Versa-Style’S 20th Anniversary
Hip Hop Dance Festival
Save The Date Flyer!
Day 1: Saturday, May 27th, 2023
Doors Open: 12:00pm | Prelims Start: 1:00pm
Categories: 1vs1 Popping | 1vs1 Hip Hop | 1vs1 House | 2vs2 Open Styles
Battle Sign Up Links:
1vs1 Popping
1vs1 Hip Hop
1vs1 House
2vs2 Open Styles
Judges:
Popping: Megaman, Kid Boogie, Slim Boogie
Hip Hop: Kosi, K’niin, Super Dave
House: Rama, Toyin, Sekou
Open Styles: ALL 9 JUDGES
DJs: Buddha Stretch (Elite Force Crew), Roxswift (Gr818ers), Jiwa (Soulshifters)
Entrance Fee: $25 | Children 5 and Under: Free
Cash Prize per category + Free Gear
Address:
Mihran K. Studios
135 N. Victory Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91502
Day 2: Sunday, May 28th 2023
Doors Open- 4:30pm | Show Starts- 5:00pm
Entrance Fee: $10
Address:
Mihran K. Studios
135 N. Victory Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91502
Bio
Popin Pete is a dancer, choreographer, innovator, one of the originators of the “popping” dance style and member of the Electric Boogaloos. Pete’s career has spanned over thirty years since the emerging of popping dance to developing funk culture as a whole.
As a kid growing up in Fresno, California, a young Popin Pete started down his road as a dancer by watching other dancers in Fresno and Soul Train.
In 1976 Sam created the popping & boogaloo styles. He developed a set of basic movements and founded The Electronic Boogaloo Lookers, his first group out of Fresno, California.
Popin Pete being inspired by his brother “Boogaloo” Sam Solomon, would always watch Sam dance and learn from him. Later after moving to Long Beach California and joining the group Electric Boogaloos in 1978, Pete started to learn the popping style from his older brother Boogaloo Sam. “I had to learn how to pop first because boogaloo was too difficult for me”, confesses Pete. Pete and the other members of The Electric Boogaloos appeared on many popular television shows including: The Midnight Special, Kicks and Soul Train just to name a few.
Pete is no stranger to the stage and is far from being a stranger when it comes to inspiration. Pete writes & choreographs shows as well and loves to educate and entertain the onlooker. Whether it be on stage during a performance or being “schooled” by him in a battle, there is one thing you can count on and that’s Pete entertaining while he educates you, because like Krs-One, Popin’ Pete has a PHD in “Edutainment.” Currently Popin’ Pete is blazing stages on a domestic and international level.
Currently Popin’ Pete is blazing stages on a domestic and international level. Working alongside some of this generation’s brightest and most talented music artists. Artists such as: Justin Timberlake, Gwen Stefani, Mya, The Black Eyed Peas and Janet Jackson just to name a few.
As a Brooklyn native, Caleaf Sellers (aka Big Leaf) began developing his craft at an early age. His passion for dance and love for music has kept him in the business for fifteen years. Caleaf is one of the original pioneers to come out of New York’s dance movement in the late 80’s. He is a member of the famed Moptop Unit and Dance Fusion. Caleaf mixes Hip-Hop and House to create his own unique dance style.
As an emcee/producer, Caleaf has created music for the Break of Dawn Label with the Ten Thieves, Moptop in Japan and on Harlem Recordings with DJ Kango.
Caleaf tours the world teaching the art of House dancing. His goal is to share the culture of the dance through performances and by teaching movement foundation, technique and history from an originator point of view. He is committed to keeping the culture alive for future generations of dancers.
Henry grew up in the project of Brooklyn. The first time his eyes landed on the art form happened he watched his second oldest sister as she got down to the beat. Shortly after Locking, Popping, Freestyle, Breaking appeared, Henry became fascinated by these styles of dance. He became determined to master these techniques of dancing by practicing relentlessly regardless of any mistake that may have challenged him.. In no time his natural ability to dance start to show. With a bit of confidence he entered many local talent shows and won most of them.
At the age of 18, after Graduating from Canarsie High School, an opportunity knocked on his door when he met Rosie Perez. After meeting Miss Perez, his career in dance & choreography started to take flight. His dedication finally started paying off when his style of dance landed him in the music video of.. Michael Jackson and Mariah Carey. Today as a founding member of Elite Force Crew.. Henry has become one of the world most Charismatic figure in the art of freestyle dancing and naturally, one of Brooklyn finest!
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Buddha Stretch was influenced by his dad Emilio Austin, Sr. His Dad danced as a youth and provided Stretch with discipline, inspiration, support and motivation, and remained by his side to guide him throughout his career. This foundation carries Stretch, a father himself, throughout his personal and professional career today. Stretch heavily impacted the dance world by bridging the gap between what was termed, Ol’ Skool and New Skool. His dance style, known as Freestyle Hip-Hop, draws from all aspects of Hip-Hop culture, music and dance. These moves during the early days of music videos helped to launch the popularity of dance in this medium, as well as live shows.
His first video was with Eric B & Rakim, Eric B for President. He met the members of his first dance crew, Mop Top, at a music video audition each one had booked for Diana Ross, Working Overtime. They began to hang out at New York’s night spot, The Tunnel, and later formed their crew. Stretch later formed a crew called Elite Force who appeared in documentaries, music videos, live shows and in countless projects overseas. His first choreography job was for Joeski Love (Pee Wee Dance) and went on to work with the likes of Rosie Perez, Will Smith in the Men In Black and Miami videos; Michael Jackson’s Remember The Time video (his most memorable experience) and more. He was nominated for two MTV Awards for ‘Best Choreography’ for the Will Smith videos Men In Black, Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It, and Miami. Recent credits include choreography for Virgin recording artist Thalia (on Good Morning America), Aida, Tony Award Winner, Heather Headley, Hot ’97 Air Personality, Angie Martinez, and rapper Rah Diggah.
Stretch is no stranger to music. An MC and writer himself, he recorded an underground hit called It Don’t Matter by Ten Thieves and continues to make music today. His versatility is also displayed by his participation as a dancer and contributing choreographer for the Dance Theater crew Full Circle, and Co-Artistic Director of the Dance Theatre Company MiddleGround. His trend setting style keeps him in demand as a choreographer, dancer, teacher and performer. His passion for dance is exhibited every time you experience his work.
Stretch believes “music is the universal language; dance is its interpreter.”
Jiwa (Indonesian): Soul, Life, Spirit
Jiwa is a House Music dj and a long time dancer in the house community. He is originally from Los Angeles and now based in the Bay Area CA where he is a regular at Open House and performs in the East bay as a House DJ.
Angelo “Jiwa” started his musical journey early in life as a dancer and performer from the time he was 12 years old performing with his mothers hawaiian dance troupe. Later he was part of the early 90’s social dance scene of new jack and breakdance. Music has aways been an inspiration to him and the guiding influence that has helped shape who he is today. Hip Hop, Latin Freestyle and House was a staple of the music he would listen to growing up.
In the early 90’s house music was introduced to him on mix tapes from an older cousin that found their way to his ears. They were recorded from the early late night radio stations programs like Power 106 (Power Tools) and many others. The music was a mix of Hard house, Latin House and Techno. He knew right away that this was the music that he was drawn to and could be inspired by.
In the late 90’s, House music became an important part of his dance growth as he started to experiment with movement to the genre and breaking boundaries as he incorporated house movement (Freestyle) into his bboying. His world renowned dance crew “Sourpatch” was the embodiment of the fusion in music they all listened to. Everything from Hip Hop, Drum and Bass, to Downtempo and minimal House.
In 2010 Jiwa decided he was going to start to push his creative boundaries and step into the world of DJ’ing. After years of gong to House Music clubs as a dancer, he was finding himself unmotivated by the music that was being played. He figured out that the only way he could push himself creatively in dance was to start digging and learning how to play the music that motivated him to dance.
Jiwa’s style can be described as Deep with Deep House, Deep Tech, Deep Minimal and Techno. All with the underlying groove that is reminiscent of the time he was growing up in the early and late 90’s electronic music scene. From the big garage sounds to the influences of bands like Depeche Mode, Oingo Boingo, The Cure and Prince.
Bio
Day 1: Friday, May 13th 2022
5:00pm- House w/ Caleaf | 6:00pm- Krump w/ Beast | 7:00pm- Popping w/ Popin’ Pete | 8:00pm- Hip Hop w/ Link
$20 per class | $60 for all 4 classes
Address: Stomping Ground L.A.- 5453 Alhambra Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90032
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Cody “Coflo” Ferreira began to study American club dance at the age of 13; where almost immediately his love for the music and the arts became something personal and necessary in his day to day life. Born and raised from Hawaiian and Portuguese folk musicians, Coflo was immersed in music as far back as he can remember. Through the years Coflo has travelled the world learning, teaching and performing dance. He has won many international tournaments of “House Dance” and is known for his connections to the artistry collective “The Soulshifters” as well as the legendary dance crew “Circle of Fire”.
As his time in the study and practice of American “club dance” has continued to mature his love and dedication for music has also matured. Coflo began studying music theory and the arts of “house music” production. Now some 8 years later Coflo has had remix releases on deep, soulful and afro house record labels: Soso Deep, Ocha Records and King Street.
As Coflo continues to develop his artistic lens on “house music” he enjoys trying his hand at various sounds and music traditions. In late 2014 he was blessed to be a part of a brilliant “more traditional” Capoeira music project titled “Berimbau Chorou” by Contramestre Recruta. Coflo’s involvement ranged as a singer, musician, audio engineer and associate producer of the project. During this time Coflo also founded the Soulshifters’ collective music label of Catch The Ghost records; where he was to release some of his own original music as well as numerous remix projects such as: Gazin’, Dance Floor Warriors and Soulfado.
Fast forward to today and Coflo continues to manage Catch The Ghost Records and looks to release some more of his original music on other labels in the “house music” community. All of this without loosing a step in his dance or Capoeira studies and training.
