Partner Event
Partner Event | Breaking It Down: A History of Breakdance (Breaking) in Chicago
Date
Wednesday, January 29, 2025
5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Location
Chicago History Museum
1601 N. Clark St.
Chicago,
IL
60614
United States
Breaking has always been a staple in Chicago’s hip-hop culture. This panel event presented in partnership with Chicago Dance History Project and NEXUS Performing Arts explores Chicago’s history of breaking and why it’s integral to the city’s culture, ascending from the underground scene to the world’s stage during the 2024 summer Olympics in Paris. Daniel “BRAVEMONK” Haywood will moderate panel talks featuring:
- Donnie “Crumbs” Counts
- Eddie “Shellz” Shellman
- Anthony “YNOT” Denaro
- Eric “B-Boy Wicked” Delgado
Topics include: How did Chicago communities influence and enhance breaking? Is breaking a sport or an art form? How did Chicago’s political history impact breaking?
Hear from panelists as they discuss their experience as breakers in the Chicago community as well as breaking’s presence in pop culture and the media. The panel discussion will be followed by an optional dance workshop, led by Donnie “Crumbs” Counts and Anthony “YNOT” Denaro. The optional post-discussion workshop is $15 per person, payable via cash or Zelle at the door.
This event is the first of a three-part series on the history of breaking:
Breaking Barriers: B Girls in Chicago
Thursday, March 6, 5:30–8:30 p.m. (reception, panel discussion, and workshop)
Breaking Ground: Exploring Space for Breaking in Chicago
Tuesday, May 13, 5:30–8:30 PM (reception, panel discussion, and workshop)
Free; RSVP required.
Participants
BRAVEMONK is an artist, B-boy, host/emcee, and educator based in Chicago. As a cultural ambassador and leader in the hip-hop community, he has regularly served as a guest artist throughout the US and internationally. In 2017, he was recipient of the Chicago Dancemakers Forum Lab Artist Award. BRAVEMONK continues developing and creating in technology, entrepreneurship, social impact, wellness & community along with his passions & artistry in martial arts, acting, voice-over, songwriting, and music production.
Donnie “Crumbs” Counts is a multiple time world B-boy champion and member of “Style Elements Crew.” Crumbs has choreographed for artists like Justin Timberlake and Missy Elliot and featured as a choreographer and dancer in motion pictures such as You Got Served and Step Up 2. He is also a main character in Sony PlayStation’s video game B-boy.
Born to two dancers, Eddie Shellman (“Shellz”) was exposed to creativity and the arts from a young age. Alongside his artistic upbringing, he regularly competed in sports and martial arts. Despite his keen interest in breaking and dance in general, it wasn’t until 14 years ago that he began battling in the breaking scene before performing around the world.
With a futurist mindset, YNOT’s work manifests in dance, typography, music, and architecture. He has mainly participated, researched, and competed in Breaking for more than 25 years. Alongside his dance and professorship at Texas Tech University, YNOT both physically and digitally creates two and three-dimensional art pieces that construct a possible future of the hip-hop aesthetic.
A founding member of Chicago’s Phaze II Crosstown Crew (established in 1982) , B-Boy Wicked has traveled the world, competing and teaching. Some of his achievements include 1st place at the BBoy Masters Pro Am in Miami (1998). Having judged major events like Red Bull BC One, Freestyle Session, and UDEF Pro Break Tour events, B-Boy Wicked’s influence transcends the dance floor.