A dozen young men walk into a large gym at the Donald E. Long Detention Center. Some are newcomers, others are regulars who’ve come back after last week's break dancing session. They sit and watch -- captivated as four b-boys (as referred to in the breakdancing culture) maneuver their bodies like acrobats. The dancers transition through moves on the balls of their feet, then move from their feet to the floor. Their moves often end in spins, spinning headstands or airborne-like poses (power moves) depending on the dancer’s style.
There are no strict rules, just a goal to improvise.
“It’s a lot like freestyle rapping except you’re doing it with your body,” explains breakdancer Carlos Chavez. “What we’re teaching them is vocabulary. You don’t choreograph your words -- you have to be flexible with your words to form sentences for the phrasing. So this is about how you can put your own slang on it.”
Chavez is the executive director of the Morpheus Youth Project (MYP), an organization dedicated to providing services for underserved youth in East Portland and for youth who are incarcerated at places like Donald E. Long Detention Center and MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility. Today’s event is one of eight sessions that MYP is providing at the Juvenile Detention Center. It’s also part of the Multnomah County Juvenile Services Division’s efforts to provide pro-social activities for youth at the center, who are facing criminal charges. Musicians, authors, artists and volunteers with organizations like MYP come to the detention center to perform.
Chavez says youth can relate in a tangible way to break dancing. The dance form originated in the 1970s among youth in the South Bronx. Youth would hold “jams,” where groups of people would gather typically on the streets. They would “battle” or hold a dance competition with judges of peers.
“It creates an alternative for young people with their idle time. So instead of trying to figure out how can I get alcohol etc., they have something to focus on. Especially for kids whose parents can’t afford extracurricular activities.”
The breakdancing culture hits home for Chavez. He grew up the San Francisco Bay Area where there was a "street-life" culture. He developed an interest in arts.
“Whether it was dance, whether it was music, it was always some form of art that’s given me an alternative to anything on the streets.”
In elementary school, Chavez watched break dancing on T.V. He and his friends would emulate moves outside classrooms, on the street, on sidewalks or at the park. By middle school, he was skilled enough to have battles with other friends at his level. The counter-cultural form of dance offered an outlet of personal expression.
“It was the whole culture and being able to move your body around. It was very physical and very macho too.”
Now at 41, he’s taken up the craft again and is leading efforts to teach break dancing to those who show interest.
At the detention center event, he and fellow dancers provide historical context for breakdancing, show films of world renowned b-boys and form groups to practice the craft. The youth slowly begin to loosen up and practice. They start out with basic moves, then test out more complex power moves. By the end of the presentation a dance battle forms on the gym floor. Each dancer has a moment to show off what they’ve learned. Some otherwise quiet teenagers come out of their shell.
“They loosen up and don’t worry if they’re looking hard or not,” says Pam Guzman, who helps coordinate events at the center. “When you see people who haven’t gotten along start to interact that’s really powerful as well. They learn how to have empathy and extend that to each other.”
The Morpheus Youth Project performs at the detention center, MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility and at schools and community centers. The 8-week program at the detention center is funded through an arts and equity grant through the Regional Arts Culture Council (RACC).
For youth leaving the center, Chavez says there’s an open door.
“I would love for the youth to try it out either now or later, because break dancing definitely changes lives, no doubt about it.”Photo gallery contains a total of 6 images.
