Supermodels SA Supermodels SA - Issue 33 | Page 51

Street Style Hey my name’s Leon I go by the name Bboy Lab*A. My profession is breakdancing. I am from a heritage crew called Demolition Squad founded in 2000, Johannesburg. My passion for dance began in Primary School when my friends taught me how to do pantsula to kwaito and house music. This led me to cypher in dance circles. Breakdancing soon captured my attention after playing Tekken 3 with the character Eddie Gordo (Capoiera – Martial Art’s) and the music video Dirty Vegas – Days Go By. At our local park I witnessed a crew of dancers doing tricks on a half pipe. The one guy did a “Rocket, 90” which is a stylish way of going up into a handstand and then spinning on one hand, one of the first moves I had taught myself. I got closer and took my chance to bust a move! I was hooked. There I met my first Bboy Teacher Vusi who introduced me to breakdance cyphers and battling at Rosebank Mall on Saturdays. The last year of Primary School they introduced the Disco where I matched off with kids from neighboring schools. I also joined up for Kung Fu classes and a DJ course. In High School we still went to the quieter Rosebank to dance by the Fnb hallway. This is where I bumped into DJ Switch from Static bboys. I remember him helping me with my windmills, that day I did 7. He introduced me to his classes in Melville. I joined up to their weekly classes and quickly got involved in the dance culture.