Full Circle News and Events

1 down, 11 more to go!!

2012-01-31T20:02:00.000-08:00

January flew by us opening up another lunar year, jams and setting up focused training sessions. Mona Lisa throwing down at BTG is pictured left and Rokafella with poses for a picture with B girls Connie Rock and Yaya at Bboy Massacre. As a crew we been doing it up boot camp style on Sundays at DANY studios in Manhattan even including an 8 year old aspiring dancer working out alongside of his Full Circle cousins. We are joined by new members Flonetik and Swervin Irving. Blue shirts in effect!!

Full Circle entered a bboy competition joined by our Philly chapter 360 flava -Hannibal-Macca and Josh-on Friday the 13th B Boy Massacre and made it to the semi finals.

Big shout to Kid Glyde and Dymanic who organized the event and transcended the challenges that threatened to cancel the event that so many had traveled from far to participate in.

Behind the Groove moved to its first Tuesday nite and it doubled as DP One's birthday party. Thank you to all who joined us and to DJ Jazzy Jay who served up some joints we all got down to.. see you all for the next chapter on Valentine's day!

At Kids of NY event Sole Junky and Flonetik made it to the finals. After a very close match Sole Junky placed 1st and Flonetik 2nd place. Shout to Anthony who organizes this event and to all the breakers who attended. Shout to Flash, Mona, Kilo and Shea who repped FC for the 3 on 3's! Congrats to FRC-Q Monk who won.

We celebrated Mona Lisa's birthday during a karaoke session in Manhattan. Thank you to all who showed up and to GI Jane who ordered pizza! Bboy Shea is pictured mid song!

We even enjoyed the vocals from b girl Tiffany who has joined us again after taking a hiatus to raise her two sons. She and her twin Theianna were a part of Full Circle dance company in 2004 til 2007. We welcome her back and promise to be patient as we nurture her return to full B girl status. She is pictured below with fellow FC member Rival from NBK crew.

We look forward to February's Black History month events including Rokafella's workshop in New Haven, a fusion performance with Los Pleneros de la 21 and a screening at City College of "All The Ladies Say" on the 24th.

Check out Momma's Hip-hop kitchen 5th annual women's history month free concert on March 3rd which will include Full Circle Soul Sistas participation as well as many other Hip-hop ladies!! www.mhhk.org

Thank you to Edwin Blaloch Torres for his funds support as we begin to create a new look for our website. Look out for a new Full Circle website being designed by Focus. We hope to launch late February early March--god willing!!

We would like to embrace our new board members Aronic, Phoenix and Michele (alongside of our resident members Jane, Alina and advisory members Violeta, Rossana, and Pedro). We thank our Volunteer Cassandra Gunn for joining our team and help us keep our operations running smoothly.
Our new piece "Soul Intention" is slowly taking shape and we are looking forward to submitting a new piece to the Asian American Arts Alliance's "Locating the Sacred" festival application. We hope to bring you a "Kaleidoscope of Dance" in June at the St Mary's Park Summerstage concert on the 30th with our dance peers rockin out on stage!!

Please join our Facebook group pages-- All The Ladies Say and Full Circle Prod and follow us on Twitter-- Fullcirclesoul.. or youtube channel bgirlrokafella to stay on top of weekly updates.

If you wish to donate your administrative or media services, or funds support please email us at fullcirclesoul@hotmail.com

You can check out Rokafella's music at http://www.myspace.com/larokasoul

to check out Kwikstep's music mixes http://soundcloud.com/search?q[fulltext]=KS+360

It's not over..It's Jus Begun!

2011-12-04T20:56:00.000-08:00

On a very last minute booking, Full Circle was invited to perform as part
of Madonna's Roseland Nightlife Exchange event.

Lady Beast was already in town working with Rokafella on a separate project and

was able to join Bboy Shea, Kilo, and Tyfoon on the prestigious dance event of the year.

Props go to B girl Severe from Atlanta--featured in Full Circle's B girl documentary All The Ladies Say--since she recommended our dancers for the job. Thank you to Uko Snobuny for jumping in with our squad to add to the firey vibes!

Full Circle was a presence in Rha Godess' entreprenuerial conference "Move The Crowd" when Rokafella was awarded an entreprenuerial pioneer award for her work with Full Circle's documentary project. Rha Godess felt that Rok embodied the mantra of
"Stay True, Do Good and Get Paid"
Rokafella was also asked to participate in Martha Diaz' Hip-hop Education Think Tank at NYU as a panelist in the Hip-hop and Indigenous traditions panel. Shout out to Mazi of Words Beats and Life, Aronic, Michelle Byrd Mcphee of Montahz and Urban Word for repping.

Kwikstep wrapped up his three month workshop at Central H.S at NJPAC's first wave of Historical Hip-hop class in Newark in tandem with Martha Diaz business workshops. He then headed to Colombia for the Hip4 event in Cali where he would serve as Red Bull dance judge and teach a workshop. Many Cali bboys had been inspired by his first visit back in 2000 and were happy to show their progress.

The B girls of FC were featured in Performa's Biennial Commision piece by

Iona Rozeal Brown's Battle of Yestermore fusion of Voguing, Hip-hop dance and Kabuki. Thank you to Javi Ninja Madrid who turned to Rokafella for B girl casting. G I JAne and Beasty are pictured above but Mona Lisa and Lady Beast were also in the show that traveled to do Art Basel in Miami a week after its debut at NYC's Skylight.

Full Circle recieved a grant from the Jerome Foundation to continue developing "Sole Intention"
scheduled for a Spring presentation at Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance. Thank you to Jane Gabriels and Eleanor Savage for supporting our process. Pictured below are the cast of the previous performance in July for an outdoor Target Sabado concert at El Museo.

As a dance company with its root in the streets, it has been challenging to straddle both worlds accurately fitting the demands of each. With help from both communities the company has weathered many difficult phases. Many young dancers have come through our doors benefitting from exposure to seasoned masters and international dancers. Life altering experiences have
boosted their wisdom and skills preparing them for their careers. Many options exist for dancers who do not shy away from new opportunities to grow. We hope they retain what they learn from being a part of the company's journey however long or short their time may be.

In this one year alone, FC has taken curatorial positions bringing stage time to fellow dance companies at Lincoln Center, presenting live musical concert performances with musicians at Red Hook, NJPAC and Paradise Theater (pictured above), screening All The Ladies Say in Richmond Va to raise funds for local Camp Diva program and at Maysles Cinema during the Man Up "Stop the Violence Against Women and Girls" film festival and participate in strong collaborations with other dance organizations namely- Retumba all the while bringing our young cast along to witness the diverse platforms that exist.

Behind the Groove dance party made it through its second year mark proving it's worth as a monthly gathering that fills the needs of the dance community seeking a place/club that provides the right atmosphere. Kwikstep has brought together elements such as amazing DJ's, live musicians, visuals projected on screens and energizing non alchohic drinks at the bar. International dancers go back home compelled to return to NYC to keep studying dance and local dancers continue to push themselves to the limit.

December 29th is the last BTG party of 2011--join us!

Thank you to all who have supported Full Circle this far.. the musicians, the office assistants, the young dancers in training, the media experts Mario Lobo and Melissa Ulto.

We hope to inaugurate a new FC website in 2012 along with new members in our board of directors and officers. This is a new year for the taking and FC is ready to bring it!!

Reach out to us at Fullcirclesoul@hotmail.com follow us on the Facebook group page- Full Circle Prod Inc and Twitter- fullcirclesoul

For info on the documentary go to http://www.alltheladiessay.com/

We thank you all for your support and wish you courage and stability in 2012!!

If you wish to donate your services or funds to FC please reach out to us at fullcirclesoul@hotmail.com

October 2011

2011-11-03T20:18:00.000-07:00

October brought a feeling of satisfaction knowing that one of our peers Violeta Galagarza received a Bessie for Acheivement dance!!

She is known for her Hip-hop and Salsa mastery but she was a recipient of two scholarships to Ailey when she was younger. After 20 years of remixing her eclectic styles while helping her Spanish Harlem teen community evolve and preserve urban dance styles she recieved a Special Bessie. Congratulations!!!

Congrats to all the nominees and award recipients!

Kwikstep and Elka presented her with the award in a ceremony that also recognized many nominees including Ismael Otero's Carribean Soul!

Momma's Hip-hop Kitchen holds an annual concert in honor of Women in Hip-hop and activists usually on the first Saturday of March. This year they have had a few gatherings like in Pennsylvania and this past month at Barnard/Columbia University to celebrate Queer Awareness and Women in Hip-hop. Below the artists Jasmin Solano, Noodles and Sos, Likwid, Martalicia Matarrita, Lah Tere and Rokafella participated in a discussion and individual performances.

http://www.mhhk.org/

October closed out with a concert to help raise funds for NYC hospitals produced by STAT. The Birth of the Boom concert featured many old school Hip-hop Icons like Roxane Shante, Marley Marl, Douge E Fresh and Nice and Smooth. There was also a moment to honor the contributions of women--B girls in Hip-hop. Lady Champ flew in to do a cameo with Philadelphia's Macca, Boston's Lady Beast, Mona Lisa and G I Jane accompanied by live musicians of Rok and Kwik's band RPM with a rendition of Just Begun.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AvDJjn2Gw0&feature=share&noredirect=1

http://industryeventwire.com/2011/10/30/event-pics-birth-of-the-boom-presented-by-hhc-stat-for-new-york-city%e2%80%99s-public-hospitals/

B Boys Tyfoon, Kilo, Soul Junky rocked with Kool Herc in the company of Hitters-Wayne Bliz, Doug, Nose, Spivey and Adam!

Thank you to Jeff and Susan for supporting our dance organization and presenting us on that stage!

Behind The Groove was successful with DJ Chenzo and had a slight feeling of Halloween for a chosen few. Thank you to Le Poisson Rouge for hosting us almost two years with a party strictly for NYC's die hard dancers! Shout to KS 360 and DP One. November 10th is our next one.. see you there!

Zombies were Shadiya, Flash, Werewolf Kwik,Paris Hilton Rok and Green man Shea stopped dancing for a picture!

Rokafella performed solo as part of Viva La Raza concert to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at Stonybrook University. Thank you to Sebastian and Ruben who organized the event! Latinos are doing well in higher education.. and holding onto their traditions and multi-racial backgrounds, proudly!

Coming up in November as the B girls of Full Circle perform in Iona Rozeal Brown's Yestermore show which combines Kabuki, Breaking, House and Voguing by Father Benny and Javi Ninja on Nov 17& 18th at Skylight West, 500 West 36th Street @10th Ave
Ticket link http://ionarozealbrown.eventbrite.com/

Rokafella will teach a one time Floor move dance class at Broadway Dance Center the Saturday November 26th http://www.bwydance.com/

December 3rd is the next screening for All The Ladies Say at Maysles Cinema on 127 st Lenox Ave at 4pm. http://www.alltheladiessay.com/ with a post screening discussion. We will be accepting donations to help with final elements of production like the Sound mix and legal expenses. The day long film festival is part of a stop the violence against women campaign with films that specifically target this issue. Spread the word!

If you want to donate your services or funds to help keep this company going please reach out to us at fullcirclesoul@hotmail.com

Happy Holidays! Stay up.

Full Circle Fall 2011

2011-10-03T18:05:00.000-07:00

Kwikstep has a set of Technics 1200's that were gifted to him by Tino of the Cut Master T Fame. So now some of our aspiring young DJ's are getting a chance to get on the 1's and 2's to sharpen their skills and try out new technology.

Full Circle's Ironman hosted his Urban Movement Tour dance competition in Philadelphia with Kwikstep and Kid Glyde as judges along with Rafael Xavier. House, all style, and breakin crew /2 on 2 battles were some of the competitions. Crews came from all over.. including our crew from NYC with some heads from Jersey city
and b girl Brava from Boston. Shout to Bebo, Shorty, Sweet Lou, and Shelly!
Congrats to b boy Kilo and to Byron who won the House dance showdown!

Kwikstep began teaching at Newark's Central H.S. as part of NJPAC's new Hip-hop History class. Uday, Dajhia and Martha Diaz have been envisioning a Hip-hop class that can bring entrepreneurialism and the elements of Hip-hop culture together. These High School students take a Hip-hop technique class then take a business and social awareness class building up to a performance in the Spring.

Rokafella was invited to screen All The Ladies Say for the Hip-hop U.N.I.T.Y conference at Northeastern Illinois University. Aiko flew in from San Jose, CA to teach dance class along with Rokafella and they were joined by Lady Champ for the post screening discussion both nites. The concert included a bgirl performance with Mystify, Champ, Aiko, Rok, Erin Boogie, Dream and Maya. Thank you to Lady Gemstar, Kid Jungle and Cris for helping to organize. We hope to return soon to do more work.

The afterparty was at Hollywood and DJ RonRon played the beats for dancing and freestyling on the mic.

Gary Liang and DJ RonRon with Roka

The bgirls of Full Circle have been working on a production of Iona Rozeal Brown's fine art entitled Yestermore scheduled for opening in November. Yestermore is a fusion of Japanese traditional theater, Breaking and Vogueing. Beasty, Lady Beast, Mona Lisa, GI Jane, Roka and Phoenix took a Kabuki Workshop with Sachiyo Ito to become familiar with Iona's passion for NO Theater and Japanese folklore.

Rokafella showed trailer at NBK Studio on Bright St Jersey City for their youth open house. She hopes to screen full version sometime this Fall please stay tuned if you live in the area. To view trailers please log onto www.alltheladiessay.com

Upcoming company performances include a school assembly on the 18th, a fund raiser for NYC hospitals on the 28th at Paradise Theater in the Bronx. Rokafella will perform at Bard College on the 26th for Momma's Hip-hop Kitchen and on the 27th for Ashani Mfuko's Kiner Hour Enterprises radio show anniversary.

On October 24th the Bessie's will convene again to award NYC area dancers and performances at the Apollo theater. Please show your support and attend this ceremony as it recognizes dance in the NYC scene.
For info and tickets log onto www.dancenyc.org/dance-nyc/bessies

You can reach out to us at fullcirclesoul@hotmail.com or if you have a facebook you can check out the Full Circle Prod or All The Ladies Say facebook group pages.

2011-09-10T22:43:00.000-07:00

At the top of August, Full Circle performed a dance piece at the Jackie Robinson Bandshell for Arts Roots Rhythm festival including one of Rokafella's newest songs Venus Is Running! Thank you to Henry Chop and G I Jane for joing us. We later performed that same program for CAsita Maria's Block party and enjoyed Riku Monsoon's presence in our set as well!

Rokafella celebrated her birthday at Behind The Groove along with many friends who showed up to party. Two cakes and lots of pretty faces made up the evening of funk and soul in honor of 4 decades of Leo love!
Big shout to Yvone Chow and Nay Marie also celebrating birthdays!

Although Hurricane Irene delayed our company's arrival for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival Green Show and Mixing Texts program, we still got there and hit the floor running. We were happy to know it was Jerry "Sole Junky" Valme's first trip outside of NYC. First we worked on mapping out Innaviews-a duet written by Kwikstep and Rokafella, to see all its elements and arc. Then we worked on How To Break written by Aaron Jeffaris and directed by Cristopher Edwards to also figure out what works and what needs to be added. Sole Junky and Lady Beast joined our crew. Spex and Rafael Xavier who made their second appearance with Full Circle gave their feedback and support for the process of reworking a script for a play. A midday panel discussion was also on the list of activies for the mixing texts group which also included Adam Matta as the vocal percussionist-- beat boxer and Roberta Burke as an actress/singer--both whom are part of the How To Break cast. Thank you to Claudia Alick for organizing this lab ( and for re organizing after hurricane/airport problems ) and to Lue Douthit who helped ask the right questions and give us great feedback.

Spexx, Lady Beast and Rafael taught dance workshops open to the public and the OSF company who may have not ever taken a hip-hop dance class before this one.

Full Circle brought back the Afro Latin piece from last year's show and Rafael Xavier shared a new spoken word/monologue piece accompanied with movement done by Sole Junky. FC presented a popping piece entitled "Kickin it to the Klassix" which had a fusion of Bach's piano concerto piece mixed with Popping music- mixed by Kwikstep. This peice was first done live in 2007 at Central Park Summerstage. "Live" meaning concert pianist Cristina Altamura and Beatbox-er Baba Israel provided the soundscape while we did the choreography. Budgets have impeded us from doing it like that since but thank god for technology!!!
Thank you to Jess Carr, Cassie and Frederico and the support team on the bricks!!

All in all it was a great experience to be in a small town with a big heart and deep passion for art. It was another chance to share our passion and exchange with a community that would otherwise be distant to us. Shakepeare and Hip-hop are similar in that they are both languages used for storytelling within a time period. The party at Vinyl for Soul Sundays was great--thank you to Peter Macon!! We loved the plays--Ceasar, Measure for Measure and African Company Does Richard III ! We missed you Bill!!

Kwikstep returned from Oregon and DJ'ed with Grand Wizard Theodore for the September Behind The Groove and then for NYC Deep's party in Brooklyn for Peven Everett's performance. Rokafella is looking forward to screening All The Ladies Say at Chicago's Hip-hop for Social Justice event at Northeastern Illinios University with Lady Champ and Aiko. www.alltheladiessay.com Kwikstep will begin to teach at Central H.S. in Newark til November. If you are a NYC teen and wish to train in breakin' feel free to come to the Door teen center near Canal Street in MAnhattan --Mondays 4-6pm, Wednesdays 6-8pm and Thursdays 5-8pm.. Free with registration/membership.
call 212 941 9090 log onto www.door.org
If you are interested in donating your services or funds to our non profit organization please reach out to us at fullcirclesoul@hotmail.com .

FC 2011 Season almost complete!!

2011-08-01T12:28:00.000-07:00

We MUST give a shout of respect to our newest dance company members who happen to be from out of town and have proven they are worth their weight in gold to us after powerful performances.. PROPS to Mona Lisa for repping Minnesota and rockin with us since April and Lady Beast from Boston who just did her first show with us and will be headed to Oregon Shakespeare festival with us in September.
from l to r-- Mona Lisa, Rok, Jane Gabriels and Lady Beast

Blog Link to Bessie's Press Conference
http://http//infinitebody.blogspot.com/2011/07/lets-hear-it-for-bessies.html

This year the Bessie's awards return to NYC and Full Circle was invited to do the opening performance for the Press Conference at Nu 42 studios.

El Museo Del Barrio commisioned Full Circle to debut the first rendtion of anew piece entitled Soul Intention on July 16th for their Super Sabado. Rehearsals were in the theater throughout the months of May, June and July. So the musicians from RPM Angel Ruben Rodriguez, Ron Prokopez and newcomer Keny Zulu accompanied the dancers as they performed new mixes to new choreography for a new concept based on the Hip-hop soloists vs ensemble work. Thank you to Alexandra Garcia and Stephanie Spahr. Big shout to Soul Junkie whose first theatrical Full Circle show was our El Museo show!

top row l to r-- Rok, Angel, Kwik, Poet- Mo Betta, Ron Renaissance

bottom row l to r-- Audience member lady, Keny Zulu and keytar, Beastie, audience member youth and Soul Junkie.

Bronx Charter School for the Arts had their Pepsi Bronx Flava event at the Point and invited Full Circle to add a dance performance plus offer workshops to the youth who attended. Thanks to Ann Ledo, Gretchen, and the performers--Spexx, Soul Junkie and Mona Lisa who repped on some last minute switching dates type of the show.

l to r -Mona teaching a student

l to r -Soul Junkie, Rok, Mona, Spex, DP One
bottom- Pat and Maze.

Thank you to Lincoln Center for giving us a chance to represent the roots of Hip-hop while celebrating the passion of our colleagues and peers - Abada Capoeira, Djoniba Dance And Drum
Center and KR3T's plus DJ DP One. It is not easy to get our whole posse together on one stage but we did it against hell and high water and shared our dances with the Lincoln Square Community Center's Summer program throughout the month of July thanks to Nia and Jill and Bill!

We look forward to our last two performances on August 6th at the Jackie Robinson Bandshell and at Casita Maria's Block Party.
Thank you to Black Girls Rock Inc and Beverly bond for hiring Rokafella to teach a dance class during their summer program and to the Rosedale Center's Bronx Girl's day camp for screening All The Ladies Say!

Kwikstep traveled to Taiwan for BC One qualifier as a judge and workshop facilitator at the end of July. Rokafella traveled to Colombia for Feminal Crew's Second Annual breakin event in Cali at beginning of July. Big Shout to Bgirl Grillo for her perserverance and foward thinking attitude!

Full Circle will travel to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival's Green Show/Mixing Texts collaboration from August 29-September 6th with Rafael Xavier, Lady Beast, Spex Kwik and Roka. We wish everyone a festive Labor Day!

If you wish to donate your services or funds to help keep our company on its mission, do not hestitate to contact us at fullcirclesoul@hotmail.com. 917 821 1499 is the office number.

If you have a Facebook account please join our Full Circle Prod Inc and our All The Ladies Say group pages! Twitter is FullCircleSoul. Our youtube account is BgirlRokafella.

Thank you for the support thus far.. stay tuned for a young dancers (to age 14-) beginners breaking program beginning in the Fall in Mid Manhattan and a screening of All The Ladies Say is scheduled for September at NorthEastern University.. check the site for info--

http://alltheladiessay.com

Stay tuned for a fundraising show will happen in the winter to help with company expenses.

Groovin you!!

2011-06-01T20:50:00.001-07:00

Full Circle performed at the Djoniba Dance And Drum Center to help raise funds for the school. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlUC9Umf1FI We were honored to share our
style of dance alongside of the Samba dancers and the West African dancers who lent their talents to help keep the school open and keep its youth program running.

Rokafella performed for HERE's fundraiser benefit to help raise funds for the the Made Here web episodes that explore the lifestyles of NYC surviving artists.
http://www.madehereproject.org/
She was a featured artist profiled for her resilience as a female hip-hop theater artists who still keeps a strong connection to the streets. Most of the artists and topics highlighted in this web project are unique to NYC.

Kwikstep played at NYC DEEP Loft house party to a full room of happy dancers kicking off the Memorial Day weekend. Saturn 3 attended and took this foto with Kwikstep who belonged to original B boy crew Fresh Kids from Brooklyn. This was an unexpected surprise for Kwikstep who hasn't seen Sat for years. Dance brings people together in mystical ways but you gotta stay in the dance cuz if you leave it.. the chances for re unions are slimmer.

Behind The Groove was a successful party on the 12th of May with a performance by Ron Renaissance who released his album the following week. Not only is Ron Renaissance an amazing young talent with his trombone he also tours the world with La Excellencia, composes music and sings lead for his own band and has played lead roles in latino theater productions. He plays at our monthly parties, with Rokafella's RPM band and will play with Full Circle dancers on July 16th at El Museo Del Barrio.

Full Circle performed to open up Harlem Alliance's Outdoor concert series- Roots and Rhythm at the Jackie Robinson Bandshell on the 28th of May.Kwikstep was in PEru working the BC ONe LAtin AMerica regional finals so he was not able to join the company but B girl Jaws who is now re named as Brava joined the squad all the way from Boston to rep for the ladies and Rokafella performed two songs. We will return on August 6th with a slightly different program.

Full Circle then celebrated Memorial Day by going to Coney Island and sharing a day of friendship including jumping off a pier, riding bumper cars and dancing to a house music DJ. We wrapped up the day eating clams and cautiously avoiding a melee that came out of the blue on the street. Dance gives us an alternate way to earn respect other than the stereotypical paths offered to us as adolescents in the hood. We work hard, trust our creativity, learn how important it is to focus and we establish strong ties with our fellow dancers who are struggling in a similar way.
We share this idea with the youth we encounter in workshops, performances and in our dance company. Below is a foto of Rokafella with the afterschool program at Quitman Primary school in Newark with the Barat Foundation who has created a 5 story peace mural painted by 500 local youths.

July performances include Super Sabado on July 16th as part of El Museo Del Barrio's Block party outdoor festival on 104st in East Harlem http://www.elmuseo.org/en/event/super-sabado-el-museos-block-party

AND on the 31st, Full Circle will perform with KR3T's, Abada Capoeira and Djoniba Dance and Drum Center at Lincoln Center as part of Family Day. The hour long program is entitled Rhythm and Roots 360 and is free. http://www.lcoutofdoors.org/index.php/ood-2011-family-day-2pm

If you feel like you are in a position to donate your services or funds to help our dance theater company keep its operations going, please email us at fullcirclesoul@hotmail.com
If you have a Facebook account look for Full Circle Prod Inc, All The Ladies Say, NYD Collective, and Behind the Groove group pages or follow us on Twitter- Fullcirclesoul. We hope to see you soon and that you are enjoying your Summer.

April Rocking

2011-05-03T14:51:00.001-07:00

Rokafella was invited to Puerto Rico for the Annual 'EXPRESS YOUR SKILLS' event presented by Time Machine Squad in Canovanas. But this foto was taken at RESPUESTAS a regular dance party with DJ's Velcro, Carlos, Adam kicked it hard! Time Machine Squad hosts it and raises funds for trophies awards and entertainment. The winners this year were b boy Caotic, East coast of the island crew 'Este', b girl Lunatik and Popper Maclain. Big Shout to DJ Amaze cuzs she played the break beats during the competition! Rokafella also gave a workshop in Ponce to young dancers soon as she landed. Thank you to Alex-Rex Jay..TMS por vida!

Kwikstep was interviewed on the Kiner hour by Ashani Mfuko about his earliest recollections of his entry point into Hip-hop dance.. as a career and how it evolved into theater, DJ'ing, graphic design and judging/hosting dance events. For the video of the interview
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtyHa_oUh7M
Ashani interviews many dance masters and icons so people can get in depth with dancers who usually only speak through the movement of their bodies. She is also a dancer/dance teacher and hosts this internet radio show every Tuesday.

Rokafella was reunited with Lady Champ for the 8th annual Breaking The Law Midwest dance styles competition this year. They made up the female representation of the judging panel and dance up a storm on the sidelines when there were breaks. Big Shout to Motion Disorders crew who won this years crew battle. This year there was a house dance challenge that brought to light the Footworking and Jitting styles. Man of God and Katrina organize and fund raise for this event year round in Madison, Wisconsin so if you are in the area around Easter please get at them..

The April BEHIND THE GROOVE party doubled as a birthday party for Spexx who is a longstanding member of Full Circle dance company, a versatile dancer well known around the world and a fine artist. He also has an extensive knowledge of NYC dance history and the aesthetic of Hip-hop dance /Popping Boogaloo. We had to make sure everyone sang along and gave him his 21 birthday punches.

But on a serious note, Kwikstep and Rokafella understand how difficult it is to remain a dancer. It is hard to stay passionate about dance and cope with
the changing atmosphere of NYC dance scene that constantly doubts you. It is hard to accept the challenge of stayin loyal to a dance organization since Hip-hop applauds you as a soloist and is so skeptic of the ensemble work.. or better said the hierarchy within a dance company..(non profit or for profit). Spexx has navigated the stormy weather and survived with a creative and strong spirit so let's celebrate a dance life.. a la Hip-hop!

Many Full Circle dancers attended such as Violeta(KR3T's), Siamy, Mighty Mike, Tweetie, Atomic, Rival and Future! The music was crazy especially with Kwikstep (bongo's), Keith Wild Child (djembe), Ron Renaissance (on the trombone) and DJ Enuff on deck!

Kwikstep performed his "WE bad-we the same-Salsoul" monologue for the Brooklyn "Fireproof" artist marathon presented by Pepatian's Jane Gabriels. Many artists shared their photos, eclectic performances, and dance. The monologue Kwikstep performed is an excerpt from a dance theater duet entitled "Innaviews" that delves into the life of Kwik and Rok as they developed into Hip-hop artists and founders of Full Circle. Rokafella sang Somos Boricua and recited a rhyme-- The Circle.

Jane Gabriels referred a journalist from Belgium to interview Kwik and Rok about Hip-hop culture. To read the article click this link
http://janegabriels.com/rekto_verso.pdf

Kwikstep and Rokafella were also profiled in a TV show that airs in Norway
hosted by two life long friends who look for very diverse artists around the world living out their passions. Ari and Per spent a few days wtih Kwik and Rok who showed them around town and into their lives.. even to an FC rehearsal and the Behind The Groove club party. Worldwide there seems to be a respect and interest in Hip-hop as a vehicle of freedom..and Kwik and Rok know this aspect of it very well regardless of the ups and downs.
Check it out.. http://www.nrk.no/nett-tv/klipp/727681/

Full Circle was fully prepared to perform for the Tenth annual NJPAC Alternate Routes Festival in Newark on April 9th.. after the screening of "All The Ladies Say"
in the afternoon. Ladies First Fund offered the documentary team at Full Circle post production support since last year. A pre screening panel discussion expalined how each of the grantees have capitalized on funds as well as the network to complete or come close to completing projects proposed. Big shout to Vanessa Nisperos, DJ Kuttin Kandi, MC Purple Haze and Martha Diaz.. and of course to Baraka Sele Kitab Rollins and the whole NJPAC posse who made it all come together-- a dream come true!!

The concert was another milestone for Full Circle since it had never boasted a full- on woman's squad as a dance accompaniment to Kwikstep and Rokafella's band. Lincoln Center Out of Doors '09 was the first time the two entities joined forces on stage but it didn't have women other than Rok and the other vocalists. The Kadets were on hand for the Just Begun finale plus Bboy Acute from Weehawken NJ. Bgirl Jaws from Boston has recently been given a new name-- Bgirl Brava!! We hope it resonates and opens up a great chapter of her b girl life!!

Look out for our next shows on May 7th to help raise funds for Djoniba Dance Center at Peridance, then on the 28th at Jackie Robinson Bandshell in Harlem at 1pm. We will be screening All The Ladies Say www.alltheladiessay.com during the East Harlem International Film Festival on June 3rd at the Museum of the City of New York. Check the film site for more details as they become available. June 4th the dance company and the band will once again join forces for the Red Hook Outdoor Festival at 1pm.
If you are in a position to volunteer your administrative, media, or managerial services .. or can make donation to this organization, please reach us at fullcirclesoul@hotmail.com
Thank you to all who have already offered your support.. we feel the love and we hope you can see the growth!

Thank you for all your great vibes and stay tuned for more of your Hip-hop movement!

peace.

Spring is in the Air!!

2011-04-02T19:05:00.001-07:00

All The Ladies Say was screened as part of the Ladies First festival at the Byrd Theater in Richmond, Virginia on March 12th-- proceeds went to help Camp Diva. The concert in the evening was a full on line up of local female Emcees who rocked the mic at Tropical Soul lounge. Lioness, Elle Maxwell, Sima Lee and Novacaine were just a few of the local stars who graced the audience with there lyrical skills. DJ Shorty reprented with all the great beats for heads to freestyle and dance to. Vendetta and Severe flew in from Atlanta to join in the festivities and pleased the onlookers with impressive moves- Burn Unit style.
Big THANK YOU to Deirdre Towers and Melissa Aguilar for their funds support. We continue to step foward confidently with this film project and will keep you all posted with our developments.

Our Women's History concert at BAAD with Retumba was a true celebration of culture and roots from the past to the present. What began as a comment in passing between Nancy and Rokafella turned into a joyous preview in October which then led to a grant award from the Bronx Council on the Arts. After small brainstorming meetings with Kwikstep and Rokafella in Yvette and Nancy's kitchen in City Island, the line up of a future-retro performance began to take shape. Even tho it was a Women's History month concert, Kwikstep brought his percussive talents, Angel drummed and led the plena and Ron Renaissance added his trombone to the evening. It was a non stop celebration of rhythms and dance! The evening began with a Bomba followed by a Plena with interaction from Hip-hop dancers Beastie from the Bronx and Jaws from Boston blended with the newcomer salsera/bombera Nataly. Christelle and Noemi wove in their vocal and keyboard skills, Naisha carried the Basslines and I-Shea from Springfield Massachusetts held it down with her new drum kit! Yvette enjoyed playing
her role of Auntie and kept the audience engaged with her mastery of 'Piquetes'.

Once the mood shifted, Rokafella went into her songs with a fusion of YUBA and Bataa drum patterns yet still honoring her "Aunt's and Uncle's"--played by Yvette and Angel rhythmic roots. The night wrapped up with solo's from breakers and audience members. Congrats to Retumba for 30 years of repping Folkloric Puerto Rican music and dance and congrats to BAAD for 11 years of celebrating their BAAD ASS women's history month concerts. We look forward to future collaborations to represent Puerto Rican tradition then and now with Retumba. Thank you to CASA ATABEX for lending us the space to rehearse and to BAAD for giving us a platform to make this dream happen, and to the staff at BAAD. BIG SHOUT TO photographer LAURIE MARKIEWICS for her talents! If YOU need a great photographer(great fees) hit us up on Fullcirclesoul@hotmail.com email and we will give you contact info!!!

Kwikstep and Rokafella have been training the next generation of break masters at The Door for over a decade and recently witnessed a group of young dancers excel in their advancement of skills. Last year was the first time for them to try their hand in a local competition. This March was their first win and was soon followed by a second one with a close 2nd place by another 3 man team of Full Circle Kadets. This was the first time Atomic, Mona Lisa and Kid Flash won a breakin 3 vs 3!

It is not easy to train under the direction of a coach who casts a 'tall shadow'.. then multiply that by two. So there is much credit to be given to this group of young dancers who have taken to the regimen given to them on a weekly basis. For years Kwik and Rok have mentored many of NYC's finest dancers but none have come this far so quickly and so diligently. It is not easy for teachers to give of themselves so generously for so long a period with the understanding that much of the time spent may be in vain since each student's destiny is not set by the trainer. Only the individual dancers can decide how far they want to go with their commitment to instruction.
This is only the first few months of the second decade of the millenium and it looks promising not only for Full Circle but to the breakin scene. We hope to share more great news about the growth of this new batch of future dance masters who are proud to sport the crew name and colors. Needless to say, the dance technique is only the first part of development since there remains the cultural, social and business aspects that will be acquired in time.

It definitley feels like Spring has brought a breath of fresh air.. even if it is still cold and snowing!! Thank you to Anthony for hosting and creating the Bboy Metro League events and to Break-Easy and RC for repping the music and dance in Brooklyn all these years.

If you are a teen interested in Breeaking training at the Door please call 212 941 9090 for registration /membership. There are other academic and artistic programs available at the teen center for you to attend.
If you would like to donate your services or funds to keep our company going please reach out to us at fullcirclesoul@hotmail.com

SEE YOU ALL AT NEWARK'S NJPAC ON APRIL 9TH..www.njpachiphop.org for ATLS screening and evening concert!!

February Chill

2011-03-01T19:45:00.000-08:00

February was definitely a brutal winter month and yet it was great to hibernate with the kadets improving their breakin' skills at the Door while Kwikstep rounded out his residency in PA with Roxey Ballet Company for the Jonthan Livingston Seagull show. Rokafella began recording a new song in Bridgeport Connecticut with Sweet Lu and Kwikstep reaching out into a new genre of Electronica style music.

B girls repping for All The Ladies Say will dance for the Momma's Hip-hop Kitchen
Women's History Month Concert on March 5th for the third year in a row.

Full Circle has confirmed some great performance engagements with El Museo Del Barrio and Lincoln Center for which details are still brewing.

All The Ladies Say will screen in Richmond VA to help raise funds for Camp Diva
with the participation of Vendetta, Severe and Rokafella on March 12th.

Last year Rokafella wrapped up the Blacktino Festival with a preview for a fusion of Bomba and Hip-hop with Retumba. This February Retumba recieved a grant from BCA Bronx Council on The Arts to further this project with Full Circle at BAAD.
Look out for ROKA TUMBA- a fusion of Puerto Rican traditional music and dance with Nuyorican Hip-hop vibes with Rokafella's band and b girls to celebrate Women's history Month on the 25th at BAAD.
href="http://www.bronxacademyofartsanddance.org ">www.bronxacademyofartsanddance.org

March 26th Rokafella will moderate a panel focused on female Hip-hop dancers for LAdies GEt Down festival. Last year Rokafella was honored along the many women of
the NYC dance scene who have given a lifetime commitment to this community. Thank you to Robin Dunn and Elka for putting this festival together for a second year in a row.

NJPAC in April will host All The Ladies Say on the 9th so please mark your calendars for a full day of film, music and discussions. This will be part of NJPAC's Alternate Routes FEstival april 7-9. 2011. www.njpachiphop.org

NYC Arts Cypha in Staten Island hosted ALien Ness' Octagon competition and this was some graffitti on display. Big ups to B boy Omen who won and will travel to Switzerland to compete against other international finalists. Elmo-tion did his thing as well.

Kwik and Rok onstage at Montgomery College where they shared the stage with young dance companies. It was a moment to show everyone how to keep in touch with dance yet include storytelling/monologues as you conquer the art of choreography while upping the ante. Kwik and Rok then taught a workshop with NIKE Culture Shock which was well attended. Thank you to Marguerite!!

Dinner with Cheles, Aysha, Julia, Amy, Holly Bass and friends after the Montgomery
College Black History Month show.

Kwikstep and Rokafella were featured for the third year in a Black History Month performance with Los Pleneros de la 21 making the bridge between African Traditions and Carribean cultural music and dance, particularly Puerto Rican culture pre dating the Spaniard or American colonization. Hip-hop is the present manifestation of that root.

Three DJ's for February's BTG party- DP,Kwikstep-KS 360 and LEAD

We enjoyed training with a b girl from Brazil-- Luise and she returned to her home country in February but will not be forgotten. One day we hope to travel there or to see her in NYC again. Big shout to the BSB B girls.

Thank you for all your continued support. If you are interested in donating funds or your services to this non-profit organization please reach out to us at fullcirclesoul@hotmail.com
If you are on Facebook, Join our Full Circle Prod Inc, All The Ladies Say and Behind The Groove group pages.
See you soon!

January Jump Off!!

2011-02-01T16:50:00.000-08:00

Behind The Groove party in January celebrated many birthdays as well as a welcome back celebration for GI Joe with drumming and a beatbox collabo with a turntablist demo. DJs Big Ben, Enuff and beatboxer extraordinaire Choppa were in the house.

Dierdre Towers -curator of the 39th Lincoln Center's Film Society and Chicago's first lady of breaking Lady Champ pose for a picture after the All The Ladies Say screening and talk back at Walter Reade Theater.

All The LAdies Say WORLD PREMIERE at Lincoln Center's Dance On Camera Film Festival was well attended with great feedback/commentary. Our screening was special since three of the
featured dancers - Aiko Shirakawa, Lady Champ and Baby Love- were present as well as a long time supporter of the project Roberta Uno. We thank Violet Galagarza, Stretch, Big Tara, Mighty Mike, Robin Dunn, black Robb, Kim Cook Alice Mizrachi, Nay Marie, Hakai, Focus, BBoy Shea, Mateo, Mona Lisa and Fatima Kafele for adding your energy to the screenings.

Thank you to Jose for giving us space to reconvene uptown at his lounge Apt 78 for the after party!

The Urban Movement Tour
was successful with many competitions and pioneers such as grand Wizard Theodore and Grand Master Caz were present at Roseland. The band "Revolutions Per Minute" RPM with La Roka as the lead vocalist was a surprise and an interactive moment when the breakers came up on stage. A foto is taken to capture a reunion with Full Circle dancer Tweetie at the 2 day event at Roseland.

Full Circle is looking forward to build on a new dance piece for 2012 entitled "Soul Intention" for which a commission is being requested and applied for with the help of our board members. Our next collaboration will take place in the near future with the Bronx's Puerto Rican Traditional Drum company- Retumba on March 25th at Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance for the BAAD Ass Women's festival..details will soon be posted. If you are on facebook please join our group pages for Full Circle Prod Inc All The Ladies Say and Behind The Groove.

Ashani Mfuko is a well known dancer/instructor who has her own internet radio show and she interviewed Rokafella on the week of the screenings of the film to help audiences get to know her work and the idea that you can be an independent artist.
video link to interview of Rokafella on Kiner Hour
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/12247665

If you are interested in helping Full Circle with a donation or services in media or administrative, please reach out to us at fullcirclesoul@hotmail.com

We would like to thank Melissa Aguilar for her contribution and also to IIE.

December 2010

2010-11-30T18:20:00.000-08:00

Full Circle would like to congratulate the Hip-hop Theater Festival in celebrating its ten year anniversay and recalls the first festival in 2000 at Performance Space 122 as a vibrant showcase of our brand of dance and theater. We believe that young group of Full Circle dancers came away with a new ideology about the possibilities of a career as Hip-hop performers. Kwikstep and Rokafella were able to mark this decade celebration with a cameo performance alongside Archie, Holly Bass, BSV, Nita and the collaboration with NYC performers and the dance team from Amsterdam.
Thank you to Clyde and Kamilah!!

Thank you to Jane Gabriels for inviting Vanessa Bahmani to exhibit her fotos accompanied with Shea and Spex at Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance.
BAAD also included the sounds of Retumba accompanied by Rokafella for their Blacktino Festival closing festivities "Mujeres Bomba".

MIT invited Rokafella to visit Professor's De Frantz Hip-hop movement class and were blessed to also meet local breakers GI Joe and Bgirl Ghinny.
The three hour class enjoyed a screening and a lively discussion about the pros and cons about Hip-hop culture, career options, as well as the origins of gender, race and classism issues.

Sita Fredericks organized another UNCOMUN festival, this time Full Circle rocked out at Santos Party House. Rokafella sang Just Begun and the crew enjoyed a few moments of gettin down hard!
Big shout to Mona Lisa from Minneapolis who joined us and a welcome back shout goes out to Halle who also rocked a routine that night. Thank you to the Loud Apt band and Agustin who let us join in on the set.

Lookin at how we wrapped up the year brings a sense of accomplishment. We saw our young students compete at their fisrt battle, find a new home base with Abada Capoeira, help to organize a fund raiser for the film project and become pro active regarding the possible termination of the dance program at the Door(which is now ongoing thanks to letters and video on youtube leading to funding!!) Kwikstep held monthly parties at Le Poisson Rouge club with solid attendance from the NYC dance communnity for a whole year! Our dancers have performed at many events including a crowded 116 street Puerto Rican Day festival with Rokafella with her RPM band and for a Queens literacy event. But in November they were able to grace the stage of The New Victory Theater for a tribute to the legendary Bill Irwin. This was a return performance for Kwik and Rok since 2002, when Soular Power'd packed in the house for three weeks. We hope this won't be the last time Full Circle rocks that stage!

Angel Rodriguez has been participating in Full Circle shows since 2000 and is our resident elder. He is a staple in many of our latin fusion Hip-hop performances. He was awarded a lifetime acheivement award on Nov 18th by the Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr at the Bronx Museum! We salute his commitment to his roots and his continued quest for knowledge as a legendary latin percussionist.

"All the Ladies Say"
has been chosen for screening during the
Lincoln Center Dance On Camera film festival
on January 30 and 31st 2011.
Congratulations to the complete production team,
to all the funders and dancers who have performed at our fundraisers.
This journey began in 2005!!!
Please check the website for details on workshops
and an afterparty in conjunction with the screenings.
www.alltheladiessay.com
We are hoping to fly out some of the featured B girls to attend the
screening and participate in the Q & A's after the screenings.

Full Circle will perform at Brooklyn College on Dec 10th for the STAT fundraiser to benefit NYC Hospitals. please log onto www.stathhc.com for ticket and directions.

Thank you to all who have joined us in our efforts to keep sending the message that
urban arts are worth supporting. You have sustained the dreams of NYC's young Hip-hop dancers looking for a platform to gain experience and interact with elders as well as with professional artists from overseas. If you wish to make your donation,
reach out to us via email (fullcirclesoul@hotmail.com) If you have any questions about bookings or if you are looking to offer your skills in media, PR, or administrative aspects of keeping this organization afloat, please let us know.
BIG SHOUT TO MARJORY WHO IS WINNING HER BATTLE AGAINST CANCER!

We look forward to seeing you all in 2011. Happy holidays!

Gettin with the Program

2010-09-28T11:25:00.000-07:00

On September 20th the surprising announcement that the Door's Breakdance program would not be terminated was received with joyous outbursts in the form of screams and more dancing at THE DOOR session. After weeks of letter writing and video posting and researching of grants for funding it seems that the administration worked out a way to keep this staple of NYC breakin sessions alive!! The economy is bad but Hip-hop always finds a way. Big shout to the students and the staff at the DOOR! We hope Isaac Qwock recuperates to full health soon! our prayers are with you..we know you were on the frontlines trying to keep the art programs alive at the
Door!!
Classes are free for teens on Mondays Wednesday and Thursdays who register to be a member. Other programs are available for academic and employment needs. www.door.org

Aiko and Alice pose in front of the wall Alice was blessing with her aerosol skills for the B Girl Be on Labor Day Weekend. Innaviews a psuedo biographical theater duet by Kwikstep and Rokafella graced the stage at Intermedia Arts for a four night run complete with workshop and discussions that were broadcast live on Ustream.tv
Kwik and Rok hope to return to work with local artists/dancers to create their own Hip-hop Theater ensemble or solo pieces. The general consensus was that TV and Film do not reflect the people's experiences with Hip-hop and so theater seems like the next realm to share stories with freedom of expression. Kwikstep pointed out that even in the theater realm there are parameters to consider but that he encouraged all to take the challenge of writing down their own stories or stories of the neighborhood.

Rehearsals for Full Circle's run were short but intense and they were held at BAAD www.bronxacademyofartsanddance.org We got a moment to pass by say hi to the TATS CRU who still hold it down at the Point CDC. This show was scheduled in Oregon and we got to do some storytelling with identity as a focal point. 'Afro Latin' which opens up with Spex and Kwik, was a central piece along with some monologues and rhymes/songs by La Roka and Rafael Xavier. As seen in the foto, Angel Rodriguez brought his latin percussion mastery and Neguin from Brazil added his Capoeira flavor to the hip-hop presentation. They both shared the afro carribean roots of what most people see is an american born urban expression. Hip-hop. Feedback was key since most of the audience had not attended any Hip-hop shows, so it felt like we were helping to develop a new audience.

Washington D.C. was the next stop on the screening tour of All The Ladies Say
for the Words Beats and Life organization and it was an amazing outpouring of love
for this project. The panel was composed of teen b girls Kreesha and Jamilla who are just entering Hip-hop dance scene alongside of pioneering DJ's- DJ Earth 1 and DJ Soyo in addition to B girl Soulstice who hails from D.C. and is featured in the film. It was a sold out audience who came to Bus Boys and Poets and offered
their support and insightful commentaries. www.alltheladiessay.com
Big shout to Mazi (in the last foto) who organized the event. We enjoy working with like minds who understand we have to make the road and reflect the needs of the community by supplying their demands by making use of all the available resources. Pick up the issue of Words Beats and Life The Global Journal of Hip-hop Culture Vol 4 Issue 2
www.wblinc.org

If you would like to donate your services, time and / or funds to help keep Full Circle going please reach out to us via email fullcirclesoul@hotmail.com
There is a 'Full Circle Prod' facebook group page as well as an 'All the Ladies Say' group page and you can follow us on twitter.com/ Fullcirclesoul.
Rokafella has music profile pages at www.sonicbids.com/ revolutionsperminute and at www.reverbnation.com/larokarevolutionsperminute
We thank you for your support! Stay tuned.

Kickin into Fall Mode...

2010-09-03T22:31:00.000-07:00

FULL CIRCLE enjoyed a summer month of dance and fun at Six Flags then in Brooklyn at Coney Island -which was Kwikstep's former training grounds with the Fresh Kids.
The August Behind the Groove party was an eclectic gathering of dancers and even a display of a rollerskating mastery by -Alex Kid Dynamo. Keith Wildchild and Ron Renaissance played their instruments to take us to another level of groovin! Thank you to DP One who always spins his best for the dancers!

Just as Kwik had spent his birthday at the Door, Rok also celebrated hers with her Door students.
Full Circle shared the Sunday training with French B girl Amel who we recommended appear in her first music video with G I Jane of NBK/FCP. Congrats!

Then Kwik and Rok headed to Minneapolis for a four night run of their theatrical duet "Innaviews" which was well received and sure to create inroads at
Intermedia Arts-Thank you to Theresa, Melisa, and Autumn for your daily support.
Full Circle will perform a different 40 minute program everyday from September 14th to the 18th at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival's outdoor Green Show. It is exciting to bring together Angel Rodriguez and Spexx (core Company members) with out-of-state affiliates Raf Xavier from California and Brazil's own Neguin to add flavor to the music, rhyme and dance fused storytelling style that Kwik and Rok are known for presenting.
Kwikstep will attend the IBE in Rotterdam and Rok will be screening ATLS in D.C. to celebrate the issue launch of Words Beats and Life.
Plans are being made for 2011's Full Circle anniversary as a reunion of the many artists that have shared stage, vision and love of Hip-hop in the many years of the company's vibrant existence since 1996..stay tuned!
Thank you to Maori Homes of Black Lily for screening "All The Ladies Say" and to Eastside Alliance's Traci Bartlow who also presented Aiko and Lady Champ with an opportunity to speak on a panel at the B girl Jam where the film was also screened.
Live streaming of conversations, talk backs and workshops can be viewed at www.ustream.tv/channel/rokandkwikinminneapolis
The monthly party "Behind the Groove" is now being held on the second Thursdays at Le Poisson Rouge with guest DJ's and a tribute on Sept 9th to honor the legacy of the Vogue pioneer Willie Ninja (RIP SEPT 2, 2006)whose vision was to bring Vogue-ing beyond the ballroom and into performance realm. He was not a Hip-hop dancer but at the time when Hip-hop dance was emerging into the clubs, Vogue was also being birthed and thereby sharing space on the dance floor as well as slight overlapping vocabulary. We salute the best of NYC's dancers regardless of their particular dance genre.
Our hats off to Marjorie Smarth for her continued love of the worldwide dance community as she battles cancer with the love showered on her as a shield.
Rokafella will attend the "B Girl Be" on Labor Day Weekend and also begin her NY Public Library classes on September 9th at the Riverside branch from 4pm-5pm free to aspiring youth dancers.
If you wish to donate your services or are interested in becoming a benefactor please email us at fullcirclesoul@hotmail.com

2010-07-06T18:44:00.000-07:00

July came in with a heat wave and we are not just talkin about the weather. Behind The Groove party celebrated the participation of DJ LAYLO who added her soulful grooves to the mix on July 1st at Le Poisson Rouge. Big shout to Spider Salah, Bboy Swing, HDC, Future and the house of De La Blanca who kept vibe grooving. August 5th is the next one..see you there!

Full Circle's presence was truly felt at Ground Zero's "Who can Roast the Most" competition as Rocism and Mach 3 went ten rounds and we added new member Hannibal to our roster of dancers on a quest towards mastery of art and life. Big shout to Bebe and Zoob! The Door is still a dance program facing its last chapters in August--it got extended! We know something else is on its way so we are not too broken by the closing of a decade of breaking instruction at The Door.

Kwikstep judged the R16 in Korea and taught a fully loaded workshop to international breakers looking to learn power/style fundamentals and Kwikstep's historical references present in his technique. Congrats to Jinju who won and to Phase T who came in 2nd!
Kwikstep released his dance music mix tape "Come Rock with Us" with collaborations from D P One, Cut Master Tee and La Roka that goes from breaks to funk to poetic grooves. He judged the JFL bboy competition in Canada--Congrats to Kid Glyde, Neguin and Morris!

Rokafella and Kwikstep attended Boston's Beantown Breakdown July 10-11 congrats to Knuckles from the West Coast. Aiko offered her locking dance workshop and was present on July 9th for the Q and A after the FREE screening of All The Ladies Say film project at 9pm at MIT's building 4 rm 237-big hug to all who showed up and to Raymond Cheng and Aaron who helped with set up.

July 28th was the date for a screening in Manhattan of "All The Ladies Say" at 7:30pm at Dance New Amsterdam's theater -53 Chambers st. Ten Dollar tickets not only helped Full Circle reach a goal for finishing the production phase of this project but also helped Dance New AMsterdam with funds support since they are also facing financial crisis. All The Ladies Say has come this far with the help from the community and organizations such as the Bronx Council on the Arts and the Hip-hop Association to name a few. Thank you to Komar for the T Shrit design and BAm BAm Belts for the bracelets! BIG thank you to the Ladies First Fund for awarding a grant to help with the sound engineering.
If you couldn't attend but can afford to give a $10. dollar donation, feel free to help out with a project that celebrates women's participation in Hip-hop dance styles of breaking and popping-reach out to us on the film website listed below. For more info please log onto www.alltheladiessay.com

Rokafella resumed her Sunday dance classes at Hybryd Studios 1828 Amsterdam ave 3rd floor on July 18th. She will also teach FREE youth dance classes at the NYPL Riverside branch in the Bronx July 8, 15, 22 and 29th 4-5pm.

Rokafella has been a featured artist in the MadeHere project which explores the lives of artists in New York city and how they survive and succeed. To check out the latest episode, click on this link and see previous topics too.
http://www.madehereproject.org/family-balance/artistic-couples/# the next screening is at Bronx Academy of ARts and Dance on Auugust 9th ..please join us!
Full Circle is looking forward to two previous cast members- Adesola and Stretch's choreographic collaboration at Lincoln Center Out of Doors performance on August 15 with Dancing in the Streets.

We'd like to thank our FC administrative assistant(Mr. A. Smith)/ promotional/graphic staff(Mario, Luis and Vito) and newest film team member (Oja Soundtwista) without whom we can not keep moving forward.

If you are interested in offering your services or support please reach out to us at fullcirclesoul@gmail.com

2010-06-09T10:23:00.000-07:00

Full Circle launches its support for a new set of dancers who competed for the first time as a unit at the NY Metro League bboy battle in Brooklyn.

Kilo, Nakata, And Soul Junkie are that next cycle of FC dancers to develop their mastery in our midst. It will take a community to raise these young urban dance warriors. Shea and Kid Flash are also on the verge of bringing it to the next level. Beastie who just announced she is to give birth in December performed her best at Dance Delight to give her last b girl performance as she enters the motherhood phase with love and support from the dance community.

The Door which is a center where Kwik and Rok have been offering a dance program since 2000 and is the place these new dancers have been going to train their skills, is now enacting budget cuts due to arts funds deficits and is looking for ways to support this dance class. Please join the Door Family facebook page to help with this necessary arts cause. We are saddened by the arts funds cuts but also know this is a time to actively pursue our desire to keep dance alive in our community. We will make this program a staple of NYC because so many want to keep it alive and will take action- be it writing letters to public officials or emailing TV shows etc.. Hip-hop is alive and well and we hope you participate in this group effort to save this dance space. Please watch a video created by the youth as a testimonial to their love of dance and the Door dance program.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ymoQ1NMrKI

Continuing to foster its relationship with the NY Public Library, Full Circle will perform at the NY Public Library on June 10th for the Queensbridge branch for its Literacy Summer program. On June 12th Full Circle will dance accompanied by RPM for the 25th anniversary of 116st Puerto Rican Day festival on June 12th accompanied by Mach 3 and Arsin-both older FC members.
June 17th is Kwikstep and Rokafella's TEN YEAR wedding anniversary so Full Circle sends them best wishes and continued health!!!!! ( It all goes back to a fateful day of hitting back in 91 when they both met and spoke Hip-hop culture.)

Kwikstep is set to travel to Korea's R16 international B Boy competition to judge and offer his one of kind NYC style B Boy workshops. He will also be dropping a new Full Circle music CD for sale on his trip so make sure you get a copy!

Please stay tuned for more info on July's screening of All the Ladies Say on the 28th at DNA, the Beantown Breakdown-a dance event in Boston on July 10th, and Ladies of Hip-hop.

Rokafella's Classes are still goin on at Hybryd studios 1828 Amsterdam Ave 151st on the 3rd floor $15 per class- Sundays at 6pm.

If you wish to donate time and or services to our projects please contact us at fullcirclesoul@hotmail.com

Thank you for your ongoing support thus far!

Still going strong!!

2010-04-18T09:43:00.000-07:00

Full Circle has been blessed with strong family ties with other NYC organizations such as Dance New Amsterdam -where the FC office has been housed since 2007- KR3T's- who helped with the incorporation process (1996)- and Abada Capoeira who performed at our first event in 1998 at AE Smith Park's and Recreation facility.

Abada Capoeira's director and founder Freddy Furacao Correa has just opened his company's homebase at Hybryd Fight and Dance Studios at 1828 (151st street) Amsterdam Avenue. He has extended the invitation for Full Circle to train and offer its signature Hip-hop dance technique alongside his Capoeira programming. Beginning Tuesday May 11th Rokafella will offer her open level classic Hip-hop styles class from 7pm to 8:30pm and on Sundays from 6pm-7:30pm. $15 per class.

Capoeira and Breakin share vocabulary that is passed down from generation to generation despite obstacles of displacement and economic deficits. The coming together of these two companies in NYC is a testimony of the sense of family that exists between two movement based genres that have struggled to be recognized as artforms worthy of society's respect and support. Together Abada Capoeira and Full Circle will forge a new alliance of young talent and traditional aesthetics that will make each other stronger and provide longevity for its practioners.

Kwikstep judged a bboy battle at Princeton University on Apil 24th and Rokafella screened the work in progress film All the Ladies Say at Wisconsin University's Break the LAw bboy event on April 30th and it was well attended.

Full Circle held another Behind The Groove party at Le Poisson Rouge on WEDNESDAY May 5this time with guest DJ BEVERLY BOND!! It was amazing thanks to musicians Angel Rodriguez, Ron Renaissance and Wildchild of STOMP! and the dancers who kept on rocking til 4AM!! NEXT one is Thursday June 3rd!!

Behind the Groove had a super attendance at London's ARc BAr on April 2nd thanks to Cher De Flow and ZuluDj's Funk OFF hosting. Thank you to all who attended the NYC party on April 1st in our absence... we are still hearing great things about that evening of dance! Please spread the word about this party that is reminiscent of NYC's dance club days.

Full Circle will support the Younity Block party on May 15th- http://www.tooflynyc.com/ come hang out with DJ LAylo, Marthalicia-doing live painting- and check out the local artist vendors too.

May 25th at Hostos Community College Full Circle will perform their educational Hip-hop 101 for local High Schools attending morning and a matinee shows.

May 30th Rokafella will perform for the Dance Delight dance competition intermission

at St Mark's Church.

Big shout to Dinna (Sybarite) for the Marjory Fundraiser at Santos and to Bless Roxwell for including All the Ladies Say in the line up of films at her She So Fresh film showcase!!!

shout to Baba Israel with Contact Theater, Lucy with Sinstars, and Holly with B Supreme and DJ Renegade for supporting Full Circle in the UK.

We want to send our love to Marjory who is undergoing a health crisis at this time and is pulling through with courage and the global house dance community's support!

Big shout to our FC dancers/students who keep pushing forward in their dance development and in their courage to take on new performance opportunities.

If you wish to donate your time or media/admin services to our non profit organization please reach out to us at fullcirclesoul@hotmail.com and if you wish to donate funds to help with the film's completion please log onto http://www.alltheladiessay.com/

Thanks to all who have offered their support.. with out you we could not continue to inspire the next generation of aspiring artists while keeping the elders/masters in the mix!

2 events

2010-03-22T11:31:00.000-07:00

See you at the Alvin Ailey Extension..55th street and 9th avenue - Co founder of Full Circle Prod Rokafella will be honored on Sunday March 28!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/New-York-NY/Ladies-Get-Down-an-event-created-by-Robin-Dunn/306863858485?ref=mf

This party will take place in Manhattan @ Le Poisson Rouge 158 Bleeker $5. (DJ DP One and JAze ARt REmote) and in London (Kwikstep and Zulu DJ) on the same day..April 1st.. no fooling!
http://newyork.going.com/event-738448;Behind_The_Groove#
promo video on previous blog!

Big shout to FC dancers Kid Flash, Bboy Shea and 9Volt who donated a performance for the Global Action for Children on MArch 20th.
http://www.planetawesomekid.com/ has fotos at the bottom of the dancers workin the room.

Women's History month in effect!!

2010-03-01T10:35:00.000-08:00

Join us in the Bronx on March 6th at Hostos Community College from 2-5pm for a line up of Female Hip-hop all stars including Rokafella and the local b girls. Free to the public with an area of merchandise for sale of the artists performing. Please arrive early!
www.mhhk.com for more details.
March 11th Rokfella will be at Boricua College in Brooklyn to screen excerpts of film and give a dance workshop for a career day event.
March 12 and 13th Rokafella will be screening All the Ladies Say at Bashville-Tennessee's b boy event.

2010!!

2010-01-29T12:53:00.000-08:00

Peace and Breakbeats!
The year of the Tiger is upon us and we are excited to announce dates for screenings of Full Circle's work in progress B girl documentary- All the Ladies Say. Log onto www.alltheladiessay.com for dates and locations.
Full Circle DJ's DP One and Kwikstep are firing it up on the turntables playing dance music you just won't hear anywhere.. only at their monthly party at Le Poisson Rouge every first Thursday!! 158 Bleeker 21+ no dress code $5 cover! below is the promo of last party on Jan 7th--- yes we celebrated DP's Birthday!!

We apologize once again for not being fully active with our dance concerts but we have been focusing on serving the NYC dance community with a party reminiscent of NYC's Club hey days.. and workin hard to raise funds to continue editing and completing this documentary project- Full Circle's first of many to come.

Big Shout to Soul Junkie and Nakata 9V who repped for Full Circle's next generation of NYC b boys at In Da Heights 2!! Big shout to B boy Cik who organized the event at Park's And Recreation's High Bridge facility. Big Shout to B boy Shea, Kid Flash and C Mar for pursuing the FC training given by Kwikstep one on one and at the Door's TEEN program BREAKDANCE SESSIONS MON WED AND THURSDAYS 6-8PM.. 212 941 9090 if you are a teen or know someone who can use this SUPER teen RESOURCE center for academic, arts and health clinic services.

After many injuries breakers always return to that first love -love of the floor. Breaking helps to deal with impact in life.. if the floor hits you hard and you can rock with it and roll with it then life aint so bad.. you can keep flowing no matter what hurts.. the beat goes on. Every five years there are new faces in the b boy scene.. and the familiar ones have to choose to either stay and evolve now that they have a reputation or ease up and pick up another mountain to climb-hip-hop realted or not! This is the cycle of bboy life. Most stay connected, some fade to the sidelines and others let the outside world dictate their path and drop their fire torch. It aint easy with the way fakeness in the mainstream chokes your hopes of succeeding with your dreams. But if you are really hard body bout this love of self then you soldier on til you get what you know is destined for you and only you. Full Circle has been in effect for decades with belief in universal law. Stay up my friends! It aint easy but we keep going for you! for us!

Rokafella will host a breakin event for Haiti crisis relief in Clifton NJ on Jan 31st
and Kwikstep will be judging the 'Unbreakable' bboy competition in Virginia on February 13th.

Thank you to all who have contributed to our longevity as a Hip-hop organization and please do not hesitate to contact us if you are interested in donating your services or funds to help our legacy maintain its good standing with the arts community of NYC!
IF you are interested in helping one of our peers, IDEALIST.ORG is a company that has supplied FCP with stellar administrative support through the tough times. Now they are in need of financial support from us and you.
Please log onto www.idealist.org/donate
to find out more about this important organization and how you can help to keep it going. Stay tuned!

As we look back!

2009-12-05T09:44:00.001-08:00

Full Circle had a year complete with new dancers(foto)-- some of who experienced their first perormances with us on stage and some who were featured in the film -representing the mission of the company to spread the message of hip-hop as a culture to the world for the first time. This year we blended our dance company with our musicians twice in the year! Our first event in January -the Hitters panel discussion with slide show and party-- was historical and emotional since so many of our street dance pioneers have passed away. Yet the foundation is there, the Breeze Team, The Float Committee, and the TRansformers are still out here and their format still feeds this generation of HITTERS and audiences. RPM played alongside of DJ Dp ONe. The FC crew traveled to Poughkeepsie to do some youth performances and then to Washington D.C.

The Bronx Council on the ARTs blessed our film project with a grant award to continue work on the b girl documentary "All the Ladies Say" and to launch it in June. The featured b girl dancers were present for the screening party and shoot. The film is set to be released and screened across cities in U.S. in 2010. Thank you to the Ford Foundation for helping with travel subsidies this year. Roberta Uno is a visionary theater presenter and director who has looked out for this project from the start. Thank you also to Marcy Garriot who is a film director that has also donated her support to the film process.

Summer began with a performance at the Main Branch of the New York Public Library on 42nd street. We had three international dancers with us- Aruna and Stayfun from Rotterdam and Meli from Austria. In August with the programming of "Dancing in The Streets" managing Director Aviva Davidson (in the foto), Full Circle performed at Lincoln Center's Out of Doors concert with live musicians and dancers from Connecticut and Boston. check the link-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lBuAjt5hk0

September brought us back to the BronxMuseum to inaugurate the URBAN ARCHIVE exhibit which includes Kwikstep and Rokafella's items alongside Joe Conzo and Martha Cooper collection of Hip-hop history. Full Circle fotos and show ticket stubs are among the items in the vitrine. www.bronxmuseum.org The exhibit includes video and installations from Hip-hop artists from the 70's to present and will run til March! Full Circle brought back a dance piece from 2007 .. this time with out the grand piano or beatboxer but with new popper Jedi Nice along with Future and Onion at Dance New Amsterdam for thier evening "Residance".

October- Kwikstep and Ironman went to celebrate and represent at Battle of the Year's 20th anniversary in Germany and Rokafella performed with her Door dance class in Manhattan for UDH. Intermedia ARts' B Girl Be hosted Rokafella and Aiko (one of the featured dancers of the documentary) in Minneapolis with a successful screening discussion and workshop. Kwikstep and Ironman assisted with Red Bull's BC One competition at the HAmmerstein Ballroom and Rokafella participated in the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

November- Two fundraisers for the film completion funds were held at Food for Thought Books and at Bronx Academy of ARts and Dance. Thank you to all who donated their time and funds. We have already returned to the editing of the final product and will soon enter the remaining phases of sound mixing and packaging. March is our set deadline for a premiere in Minneapolis!

December-Full Circle held its Christmas party at Le Poisson Rouge(pronounced pwahsohn rooj) with DJs Dp One and KWikstep and will continue to produce a party at this club every first thursday of the month so look out for January's 7th e flyer.

WE thank you for your continual support and promise you we will get back to concert perfomances as soon as our film project is complete. Thank you to Melissa Ulto, Corinne MAnabat, to TAnya K, GAzino Scott, Diana Coryat, Michael King, MAiA Hunter, Aaron JEffaris. To the Hip-hop Association, MArtha Diaz and Black Robb. Thanks to DAnce NEW AMsterdam for housing our office.

If you would like to volunteer or donate to the company, do not hesitate to reach out to us as our talented staff's commitment fluctuates with the seasons and we rely on performance fees, grant applications and private donors to keep our company's mission alive. Please stay tuned, leave your email address and check out the b girl film website www.alltheladiessay.com

Blessings to you!
Happy Holidays!

-FCP family

The Holiday events for FC!

2009-11-23T20:13:00.000-08:00

Join Rokafella for a one of a kind mixed movement class at Broadway Dance Center November 28th .. right after the turkey feast to help work off any extra pounds.

then party with us on December 3rd at Le Poisson Rouge $5 cover no dress code 21 +

Blessings to you and your family! Thank you for your support in 2009!
Don't forget you can still send a donation to the b girl documentary film fund check
www.alltheladiessay.com

3 Events for the history books!!

2009-11-12T12:53:00.000-08:00

Full Circle planned three events a fundraiser in Massachusetts, a club night at Poisson Rouge and a fundraiser concert screening in the BX. All three were successful and keep us going forward. December 3rd is the next club night.

The film has taken alot of our energy and focus so that is why we have not had many performances so we just ask you to be understanding of our shift from dance and theater performances to what would seem to be out the spotlight but in reality is us workin hard on moving mountains so these stories about the lifestyle of b girls can be shared. The Zulu Anniversary is coming up this weekend (Nov 13-15) and next week Nov 18 is Red Bull B C One. Please stay tuned! WE will return to the dance again real soon!!!

Thank you to all who attended the fundraiser screenings in Massachsetts and NYC.
Food for Thoughts Books was a great host as they moved over book shelves to provide for dance class, screening and performance to take place in their store in Amherst. Big shout to the students who supported from Holyoke Community College and to the adults who also showed up and did the wave with me! Tanya K organized the whole things and is such an inspiration to me as well as Irene ( I-Shea ) who also given me a push when I lose my gusto! Next time we will do it even bigger ... possibly at Hampshire College in April so mark your calendars so we can hang again! Thank you to Rec and Cris who got me on their radio show for an interview and for wanting to parlay about stayin connected to the film project in 2010 and to DW Walker who took me clubbing out there.. "Step into a World"!!

Then we organized to screen at BAAD-Bronx Academy of ARts and DAnce on Nov 7th and it was great! Thank you to the musicians who were ready on the drop of a dime to perform when we had technical issues with the screen and instead did my song set first... Ron Renaissance-P Nerves-B Satz-Swiss Cris-Kwikstep-Angel Rodriguez ----PROPS!

It was a great Q & A afterwards followed by serious poetry by Jennifer Armas and a music set by Metro Sonics(google them!) Thank you to the bboys Shea and Noah who repped during my Just Begun song and to Violet for gettin up on the panel to share her life as a street dancer and mother of 3!!
Big shout to Melissa Ulto (one of the editors) who showed up in the midst of her busy schedule. Crazy Freddy and Maria drove down from Boston to suport the cause with their New B Wear clothing line items -- Fredddy also got up on the panel to share some of his trials as a Hip-hop lifer!

We will also screen the finished film at their event in Boston next year sometime in July!!

All in all the community showed their support for a beautiful collection of lifestories that empower and motivate you to keep pushing with YOUR goals in life. I was at the Oregon Shakespeare festival and met a wonderful artist Catherine Coulson who has since stayed connected to the life of this project and also donated to help with the expenses of post /production..not only is she an incredible actor she used to make films as well. She never knew there were female breakdancers so she was impressed and touched by their spirit. I have many stories such as this testimony that proves that if you set your goal people will step forward to help you reach it. The latest editor Corinne Manabat used to dance b girl and when she heard I was in need of an editor she pledged her support for this project. And there are many others who have stepped up to the plate. I am humbled and ready to continue on this difficult journey teaching me patience and furthering my understanding of the power of arts.
We will be planning another fundraiser sometime in January as we step into the final stages. Dates for the premieres are lining up in places like Miami, Amherst, Minneapolis and Boston for 2010. Video footage of the fundraising events will be up soon as well as a calendar of events for 2010.
Big shout to Queen Godis who has offered her track "B Girl" from her album "Power U" to be included in the film!!

Documentary Fundraiser evening

2009-09-28T20:34:00.001-07:00

Flyer designed by A. Reyes

Film screening (49min) at 8pm followed by Q&A
Special live music performance by RPM-and La Roka
Merchandise by New B Wear and Ghetto Groove on sale
Full Circle Photos by Vanessa Bahamani on sale
Afterparty mixed by Kwikstep
Refreshments for sale during evening!

Our goal is $5000. to complete post production and cover premiere expenses for release in 2010!
Donations of $50. -$250. guarantee listing on the documentary website
Donations of $250. and higher guarantee listing in film credits.

Join us as we celebrate Full Circle's first film journey for
the community, by the community!
Thank your for your support!
www.alltheladiessay.com

Lincoln Center and the FALL

2009-09-01T11:24:00.000-07:00

SUMMER Greetings to all.

Our August performance at Lincoln Center was great and we would like to thank our presenters Dancing in the Streets and Bill Bragin of LCOOD. It was fun to run into Tino who was one of our first FC members -he used to rock the turntables with us back in '96- but is now sound engineer for the LCOOD festival. WOW.. he is all grown up.. haha.. We were under the gun to produce a show that could bring the house down even after the other dance crews had alaready blazed the audience. We performed an FC rendition of "Just BEgun" and had the honor of having bboys Rich, Divine, Sweet Lou, our poppers Onion, Jedi Nice and a band full of masters including Angel Rodrigues who hadn't rocked with us since 2002.

Big shout to Merk One for the filming and photography support and to Martha Diaz at the Hip-hop Association for offering her office for us to work out of duriing the month of August for editing purposes. Black Robb you are a force and a true brother!! big shout to Felix Rodrigues and Roselly too!! The documentary All the Ladies Say had its screning at Ladies Of Hip-hop in Philly . Big shout to Michlle Byrd Mcphee the organizer and to the other ladies who participated.

Kwikstep returned from a great event in Surinam for BAttle of the Year semi finals and to the Mysticalz Crew who won and to Venezuela's Speedy Angels who repped hard for their country.

September is here and we are gearing up for a performance at Dance New Amsterdam with our poppers Onion, Jedi Nice and Future to revamp a piece to music by Bach commissioned by Centeral PArk Summerstage on September 23, 2009. We will be on a line up with other dance companies that specialize in Flamenco and Modern.

Rokafella will attend the b girl conference in Minneapolis B Girl Be sept 18-20, 2009 and will perform her songs, a dance solo and screen All the LAdies Say. www.intermediaarts.org
We have to give a shout to Pavan at PMT studios for housing our Sunday sessions and to Ron REnaissance who has helped us out with music direction for the RPM band. Big shout to Yako who worked on Rokafella's new song "Get Down" produced by Kwikstep and recorded at the Subphonik Studio. and to Ella who is in town from England for taking us back on a journey of Salsa. Big shout to Eddie and Maria Torres for still holding it down in their salsa community all these years. The performance on Thursday at Club Cache was intense and inspiring!
RIP Michael Jackson....

Stay tuned for a new website-big thank you to dwayne oxford who created and helped us for years on our web presence- but soon we will bring a new design, a Halloween party on the roof and another fundraiser for the completion of the All the Ladies of Say documentary. Also, the Funhouse reunion happening on September 24th and Rokafella in Western Massachusetts on October 29th performing with I-Shea.

Look out for KID GLYDE of Dynamic Breakers as he represents THE BEST OF NYC's breaking legacy at the Red Bull BC One in November. He will go up against international bboy soloists who have beat out their country's best to rep at this infamous competition.

Thanks to Melissa Ulto who has been the resident editor for 2 years and has to go on with her journey of film making and editing on a global level. It is because of her our film has reached the levels it has... we await her safe return from this global green project..'Lifeline'!

If you are interested in volunteering, interning or donating to Full Circle please reach out to us at fullcirclesoul@hotmail.com.
We need your support to keep this organization offering a creative and positive impact to the lives of our worldwide community for years to come.
We appreciate all of you who have pledged your support so far.
Without you we can not proceed. THANK YOU!

Blessings to you reading this and you don't have to forward to 7 people to feel blessed..just breathe deep right now and smile..and shine your light!

June July

2009-07-06T11:59:00.000-07:00

The launch at the Bx Museum was successful.. The month had alot of celebrations from birthdays to anniversaries to Beantown Breakdown in Boston and Rokafella is headed to Rwanda and will return to join kwikstep as they each offer dance classes at the Illadelph Legends workshop series go to www.rhpm.org for more scheduling information.
Full Circle will perform at Lincoln Center
On August 6th at the Damsrosch Bandshell as the opening act to an international line up of Hip-hop artists.
August 8th Rokafella will screen "All the Ladies Say" at LAdies of Hip-hop festival in Philly. Go to www.alltheladiessay.com for more information.
Please stay tuned for more fotos and video of Full Circle appearances and summer projects. www.youtube.com/bgirlrokafella and look out for tentative dance workshops by Rokafella in August at Broadway Dance Center.
PEACE!

B GIRL FILM LAUNCH JUNE 3RD

2009-05-27T22:11:00.000-07:00

B GIRL FILM PREVIEW ARTICLE WITH SHOW REVIEW

2009-05-27T22:09:00.000-07:00

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1762694/rokafella_and_kwikstep_come_to_dc.html?cat=2

2009-05-27T17:53:00.001-07:00

Full Circle B girl Documentary screening may 9 in Harlem

2009-05-05T22:04:00.000-07:00

JOIN US ON SATURDAY MAY 9 2009 FOR A SCREENING/FUNDRAISER AT MAYSLES CINEMA LOCATED AT 343 LENOX AVE BETWEEN 127 AND 128TH STREETS TAKE 2 OR 3 TRAINS TO 125TH STREET STATION
212 582 6050 -JESSICA GREEN
www.alLtheladiessay.com

STAY TUNED FOR DETAILS ON JUNE 3RD LAUNCH AT BRONX MUSEUM.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.

May is here...

2009-05-03T18:45:00.000-07:00

Peace party people..
This year is flying by so fast..it is great.. In April Kwikstep offered his S.T.R.E.E.T.S dance classes at Broadway Dance Center to a committed group of students who have trained with him at previous BDC workshops. GI Jane had her paintings in a gallery at her school (NJCU) with breakers NBK to do a demo.. and the Funhouse reunion was great.. Our dancers have been fortunate enough to work with Anti-gravity for Hewlet Packard and T mobile.. Congrats to them! Rokafella went to London UK to promote the b girl documentary "All the Ladies Say" and to compete as a captain of the USA bgirl team. Kwikstep is moving forward with his music production for orporate clients, for the "All the Ladies Say" documentary and for Rokafella who performed at the Bruckner Bar and Grill for Cindy Sugar Rush's comedy night and at Webster Hall. Ironman- Carlos proved his skills during his cameo performance during Angels Inc show that night. Big shout to him and the brothers with Angels Inc-NJ.

Classes for teens at the Door have been making real progress and very soon FC will select students to perform with Full Circle at various summer festivals. Rokafella offered workshops at El Puente's Women's Day in Williamsburgh and at WGI Leadership institute.
Kwikstep and Rokafella are headed to D.C. on May 13th to perform an excerpt of their theatrical duet Innaviews. May 9th is the screening / fundraiser of excerpts of "All the Ladies Say".
Please log onto www.alltheladiessay.com for more details about the film launch on June 3rd at the Bronx Museum.
Big shout to Baba Israel who brought the house down at BAM cafe and at South Paw on May 1st as part of his going away festivities--You go with our love infused!!

stay fly peoples!

All The Ladies Say..

2009-03-14T11:17:00.000-07:00

PEace,
In light of all the economic twists and turns... i hope you are all hangin in there.. keeping your hope and fire in tact..

We received the BCA Cultural Grant to complete and screen All The LAdies Say documentary...and we got to work immediately!! The new trailer has been created by Melissa Ulto and Rokafella with music by Kwikstep and Handstyles by Toofly. You can view it on the new website www.alltheladiessay.com the latest blog is also up http://alltheladiessay.com/blog/?p=193

Kwikstep returned from a successful run of "What You Will" a shakespeare version of Twelth Night with a hip-hop edge to it which played in Bristol Riverside Theater. Congrats to Kwikstep for a mention in the Pennsylvania Chronicle review.

A sreening of the documentary in Bushwick was cozy and fun with BEATSREET playing right after. Thank you to Jane Gabriels for hooking it up.

Full Circle performed at the Bardavon and at Collegiate school for black history month with bboy Character and bboy Shea on the roster.

Kicking off Women's History Month, Rokafella performed at Momma's Hip-hop Kitchen and featured G I Jane and J La Rok. Shout to B boy Shea and Merk and Break for showing love.. Big shout to Lah Tere, La Bruja and all the female firestorms who graced the stage that day and to Kathleen Adams who organized the concert. Stay tuned for dates and info as we will be screening excerpts of the film in Harlem at Maysles Cinema before the launch.

Please mark your calendars for JUNE 3RD 2009.. 4pm at the Bronx Museum we will be launching the documentary with the main characters present to teach, dance, discuss, and defy society!!! You can find about it more also on my facebook group..yes we had to do it.. thank you for your support and if you are interested in supporting with funds please do not hesitate to contact us on the website.. every body's contribution at the January 9th event helped out immensely!!!!

Full Circle will perform at Lincoln Center in August. Kwikstep and Rokafella will make up part of the cast of the highly anticipated play "Boogie Rican Blvd" more info to follow.

CONGRATS to BABA ISRAEL-our beatboxer MC musician extraordinaire who just acquired a directorial position at England's Contact Theater in MAnchester!! he is one of the original members of Full Circle a recipient of our On Fire Award in 2006.
--Baba, we will miss you..true friend.. but it has just begun -- our prayers and best punchlines go with you!
stay fly!!
FC
ADmin

WOMENS HISTORY MONTH FREE CONCERT

2009-02-22T20:24:00.000-08:00

B GIRLS REPRESENT..!!

a href="http://s214.photobucket.com/albums/cc230/bgirlrokafella/?action=view¤t=mama_edited_3.jpg" target="_blank">

Full Circle January newsletter

2009-02-09T16:38:00.000-08:00

January flew right by... Obama and all..
Our event at the Bronx Museum was successful with a huge turn out. Rokafella screened a portion of Full Circle's upcoming film project entitled "All the Ladies Say" and was able to raise funds towards the continuation of post production phase. We thank the attendees for their generosity donating towards a highly anticipated film directed by a veteran b girl practitioner (Rokafella) that portrays women in a positive light as equal participants in real street dance community. Presently a website is in the making to help promote its development and scheduled screenings.

The panel which was originally intended for 5 Top "Hitters"-
Jay-Day Zone TDK, Klown, Wayne Blizz, and Nyce
had a swell of about 8 other important members of the four tribes that have created a lifestyle of street dance in NYC.. The Breeze Team -the original Executioners which then became the Float Committee -Transformers -United Street Artists.
Many things were discussed..topics like who came down to the deuce first, the science behind the format of a good street performance, the terminology coined based on the everyday struggle of the Hit, out of town Hitting, the hierarchy of the dancers and drummers, even the day to day harrassment of the NYPD was discussed -for which many a crew lost money and had to do jail time. But all in all, the spirit of perseverance was shining through, and it was clear to see the Hitters' love for the job they did and still do. Some were very proud to introduce their children who have followed in their footsteps becoming amazing Hitters, others hadn't seen each other in years and some shared jokes about their days on the street. It was plain to see that there was brotherhood and a commitment to this dance style.. they were real warriors representing Hip-hop even when this dance wasn't being done anywhere in the city because of how it was trend-ified and over used in the media.
Vanessa Bahmani (www.vanessabahmani.com) put together a beautiful slide show of the old and new fotos of the Hitters and the panelists provided commentary.. sometimes endearing, R.i.P. and sometimes hilarious.
Hitting is how Kwik and Rok met and it was important to shed light on this job held down by a veteran dancers who live Hip-hop. Kwik as a Hitter was a beacon to European b boys who came in the early 90's looking for history and NYC breaking techniques .. and Rok was one of the first women to street dance consistently and develop skills since then. They are two Hitters who have created a non profit dance theater organization that trains youth and fosters iconic dance elders' relevance in the community for over a decade.

A year ago the New York Times ran an article about the Executioners- Doug, Wayne and Po- as the first to Hit outside the New York Public Library main branch on 42nd st and 5th Ave.. and soon after the NYPL in conjunction with Full Circle awarded them with a lifetime acheivement "On Fire" award for their commitment to the NYC born dance style. Recently in October and again in January articles have surfaced highlighting the subway cousin newest incarnation of the Hitters. It is a great time to research the lives and history of a dance community that has been surviving through the years with out any mainstream visiblity, commercial exposure or inclusion inside the underground b boy community. It is finally being recognized that there are many different overlapping dance histories all of which are important and necessary. Soon we will take on the task of highlighitng Hip-hop dance history of the 90's and the first decade of the new millenium.

After the panel, DJ DP One hit the turntables providing beats for all to dance. The evening paused for a moment to wish DP a happy birthday.. cake candles and all.. and then the live band RPM featuring Rokafella on vocals spiced up the chilly full moon evening.

Rok and Kwik then traveled to Washington D.C. to Sidwell Friends school to offer an interactive discussion on dance and sexuality curated by Margot Greenlee and Rebecca Zug.
B boy Character, and Shea Butta performed for the first time with Full Circle at the Bardavon for a school assembly based around Hip-hop dance 101. After the informative section of the presentation was done, the teachers were gracious enough to get up on stage and show us how they got down.. and some still get down!!!

Kwikstep will perform at the Bristol Riverside Theater in "What You Will" a Shakespeare play with a Hip-hop edge beginning February 10- March 8,2009 for tickets log onto www.brtstage.org
Rokfella will perform at "Momma's Hip-hop Kitchen" at Hostos Community College on March 7 with her B girl sistas- J LA Rock, GI Jane and Beastie..

On FEBRUARY 4TH BRONX COUNCIL ON THE ARTS AWARDED FULL CIRCLE A CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT to screen "All THE LADIES SAY" at the BronxMuseum on JUNE 3, 2009 with the main b girl characters- BETA, AIKO, LADY CHAMP, BABY LOVE-featured in "BEATSTREET", SEVERE, AND VENDETTA-traveling to NYC to teach, dance and discuss life as a B Girl.
Melissa Ulto is the present editor of the documentary and Footnote Media Group is providing the marketing efforts.
We wish everyone a warm Valentine's Day and look forward to bringing you the best we have to offer in 2009!

Our site has been undergoing maintenance and upgrades..
We thank you for your patience.. and support!

JOIN US IN JANUARY 2009!

2008-12-23T09:18:00.000-08:00

2008-12-08T17:40:00.000-08:00

Take Hip-hop Classic Style Dance workshop with founder of Full Circle Prod Kwikstep at Broadway Dance Center

Hip-Hop Dancer, Choreographer, and Artistic Director Gabriel “KWIKSTEP” Dionisio was born and raised in New York City. At the age of eight, Kwikstep was inspired by Soul Train and the famous dance duo, Shields and Yarnell, and started dancing “The Robot.” Later he began to pursue the techniques known as Popping, Electric Boogaloo, and Locking. In the early Eighties, when he attended local block parties and clubs, he joined his friends who were breaking and slowly became well-rounded in all of these dance styles. His first tour was in 1988 to The People’s Republic of China with a dance company called New York Express where he was able to share and help expose Hip-Hop culture on a 12-city tour. By 1991, he had won a Bessie award for choreography and founded the international Hip-Hop collective known as Full Circle in 1992. Kwikstep is recognized as an international icon in breaking and is best known for his smooth style, versatility and signature head spins.

He has been a principal dancer in companies such as Rhythm Technicians and GhettOriginal, who were the creators of Jam on the Groove, nominated for a Drama Desk Award in 1996 for outstanding choreography. Will Smith called on Kwikstep to represent breaking in the New Millennium performance in Washington D.C for Bill Clinton. He has also appeared in films, TV, and video work, including "Brown Sugar" (starring Sanaa Lathan), Missy Elliott, KRS-One, Fabolous, and "VH1 Hip Hop Honors," to name a few.

Workshop Description

BDC is pleased to offer this special workshop with Kwikstep that creates a bridge from the streets to the studio and gives students the breakdown on techniques like Neck Moves, Shoulder Tracks, Head Tracks, Drops, Top Rock, Footwork and rhythm patterns. Kwikstep’s hope is to provide you with the breaking fundamentals needed to succeed and stand out in film, TV, music videos, onstage, or in ciphers. Helping you tap into the raw energy of the streets and clubs where Breaking was born is Kwikstep’s ultimate goal. This transmission is essential to all dancers as Breaking becomes more and more established in the commercial industry. Kwikstep provides you with the tools you will need in order to “maintain in the game.” It’s what he calls the S.T.R.E.E.T.S.: Soul, Rhythm, Esthetic, Energy, Technique and Style!

Tue, Dec 9 @ 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Thu, Dec 11 @ 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Sun, Dec 14 @ 12:00-1:30 p.m.

All classes are $25. You can purchase the entire 3-Day workshop for a discounted price of $65.

a shout about dance in the NY Times!!!

2008-10-13T17:50:00.000-07:00

copy paste to your browser and check the video and the article on where dance is at its rawest!!!

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/arts/dance/12laro.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&sq=dance%20october%2012,%202008&st=cse&scp=1

B Girl City at the BronxMuseum!!

2008-09-18T12:13:00.002-07:00

B Girl City..!!!

Thank you to those 300 of you who passed thru to a historical event that 3 b girls.. honey rockwell D Nice and yours truly..organized through hell and high water.. Even tho a hurricane was to hit TExas, D Nice Romeo and MArcy Garriot-who sponsored the prize money-- traveled to NYc to offer their presence to the first ever b girl based dance contest in NYC. I am blessed to have made many connects in my life time that have been there for me eons after the acquaintance was made. The people at the BRonx Museum are angels and real forward thinking people. Lynn and SErgio and especially Ariel- who is a native born Cuban MC and veteran hip-hop organizer over there.. knew the time.. DP one also knew the time back in 99 when he hooked up with Full Circle and offered his talents to our organization. people's paths sometimes connect and disconnect but if the vibe was real ..reconnecting is no major thing but to do it.. and pick up where you left off..

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS!!!!!- J La Rok from NBK who won 1 on 1

Fox Force and JAck who won the 3 on 3

, Phantom RTR Zulu Kings who won the 7 to smoke

and to B boy Divine who won the kids battle..

btw check out www.insidethecircle.com

thank you to Kwikstep for all his help and to NBK who awarded me a plaque for my contributions to hip-hop. i am honored to be held in high esteem by my peers. and i still got so much work ahead of me. i will make all of you proud.

Sunday --the day after-- was amazing because we got to reconnect the HITTERS.. my family.. the people who took me in and made me who i am today..good and bad.. cuz it wasn't all cherries in the streets.. but i wouldn't trade the tears and the conflict for anything.. The Transformers, USA and now the Subway hitters -boogieman-- are all in my hearts.. and we gonna work to make sure their history is known established and etched in new yorkers' minds.. last year we awarded the Executioners a plaque through the NY Public library to acknowledge their contributions to the street dance lifestyle.. the true lifestyle of taking your skills to the audience that didn't pay ticket to see you and is on its way to work or home and making them not only stop and check you out but also take some $ out of their wallet and bless the bucket ... is a task!

sometimes you ride high sometimes you deal with the low.. but you maintain your self esteem no matter what..

generations have passed thru this line up and many more will.. this is the life of the Hitters..

being unique is priority and yet sometimes you get scolded for not doing it how it was done back in the day.. foundation is one thing .. flippin it is another.. power and footwork are elements of bboying but so are air moves and flexible moves.. make sure you document your history so later nobody can try to hurt you with their hate and by all means and do your research about what you are told.. it's not just the media telling lies...you have your own mind that can come to its own conclusions about right and wrong.

Hip-hop is r(evolution)

god blessed all of us with our own way to shine..you got yours i got mine..

and please register to vote.. don't wait for the industry to tell you to 'rock the vote' this time around.. just go like you know..

2008-09-18T12:13:00.001-07:00

Summer heat!!

2008-07-09T21:13:00.000-07:00

Well June was incredibly hot.. Rok finally recorded 'TRENCHES' at the Open Thought Music Studio and put it up on MYSPACE...larokasoul.. so finally the spell has been broke.. and she performed it at Freddy's Beantown Breakdown event.. which was so much fun.. i mean like they had a props battle where heads had to act like if they was in their moms living room and tryin to dance... big shout to
New B Wear and Geenie and the b girls out there!!
FC was in the house at the Bronx Musuem for a panel discussion about Hip hop dance.. and it was great to see how many heads have actually performed with FC after all these years. big shout to Asho, STretch, Ill Cosby and ADesola for creating the opportunity...

Then we knew we had to perform the BAch piece with the poppers for the 'Hip-hop Generation Next' block party but the music was really a challenge since neither the pianist nor our resident beat boxer were able to perform live with us.. so Kwik and Tino -our original music person who recieved a FC award way back in 1999.. yes the same evening Kwik and Rok got engaged after a performance at Hostos Community College.. no i won't forget those kinds of things.. anyway... so they burned the midnite oil once again and got us an amazing version of Bach and electro fusion beats... then we had to rehearse and re create the magic.. Onion appeared from Boston and we got in the groove once again..

if that weren't enuff, a gig came out the sky for the day before the Brooklyn gig.. yes.. a FC show at Lehman College for the inauguration of Bronx Week for the NY Foundling.. big shout to Luisa and Iris and Carol.. yes yes yall.. FC multi tasking again.. the show was crazy bumpy literally since we rolled out the linoleum just moments before dancing on it.. Beastie rocked with us and we even did a nervous run of the Bach piece just to get the heebie jeebies out our system.. then off to rehearse with new beatboxer Anointed S and Kat and Future and Onion..

Saturday was great and went smoothly until the rain appeared and baptized us all in the name of hip-hop, salsa, african and VOGUEing.. the Legendary house of Ninja was ready to catwalk but had to wait and wouldn't you know it the audience waited it out too.. it was all so beautiful.. Big Shout to Aviva, KR3T's, Tommy de Frantz, Vanessa, Dancing in the STreets, Benny Ninja, Nydia Velazquez who got on stage and repped the realness she brings to the senate... oh and to FootworKingz, Illstyles and Peace, Adesola and Doc-UAMA, Dj Sparkil, EVil Tracy, and Forrest Gump and yes the Brooklyn borough president who kicked a verse....

then Kwik and Rok prepared for the rooftop block party before heading out to Rotterdam for the Street Science Festival hosted by Hip-hop Huis(prounounced house) and what a day it was.. First there was rain then yes more rain.. but the party people were un phased .. the four DJ's kept hitting em hi and hittin them low.. even ishea from Amherst, Zone TDK and Charlie Lock were in the house.. big shout to Stretch, Violet who also celebrated a b day.. and to all the heads to helped out.. Carlos, C MAr, Shea, Thriller, DP One, DOc and Shadiya and Kat, Baba and BEastie.. Happy 40th to Kwik..

and RIP to AYAN -our drummer for the street hitters NYC Float Committee.

July started out intense for Kwik and Rok in Rotterdam .. Collective 7 represented on panels and stages and BABY LOVE was the real draw for so many.. Aruna and Bennie did it up for reals.. on all levels ... thanks to them for inviting Kwik and Rok to perform excerpts of INNAVIEWS at the Lanteren Theater on a line up with Lloyd and Dancing Dave and B girl Anne...and

soon Rok has a nite with La Bruja at the Nuyorican and then in Ithaca doing a solo with the infamous shoe piece at Cornell university.. and after, both Kwik and Rok head to Rennie Harris's Illadelph Legends workshops.. be cool..the summer heat is upon us.. gotsta stay cool.. Keep a cool head..
Peace...

40th Birthday PArty for Kwikstep

2008-06-25T13:48:00.000-07:00

FC and then Venezuela, P.R. and Wisconsin

2008-05-03T10:30:00.001-07:00

Big shout to FC for going thru and gettin thru with us.. dance careers and musicians go thru it all and still live for the stage.. we offer up our talents hoping we can take the audience on a trip away from this crazy world.. De Paul University was fun and yet challenging on the technical tip.. but we still connected with the crowd and Hope to return one day soon.. big s hout to LADY CHAMP who blessed us with a throw down and to the twins of the CHAMPIONS crew.. Everybody loved the excerpt of the documentary ALL THE LADIES SAY.. we still workin on it.. the band kicked ass and we hope to have more chances to just jam and have fun in the studio..

FItchburg was a great residency as well.. western massachusetts gets down too.. we extended an invitation to a young dancer out there to please get in touch with us as soon as he finishes high school.. he is on the list.. Thank you to MARY CHAPin DUrling who hooked it up and went thru thick and thin with us as we planned the trip.. SHE made cookies that made us break our diets!! ROcism performed with us even tho his elbow was in pain and Carlos-ironman joined us for DE PAul.. RAfael X Zeeno ZEEn--who's in Brazil now workin on a top secret project-- trooped both shows with us.. oh and BRave Monk who had a cameo on the chicago show.. is our brother from another mother.. breakin brings a new layer of family everytime you travel.. and by family you know there's crazy relatives and crazier relatives.. ha ha..

so Venezuela was AMAZING.. the breakers out there die for this dance.. they give it their all and are so open to learning other moves and listening about what's going on..
two crews out there who made our trip possible--FLYING LEGS and SPEEDY ANGELS-- and then we saw like a zillion other crews out there for the JAM 2008 event.. teh winners were RISK BOYS-- youngins and b girls.. big shout to PIRATA and to B Girl Honey Rok(adrianna) N2Break, Black and White and to the embassy peeps --GABRIELA and EMILY and LORENA-- who trooped with us to the local practices, after hours for them.. but they could feel the vibe was intense. MARAcaibo was another beautiful stop on our trip.. big shotu to CRAZY LO and DR D who is the old skool DJ from out there .. wow the food was tasty healthy ..arepas and cachapas..!!!! we got to get on their train system and shop at the local indigenous kiosks.. the landscape was inspiring and the youth dance showcase "IMPETU" was inspiring. yet we couldn't leave teh country without experiencing a run in with "la policia" but we got thru just like we do in NYC..
our lec demos were well recieved .. the press was impressed at the information, mainly the message that dancers aren't criminals.. so please support them..
we headed to Puerto Rico after an emotional good bye to our extended family of breakers in Caracas.. The EXPRESS YOUR SKILLS event was successful in that it once again gathered the best graf writers and dancers to Canovanas.. DJ's Adam, VELcro.. we missed JUne BUG- big shout to Lil Man but MARia ISa kicked her rhymes and LADY KEYS got us on the MIC too.. BIg SHOut to MELISSA and ALEX and TIMe MACHINE SQUAD.. the winner was from BOSTOn-BBOY REK adn second place was BBOY SMOKE from CAGUAS.. it was not easy to eliminate bboys from 75 heads to 20.. In the finals we had to choose a non puerto rico bboy to take the trophy.. but he had it right to the end.. and of course there were some sore losers who did not agree with our decisions.. oh well.. in every contest there are winners and there are sore losers.. but we werent' goin to battle them cuz it wouldn't change the final results.. youtube and all.. we still keep it movin.. pa lante..
Madison, Wisconsin is doin some real youth work on the university level.. the university has a course where it fuses sppoken word with theater and hip-hop for its sutdents.. there were many panels where we learned so much as well and exhanged our knowledge of hip-hop aesthetics.. for sure we gots to get to the library and read up on some Pablo Frieres!!
BIG SHOUT TO Willey NEy, JOSh NEELy and MARk BAmuthi who have been hard at work to make this happen.. the best is yet to come..
Kwik and Rok got to perform on a line up with REnnie Harris and MArc BAmuthi... as well as Rha Goddess blessed us with her talents.. blessings to her on her life long artistic journey.
the BREAK the LAw event was amazing and the bgirls were on fire .. from other countries and american states.. big shout to DARIUS KING for dealin with all it takes to organize an event of that magnitude in MAdison...
we are so grateful to hip-hop culture for creating so many possibilities for so many of us who other wise would be lost in the sauce. WE got family.. really young or same age and even older relatives who live hip-hop and struggle to keep the balance.
life is goood. stay up.. breathe..!
PEACE.

New Year of the RaT

2008-01-25T12:20:00.000-08:00

Peace Y'all,
The New york Public Libary let us take over their Bronx Library Center for three Wednesdays and then we had a contest to see what's up with the youth now.. and the 'lite feet' dance craze is taking over.. and they don't need no music!!
FC awarded the Executioners with a lifetime "On Fire" award since they were the first to bring the dance downtown to the tourist at the 40th street and fifth avenue library.. this is how the tribe of Hitters" were created..
Big ups to WayneBliz and D Flex and Poe! We had Dizzee and Ironman perform with us as well as our core of Spex, Fury, Kwik and Rok.
KWik and Rok worked with a kick ass team for their premiere of Innaviews at Dance Theater Workshop and received a great review from the New York Times. Big shout to Kathy Couch, MArion Wright, GArland, Ajahne Santa ANa, JAvi Ninja, and GAmal Chasten who directed the whole thing..!! and to DTW for believing in the vision. Big shout to Footnote Films for workin with us.
We celebrrated the new year at ALMA NYC party big shout to them.
Marcy GArriot screened her film on B boys from texas and their lifestyle and we were there to support. Rok is workin on a film on girls called "All the Ladies Say" and Marcy has become a true supporter of the process.
The band headed by Roka is now giggin' and is known as "Revolutions Per Minute". Fotos soon to be published on this site as well as the myspace. The band and Full Circle will hit De Paul University in April.
Kwikstep helped to judge Beta's Battlefield jam in Miami and Rok taught a master class that weekend. The Miami breakers are always on fire!! big shout to Streetmasters, Ground Zero and Flipside kings and to Mind 180! and all the bgirls out there repping hard. Big shout to C-7 and to Future Media- Addy.

Stay up!

Having a great Fall..

2007-11-12T15:47:00.001-08:00

Full Circle's summer was intense with performances at Central Park Summerstage and ST Mary's PArk. The NJ Star Ledger gave a great review for our presentation as we opened up for Ron Brown's dance ensemble. We were blessed to premiere a new piece with the featured talents of world famous concert pianist Cristina Altamura and beat box extra ordinaire Baba Israel as poppers Onion, Future, Kat, Kwik and Rok combined Hip-hop movement with classic sounds. The idea was developed by Cristina and Rok for Cristina's 'Extreme Latin' concert series at the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival.
We participated in NYC's first annual dance parade alongside of DJONIBA's Dance and Drum Center's float. Full Circle was also in the house for the Wildstyle 25th anniversary party at Powerhouse arena. We celebrated Kwikstep's 39th birthday party at ALMA.NYC party in June-- cake and all..!!
In September, Kwik and Rok offered workshops at MIT for three weekends and connected with Losst Unknown, B boy XL and B Boy Omen thanks to Thomas De Frantz and Melissa Blanco.
We curated the showcase of the 'EAST IS RED' by the Legendary House of Ninja at Dance Theater Workshop October 4th & 5th. After months of Thursday rehearsals and much vogue formatting, the House of Ninja received a favourable review in the NEW YORK TIMES for the beautiful arrangement of dance on display tributing WILLIE NINJA -a dance legend who passed away last year. They also opened up the Blaktino FEStival at BAAD in the Bronx.
Afterward Kwik and Rok participated in the 2007 Battle of the Year in Germany, also offering workshops and judging international b girl/bboy competitions.
The company is now on hiatus practicing at different locations in the community. Breaking at 'The Door' is still on fire with a new generation of breakers on the rise.
Kwik and Rok have birthed a new branch of the FC company.. a band!! yes-- RPM -- and have already performed twice...bringing funk and soul remakes, original material and latin breaks!
Rokafella headed to London for the 2nd annual B Supreme to offer workshops, judge a b girl contest and to screen excerpts of the b girl doc/film "ALL THE LADIES SAY" in conjnction with Footnote films.. which was well received by all.

December is around the corner and we will host a teen dance contest on December 5th at the Bronx Library Center that will also award the old school phenomenons "The Executioners" for inspiring the dancers of today to bring their skills to the masses...and then KWIK AND ROK premiere thier duet 'INNAVIEWS' at DTW Dec 19-22, 2007 -directed by GAMAL CHASTEN.

thanks for your support.. the beat goes on!

Out of Lexington into PS 122.

2007-04-12T12:16:00.000-07:00

Washington "Dance Place" gigs for the black heritage month were great and intense because the other dance groups on the line up were on similar themes, so it felt like we all had a real connection. Big shout to Carla and Lehan and Amy. Rafael Xavier really made it all happen with out a hitch since we lost some of our point staff and he held up more than his weight in gold and we won't forget that..
March 23rd marked the end of the residency that started in January with Rokafella and the hearing impaired students of Lexinton Institute in Jackson Heights, Queens. The students had trained real hard and the addition of African style dancing would be the biggest surprise to the audience which expected a full out Hip-hop show. And as one of the students says in the show "African dance is the root of hip-hop.. " Adidas sponsored the students with suits and sneakers to make it all come together. Justin a drummer from Djoniba's Dance and Drum Center played along with Angel Rodrigues and Jaqueline Miller represented her skills. Big shout to all the staff Trish, Dorothy, Gina, Lynn, Tina and John- oh and B Ready who had a cameo!

We are preparing to perform four nights at PS 122 on April 19-22 so we are going to bring Frantz the poet/lyricist on board as well as new comer to the crew-b girl Bounce from Canada as well. We will preview a film clip from our new documentary "The B girl Sitdowns" which took place last year as Rokafella traveled around the US with the "We B Girlz" book to discuss relevant issues affecting the dance community- b girls in particular. Kwikstep performed at Performance Space 122 sixteen years ago with the first ever hip-hop theater productin from nyc- so he is amazed at how far his theater journey has come.

Rokafella has begun rehearsing with Olive Dance Theater for May gigs in Philly, will keep you posted in when the show comes to NYC. We want to give shout to our new company assistant Laeticia and to the b girls who have decided to start their own organization Collective 7. Stay tuned for info on the B Girl Be summit happening in Minnesota end of June and the Dance Parade in May. Big shout to the Legendary House of NINJA...RIP WIllIE!!

HIP HOP To THE HEAD: April 19th - 22nd 2007

2007-04-11T23:50:00.000-07:00

CLICK FLYER BELOW FOR LARGE IMAGE

360 Soul in Motion

2007-01-18T09:10:00.000-08:00

The End of a project but we still rockin!!

2006-11-20T09:06:00.000-08:00

YES YEs people of the sun..party peoples.. it's gettin chilly now..
Rokafella had just returned from teh BAttle of the YEAr when kwikstep JAcki Brown and her approached teh last B girl sit down. the national "B girl Sit Downs" came to an end in Chicago on October 28 2006 and plans are already in the making to continue the movement. The women who rock non stop are building the future and making the best of the present by learning from the past. R U with us?? Lady Champ held her successful event at the sports lounge and the out of town ladies in attendance were VEndetta and SEvere, AIko, BABy Love and me la ROka... big shout to the ARmory.. and to Phase II ..pictures will be posted soon. a doc/film is in the works..lotta stuff goin on..
WE are all proud of Kwikstep who represented at the VH1 Hip-hop Honors ..against all odds. Then Kwik and Rok performed at the Delta LAtin GRammy's After Party with DJ Henry Knowles to a jam packed crowd of loving party goers. Big shout to Joy PRentice who hooked it up.
The Bronx River sessions kicked off to a good start with Dirty, Reflex, MAcho and heads from the neighborhood. THanks to Jason Garcia and the other JAson too..
Classes at the YMCA were also well attended by both beginners and intermediate b girls. and it has just begun..
Speaking of which- JAckie Brown, Infini-T and La Roka sang their hearts out at the Universes Ten Year Anniversary as Future amazed all with his waves. Big Shout to Rocism who with a fever and all danced up a rain storm along side of Kwik and Tomomi to round out the show. Thank you goes out to THE Universes for their years of service to the community and for honoring us with an award. Rha Godess' words go deep when she broke down how in Hip-hop, ten years is like ten dog-eat-dog years which comes out to about 70 years.. WORD!!!!!
**Congratulations to NBK for their performance at PLanet Hip-hop show and to DJ SParkle on teh same evening line up.. we see you woman..warrior woman!
**Congratualtions to all involved in the "I LAnd" workshop, it was an honor to work with you.. it was an honor to meet master KUMU Robert Cazimero.. blessings to Keo Woolford and Roberta Uno and the whole production team and staff at the Asia Society.
We are preparing to perform in NJ and in MAnhattan later in the month and the new year already is beginning to shape up. Kwik heads out to Rotterdam to speak on a syposium about Hip-hop & the media and the resilience of the community. Rok heads out to BRazil to the BC ONe in Sao Paolo. Big shout to Morgana and Thomas. WE hope you are enjoying your Fall season adn if you have a moment check out an afican class at DJONIBA Drum and DAnce Center. (www.djoniba.com) We been taking class and it is a spiritual experience as well as working your muscles.. Big shout to the HIp-hop Association in their 5 year anniversary. WE will miss True R& B legend GERald LEvert-our conodolences go to his family..STay up y'all and keep your eyes open..we got work to do..... A-che!

Break On the Breaks: B-Boy Battle

2006-10-12T19:40:00.000-07:00

Summer went out with a BANG!

2006-09-10T05:46:00.000-07:00

Summer went out with a BANG! we will see you at the ARt PArade on Wooster on sept 9th at 4pm for a b girl competition.. shout out to the students who came out to rok's class at BDC...

but yeah let's back track ..cuz at the end of June, Rokafella headed to the B girl Be summit in Minneapolis where hip-hoppers from Brasil, Rotterdam, South Africa, England and all over the USA came to vibe one each other's skill. Intermedia Arts covered all their bases with video screenings, hair brading, local youth performances, wall to wall canvas/graf exhibit, panel discussions -including Roxanne Chante, Lady Pink and Medusa-and incredible concerts/ after parties!

July saw Full Circle at the helm of MArtin and AMy inaugurate teh SMithsonian's new auditorium in D.C. There were definite technical difficulties but the squad held up without kwik and rok. then it was all about 2050 in massachusetts and the beautiful theatrical pieces the youth created. KWikstep headed out to colorado for workshops and rok judged the Kings of New York hosted by Ru. kwik & rok then headed to Philadelphia for Rennie harris' workshop series.. wow what a line up..!! for two weeks he offered classes with legends and film screenings and performances and after parties..!! congrats bro! big shout to Amy from d.c !!

August brought Rok and Jaquita- who is doin the filming- to San Jose for the "Best of the Best 14th anniversary" where Aiko hosted the area's dance competition and got down too with her squad from back in the days--Jam Patrol. The sit down there was blessed with the presence of none other than the one and only original Baby Love. Vendetta's crew gave out graf jackets for the b girls involved in the Sit Downs so far..thank you!!

Full Circle brought the fire with their performance at JAckie Robinson Bandshell..this time we had the talents of spoken word artist FRantz and Brooklyn's MC Quen Godis, we also debuted Ishea, Kia, MEli as singers in our JUst begun acapella segment. right after that we hit the Lincoln Center out of Doors event that brought a crew from Englad Flowzaic, to battle agains STyle Comes First, NBK, and Fox Force with a huge backdrop made by the legendary Lady Pink, Toofly and Muck and music by DJ Sparkle from Philly judged by ROkafella, ARuna, Violet, Honey Rockwell and Doze. The uptown squad KR3T's brought the house down with their performance! Big shout to SAra and Marty for pulling it all together and to Allyson- Al Boogie for the after party hook up..altho i could've done with out the power tripping bouncer..and b girls LEX and Severe who repped hard in the club.

Finally kwik and rok headed to the west coast for Asia
One's Annual BBoy summit Boss jam which hosted another sit down panel discussion and back to back popping, locking and breaking competitions. She even debuted a Rocker's demo by Brooklyn's own 7 gems. Kwikstep and Rokafella repped in the circles and did their job as judges.. and yes there will be winners and losers--u can't make everybody happy.

Now back to school, and training.. kwik had a great time in colorado big
shout to the radio bums chonz and fenz and LoSe! big shout to Brisk who helped out putting together a trailer of the sit down so far to help with the project.
rok is headed to the B Supreme in London and then they head to the final b girl sit down -for now- at Lady Champ's hometown of Chicago for a reunion of Phase II. Please keep in your prayers the family of the LEGENDARY WILLIE NINJA..and let's not forget the victims of Katrina and 9-11. fotos will be posted soon.
stay tooned.

Full Circle News: August 2006

2006-08-09T03:54:00.000-07:00

CLICK HERE FOR FULL CIRCLE EVENTS

Can you feel it? The HEAT.. and the rain.. and the 'vapors'… wow.
Checkin in with you guys again.. mid '06..Willie Ninja GET WELL!!!
The Ten Year Anniversary was fun and hectic all in one..

WE gave out a third Full Circle award… this time we called it the

THE ON FIRE AWARD…

Violet Galagarza, Baba, Mildred Ruiz and Steven Sapp,

and Angel Rodrigues were the recipients

We were very proud of Project 2050 ..they broke the ice and let the world know the youth is ready to speak truth to power… Big Shout to Mildred Gamal and Ninja who brought the Universe's BX flava to our stage and also to KR3T's and their fire..

Angel and Hector had us all singing "Hip-hop and gua guanco!" with the dance accompaniment of I-Shea from Massachusetts and Shadiya from Jersey..
oh and an even bigger shout to Palms Down who blessed us with their percussion..
who did we miss.. oh el SENOR AMADIS who hit us with some Salsa.. wassup Nynji..

Our host with the most, the poet / singer Sali Kadi who hails from New Orleans (I kno I always misspell it .. hit me over the head with it.. so I never forget it…)
and yeah let's not forget New Orleans.. they still goin thru it….
Our techies Robert Henderson and Amy Hayyer and Kevin Rivera who is on hiatus right about now.. too hot.. summer is just too hot …
as far as the ten year dvd montage.. big THANK YOU to Brooknam /Brisk of Footnote films who did an excellent job and brought tears to all our eyes…
Right after this, Kwikstep and Rokafella performed at the closing ceremonies of the High School of Graphic Communication where they taught for four months. Arts Connection is the best.. Lonnie and Tracy you rock!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO KWIKSTEP. JUNE 24
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO KWIK AND ROK FOR THEIR 6TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY ----tho they been together for 12 yrs…

Tiffany is now christened B GIRL INFINI T

The United Way show at the Apollo, who's theme was Compassion, was great especially because at the urging of Angela Kariotis, Kwik and Rok got to work with a violinist who accompanied Kwik's words and Roks moves..AND Tiffany got to perform with her students from Grady High School in Brooklyn. She also performed with Rok at the closing of the program they taught at the Bronx High School of Visual Art hosted by PEPATIAN

Kwik and Rok were then called to teach some workshops on Hip-hop theater at Alvin Ailey and it went well made some new friends.. re connected with some old ones..

Thank you Yvette Campbell.

Then it was on to Minnesota for the B girl BE summit hosted at Intermedia Arts.. People we gotta give it up to these ladies who made sure this event was intense at every turn… that is not an easy thing to do. I mean they had a TV and video screening, they had a cool gallery exhibition of the abstract, in your face, spray can, paint brush, photo shop, and sculpture round the world collection of art made by female artists. They even had a hair salon set up where you could get your hair braided and purchase some merchandise personalized by artists. International B girls Aruna from Rotterdam, Morgana from Brasil, and Genesis from London- big shout to Kevin.. were in the house and dancing up a storm.. Aiko, Asia One, Lady Champ, Vendetta and Severe also rocked non stop thru out the weekend and from Puerto Rico Lady D and Miosotis brought us back to Africa with their Bomba percussionists…big shout to the local b girls.

The company performed at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. They faced minor technical challenges and still performed an excellent program. In July Kwikstep and Rokafella traveled back to Massachusetts to work on yet another year of New World Theater's Project 2050 Deconstructing Dualities. It was intense and fulfilling as always. Congrats to the youth who graduated and will move onto colleges in the area.. we wish them all the best and hope they stay in touch! Big Shout to Kelly Tsai who worked for the first time with the project.

Rokafella judged the 'Kings of New York' event hosted by Rue and was happy to know that NY is rising up--- another cycle of fire.. big shout to Breaks Kru and X Fenz and Dynamic and Supreme Beings and BKC.. Thanks to Rue who awarded her with a Queen of New York certificate…

Kwik and Rok then traveled to Philadelphia to offer classes at Rennie Harris's Illadelph Legends workshop series. New faces and some old ones came to class and we were able to spend some time with our peers who we rarely have the time to kick it with.. big shout to Stretch, Tweety, Chezronne, Don Campbell, Michelle, Raphael and Jamie. Congrats to Zen One, Traci Bartlow, Nicole Smith and Montazh on their performances!

Tomomi returned from her visit to Japan just in time to perform with Rok and B girl Infini T for Bloomberg's Culture Bites as part of the promotion of the We B girlz performance at Lincoln Center's Out of Doors on August 10, 2006. It was fun and the audience had really good questions… and lunch too! Can't beat that..

Rokafella is headed to another b girl panel discussion in San Jose- California curated by Aiko. Jaquita Ta'le is going to shoot the activities.. welcome aboard!
The flyer is on our site as well as the flyer for the details to the Lincoln Center Out of Doors event . That same weekend Full Circle will perform at the Jackie Robinson bandshell in Harlem..we hope you attend and enjoy the program we have planned which includes the addition of MC Queen Godis and the poet Frantz as well as two FC ON FIRE awards will be given to our friends who have helped us and who could not attend the anniversary so we waited to honor in a big way in front of our community.

We have to give a big shout to Ken Fury who won the RSC footwork on Concrete contest.. and to Rocism who just returned from Russia!!
Stay tuned.. we have to hit the bboy summit and Chicago. And then off to London and Germany and Brasil..wow..
not to mention.. some more classes in Brooklyn and the Bronx and more performances…we welcome some potential new members who will remain nameless until they step up

A decade of braving the storm!! And then some…

Oh and if you can ..Please go see the movie "An Inconvenient Truth"….

A-'che!

Upcoming Events: August

2006-08-08T08:14:00.000-07:00

Full Circle News: 10th Anniversary Gala

2006-05-26T10:20:00.000-07:00

Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater
The Joan Well Center for Dance
405 W. 55th Street at 9th Avenue

Tickets: Angel Sponsor - $75 Patron Sponsor - $50

CELEBRATE THE CIRCLE, FULL CIRCLE

Time: 7:00pm

MEET THE COMPANY AT A PRE-SHOW VIP RECEPTION AND SPECIAL
SNEAK PREVIEW OF THEIR NEW WORK-IN-PROGRESS. VIP RECEPTION
AVAILABLE TO ALL ANGEL TICKET HOLDERS.

Time: 8:00pm

ALSO CELEBRATING FULL CIRCLE PRODUCTION'S 10TH ANNIVERSARY
STARE ARE:

OPEN THOUGHT, PROJECT 2050, PALMS DOWN, KR3T'S, SALSA SENSATION
AMADIS, UNIVERSES, ANGEL RODRIGUEZ, AND MANY MORE.

To reserve your ticket , email cat@fullcirclesoul.com
or send check, payable to Full Circle Productions, Inc. to:

Full Circle Productions, Attn: 10th Anniversary Gala

1810 Bruckner Boulevard, Suite 4F

Bronx, NY 10473

Full Circle News: Fest Forward Review

2006-05-06T19:18:00.000-07:00

Dance Review | 'Fest Forward: Hip-Hop Unbound': Hip-Hop Dance: Up From the Streets, and Still Spinning

Click Here to View Article

By JENNIFER DUNNING

"This first dance program in the wide-ranging "Fest Forward" festival was thought-provoking and fun."

peace fam,
it has been a long time..and we apologize for our very busy schedules.
Full Circle has had many engagements since last Fall.
our prayers go out to all the victims of hurricane katrina.. our eyes have been opened.
WE finished the year off with a performance at museo del barrio's "latinos in hip-hop" festival where we debuted the gospel version of "just begun" acapella and celebrated jaquita and bethany's first performance with FC. then we took up a residency at the Harbor School in Bushwick.. big shout to Chris who initiated the request to his assistant principal -jennifer ostrow- to have breaking as an after school program and saw it thru to the end..and even performed his freshly learned Windmills at the show.
The year kicked off with a first ever duet presentation by Kwikstep and Rokafella at Dance Theater Workshop entitled "INNAVIEWS". The lobby was in rare form with LAdy K Fever's urban themed canvases and graffiti canvases by Bom5 and UEND. This work-in -progress directed by Gamal Chasten of the Universes and dramaturged by Benji Reid was received with enthusiasm and a great Q & A segment moderated by David Sheingold. a repeated commentary was how people appreciated the honesty in the writing. big shout goes out to kathy couch who designed the lighting and marion wright who did the stage managing beautifully--there will be more opportunities to work together!!! We hope to continue to develop "innaviews" with continued support from the Hip-hop Theater Festival, DTW, New World Theater and the Painted Bride. In February we returned to regular practice sessions with the FC crew and began workshops with Urban Word. WE have to congratulate Michele Byrd MCphee who held her ladies of hip-hop event in Philly. Full Circle drove down there with a group of b girls and got caught on the way back by the blizzard. (hee hee..it was an unforgettable experience)
In March Kwikstep and Rokafella began to work with Project 2050 on the weekends. Rokafella accompanied by rolando brown visited the Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania's hip-hop event hosted by M.O.R.E organiztion through the hip-hop association and then she headed to Atlanta to participate in the first out of state B girl "Sit Down" event hosted by local B girl Vendetta and sponsored by the Ford Foundation. Needless to say, at both events the mood proved once again that Hip-hop is alive and kicking- contrary to the vibe most people are feeling about its mainstream staleness. we performed to celebrate the carribean cultural center's 30th anniversary and attended festivities at Dance theater workshop's 40th anniversary. big shouT to kr3t's for their 16 year anniversary.

towards the end of march rehearsal began to gain momentum as the heavy performance schedule approached. This time the SKirball Center would host us as we shared the bill with brooklyn's "Decadance" during their hip-hop festival. big shout goes out to wiley and tommy and the staff at the skirball for being so pleasant to work with. big shout to mach3 who returned to the FC cast line up and to arsin who traveled from florida to join the cast as well. big shout to kevin who has completed a year as road manager for full circle and continues to provide his priceless services. another shout goes out to martin rios who has also completed a year of performing with us and got his name in the ny times-- at last!! speaking of last.. the last night at nyu had the full circle women rushing from one stage to another one..yes.. Rokafella choreographed a sexy bgirl segment to a song by mos def to which "The blak diamonds"-tiffany theianna, jaquita and tomomi -did their thing in their pin stripe suits for the bronx burlesque at joe's pub. Pepatian hosted the evening and celebrated the talents of noemi segarra, elizabeth marrero, rhina valentine, arthur aviles, and many more including its founder merian soto!! that following sunday the gears would switch up to prepare for the next show on tuesday evening. the carnvale at club avalon was a great gathering as we enjoyed kr3t's and montazh cameos in our show. The b boys rocked in suits and so did the girls. we were happy to represent breakers with a range of character. big shout to Tifany and theianna represented at kool herc's anniversary party in harlem.
as we head to the kennedy center in washington d.c. for a week residency, we are excited and honored to share our passion with the community and audiences of all ages. Kwikstep, rocism, ken fury- our newest member- and mach 3 are being flown to France to represent the best of nyc-usa at "the blockparty- 3 on 3 competition . we wish them all the best breaks!!
we'd like to thank our board and our friends jane gabriels, michelle rhone-collins, kenneth jones, wesley montgomery, sara rosen, yvonne mendez, monica williams, tino diaz and dwayne oxford who we count on for ever present support and wisdom.

we welcome all of our new team members and want you to know even your smallest participation is of gigantic consequence and we could not exist without it.
Kwikstep has put his blood sweat and tears into fc music/ artistic production and rokafella has crossed the t's and dotted the I's so this organization can set the example of strength during stormy weather. we hope to see you all at Full Circle's upcoming Ten Year Anniversary at the Alvin Ailey Citigroup theater - yeah the new building!! --on may 26th ..the friday of Memorial Day Weekend .. so if you aint going to the hamptons.. please join us as we commemorate the past and rock into the future..
may 26 '06-may 26 '07 a year of celebration!! stay tuned for more about fc shows, the anniversary, and full circle b girl "sit downs" scheduled for late spring and summer as well as the b girl be" summit haps...
all praises due to the almighty creator-....a--che!

Full Circle News: September 2005

2005-09-13T03:17:00.000-07:00

Peace Peace yall,

Summer was great although many of us have been affected by hurricane Katrina's devastation. Our prayers go out to all the victims. We keep all those affected by the 9/11 tragedy in our prayers as well.
Kwikstep and Rokafella offered workshops at two different locations in August. The first one at the Alvin Ailey Extension had a good turn out. This opportunity helped to bring Full Circle as a company to the Ailey studios to rehearse during the month of August. While at the studios veteran breaker Kato from the original Fresh Kids Brooklyn visited and brought his daughters to train in breaking alongside of the company. FAm FAm!!

The second place they offered workshops was at the "Illadelph Legends" workshop series in Philadelphia. New members Jaquita, Dione, Jeremy, and Kenny Do It also graced us with their energy. Sundays were spent at Violet's spot on 99th street as our two companies danced the heat and humidity away ( www.kr3ts.com ). Big thank you to Violet for sharing your space with us. We are in the process of preparation for the Montclair State University performance which will be the first half of "Soular Power'd". We are happy to announce we have secured an advisory team with excellent credentials and sincere enthusiasm. Big shout to Monica, Kibra Marion and Bebe. Special thank you to Michelle Rhone. We have entered the next phase of passing down the experience of dancing in NYC professionally. A young dancer by the name of Ken Fury is coming from Colorado to apprentice with Kwikstep and will perform in the September show, so we wish him lots of luck and courage. Big shout to Alina Blomgarden who helped facilitate this effort. Another apprenticeship has begun with Kwikstep and Rafael Xavier from Olive Dance Theater in Philladelphia. Rokafella began teaching at Bronx International High School for an after school program through Pepatian and an independent class at Fieldston Prep. The Door Teen dance classes will begin September 14th and the Washington Heights adult dance classes will resume on September 20,2005--Tuesdays and Fridays 6-8:30pm. Also on the back burner, Kwikstep and Rokafella will workshop the initial outline of their first ever duet entitled "Innaviews" with the help of the Hip-hop Theater Festival and Dance Theater Workshop set to debut in January. Lending their expertise will be Mildred Ruiz and BEnji Reid and BEn Snyder.. Big thank you to them ahead of time. At this time Rokafella is organizing a national dance project which will celebrate the b girl community and the book release of B girls entitled "WE B Girlz" by famous photographer Martha Cooper. More details soon to follow. Helping out with the video services is Bronx bred Nadia Halgren. Big shout to B girl Danielle who looked us up through Bethany..keep the fire lit!! . Big shout to B girl Kat who held the "Take Out" event Sept 9 ( and that barbecue hee hee..) and CONGRATS to the NYC's Breaks Kru who won the competition. Big shout to Ken Swift and B Boy Darbs who judged the event along with Rokafella. Yo, Kenny you funny!! Birthday wishes to your son! Big Welcome back to Ill Will who was out of town and to Mach 3--good to have you back on line...Line em up!! it's show time!!
We hope you all stay up and keep checking in with us.. we appreciate all your support.
Here are some flix of our past shows..photographers include Martha Cooper, Lady K and Big Brother Al.

Thank you once again.

We send you peace and courage!

FC Souljahs.....NYC

Full Circle News: July 2005

2005-07-10T21:16:00.000-07:00

Peace Everyone… Summer is here.. wow!! Winter was busy..and full of touching moments. Just to recap the Spring season.. Shortly after the life altering/life enriching residency/performance at Lexington School for the Deaf in Queens, the company went into full rehearsal mode to re-mount Soular Power’d with some old - new cast and technical members. The morning school shows were a success and so was the evening performance. Big shout to Varushka, Kevin Rivera, Alina Bloomgarden, David Collazo and Amy Mckraney who brought their enthusiasm to the presentation at New Jersey Performing Center. Also a big Congratulations goes out to our cast members B ready, Rival, Thianna, Tiffany and GM DJ Roc Raida who were initiated into the Soular Family. Kwikstep and Rokafella pulled it off as a dynamic duo with a billion hats yet again and hold on to their hopes of traveling with the company to share the energy and vibe of this piece

In April, Full Circle performed “Hip-hop to da Head” at the Tilles Center of Performing Arts on a night threatened by stormy weather. To the company’s relief, the audience was in the house and into the pieces. May brought the company back to Hostos Community College to work with Community Works providing the educational lec/dem program to high schools and middle schools. Many questions about TV and the all time popular one about “does that hurt your head??” And just in case any of you were wondering.. yes at first but then your body builds resistance. Miami’s International Hip-hop Exchange invited Kwistep and Rokafella to share expertise and dialogue about the company’s trajectory. They got to hang out with as well as attend the premiere of Miami Light Project’s very own “Scratch and Burn” directed by Teo Castellanos. Big shout to B girl Candy and B boy Xeno’s beautiful newborn daughter and Beth Boone’s beautiful newborn son. Upon their return, Kwik and Rok jumped right into a performance at the Apollo for the United Way’s Citywide Essay Awards ceremony. Big Shout to Monica Williams for extending the invitation. After some rest in between, Full Circle performed a revised “Hip-hop to da Head” at the Peekskill Paramount Center for the Arts in June for their Hip-hop weekend series and shared the evening with Philly’s own Olive. Full Circle’s performance celebrated the additions of two new excerpts of new material Kwikstep is preparing for a hush hush duet commissioned by DTW and Hip-hop Theater Festival. Once again we had to give another big shout to Jon Yanofsky who invited the company and Will Power (Flow) who was at the theater during FC’s load in.

The very next day Rokafella performed for Kr3T’s-Violet‘s dance company - www.kr3ts@aol.com- for the Puerto Rican Day Parade’s Saturday Festivities in El Barrio. That evening she joined Full Circle to perform at the inauguration of the Hip-hop Theater Festival at New York Theater Workshop. What they thought would be an abbreviated version of “Hip-hop to da Head” still ran over ...oooops! Big shout to Playback, Universes, Danny Hoch, Kamilah Forbes, Clyde Valentin and all who participated in the week of events.

School programs came to a close with year end showcases and cheerful graduations (Big shout to Racine Lancaster!!) and a big thank you to Manuela Arciniegas who reached out and helped in the booking of the school programs! The Door will close and begin again in the Fall and we look forward to the summer hiatus. Kwistep and Rokafella will be at the Illadelph Legends workshop series in August. The Fall as of right now holds many high expectations for the company as they prepare to present the first half of Soular Power’d at Montclair Sate University. We look forward to next year’s ten year anniversary..!

Full Circle News: March 2005

2005-03-20T11:14:00.000-08:00

Peace to da Hip-Hop world,

JANUARY CAME IN STRONG WITH A SHOWCASE AT CITY CENTER WHERE THE WONDER TWINS, B READY, ROCISM, SPEXX, KWIK AND ROK BROUGHT THE HOUSE DOWN WITH THE "SERMON". BIG SHOUT TO PEPATIAN FOR GIVING US SPACE ON THE LINE UP, MARTHA COOPER WHO SHOT PHOTOGRAPHS (AND IS WORKIN ON A BGIRL BOOK DUE OUT IN THE FALL) AND LADY K WHO DID THE GRAF BACKDROP.

WE THEN DID A TEACHERS PERFORMANCE/LEC-DEMO AT NJPAC PRIOR TO OUR MARCH PERFORMANCE TO BREAK DOWN WHAT WE BRING. WE EXPLAINED HOW HIP-HOP IS A POSITIVE EXPRESSION HELPING INNER CITY YOUTH TO FIND ARTISTIC POTENTIAL, THROUGH SELF ESTEEM AND DISCPLINE.

WE SHOT RIGHT FROM THERE TO A SIX WEEK WORKSHOP AT THE LEXINGTON SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF IN QUEENS. B READY WAS IN EFFECT THREE DAYS A WEEK BRINGING THE BBOY-ISM TO THE DANCE STUDENTS IN EXCHANGE THEY TAUGHT HIM SIGN LANGUAGE AND A NEW FOUND LOVE OF LIFE. TIME FLEW AND BEFORE WE KNEW IT, THE WEEK OF THE SHOW WAS UPON US. THE RICKY AND RAPLH LAUREN THEATER WAS BEAUTIFUL. THE ENTIRE STAFF WAS GREAT TO WORK WITH. BIG SHOUT TO ALINA BLOOMGARDEN WHO HELPED CREATE "BREAKIN THRU" AND GOT US CONNECTED TO THE SCHOOL. TEARS FLOWED AFTER EACH PERFORMANCE BECAUSE WE KNEW OUR ITME TOGETHER WAS COMING TO AN END. WE WERE AMAZED HOW MANY OTHER STUDENTS CAME ON STAGE TO SHARE WHAT THEY HAD LEARNED THRU THE WORKSHOPS. HIP-HOP BROUGHT THE BEST OUT OF THEM.
BIG SHOUT TO SUPERINTENDENT GINA CARROLL WHO JUST LIKE US WAS A LTITLE SEKPTICAL AT FIRST BUT FELT THE LOVE ON STAGE..JUST LIKE WE DID.

THE "WE B GIRLS" COMPETITION HAD A GREAT TURN OUT AT THE SOLE LOUNGE IN FEBRUARY AND SIXTEEN BGIRLS ENTERED. THE WINNER WAS NADIA , THE SECOND PLACE WAS BOUNCE AND THE THIRD WAS BONGOROCK. ECKO GAVE APPAREL PRIZES TO THE WINNERS AND HAS BEEN SUPPORTING FULL CIRCLE WITH WARDROBE FOR ITS PERFORMANCES. BIG SHOUT TO SHA WHO HOOKED IT UP!!

**AS SOON AS WE CAUGHT OUT BREATHS WE WERE IN REHEARSAL MODE FOR SOULAR POWER'D AT NJPAC. THE WONDER TWINS WOULD PARTICIPATE FOR THE FIRST TIME AS WOULD B READY AND RIVAL! BABA, ANGEL SPEXX, ROCISM, ILL WILL BRISK, AND TOMOMI JOINED US AGAIN FOR A REVISED VERSION BUT THEY ARE VETERANS- BIG SHOUT TO THEM!! WE HAVE TO WELCOME GM ROC RAIDA TO OUR CAST AS THE CHARACTER DJ WITH TURNTABLE ISSUES.. HE WORKED IT WITH MARTIN-BRISK ON THE BOXING-BIG SHOUT TO THEM FOR THEIR ENSEMBLE WORK!! THE SCHOOL SHOWS WENT WELL AND WE HAD A GREAT TURN OUT FOR THE SATURDAY SHOW. UNFORTUNATELY KWIK AND ROK HAD CAUGHT THE FLU AND HAD TO DEAL … BUT THE JOURNEY WAS A GREAT ONE.. IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THE SUGGESTIONS GIVEN BY BENJI REID COME TO LIFE ON THE STAGE AND THEN TO SEE THE REACTIONS OF THE HEADS WHO HAD ALREADY SEEN THE SHOW LOVE IT EVEN MORE…

BIG SHOUT TO VERONICA AND STAFF AT LA TEA AND TO KATHY EDWARDS AND DAVID SHEINGOLD AT DTW FOR HOOKIN FULL CIRCLE UP WITH SPACE TO WORK. BELIEVE IT…GOOD SPACE IS LIKE GOLD TO A NYC COMPANY. BIG SHOUT TO OUR PEEPS IN THE TRENCHES WITH US -KALIF, DWAYNE, ALI, JANE, TINO, BROOKNAM FREDDY-FUARACAO, ROGER-FLIP CITY AND ANGEL POLANCO.

THE NEXT "GIG" WE ARE HEADED TO IS THE TILLES CENTER IN LONG ISLAND ON APRIL 2ND WHERE WE WILL BE PERFORMING "HIP-HOP TO DA HEAD". THE FIRST HALF OF THIS LONG ISLAND TRIP WAS DONE AT THE SCHRIEBER HIGH SCHOOL IN WHICH A NEW DANCER "CUBA" LINED IT UP WITH US.. WE WELCOME HIM AS HE IS A HITTER WITH U. S. A.- KLOWN- SO HE IS FAM. AFTER THAT THE NEXT "GIG" IS JUNE 10TH AT THE PARAMOUNT THEATER IN PEEKSKILL. STAY TUNED FOR THE HIP-HOP THEATER FESTIVAL'S FIVE YEAR ANNIVERSARY WE WILL POST UP THEIR SCHEDULE SO YOU WON'T MISS A THING. WE RECEIVED THE DVD'S FROM BATTLE OF THEYEAR.. PLEASE G' HEAD AND ORDER YOURS --THEY ARE AVAILABLE IN AMERICAN DVD FORMAT- INFO@BATTLEOFTHEYEAR.DE .. IT IS AN INCREDIBLE MONTAGE OF FOOTAGE OF INTERNATIONAL BREAKERS.

SOON WE WILL HAVE NEW VIDEO SEGMENTS UP AND AUDIO AS WELL.. PLEASE BEAR WITH US AS WE TRY TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THE BEST WEBSITE POSSIBLE.

CLASSES CONTINUE AT BX MUSEUM OF ART UNTIL WEEK OF APRIL 4TH WITH AN INFORMAL SHOWING ON THE 13TH. THE DOOR IS STILL IN EFFECT AND SO IS HIGH BRIDGE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT AND FOR BELIEVEING IN THE ALTERNATIVE REALITY WE ARE ALL ABLE TO CREATE!
CHECK OUT THE FLIX..MORE PHOTOS TO COME AND AN INSTRUCTIONAL SEGMENT IS IN THE WORKS.

CHECK IN WITH US LATER..

HONOR WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

Full Circle News: September 2004

2004-09-25T01:12:00.000-07:00

Peace to da Hip-Hop world,

This summer was such a busy one... first we performed for the Djoniba's fund raiser in June and it felt incredible to get down to the drums for the finale. We had the pleasure to have Lethal J, Mellisoul, the Wonder Twins and Nina-Colibri from Austria join us in our showcase. Then it was straight to rehearsals for the Hip-Hop Theater Festival Kennedy Center show in July. Kwikstep and Rokafella took a week to work at 2050 New World Theater's summer arts social awareness camp at UMASS. Kwik got the students going with text and dance and Rokafella's group provoked tears as they danced to Goapele's "Salvation". July 11th was another fun road trip back to D.C. to get set for the two days of performance. In the early "crack-of-dawning" morning we had a few spots on the morning show on TV in D.C. Props to Kamilah Forbes & Clyde Valentin who have produced the festival and are getting their just due. We shared the night with "Olive" -Philladelphia dance theater company--bit Shout!-- It was crowded with standing room and we were so excited to feel continued love from the D.C. audiences. here is the link if you want to check it when you are done with reading this.

July 12th, 2004
DC Hip Hop Theater Festival: Full Circle Dance Company performs their unique hip hop dance style. DC Hip Hop Theater Festival

July 13th, 2004
DC Hip Hop Theater Festival: Full Circle Dance Company engages audiences in an interactive, behind-the-scenes look at their repertoire and style. DC Hip Hop Theater Festival

There was a lec/demo segment with Q & A on the second night. The feedback and comments were engaging enough for us to know we need to get out there more on a conversational tip. Kwikstep and Rokafella set out to do just that at the Illadelph Legends workshop series at the end of July. The panel discussion was eye opening and full of emotion. There was a feeling of hope when someone asked "well do you think the kids are gonna care about Hip-Hop history?.. and we agreed that "we have to care about it..they will follow us". and that was just ONE moment that stands out..there were so many! The classes were great and so was the after parties. In fact Kwik and Rok got into a 5 vs 2 battle at one of the parties..just to let heads know just cuz we do stage don't mean we can't bring it.. The sessions at Djoniba's were great during the summer even catchin a little concrete wreck here and there.. and we headed to the BBoy summit.. It was our first time out there and as luck would have it this would be the last one. The shows were great and the panels were intense but the saturday in the funk room had to be the hottest and of course how could we not mention the battle Kwik and Rok got into with the a team of many changing faces. yet again the proof is in the get down, over and over again and again. BIG shout to GI Joe and Ken Fury and K meL who had no shame in gettin down like Souljahs -take no prisoners make no friends.... oh and we can't forget Raf who slapped his money on the table too.! Rotterdam was the next stop for Kwik and Rok and the Netherlands is not playing.. they got a Hip-Hop house and a crew that performed at the Athens Olympics..so they know what is up! They also showed us love even to almost brekain night every night..ha. The exchange was incredible emotional and inspiring. Big shout to PAolo, Hakam, Benny, Aroona, Maikel, Lloyd, Stay Fun, B girl Justice, and of course the bad boy--bboy Noah. Big shout to ACT--Arjen and Anne too. oh and to the accupuncturist who brought Rok's lower back pain and Kwik's injuries to an end. The Djoniba's session is no longer being offered due to the traveling Kwik and Rok will be doin this Fall/Winter but there will be other sessions. Rokafella performed at the "Vagina's Vote" at the Apollo, then at El Puente in BKLYN and is featured in a B girl photo spread in the October issue of Dance Spirit magazine. We thank you for all your support and prayers. Please remember to vote! We are looking forward see you at our fund raiser in Spring. Stay tuned.

Full Circle News: Washington D.C. (June)

2004-06-15T14:08:00.000-07:00

Peace y'all,
It is summer 2004 and we are headed to Washington D.C. once again after having two truly
successful performances in the capital. Rehearsals have already begun and this performance
will mark the debut of two MC's within our show. Two MC's -DP One-(Turntable Anhilist)
and Rocism(Supreme Beings) have been workin their love for lyrics simultaneously as their
B-boying and DJing. Also to mark the one year anniversary of the rebirth of Fresh Kids Brooklyn,
the squad is entering two competitions in July. Last year, the original Fresh Kids had
their long awaited re union in Brooklyn and four members of Full Circle were present
to witness the passing down of the presidency to Kwikstep by Fresh Kids Founder -"Bandit".
We also wanted to congratulate our oldest company member and resident MC/Beatboxer, Baba
as he plans to wed the love of his life-Dawn on July 31,2004. A big thank you to all who
have shown their support and their love of the dance by attending the cypha sessions at
Djoniba's on Saturdays.

B girl Rokafella and the Full Circle Soul Sistas will be dancing in solidarity to the movement to help end violence against women.

Full Circle Souljahs is participating in Djoniba's African Dance and Drum Center's Annual Fund Raiser along with all of the Instructors and guests.

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION:

Come out to Sisterfire NYC

When: Saturday, June 19th, 2004
Time: 3-7pm
Where: Riverbank State Park - 679 Riverside Drive at 145th Street.
Directions: Take 1, 9 train to 145th.

Why: A day to raise awareness and unite our communities to end violence
against women of color with FREE food, music, performances, dance, comedy, arts & crafts, poetry, games for all ages.

For more info on workshops on Friday in Brooklyn please log onto http://www.sisterfirenyc.org

Saturday line up of artists include:

Featuring Ya Ya, Rokafella, D'Lo, Queen Godis, Colorado Sisters, DJ Reborn,
Sista II Sista, ACB and many more!

--------------------------------------------

DJONIBA'S DANCE AND DRUM FUNDRAISER-TO BENEFIT DDDC & DDDKIDS SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Featuring children and adults dance with drum performances

INSTRUCTORS AND THEIR INVITED GUEST PERFORM
AFRICAN, BRAZILIAN, CUBAN, CAPOERIA, BELLY DANCE, HIP-HOP, DUNHAM,
JAZZ, INDIAN KATAK, SALSA, HAITIAN, BALLET

When: Saturday June 26, 2004

Time: 2pm & 7pm (*Full Circle will perform at the 7PM show)
Where: Art & Design Theatre 1075 Second Avenue Between 56 & 57th Street
Directions: Take N ,R, 4, 5, AND 6 trains to 59th Street Lexington Avenue Station

Advanced Tickets: Adults: $25.00, AT DOOR: $30.00
Children 11 years and under: $12.00

Order Tickets: Box Office Information 212 477 3474 /INFO 212 477 3464 OR http://www.djoniba.com

Full Circle News: June 2004

2004-06-02T18:06:00.000-07:00

The year has definitely been a busy one for Full Circle.
Four members were hired to do a ten city industrial tour with Hennessy liquors.
The new sessions at Washington Heights have produced a steady attendance of local
talented youth. Our newest addition to the squad, B boy Cik (pronounced sick) has been
covering classes and performing in our most recent gigs. He held weekly informal battles
with the students at High Bridge increasing their understanding of the dance.
Soon a new chapter of Lords Of Finesse will emerge representing once again the Hip-Hop
dance energy home grown in Washington Heights. Djoniba's sessions on saturdays has been
attended by out of towners, international dancers, and the illest NYC bboys. Supreme
Beings, Section 8, and NBK are regulars reppin' hard. It is the only session of its kind
where there are no prizes, there are no judges, and the vibe is blessed by the African
dance and drum energy exchanged in the studio all day.

Some Full Circle members participated in the "Trans Latin" Pepatian's Bronx Artists
spotlight show at the Bronx Museum of Art. It was an honor to be on the same line up
with KR3T's , La Santa Luz company, Olive, and DJ G-Bo.
After much rehearsal Full Circle (which welcomed in the cast B boys Rival and Cik) faced
four shows in two days.. two in the Bronx and two in Washington D.C. The first two were
for Community Works where high schools were invited to Hostos Community College auditorium
to see our "Hip-Hop to da Head" presentation. Then we jumped in our van and drove five
hours stopping along the way to eat and break in parking lots. When we arrived, we had
dinner compliments of Amy Hayer. Thursday morning found the crew in high spirits and we
headed into the federal building- the Library of Congress -turntables and all. The two
shows were fun and received with much excitement. It was the first time a Hip-Hop act
graced the stage at the Library of Congress. We give a big shout to Donna Williams who
kept in touch since Fall 2002 until the very day of our performance.

Thank you for your continued support and keep checkin' in.

Lincoln Center January shows

2004-02-15T09:04:00.000-08:00

Peace to our online hip-hop fam,

So far nothing but good news.. Our first shows of the year at Lincoln Center went well, without any drama..the mixed audience was very enthusiastic. Three of FC dancers made their acting debut and are looking forward to working with the world famous Will Power on more acting techiniques. We had the honor of sharing the stage with Violet Galalgarza of KR3T'S and her 3 year old prodigy B boy Noah-(pudi- rock). Violet was an FC cast member thru the years '97-'99 and was part of the original cast of the first "Soular Power'd" at Hostos College. She continues pursuing her dreams and the efforts to pass down dance techniques with her own non-profit "Keep Rising to the Top" which is celebrating a 15 year anniversary in April.

Full Circle just returned from a weekend in Virginia and D.C. presenting "Hip-Hop to the Head". We were happy to have shared the stage with Shay and Big Brother AL of the Orphan Fam who brought their lyrical prowess and laughs to the vibe. Big thank you shout to Shay and AL who took on the added responsibility of taking the wheel to get us from points a to point b.

We also welcomed DJ GI Joe to the stage who partnered with resident DJ D P One to create incredible rhythmic turntable routines. In D.C. we shared the bill with Sylvana Bahmuti and Quique who jammed with us right before the final bows. Big thank you to Leila Gordon and staff for all the hospitality at Reston College Community Center and to Kevin for driving directions (since I forgot my mapquest at the hotel room); and to Carla Perlo and everyone at Dance Place, especially Amy who prepared a special lunch.

We kicked off our new class/session at Djoniba's on Valentine's day and we had a great turn out. Beginnners got a chance to sample all Hip-Hop styles basics as well as try handstands(against the wall of course) with guidance of bgirl Rokafella. Spectators lined up outside looking thru the window in amazement of the advanced bboys trying out the space. General support from our friends and family was great..some couples passed thru taking a moment out of their valentine's day love schedule to wish us luck or to let us know they will attend a later session. In the end, time flew by and everyone left with a handful of hershey's kisses. Fotos by Brother Al, promotions by Spex, breaks "WARzone".

Sidelines

-Our very own DJ G I Joe was casted in a TARget commercial..selected out of hundreds of NYC and area bboys---we are very proud!!!!

-Two of our previous students-cast members Mega (member 98-'03) and J SKilz (member'01-'03) were recently recruited to Rocksteady Cru which proves once again Full Circle's technique of training turns out some of the best and MOST sought after
B boys and B Girls on the scene.

See you at Class/Session..this upcoming Saturday is moved up to Friday 2/20.

They're Back!

2004-01-23T06:02:00.000-08:00

The inauguration of the return of Full Circle dance class/ cypha session will happen on Valentine's day evening, celebrating the
Ten year anniversary of Kwikstep and Rokafella!

The session will be listed as "The BreakDown" on the school schedule.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Breakin Class/Session

Location: The World famous Djoniba Dance and Drum Center

37 E 18 street Broadway 7th floor

Phone number: 212 477 3464

Time: 8:00pm to 11:00pm

website: www.djoniba.com

$10 for a basic open level hour and half classic Hip-Hop dance styles class simultaneously happening as the cypha session

$ 5 for all breakers participating in the exchange in the cypha/circle.

For detail class session information: contact@fullcirclesoul.com

1st Annual Benefit Event

2003-10-08T19:42:00.000-07:00

Special appearances by La Bruja, Universes, Orphan Fam, and KR3T's.

Hip-hop music, dance and fashion are the star attractions
when Full Circle Productions Inc. hosts its 1st Annual Benefit Event on Thursday, December 11, 2003
at Taller Boricua in the Julia De Burgos Latino Cultural Center. Under the leadership of renowned
b-boy and b-girl, Kwikstep and Rokafella, this nonprofit company has successfully transported pure,
hip-hop culture from the street to the stage through its national/international performances as
well as through numerous educational workshops in schools across the U.S. At this one-night-only
Benefit Event, Full Circle raises the roof with a showcase of blazing-hot urban talent featuring:
dance, multi-media performances, a fashion show as well as a few surprises to keep it popping.
Live music is provided DJ Kutmaster Tee, DJ Slynke, and by DJ DP ONE of the heavy Hitters/ Turntable Anihilist, who wowed audiences
when the company performed at The New Victory Theater and P.S. 122.

The 1st Annual Benefit Event will take place on Thursday, December 11, 2003 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. at
Taller Boricua in the Julia De Burgos Latino Cultural center at 1680 Lexington Avenue (at E. 105th
St.). Tickets cost $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Proceeds from the event will benefit Full
Circle Productions Inc. and its upcoming season of workshops and performances. For those who can't attend
, you can submit donations to the following:

7803 Hudson Avenue

North Bergen, NJ 07047 Suite A2

Please make checks payable to: Full Circle Productions, Inc.

For tickets and
information please call: 718 542 0267-Charles,/917 821 1499-Rok or visit www.fullcirclesoul.com.

Full Circle Productions Inc. is a collective of urban artists who strive to preserve the ideals and values
of the hip-hop culture. Founded in 1992 by Gabriel "Kwikstep" Dionisio and then established and incorporated
by Gabriel "Kwikstep" Dionisio and Anita "Rokafella"
Garcia in 1996, the company continues to astound and influence audiences through its performances, lecture
/demonstrations and residencies. Over the past seven years, Full Circle has performed everywhere
from BAM, The New Victory Theater and P.S. 122 to The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and America's
Millennium (the 2000 New Year's Eve show on CBS). Representing the full circle of hip-hop culture,
the company gives hip-hop artists the opportunity to gain stage experience, maintain their integrity
and pass down these principals to younger generations through workshops in inner city schools.

The event is sponsored by and received support from

BAAD!

BX Museum of Art

Dance Spirit Magazine

El Caribeño Restaurant

KR3T'S

Intuition Entertainment Group

New World Theater.

New Victory Theater

Prohibit NYC

RICKY'S

Shlank Inc.

Siempre Newspaper

Universe City Network

Urban Images Group

Valencia Bakery

Willie Perdomo