She Got Game B-Girl Interviews!
Having to work extra hard physically and also mentally to endure such a high energy sport, B-Girls around the nation have been practising and flexing for the ultimate title in the second inaugural She Got Game Competition. Perhaps the best-known event that is dedicated purely for the ladies, B-Girls from around the globe have packed their skills and brought their A-game to the one competition that matters. Sneaker Freakier even get to sponsor their own team, with Poney and Jesta from Brisbane sporting the SF brand name and doing us Freakers proud! We caught up with some of the ladies who are flying down for the event as well as our own team and proposed a host of questions to them giving them a chance to syke out their competition.
Name / B-Girl Name
Melodee aka Poney
Crew / Country
BoomCrew - Australia
When did you start breaking? Give us a little history to your story.
I had been going to, organizing and photographing jams, battles, ciphers, training sessions etc for about 5 years, just dabbling in B-girling. It wasn't until recently that I started to take it seriously for myself after a trip to the Rocksteady Anniversary and Freestyle Sessions in the States. Call me a late bloomer, but I needed the right inspiration to follow through and commit for real.
How and why did you become involved with "She Got Game?"
It's hard not to become involved! My girl Stash and the ladies of Freestyle Four Entertainment are on the grind all year round to bring this event together, so any B-girl in this country owes it to them to be there and rep. Unfortunately last year my registration for the event was decided a little late and I was too hungover to put my all in, but this year I'm ready for it! Only water before the jam!
Your signature move?
Definitely my air flare to mills to one-handed hops to hollow-back half-cab. No, this ain't no one trick Poney. I always just practice maintaining flow and style - keeping everything clean, fresh and creative... it's not what you do, it's how you do it.
What will you be doing to win the competition and top all the other B-Girls?
I'm just going to hug that beat real tight and rep all that I have!
Who do you look up to, influences?
Asia One and Ken Swift! Kurv most def because he's the freshest dude out - straight up style. Beta because she's been repping since before I knew there were four elements, again straight up style. My Brisbane homeboy Revere for that "can't stop won't stop" b-boying and Movie1 on the creative tip.
What sneakers do you plan to rock to the event?
Gazelles or Campus.
What does breakdancing mean to you and how has it influenced your life?
It means more than vege dumplings and soy pearl milk tea to me - and that's pretty mammoth yo. If you can hold your own in a cipher or battle, then you can hold yourself in so many other situations. B-girling means that I'm on top of my health - too many scotches or dumplings and not enough practice sessions doesn't make for the most poetic sight, so I make sure that I'm living right. It also means I get to travel and hang with some pretty amazing people.
Why are B-Girls better than B-Boys?
Because we do what they do, but with booty and breasts. No, B-girls and B-boys are just better than everybody else.
Any additional comments you would like to make?
Shout out to Brisbane B-boys and B-girls and Hold Fast Management. Also, peep Seven Shadows ( for the dopest Australian and international bboy/bgirl footage. Props to Mafia for holding it down for the female sneaker heads.
And of course, don't sleep on She Got Game 08! You snooze, you lose...
Name / B-Girl Name
Jess/Jesta
Crew / Country
BoomCrew/Australia
When did you start breaking? Give us a little history to your story.
I started breaking in 2005, I went to the U.S. in 2006 to the We Bgirlz 25th Anniversary and Canada for some inspiration. I started locking in 2007 and I DJ for Brisbane jams.
How and why did you become involved with "She Got Game?"
I decided at 2am the night before She Got Game 2007 when we were drunk.
Your signature move?
Still working on that!
What will you be doing to win the competition and top all the other B-Girls?
Breaking on beat; freaking the funk!
Who do you look up to, influences?
No Easy Props, Animation, Bboy Remind, K-mel, Bboy Ivan, Massive Monkeys, Heartbreakers, Flowzaic, so many more.
What sneakers do you plan to rock to the event?
I rock Puma Clydes and Chucks always.
What does breakdancing mean to you and how has it influenced your life?
Break dancing to me is about my body connecting with my brain when I feel the music. Deep I know!
Why are B-Girls better than B-Boys?
Is this a trick question? I don't think one gender is better than the other.
Any additional comments you would like to make?
I would like to say thanks to all the B-girls traveling here from overseas. Our country and experience is richer from your presence! Peace
Name / B-Girl Name
NARUMI
Crew / Country
Body Carnival. Kyoto b-boy crew from Japan
When did you start breaking? Give us a little history to your story.
I have been breakin' for 7 and a half years. When I started breaking, I was bored in my life so I wanted to find something interesting. And I found break dance.
How and why did you become involved with "She Got Game?"
I think Jessefex from USA, she introduced me. I also got an invite from Stash and some people.
Your signature move?
My flow, power moves and tricks.
What will you be doing to win the competition and top all the other B-Girls?
I always try to do my best. And I want to enjoy myself and have a real battle.
Who do you look up to, influences?
Ichigeki from Japan.
What sneakers do you plan to rock to the event?
I will wear NIKE.
What does breakdancing mean to you and how has it influenced your life?
I think break dancing gave me everything from good friends to great experiences and generally bettered my life.
Why are B-Girls better than B-Boys?
I think B-girls don’t have enough muscles to do break. In that way, we always have to think how can we show better, different moves. But I don’t care, I think all of them, B-boys and B-girls, are great.
Any additional comments you would like to make
Thank you for having me do this interview. I really hope to enjoy this event. I hope I will have good time there. Thank you.
PS. There are a lot of good B-girls in Japan. I wanna show you guys more Japanese B-girls.
Name / B-Girl Name
Hayley Ng - Bgirl "H"
Crew / Country:
Blackout Crew, New Zealand / Sweet Elite Crew, Australia
When did you start breaking? Give us a little history to your story.
I started breaking in December 2004. I grew up with Tap and Jazz dancing completing both syllabuses, then got into Hip Hop/Urban Dance in my teenage years and after 4-5 years into that I was inspired by the individual dance of B-girling. I was up for challenging myself in this dance genre and trying it out, since then I've loved it, just been focusing on B-girling, traveled to the States to check it out, entered several comps in the past 3 years and am still training hard. I'm enjoying teaching Break dance in Rydalmere, Sydney.
How and why did you become involved with "She Got Game?"
I was born and bred in Wellington, New Zealand. A month before 'She Got Game' I moved to Sydney for a change of lifestyle but partly to make an improvement in my B-girling. I heard through my friend Stash about 'She Got Game' and obviously the kiwi B-girls were talking about it as well. When I moved over, I trained with Alize and we entered the comp together. The reason I became involved with 'She Got Game' is because I fully support the reason it's out there! It's a dope event for all B-girls to enter. We are a minority of the B-boy scene across the world and I think it's been an excellent idea for Freestyle Four to put together. It's also bringing B-girls from all around the world who share the same passion to come together to battle one another and just hang out. It is also such an inspiration to see other B-girls getting down too as it only improves yourself, therefore this ups the level of breaking all around. It can only get better.
Your signature move?
Hhmm…don't think I have one…yet.
What will you be doing to win the competition and top all the other B-Girls?
Going out there, having fun, do what I love doing, dance to the music, go hard!!
Who do you look up to, influences?
Other B-girls and B-boys. The B-boys that first taught me, the B-boys/B-girls that teach me things now. And much respect to the B-boys/B-girls who have and still are holding down the comps these days. Where ever it may be, whether it's international, whether it's a jam in the streets it's DOPE!
What sneakers do you plan to rock to the event?
Adidas - Gazelles
What does breakdancing mean to you and how has it influenced your life?
Breakdancing means a lot to me. Breakdancing owns the majority of my life ever since I've started. It has made a big impact on my life and will continue to influence me forever. Since Breakdancing/B-girling I've learnt a lot about Hip Hop culture and I respect it very much. I practice a lot to up my skills and do the odd gig here and there. I enjoy it so much, teaching others also influences me.
Why are B-Girls better than B-Boys?
I think B-girls aren't better than B-boys, some may be, but I think that B-girls & B-boys shouldn't be compared to one another as we are all on the same page. I give more props to girls for stepping out as it's physically harder to break than it is for boys. i.e.; we have a bit more package to carry than them. Once again if you're passionate about the dance then your gonna succeed, the work you put in shows in the performances/battles you bring out.
Any additional comments you would like to make
I encourage anyone who's wanting to learn breakdancing or be a breakdancer - Go hard, don’t give up and enter as many battles as you can to better yourself! It's fun and it's NOT hard!
(images above of Ileana Hamilton aka illFX )
Name / B-Girl Name
Leah Tilney aka Bgirl FliX
Crew / Country
Sweet Elite Crew, Australia
When did you start breaking? Give us a little history to your story.
I have been B-girling for around 7 years now. I started out performing with a crew called Gravity Warriors and I now rep with my Brisbane based B-boy crew- Fre Agentz as well as Sweet Elite (an Aus. all-star b-girl crew). B-girling is a full time job for me, I teach and perform for a living. I have traveled extensively overseas and all over Australia both teaching and performing on various contracts. I currently have great sponsorship from Afends Clothing and Supra footwear.
How and why did you become involved with “She Got Game?”
I'm good friends with Stash!
Your signature move?
Freeze combos.
What will you be doing to win the competition and top all the other B-Girls?
Training my BUTT off!! Haha! And trying not to get crazy nervous like I did last year.
Who do you look up to, influences?
Demilition B-girl from AUS. Her style, creativity and presence are so inspiring to me.
What sneakers do you plan to rock to the event?
Supra’s….or perhaps a fresh now pair from Sneaker Freaker, haha (I can always wear a Supra tshirt)
What does breakdancing mean to you and how has it influenced your life?
B-girling IS my life. I honestly don’t know what I would do without it. Through the scene I have met many great friends all over Australia and around the world. It’s a great community to be a part of.
Why are B-Girls better than B-Boys?
We aren’t, we just smell better!
Any additional comments you would like to make?
She Got Game’s gonna rock your socks off!!!
Name / B-Girl Name
B-girl PEPPA
Crew / Country
Representing from city of Lost Angels, USA
When did you start breaking? Give us a little history to your story.
2000 in New York. I used to be a freestyle dancer and I’d hit the underground clubs in NYC. You couldn't avoid seeing B-boys, it was hype. I always loved hip-hop music and dancing, being acrobatic, being upside down on my hands, and watching the way the NYC b-boys rocked got me hype. I also was inspired by seeing girls like Asia, Honey Rockwell, and Jade in b-boy summit videos, as well as seeing Rokafella around NYC.
How and why did you become involved with "She Got Game?"
I'm going to be battling in the two on two international battle this year.
Your signature move
I’d have to battle you for your to find out, but I like to name some of my moves with Chinese themes, like Chopsticks, panda, kung pow, egg rolls
What will you be doing to win the competition and top all the other B-Girls?
A good warrior does not reveal her secrets, but I really love to break, I love the music, the hype feeling I get in a battle, seeing other nasty girls gets me amped up. The fact that I have fun when I battle is what is most important to me.
Who do you look up to, influences?
The local B-boys and B-girls in LA inspire me to push myself, keep me in this game, keep me hyped on this culture and the dance. I think LA has some of the dopest B-boys and B-girls in the world, so many different types, power heads, foundational heads, all around great dancers who have great flow and style.
What sneakers do you plan to rock to the event?
Nike Troupers. They come out this September. I'm an official Nike shoe tester and this shoe is made for aggressive dancing/ breakin.
What does breakdancing mean to you and how has it influenced your life?
It’s my life, my culture, my passion, and my true love. It's what I turn to release my aggressions and frustrations. It will never leave me, though I can take breaks from it, it's always there. I don't ever feel like I've fully had a great work out until I've had a good session., I feel I can be myself in this art form. I feel I can truly enjoy my love for the music to the fullest by letting the music translate through my body.
Why are B-Girls better than B-Boys?
It’s not that we're better; we're just a whole different breed. B-girling is a whole different category than B-Boy. I feel it took me a while to understand this, but through time and experience, I see that as a B-girl it is important to let your femininity shine through. After all, you're a GIRL, if you want to act and dance like a boy, then maybe that would be B-buying? I just like it how some girls are so raw and nasty, but yet sooo feminine too at the same time. That is what sets us aside from the B-boys. Think about it, judges are looking at B-boys all day and then if a girl gets down, and she's letting her feminine side show through, at the same time still rocking and busting her skills, that must be very refreshing for the crowd, for everyone!
Any additional comments you would like to make
Check out my website
Photo by Frikke Orn
Stay tuned for a more indepth interview on B-Girl Peppa coming very soon exclusively to Sneaker Freaker
For more info on the She Got Game event, held this Saturday 17th May 2008 go