BBOY DON

Living the Dream: Langston Hughes once wrote:
"Hold fast to dreams...for if dreams die, Life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly."
My Dreams feed my soul. I'm living a dream when I can express my inner-self through the art of dance. I started practicing the street dance style of popping in 1982, then started breaking in 1983. As a kid, I loved these dances then, but now, I love and appreciate them even more.
I'm a believer. I believe dancing helps me understand myself. It sets my imagination free, and causes me to appreciate God's gift to me. I believe in the act of creative expression through true hip hop culture: b-boyin, graf art, dj'in, MC'in, spoken and written word poetry, and sharing these expressive mediums with others.
My inspirations include KRS1, Zapp/Roger, and RunDMC. Influenced by Old school hip hop (Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five). Mostly listen to Rock/Blues (Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Staind, Audioslave/Chris Cornell, Oasis, Hendrix, SRV, Zeppelin, Elvis Presley, Elvis Costello, STP,Kiss, Beatles, Weezer, MXPX, Doves, Eagles, Indigenous, The Fray, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Counting Crows, Styx, Incubus, and Red Hot Chili Peppers). Touched and inspired by Gospel (Commissioned, Fred Hammond, Winans, John P. Kee, Kirk Franklin), and Jazz (John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner, Diana Krall, Ella, Billie, and Mel Torme).
I believe in the calling of all believers to make their world a better place to live, learn and grow. I am blessed to realize this when I work with others who not only inspire me, but also help transform my very being...
Warlock, Bboy Don, and Lobo- Funny Bones Crew Represente!
Dance is ingrained in me from Latin (salsa) to funk styles, to old school locking. Inspired at a young age by the breakers from New York (Rock Steady Crew, New York City Breakers, Dynamic Rockers, Incredible Breakers). God has blessed me with friends who have the same passions, and a daughter who beautifully graces my life with her laughter, dance, and poetry. Acting, spoken and written word poetry, public speaking and teaching dance workshops also pass the time. I'm moved by music and art with a message to uplift, encourage, and help bring self-thought, expression, and understanding. I'd like to think that despite the darkness in the world, there is hope.
I am blessed to be a member of Funny Bones Poppin Crew / Soul 2 Soul B-boys, Artistic Advisor for Culture Shock LA Dance Company, dancer/choreographer/Instructor for Mosaic-Urban Poets Performing Arts Company, Los Angeles.
Proud to be sponsored by Kleenhouse Clothing providing "Outer Wear 4 Inner Peace!"(My SD Family- Todd) and Southern California's premiere cultural center Homeland Long Beach offering a positive outlet for hip hop artistic freedom (Especially for poppers, lockers and bboys, and graf writers) Shout out to my MC Homies in Kosmic Four (Fearo and Dove Roc) for hookin' that up! It is truly a gift to be connected to such friends, family, and mentors.