Dynamic Rockers pack the beat at Throwback Jam

Everybody's seen those young breakdancers in the subway, or watched movies like Flashdance and Stomp the Yard where groups of talented dancers come together and make a statement through their movement. Well, Dynamic Rockers is the real deal; they have started a movement that will have a deep impact on the world of hip-hop for a very, very long time. The Dynamic Rockers was started in 1979 by the original Glyde, one of the first and most influential b-boys, or breakdancers, of the 1980's. Today, the dynasty of the Dynamic Rockers continues under the leadership of Kid Glyde, a third-generation b-boy who's been dancing for 14 years. 

Members of both the Dynamic Rockers and the lesser known Five Crew Dynasty performed in the Student Center at Vassar on Saturday as part of Hip-Hop 101's annual Throwback Jam. Damon Johnson '02, now working for Red Bull, has known of the Dynamic Rockers his whole life, but got more involved with Kid Glyde last November when Johnson became the New York City rep for Red Bull and when the Dynamic Rockers performed at Red Bull's annual Breakdancing Championship One, also known as BC One.

Johnson appreciates the significance of bringing a group like the Dynamic Rockers to an event like Throwback Jam. "It's great coming back to Vassar and seeing that Hip-Hop 101 has come together," Johnson said. As a former head of ViCE, Johnson says he is really amazed at how the programming has grown at Vassar since he left, as well as how diverse it has become.

According to Johnson, "BC One is one of the most exclusive if not the most exclusive b-boy competition in the world." Johnson also explained that b-boying, commonly referred to as breakdancing, is one of the four main aspects of hip-hop along with MCing, DJing and graffiti. "Hip-hop wouldn't be where it is if it weren't for the break," Johnson claimed. 

B-Boy Blue Eyes, a member of the Five Crew Dynasty and a native of the Dominican Republic, performed with the Kid Glyde on Saturday. He started dancing almost six years ago when he and a group of friends who had done gymnastics decided to try out breakdancing. "We just started doing it because it was fun, B-Boy Blue Eyes explained, "and then we got more serious, then we met up with dynamic rockers and they're like family, so we decided to join together and stuff, help each other out." B-Boy Blue Eyes said Kid Glyde is a mentor for him because, "separately, [Kid Glyde's] been dancing so much longer than I have…he's got so much experience."

Kid Glyde first learned how to break from his father, a member of the original Dynamic Rockers, and says the Dynamic Rockers spend most of their time competing and teaching individual and group lessons to younger b-boys and b-girls. He agreed with the sentiment that B-Boy Blue Eyes expressed when he said the reason he loves b-boying so much is because, "You can express yourself in anyway that you can, its dance … You can just go somewhere and not be judged." Kid Glyde, who's one top prizes at innumerable b-boy battles around the country, says he lives by the crede, "If you can conceive it, you can achieve it."

Didn't get to see them perform? Watch below!