Funding for the arts program at the Door, a school and community center for kids, are being cut. The kids cannot afford their only means for outlet, for self-expression and creativity being unjustly removed.I started going there a decade ago, and I am there today. Kwikstep and Rokafella have nurtured so many dancers that are now doing big things and are successful in their Breaking careers. It has kept me focused and out of trouble. It has saved my sanity and my life countless times, it has strengthened my character, humbled my ego and pride, taught me team spirit and teamwork, discipline, and how to be profesional and self-confident. Take programs like these away, and you will see a negative, downward spiral for our youths and kills the spirit of creativity, self-expression, and the sense of community. We need help!!!
I returned to the Door two years ago, after my contract with the Marines ended. I have continued Breaking since. Even while homeless and sleeping in the streets, I would make it to the Door. Even injured, malnourished, or other challenges, I still would go. I would be depressed if I didn't Break. The students at the Door are family to me and to each other. Without the arts, where would society be. Without the arts, the world would be flavorless, dreary.
I perfomed for the troops when I went on my first tour, 2003. I was Breaking and MCing for my Camp during war, kept a Rhyme pad and Sketched, Drawing here and there. I initiated and kept up MC cyphers before eveyone hit the rack at night during the war. The point is, the arts saved not only my mind but as well as those who I served with overseas. During the first Great depression, the arts saved America with the WPA. Why cut the arts and hurt our future?:
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia---
--"Works Progress Administration (renamed during 1939 as the Work Projects Administration; WPA) was the largest New Deal agency, employing millions to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects. It fed children and redistributed food, clothing, and housing. Almost every community in the United States had a park, bridge or school constructed by the agency, which especially benefited rural and Western populations. Expenditures from 1936 to 1939 totaled nearly $7 billion.[1]
--"Created by order of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the WPA was funded by Congress with passage of the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935 on April 8, 1935. The legislation had passed in the House of Representatives by a margin of 329 to 78, but was delayed by the Senate.[1]
--"The WPA continued and extended relief programs similar to the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC), which was established by Congress in 1932 during the administration of Roosevelt's predecessor Herbert Hoover. Headed by Harry Hopkins, the WPA provided jobs and income to the unemployed during the Great Depression in the United States. Between 1935 and 1943, the WPA provided almost eight million jobs.[2]"
I am a perfect example of a former youth going to the Door, now a man, still going to the Door, teaching others, helping our instructors, Kwikstep and Rokafella. They have taught many great dancers, worldwide.
They are helping our communities at home, in NY, working on preserving our Culture and reviving the Dance scene, and are successfully doing that now at Le Poisson Rouge (LPR), every first Thursday of every month. My point was that Full Circle has help train, educate, and provide performance opportunities for all their students.
That certainly ensures that the art of Breaking never dies as the torch is passed from teacher to student, witnessing the artform progress and advance into a science, where knowledgeable dancers can heal their bodies properly, and develope properly.
When kids have no outlets, crime increases. I know that is not the future we want for our kids. When Hip Hop was born, crime was high. As Hip Hop, Breaking especialy, slowly spread, and gangs became crews; instead of fighting they were dancing, imitating a form of fighting, much like Capoeira. It's the arts, people!! If we can't see our favorite art, hear our favorite music, have plain advertisement, the eradication of film, literature--which led to poetry, fiction writing--to stir our imagination, the problems in our communities and around the world would be extremely magnified...More than just be about one's name, Breaking should be what people talk about! ALL NEW YORK CITY CREWS should be what most New Yorkers should be talking about! People should see, and will soon see, Breakers throughout New York doing big things, and, hopefully, being community minded.
It's not about me, it's about us, NY, all Breaking crews, to positively support each other, help each other. All other states, and countries around the world--their Breakers--are doing so much good, and are very, very good. There is a low representation of New York Breakers in International competitions. Hopefully that will soon change. Unorthodox methods should be found to expand on the uses for this dance within, and beyond, the media, film, and music industries. We must expand on the ways we can help society directly by first creating shows at local community centers, and many other performance places and spaces throughout the five Boroughs of NY, then gradually spread till we touch all countries throughout the world!
Returning to the main topic, we have to positively find constructive, smart, creative ways to spread the word, create funding and/or donations from like-minded, art-loving supporters and patrons out there somewhere. We need a permanent place that not only provides instruction, but also consistent job opportunities for Graff Artists, Performing Artists, Fine Artists, MCs, B-boys and B-girls, DJs, Turtabalists, etc.
We need to form a support network for artists by artists. Find ways to get grants and Fundraise and help us all make money to keep doing what we love. Artists do what we do, not for money, but to keep doing what we love.
I don't wan't to do my art to make money; I want to make money in order to do my art.
There are infinite ideas out there, seriously. There are infinite solutions, but I can't do it alone. Help me Howard, VH1, Late Night Talk Shows, Donald Trump, the news network, Hollywood, Henry Chalfant, etc. How can we save the Door? Who can we ask to help us? The City? The State? Write a letter to the President (lol)? I mean, seriously, what can we do? Any ideas?
Thank you for taking time out to read this.
Tomas M. Manon aka B-Boy Atomic
The B-boy, Graff Artist, MC, Beatboxer, Fine Artist,
Live Artist, Performer
