Birthday I think that it was the first film that showed hip-hop had a multicultural face to it. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. What happened is it started out with the moonwalk, with my sliding and. Notify me of follow-up comments? (Its sequel, Breakin 2: Electric Boogaloo, will also celebrate its 35th birthday this year: the two movies were released only seven months apart.). A message posted earlier on Quiones website said he had been in development on a film based on his memoirs, The Godfather of Street Dance: The Dance Forefather of Hip Hop, which will detail and his life and reveal the true origin of street-dance.. Were you getting approached by fans everywhere? Hip-hop dancing pioneer Adolfo Shabba-Doo Quiones once had a message for dance aficionados who felt that break-dancing was merely a trend, one less legitimate as an art form than classical dance. One of the stars of that movie and of the breakdancing movement was Michael Boogaloo Shrimp Chambers who played Turbo in the films. Tom Sizemore, Saving Private Ryan actor, dies after brain aneurysm, Daisy Jones & the Six becomes the first fictional band to hit No. TV show on CBS. No cause of death has been announced. Chambers was kind enough to answer a few of our questions about his life, work, and involvement in the Breakin movies. Nov 18, 2022 Enjoy! I admire the writers and Golan/Globus team because they allowed me to improv most of every scene with my dialog, and there were many rewrites to make it work. He saw the feedback that we got from his tour, continues Chambers. (Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images) I was just a kid, said Chambers. thanks for this really nice piece of content. We met and had chemistry, and he was really sincere about getting the project launched. Michael Chambers is known for his breakdancing moves, which shot him into the limelight via the movie "Breakin." So many of your friends, colleagues, and admirers jump into the documentary to talk about your legacy. Michaels father worked for Van de Kamps seafood and Chicken of the Sea, and he used to call Michael, his youngest, Shrimp, which also ties right into the whole seaport thing too Michael is Afro-Creole American because the Boogaloo part of his name originally comes from the New Orleans area, but it also became one of the buzzwords used in a new type of dancing, pop-locking (from popping and locking), originally practiced by a guy named Boogaloo Sam (Sam Solomon), who founded a 70s dancing group, The Electric Boogaloos, who were named for Do The Boogaloo by James Brown, which was a type of dance that Brown popularized. At 52, he is looking unrecognizable and still dancing. Michael had recently had surgery on his knee and foot, so he was limited in what he could do that night, but through sheer will power, he was able to work through the pain to make this happen. They had never seen anybody dance like us, that was historical. He started getting real smooth in his lines and his grinding and it was immaculate.. Here on the West Coast we popped, locked, and boogaloo, robotic styles. So my Jewish agent Vaughn Hart suggested it would be a good career move to go the audition and the rest is history. I want to wear clothes like that. He was just so cool, and he had swagger then before people knew it was swagger, you know, and so it had an influence on me as an artist, later on as a professional dancer., He added, If youve ever taken note of my career, you would see that I wore a lot of suits and things, and I tend to dress up. On the West Coast it seemed every city had its group of dancers so, yes, it was an amazing time to get recognition for your dance skills and meet and work out with other dancers to improve and master your unique, personal style. Al B. The story is told in greater detail in The Boogaloo Shrimp Documentary, a new film about Chambers life and career that was directed by Taylor Golonka. It was not a beef, it was a misunderstanding. So he had a variety of styles in his dancea little Fred Astaire, and a lot of pop locking. And we always knew that. After he was featured in a street dance segment on Hollywood Boulevard, Chambers' moves caught Michael Jackson's attention, who then invited Chambers to his choreography session to learn some moves from him. !, He noted that he often passed for younger than his age on screen. I was not raised to be racially biased, so it was a job opportunity and it was not like many people were employing street dancers in lead roles. Chambers added that he hopes some sort of special tribute will be offered to Quiones as part of the Olympics introductory breakdancing competition in four years. I cant imagine two Israeli producers, Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus, felt like the obvious people to bring street culture to the silver screen. It took only 21 days to make Breakin at a budget of $900,000, he said. And Breakin showed that, with that white girl in it. Michael "Boogaloo Shrimp" Chambers (born November 13, 1967) is an American dancer and actor known for his role as "Turbo" in the 1984 film Breakin' and the sequel Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo. Chambers, along with Adolfo Gutierrez Quiones, better known as Ozone in the Breakin films, were a part of history and are still making history today. RIP, wrote DJ the Blessed Madonna (not to be confused with Madonna, with whom Quiones worked). Soul Train was that sort of fertile soil for us. 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He was familiar with the dance steps . Lala Milan stars on Lena Waithe's BET smash "Boomerang", has a renowned and controversial podcast, "The Salon With Lala Milan", and is often chosen to host awards shows, including Billboard Music Awards nominations in 2021. The only thing I could do that was special was dancing, he said. So when we were not dancing we were just oh theyre just extras or theyre just somebody, but every time we danced and every time there was a dance scene it was like silence and awe on that set. Id get there at 7 in the morning and not leave till almost 10 at night., Besides working for Richie, his choreography credits included Madonnas 1987 Whos That Girl? tour and TV work on MTVs Blowin Up. He made television appearances as a dancer as far back as 1976, on Whats Happening! The two were summoned to the Jackson compound, where they met the family and started working with Michael on the moves. I used to look at him and think, God, you know, I want to be like him. Titles . Its a sad day for the dance world, said Michael Boogaloo Shrimp Chambers, who co-starred in both Breakin' movies, and believes that the Olympics introducing breakdancing as a competitive sport for 2024 would not have happened without Quiones having helped popularize the artform more than 35 years ago. For him, since none of the actors on set were big names in the industry at the time, he felt it was a student film, and this gave him the confidence to give his best when it came to his dancing scenes. Al B. Sure First Interview Since Waking Up from Coma, about Denzel Washington: The One Decision That Changed His Life Forever, 10 Signs Youre Living With Clogged Arteries, Tracee Ellis Ross at 50: Loving Her Body With No Filter, Taraji P. Hensons Workout: It Keeps Me Calm & Happy, Football Legend & Coach Deion Sanders Has Toes Amputated, BlackDoctor.org Advertising and Sponsorship Policy, Da Brat is Pregnant! In a 1984 interview with the Sarasota Sun-Herald, he recalled moving to California with his mother when he was 16, and how he would hitchhike from their home in Anaheim to Hollywood for 14-hour filming sessions of Soul Train in 1971-72. BDO is the worlds largest and most comprehensive online health resource specifically targeted to African Americans. Every time we danced, it was like silence and awe on that set.". He felt that from myself as well as the dance community, he never got the due respect he was entitled to as the first professional street dancer being on TV. He currently is a staff writer covering television for the Calendar section, and has also written extensively about trends and cultural issues in the entertainment field. Even now, he is still dancing at 52. Chambers got his stage name Boogaloo Shrimp from his father, an ex-Air Force military man who had settled down to raise a family in Wilmington, a seaport city with a mixed community of Polynesians, Mexicans and African Americans. I was really a full-fledged man of 30 years old playing an 18-year-old. The documentary focuses on Chambers's life and dance style and his time as Turbo on "Breakin.". Chambers added that: "They had never seen anybody dance like us, that was historical. I mean, the guy was the epitome of cool, you know? He felt smighted that in literature and media, nobody mentioned his name. Because of this longstanding beef people thought we had, theyve always taken our situation and stirred the pot, he said. August 3, . Sabrina Garcia as Lucia: Unfortunatley, I couldn't find any more information about her. Chorographer/singer Toni Basil, who co-founded the Original Lockers, expressed extreme sadness about Quiones death on social media, while several other celebrities also paid tribute. I was humbled and very thankful, since most people would sum up my career by the two Breakin films. Copyright2023, BlackDoctor, Inc.All rights reserved. ARTS held at Barker Hangar on April 21, 2010 in Santa. A lifelong Los Angeles resident, Greg Braxton has written for the Los Angeles Times for more than three decades. So sad to see so many of our foundational dancers passing this year.. Murdoch has survived scandal after scandal. In this difficult time we are requesting privacy., Toni Basil (@Toni_Basil) December 30, 2020, Sheila E. recalled touring with Richie in her tweet calling Shabba Doo my brother., I just heard Ive lost another friend Shabba do. Michael 'Boogaloo Shrimp' Chambers is a world-renown dancer, choreographer, educator and entertainer. in the middle of all these Black people (and) Spanish people and they totally identified with that. Sheila E called him A great Hiphop dancer. I Thought It Wasnt in the Cards for Me, Comedian Lala Milan Is A Health And Wellness Guru In The Making, Shemar Moore Welcomes Baby Girl at 52: Already the Love of My Life!. Michael Chambers, also known as Boogaloo Shrimp, played the role of "Turbo" in the movie "Breakin" and his dance moves have forever been etched into the heart of every breakdancer from that era. Michael Chambers (lef) and Adolfo Quinones in the 1984 film "Breakin." We on the West Coast were very aware NYC had great bboy dancers. When you were making, Not at all. It was not a beef, it was a misunderstanding. He told me he got hired because was dancing in a club and Madonna saw him doing Waacking and Punking, so she came up with Vogue, which was full of abstract lines and that whole theatrical dance thing. And we both were in dark places and going through problems., But, he says, they bonded over both becoming Bible students as Jehovahs Witnesses. Breakboarding also has a new ambassador, who is none other than Michael "Boogaloo Shrimp" Chambers, the American dancer and actor famous for his role as "Turbo" in the iconic movies, "Breakin'" (1984) and "Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo". 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We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. In recent times, Chambers's looks have changed, but his dedication to dance has not waned as he is still teaching dance and helping to mold the next generation of dancers. And its a dance Americans should be proud of.. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! By what name was Boogaloo Shrimp Documentary (2019) officially released in Canada in English? I think it was broken because he was trying to get a new generation of dancers to understand the lineage that went back to Soul Train in trying to get the freestyle reputation up to the reputation of jazz and tap. BDO understands that the uniqueness of Black culture - our heritage and our traditions - plays a role in our health. And Breakin showed that, with that white girl in it. Official Website. He was 65. A message posted earlier on Quiones website said he had been in development on a film based on his memoirs, The Godfather of Street Dance: The Dance Forefather of Hip Hop, which will detail and his life and reveal the true origin of street-dance., Michael Chambers (lef) and Adolfo Quinones in the 1984 film "Breakin. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. Although he was only 16 when Breakin was shot, Chambers had already been dancing on a professional level, appearing in music videos for Lionel Richies All Night Long and Chaka Khans I Feel for You. Though impressive, perhaps his biggest contribution to pop culture up to this point had happened behind the scenes: working with Michael Jackson ahead of his famous Motown 25 performance, teaching him b-boy moves and helping him master the moonwalk. The feeling of being on the set and not having really known actors it was like okay this is like a student film and this is the guy and thats the guy and everybody was just kinda carefree until the dance scenes happened. In a 2008 interview, when he was 53, the dancer said, Thats a number that kind of surprises people because when they think about the Breakin movies, they thought of me as a kid dancing. When he came into her life, Madonna had no idea what the next dance craze was, said Chambers. Thats how he got so good; he would put in the research and study it and then master it. Michael "Boogaloo Shrimp" Chambers: Breakin' Into A New Generation . We jumped in at the end, and a lifelong dream was fulfilled. Chambers was born in Long Beach Island, California, and got the "Shrimp" part fo his stage name from his father, an ex-Air Force military man who had raised his family in Wilmington. Matter of fact, people didnt treat me like I was a star. The best thing that happened at that time to hip hop was a fusion of East Coast interpretation and West Coast. It was fun, and I felt like still a normal guy and came back to the areas I grew up: Southbay of Los Angeles and East Los Angeles disco, funk party areas. -He's still dancing and spent his years making a living doing choreography, teaching private lessons and doing trade shows in Europe and Japan. He told me he got hired because was dancing in a club and Madonna saw him doing Waacking and Punking, so she came up with Vogue, which was full of abstract lines and that whole theatrical dance thing. You were still so young when you starred in, Were you skeptical at all when you were first starting out on, had already come out, which focused on New York b-boys. RIP, wrote DJ the Blessed Madonna (not to be confused with Madonna, with whom Quiones worked). The life story of Michael Chambers aka "Boogaloo Shrimp: the dancer, actor, singer, comedian and master of waving, ticking, backsliding and liquid animation dance during the 1980's breakdanc Read allThe life story of Michael Chambers aka "Boogaloo Shrimp: the dancer, actor, singer, comedian and master of waving, ticking, backsliding and liquid animation dance during the 1980's breakdancing phenomenon.The life story of Michael Chambers aka "Boogaloo Shrimp: the dancer, actor, singer, comedian and master of waving, ticking, backsliding and liquid animation dance during the 1980's breakdancing phenomenon. Please enter the word you see in the image below: Check out Michael Chambers official website for merchandise. Poppin Taco became Jacksons choreographer for nearly 18 years after that. Gosh, Rest In Peace my brother. I was very pleased because this mystery of who was teaching Mr. Jackson now started to unfold, since I was listed as the choreographer. With new ambassador Michael "Boogaloo Shrimp" Chambers, Breakboard Aquatic is aiming to make it to the Olympics as a water sport. He had his peace with God, said Chambers. It was magical. They couldnt keep me out of there, he said. Can't find a movie or TV show? Los Angeles, Calmes: Heres what we should do about Marjorie Taylor Greene, 36 songs, no apologies: Morgan Wallen delivers more (much more) of what made him countrys king, Joy Behar kicks off Joys Banned Book Club with gay-penguin tale And Tango Makes Three, Paramount to pay $122.5 million to settle lawsuit over CBS deal, Jussie Smollett finally appeals his conviction stemming from 2019 hate-crime hoax, The Scream 6 publicity stunts hit closer to home, prompting 911 calls in Sonoma. Michael Chambers in Boogaloo Shrimp Documentary (2019) People Michael Chambers. So I told my agent at the time, Julie McDonald, who was Paula Abduls agent as well, I wanted to go up for special effects parts since I was influenced by Ray Harryhausens stop motion characters to help create certain dances, and my style of liquid animation dance. Although Poppin Taco went on to become Michael Jackson's choreographer for 18 years, Chambers often met up with the crew and shared dancing styles and techniques, which helped Michael Jackson perfect some of his notable moves like the moonwalk. Id get there at 7 in the morning and not leave till almost 10 at night., Besides working for Richie, his choreography credits included Madonnas 1987 Whos That Girl? tour and TV work on MTVs Blowin Up. He made television appearances as a dancer as far back as 1976, on Whats Happening! He was 65. In 1994, he confessed in Variety to visiting clubs in Orange County to check out the latest dances. It did come from Black people, and Africans, and Puerto Ricans and all that too. In the 1984 film, young ballet dancer Kelly (Lucinda Dickey) joins forces with street dancers Ozone (Quiones) and Turbo (Michael Boogaloo Shrimp Chambers) to form a dance troupe. Will Dominion-Fox News lawsuit be different? At the height of breakdancing was a slew of break-dancing movies, most notably Breakin and Breakin 2: Electric Boogaloo. Though Chambers never received credit for this early contribution to Jacksons signature style, the pop star eventually payed him back by requesting he work as choreographer for the The Simpsons Do the Bartman music video. I realized I had a job and I had to listen to my studio teacher and all these adults. Asides that, he also helped bring the "Urkelbot" to life in the series "Family Matters. They featured us on the show, and that got Michael Jacksons attention and made me stand out., A talent coordinator invited me and fellow dancer, Bruno Poppin Taco Falcon, to the Jackson compound, and we met the family and we basically showed them our styles of dancing. But in reality, you were at ground zero for West Coast hip hop culture. Congratulations are in order for the platinum-selling rapper Da Brat and her wife Jesseca "Judy" Harris-Dupart. Chambers added that he hopes some sort of special tribute will be offered to Quiones as part of the Olympics introductory breakdancing competition in four years. Copyright2023, BlackDoctor, Inc.All rights reserved. 2020 Singles & EPs Picture Us Rollin - Single 2020 Appears On BDO gives you access to innovative new approaches to the health information you need in everyday language so you can break through the disparities, gain control and live your life to its fullest. How did it feel listening to them talk about your achievements? | Source: Getty Images. When I went out, I saw whites and blacks and Hispanics and I saw Asians and whatever all working together and doing it together. So sad to see so many of our foundational dancers passing this year.. If it didnt work I think this culture would have been in trouble We had Beat Street (and) everybody was throwing their hat in the ring, but it was Breakin (that was) the one that really worked. The couple are expecting a baby, according to PEOPLE.com in this week's issue. I was really a full-fledged man of 30 years old playing an 18-year-old. Im feeling all better, just a wee bit sluggish from my cold, but the good news is Im Covid 19 negative! He was 65. His dance style, which he tagged "liquid animation," soon caught the eye of other dancers, and he got the opportunity to work with notable acts in the music industry such as Madonna, Three 6 Mafia, and Michael Jackson. Adolfo 'Shabba-Doo' Quiones, whose moves changed the face of dance, dies at 65. We were able to like, work it all out on the show coming down the Soul Train line., Soul Train host and creator Don Cornelius had a major influence on young Quiones. Join Facebook to connect with Michael Boogaloo Shrimp Chambers and others you may know. GREATEST,BEST DANCER EVER BOOGALOO SHRIMP,AKA MICHAEL CHAMBERS,AKA TURBO.IS A BREAKDANCE LEGEND AND THE KING OF THE DUB STEP.STAR OF THE THE MOVIE BREAKIN' A. I remember my schooldays friends and I went to our favorite hangout, Del Amo Fashion Center, in Torrance, CA, and the film was playing and the security had me wait until the theater lobby was cleared to leave. The director, Rich Correll, and the producers of the Family Matters TV show were very happy with the ratings, so they called me back for a second episode. I ultimately helped Michael with his technique. MICHAEL CHAMBERS Chambers was born in Long Beach Island, California, and got the "Shrimp" part fo his stage name from his father, an ex-Air Force military man who had raised his family in Wilmington. Its a sad day for the dance world, said Michael Boogaloo Shrimp Chambers, who co-starred in both Breakin movies, and believes that the Olympics introducing breakdancing as a competitive sport for 2024 would not have happened without Quiones having helped popularize the artform more than 35 years ago. Read Next: Rolling Loud Goes All In on Travis Scott Amid Global Expansion, . I didnt know if he was going to use the stuff, but talk about a highlight of my careerits documented, and you will see Michael Jackson at Dodger Stadiumdoing a new version of Billie Jean thats totally different from Motown 25. Both served as choreographers for a number of different artists including Lionel Richie, Madonna, Luther Vandross and Three Six Mafia. Like my father I would have found a regular 9 to 5 and joined a production team with an upbeat company, and been a better father when given the chance. Click here to login or here to sign up. The air that night (May 2018) was electric. The documentary makes it clear it wasnt just your dance moves that made you a star, but a lot of smart, forward thinking. You know, being a young Black kid, you know, you want to be like that. Michael Boogaloo Shrimp Chambers is on Facebook. Quiones publicist Biff Warren told the Hollywood Reporter that the artist had undergone a COVID-19 test that had come out negative but the next day hes dead. But at the end of the day hes my spiritual brother. It wasnt really something that everybody did. A great Hiphop dancer. Chambers and his friends entered dance contests, and the first time he says that he made any money was when his older brother took him to perform at the Redondo Beach Pier, with just a boom box and a bucket, and when they were done dancing, the bucket would be full of bills to split between themselves, a few hundred dollars a week. Chambers, aka "Boogaloo Shrimp" in the "Breakin'" films, told Variety that he and Quiones had been estranged for a long time but reconciled over the last three years, due to their shared. CHICAGO - OCTOBER 1985: Dancers Boogaloo Shrimp and Shabbadoo performs at the U.I.C.