Says b’boying champion RoxRite who has got 87 tournaments under his belt and is eyeing a century. Ananya Ghosh catches up with the breakdancing star as he comes to city to teach a few moves to the local talents
RoxRite
One of the most well known names in the world of B-Boying, RoxRite has been breaking since the age of 12. Today at 33, this breakdancing veteran has 87 titles under his belt and is part of the Red Bull BC One All Stars.
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Excerpts from the interview:
Q. What exactly is b-boying?
A. Breaking is the original hip hop dance, it is one of the first to go around the world and inspire people to be a part of the hip hop movement. Breaking has many styles, power, footwork, dynamics, flexible and top rocks. These are just some of the most common styles people practice.
Q. How did Omar O Delgado Macias become RoxRite?
A. In hip hop, especially at the time I started it was a must that you should have an alias. In the 90’s having a cool name meant something, it also had to be given to you by your peers. My name was given to me by my mentor Ground Level. RoxRite is a hip hop term that many MCs (mic controller) used to describe that they rocked the mic right.
Q. What made you take up b-boying?
A. I came across it at school when I was 12 and thought it was the ‘coolest’ thing I had seen. I didn’t make a conscious decision that I was going to be b-boy. I just started doing it because I liked everything about it and everything that it represents.
Q. What impact did b-boying have on your growing up years?
A. Once I started breaking, it just became a part of my life. I adopted hip hop culture as my lifestyle. It gave me a positive outlet and became a form of education for me.
Q. Do you have professional training?
A. When I started there was no such thing as professional training—there were no dance studios, workshops, seminars or camps back then. We were all self-taught or learnt from watching others.
Q. How would you explain your personal style?
A. I have what you would consider a Bay Area style. My strongest points would be freezes transitions and developing my own tricks. My style is based on the traditional format of breaking — top rocking, footwork, moves, power moves and freezes. I try to make the moves as intricate as possible. Also, I flip old traditional moves and turn them into something new and different.
Q. How is it being a member of the Red Bull BC One All-Stars?
A. Every year seems to get better and better for me. I live my dream and it’s a blessing. I have judged numerous events around the world and have been teaching as well. I am always on the road. Many things have changed, except for my dance —I still feel as driven to improve and come up with new stuff as the time I started off.
Q. Has judging shows taught you anything?
A. When you judge you get to see the mistakes that are made in moments of need. This helps me for when I battle. I am more aware of strategy than just going out and doing whatever.
Q. What is your suggestion to those interested in taking this up as a professionally?
A. First point of advice is don’t do this just for the money. You have to really be passionate about breaking and the hip hop culture. It is not made for everyone. If you decide to take the leap, then learn more about it, be a fan, a student and educate yourself in and outside the dance form.
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