someone you think could help. So many lives have been influenced and lost by this tragic disease.
Full Circle AIDS walk donation page

The next Behind the Groove is May 21^st so we 

expect to see you there!!!

IT MAY BE OUR LAST ONE...
Sounds by by DJ KS360 and DJ DP-One, 

hosted by La Roka a.k.a. Rokafella

Full Circle will be travelling to Puerto Rico to represent in the “Express Your Skills” event!!! Thank you to Alex of Puerto Rico's original BBoy crew Time Machine Squad for his efforts to keep the culture alive alongside of the Island traditions.

At the “Ladies Love Pop Shop” in the Lower East Side’s 

Arts Fair Rokafella will be there 

as well as her earrings!

If you can't make it, order them HERE!!!

Full Circle will be in residency at Casita Maria on May 19th to begin dance and music work for the "Outside the Bachx" theater piece and will have an informal sharing in the evening on June 6th,  if you are able to attend please stay in touch through our social media to find out more info. 
Thank you to all of you who support us as an organization run by dancers for dancers in our quest to preserve and evolve Hip-hop in NYC. Sadly, the odds keep stacking against our community. Dancing in a NYC subway train car for money is now an illegal offense punishable by jail time so we really need to provide our youth with necessary dance career information so they can move forward with their talents even if there are no tangible platforms in the mainstream.. Hip-hop always finds a way. 
Please remember you can screen our B girl documentary 
All the Ladies Say now since it is being distributed by 
Third World Newsreel!
www.alltheladiessay.com for more info! 
Good luck to Kwikstep visiting "Lordz of Finesse" in Denver Colorado a crew he helped to organize back in the early 90's! Shout to Feenz and Chones! Their MAY 3rd Facebook event page link
 https://www.facebook.com/events/749605595074223/757477014287081/?notif_t=plan_mall_activity

Your donations, legal, media and infrastructure advice keeps our company operating smoothly, reaching the people who need it most and on the cutting edge of artistic survival. THANK YOU to Jane Gabriels, Shanequa Green, Bill Aguado, and Jamee Shleiffer--our active Board members, unwavering assistants, Mario Lobo, dedicated dance students/company members and their parents as well as grass roots organizations like The Door, Dancing in the Streets, SOBRO, Casita Maria, Hi Arts and 5th Gear Media's William Focus Dubois!

IT TAKES A VILLAGE to raise a Village!! 

Stay in touch through our various Facebook group pages, Twitter, and Instagram accounts. 

Big Mother's Day shout to all the Mother's out there doing what may feel like a thankless job! 

We acknowledge your love and your sacrifices! 

God bless you!