I heart B-boys

So, I'm working on this story on hip hop in Bakersfield (it's kinda dead) for Sunday's Californian and I interviewed a local b-boy Matt Hodges. Red-headed guy. Doesn't look like a breaker at first. But totally, TOTALLY a b-boy through and through.

I have a soft, gushy spot for b-boys. The first guy I ever fell in love with could pop and lock his little behind off (and he could also make his pecs jump, but that's besides the matter.)

I was sixteen and he was breakdancing when breakdancing wasn't cool. I thought it was cool, but then I dressed like a black "Blossom" in 1994. What did I know? I just knew what I liked and I LIKED B-BOYS.

They're like the hip hop ninjas of dance! The Shoalin monks of dance! It's frickin' amazing! I have to resist turning into like a fifteen year old girl around them asking goofy questions like, "Why are you so great?"

Even my ex-husband, Sgt. Kabukimann, could sort of breakdance. He studied the Black Brazilian martial art of capoeira which is ALARMINGLY similar to breakdancing. Sort of like breakdancing that can be used to kill a slave master. Handy during a revolt, you know? The dance was so deadly it was banned in Brazil for years. Wesley Snipes practices it. Maybe I was blinded by the capoeira. Satan's crafty in that way.

Anyhoo, love B-boys. Love, love, love them. Ex-husband, bad.

Of course I'm a 27-year-old reporter. So I have to be serious when I interview them, no matter how much I want to giggle and ask them to stand on their heads and spin because I find it so INCREDIBLY sexy. I went to a hip hop show a few years back where they actually had b-boy battles. My head almost exploded.

So now you know my turn-ons:

* Cartoonist Aaron McGruder
* Actor Johnny Depp
* B-boys

Anyway, here's some snippets from my Q&A with Matt because, hey, he's a breakdancer and it's my blog and I'll blog what I want too!

Danielle Belton: So how long have you been breakdancing?

Matt Hodges: Probably about six and half years. I saw the Rock Steady Crew on the Grind on MTV a long time ago ... I remember the whole thing.

DB: What's it like being a b-boy in Bakersfield?

MH: (Laughs) It's tough becuase there's almost no, there is no scene in bakersfield for b-boys and if there is, it's really miniscule.

DB: I know we've talked in the past about how local dance studios will want you to come out, but you don't feel like people really get the art form?

MH: That's something, I mean, normally you can't go to a dance studio and learn breakdancing. It's not something that's taught. It's a learning process. I wouldn't know where to start with anybody because I just leanred watching like everybody else. You watch people, learn and ask questions. (Breakdancing) is more of an open dance because you're not learning a strict sets of rules. Evenutally you learn what they are, that there are rules. (They're) the foundation of what you do. And then you become more creative in what you do. It's not being a one-dimensional dancer.
And a lot of people involved in b-boying don't even dance. You just start feeling the music and start enjoying yourself. That's why some guys are in a crew because sometimes some of the guys in the crew can't dance. You work on each others strengths.
I've never been able to go to a studio and teach. I've been offered to go and teach. Two weeks ago we went to a stuido. We had about 12 boys, 10-to-13 year old boys. And we danced for them and had a good time. But it's hard to teach in dance.

DB: Why do you think there's no scene in Bakersfield?

MH: I think (there's) a lack of diversity of Bakersfield. Bakersfield is not a diverse town. Go to a large city. In Los Angeles there's thousands of B-boys there. But you come here and I can count all the B-boys on my hand. Everyone's into the popular stuff (in Bakersfield). They're not willing to learn. Over time you learn more about your body and I would definatly say the longer you're in it the better you're going to get. You definitely have to practice all the time. I take a lot of pride in the fact that I practice as much as possible.

DB: Would you ever leave Bakersfield and do something with your dancing or is this just primarily something you do for fun?

MH: I love what I do and if the opportunity ever presented itself I would definitley do it. But no, I'm not actively seeking it. I just love to dance. It's a way to release negative energy and create something positive.
A lot of people don't know that I dance. I go to the gym, practice dancing and get rid of all that negative energy in side of me. Learning something like that is nothing but positive. It's something that would be positive for the youth if they're willing to learn it. But if you don't have the desire, the burn to learn to do it you just won't do it.