Hot as a jalapeño, Mexican-born Roxrite is one of the best breakdancers in the world and one of the stars of the documentary film Turn It Loose. We get him on the record...
How exactly were you approached by Alastair Siddons, the director of Turn It Loose?
It all started at the Red Bull BC One in 2007, in South Africa. We met there and talked about his project in quite a lot of detail. He already had a pretty clear idea of what he wanted to show and I was interested in his desire to show what the real life of a B-Boy was like. What appealed to me is that he doesn’t take the point of view of a reporter who is doing an article about such and such a competition, but instead he follows the discipline from day to day. The core of the subject is exactly that, training, and life day after day.
Did you like being followed around by the cameras?
Let’s say that it doesn’t bother me. It was even pretty funny because Alastair was totally serious. At the start I was a little nervous because there were all these guys who were constantly filming me, I was kitted out with a mic permanently, everything I said was being recorded. It was a little intimidating, but I soon got into it, because I wanted people to see all that and understand that we don’t turn up at a competition without thinking of anything, just with our hands in our pockets. It requires psychological and physical preparation.
For how long have you been competing?
I have been dancing since I was 14 years old and I always had it in mind to do this. I have been doing competitions since the beginning because, for me, it is the heart of this discipline. It is a bit like the dance of a warrior: you have to take part in competitions and win. Since 1998, I have been fully focussed on just that.
Why do you dance?
Good question! Because I can’t help myself. It is what I do. I spent my time learning, and working. It is what I have always done and I’ll probably never stop. I have the same passion today as when I started, 15 years ago. It is something that keeps me alive, I need it.
You often give workshops for young dancers. How do you approach teaching?
I think it's important to pass on what we have learned to the next generation, because dancing will never stop. In general, I don’t explain moves in particular; I prefer to focus on the approach, the concentration, because that is the basis. That is what allows dancers to stay connected with themselves, and their own movements. And that is the goal: I don’t want them to dance like me; I want them to dance like themselves!
Do you see young dancers developing over time?
Yes, and that is where the challenge lies in breaking. Each year there is a guy who is really good who comes through; it is a constant development process. That is also what sends us crazy, and makes us continue and pushes us to do better. If you watch the first dance battles, which took place in the 80s in New York, you will see that the ideas, styles and moves have totally developed, it is a constant renewal.
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