Hip Hop
Buddha Stretch - ELITE FORCE/MOP TOP
At just 23 years old Emilio Austin Jr. aka Buddha Stretch choreographed the legendary iconic Music Video REMEMBER THE TIME for Michael Jackson. He became known as the first Choreographer of Hip Hop Dance and coined the term "Hip Hop Dance". Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York and inspired by the Lockers, the Electric Boogaloos and his Father Emilio Austin Sr. he was the first to teach Hip Hop at a main stream dance studio - New York's Broadway Dance Center. He has choreographed four Mariah Carey's world tours including Dream Lover (1993) Fantasy (1996) Butterfly (1998) Rainbow (2000). He was nominated for MTV Music Awards Best Choreography: Will Smith - Getting Jiggy With it, Men in Black and Miami. Stretch continues to teach around the world and has together with fellow hip hop and street dance pioneers has founded the legendary dance crews Elite Force and Mop Top.
CREDITS INCLUDE: Michael Jackson, Whitney Houstan, Diana Ross, Will Smith, Mariah Carey, Boyz II Men, Salt n'Peppa, Rosie Perez, Wyclef Jean, Rah Digga, Doug E. Fresh, Eric B and Rakim, Jermaine Dupree, DaBrat, Boyz Choir of Harlem, Lil Kim, Faith Evans, Coco Lee, Heavy D & The Boyz, In Living Colour, Showtime at the Apollo, Good morning America, Tonight Show with Jay Leno, American Music Awards, Essence Awards, VH1 Fashion Awards, VH1 Diva's Live featuring Aretha Franklin, Soul Train, Soul Train 25th Anniversary (Opening Number)
Popping
Popin Pete - ELECTRIC BOOGALOOS
Popin' Pete's older brother "Boogaloo" Sam Solomon created the popping and boogaloo styles of dance around the years of 1975-1976. The true innovators of the these styles, THE ELECTRIC BOOGALOOS. Popin' Pete is a second generation member of THE ELECTRIC BOOGALOOS, joining the group in 1978. Pete started to learn the poping style from his older brother same who he would always watch dance. Together they appeared on the popular USA television shows The Midnight Special, Kicks and Soul Train. From there Pete travelled around the world teaching and performing, helping spread popping and boogaloo knowledge with other EB members. Appearing in the iconic film BREAKIN', working with Michael and Janet Jackson and choreographing for several major award shows, music videos, artists, tours and appearing in commercials.
CREDITS INLCUDE: Grammy Awards, Billboard Awards, Soul Train Music Awards, So You Think You Can Dance, McDonalds, Pepsi, GAP, 7up, Levi's, Sketchers, Michael Jackson - Beat It, Chris Brown -Yeah x 3 - The Black Eyed Pea's - My Humps, Choreographer Live Shows for Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Gwen Stefani, & Mya
LOCKING
Natasha “Tash” Jean-Bart
Natasha "Tash" Jean-Bart was born in 1971 in Montreal, Canada, and has been dancing professionally for 34 years. A member of the renowned Montreal Canadian breaking crew Flow Rock since 1998, her Love and dedication to learning the street dance styles led her to seek and learn from the creators and pioneers of the street dance culture internationally.
In 2005, Tash was nominated and elected Head Judge of Hip Hop International (HHI) street dance competition, a position she held for six years. That same year she also landed the lead role of "Lady Madonna" in the acclaimed production of The Beatles "LOVE" by Cirque Du Soleil at the MGM Mirage in Las Vegas. Soon after (2006), she was invited by the late Greg Pope, an original member of "The Lockers" dance group and Frank "Sundance" Sams to contribute to the growth of the Elite Locking Camp.
The camp's organization was passed down to her in 2014 as she rebranded it "Las Vegas Locking Camp (LVLC)" In 2011, she co-founded the Wättssoul company with her husband, Ghislain Malardier. They have produced and sponsored multiple events (such as LVLC) in both Canada and the USA. Tash is a connector and has created hundreds of opportunities for artists and companies alike.
In 2018, Tash concluded a 3-month (Europe/Asia) tour of 15 countries as the Locking Judge for the side biggest international Street Dance competition "JUSTE DEBOUT." Today at forty-eight, she continues to travel internationally to teach and pass on the knowledge she has accumulated throughout the years to both old and new generation of dancers. With a dance background stronger than ever, Tash is still studying and training with the pioneers and forever is a student and supporter of the street culture.
Topp Rocks & Popping
Mr. Wiggles - ROCK STEADY CREW / ELECTRIC BOOGALOOS
Mr Wiggles is a South Bronx Puerto Rican raised on HIP HOP since the 70's. Learned his crafts on the harsh streets of New York, Earned his stripes Battle by Battle. Wiggles is known for rocking many aspects of Hip Hop culture.
Wiggles is a proud member of FOUR major forces in HIP HOP and Funk Styles culture "Rock Steady Crew", the "Electric Boogaloos", "Zulu Nation" and TC5 (the cool five) Writing Crew (graffiti crew)
Mr Wiggles started his career as a dancer by battling throughout the streets of New York city, and eventually throughout the world, and eventually took his skills to major stages worldwide.
Europe, South America, Asia, Middle East, Canada, and on the great stages of Broadway. Wiggles has also been credited with two important movies that helped established HIP HOP "Beat Street" and "Wild Style".
Wiggles is still learning his crafts till this day, and will remain a true student of the culture till the day he dies.
Lite Feet
Chrybaby Cozie - LITE FEET NATION
From Harlem, NY, Chrybaby Cozie is one of the founding fathers of the Hip Hop freestyle genre called Lite Feet. Being raised in Harlem in the late 80’s was a source of great influence for Chrybaby, as it was his foundation for dance, music and the source of inspiration to uplift the youth and communities around him today.
Chrybaby has been teaching Lite Feet and Hip Hop, for more than 10 years and is currently teaching at the Exile Dance Studio (EXPG),Perry Dance and Broadway Dance Center in NYC. Chrybaby has been cultivating and keeping the Lite Feet culture alive for ten years being a creator and pioneer of the style with the NYC youth. And through the culture, he has created a Hip Hop dance organization called ‘The Bwreckfast Club’ E.A.T (Earning All Together) in 2005. ‘The Bwreckfast Club’ is a platform for youth, to build upon their passion, talent and be given an opportunity to promote themselves in a positive light. After the creation of ‘The Bwreckfast Club’ Chrybaby created ‘The Lite Feet Nation’; a community connected by individuals who were there from the conception of the dance genre, to the youth who keep it alive today.
His extensive knowledge and connection to Hip Hop and Lite Feet has led him to working with artists such as
-Chris Brown “Kiss Kiss”,Ron Browz “Pop Champagne” ft. Jim Jones and Jules Santana, ASAP Ferg “Dope Walk”,Swag Kidz “5000”, Kiesza “Give It To The Moment”, The Bad Boy Reunion Tour, Halo Awards, The View ABC TV Show,The Apollo Theater (Breakin Convention),Hot 97’s Summer Jam.
Chrybaby’s passion is to empower the youth with knowledge and dance, and continue to spread the culture of Lite Feet and Hip Hop. His dedication and love for the culture has changed his life and inspired many others around him.
“Leveling up is my way of life. Level Up Amongst The Greatest.”
