Catalina Breakers recently embarked on a pilgrimage to what will go down in history as their first Hip-Hop Jam (B-Boy B-Girl Summit). Catalina Breakers is a dance class offered through the City of Avalon and taught by Jennifer “B-Girl Awoke” Diaz.
“Hip-Hop is a movement that we are pushing forward, and reaching new heights with physically, mentally, socially and globally. Moving our bodies and minds, creating healthy relationships, forwarding social justice, healthy organic plant-based lifestyle, addressing mental health, fostering equity between women and men, supporting motherhood & fatherhood, moving ourselves towards peace and unity,” Diaz said.
B-Boy B-Girl Summit is a free, non-profit, meeting of community members who have laid foundation within the culture or actively participate within it.
On the first day of the event the children got to meet and take workshops from industry dance legends like Damita Freeman (Soul Train), JSTYLZ (K.R.U.M.P.), Midnight (Poppers Picnic), Madusa (Project Blowed), and Tierra Strike.
The second day they were surrounded by a dance floor, a graffiti yard, hip hop swag, music, and dancers. They personally caught the attention of Swoops (In videos with Aaliyah, Michael Jackson, etc.), B-Boy Crumbs (Step It Up), Franky Flav (Killafornia Crew) and Lil Rock (Vegas, Red Bull B.C. Winner) all who have expressed interest in teaching these budding super stars.
Paul Sanchez and Dulce Campos attended every class since its inception and fundraised every Sunday this summer on Front Street to make this dream a reality.
However, it wouldn’t have been a possibility without the extra help provided by members of the Avalon community (Sana Hernandez, Gregg Miller, Maricela Garcia, Frances Finley, Bruce Knopper, Andrew Hobbs, and Robby McCormick).
“I’m excited about working with our larger sponsors on future fundraisers to bring instructors out that can bring our children to a higher level of excellence,” Diaz said.
