Join Facebook to connect with Michael Boogaloo Shrimp Chambers and others you may know. Can you describe your experience during the height of, You went to being of an icon of the 1980s to playing a part in several zeitgeist moments of 90s pop culture, from, Michael Jackson and I had worked out during the Victory Tour in 1983, which he filmed the session, and was able to master what he learned at that time. A lifelong Los Angeles resident, Greg Braxton has written for the Los Angeles Times for more than three decades. I ultimately helped Michael with his technique. It was magical. ARTS held at Barker Hangar on April 21, 2010 in Santa. Here on the West Coast we popped, locked, and boogaloo, robotic styles. 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In a 2008 interview with the Black Hollywood File, Quiones discussed the making and impact of Breakin, saying it was critical in the development of hip-hop culture. You know, being a young Black kid, you know, you want to be like that. Now, Chambers is teaching dance, making appearances and helping mold the next generations of dancers. Pavilion in Chicago, Illinois in October1985. 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Its like I wear hip-hop clothes but flannel underwear, he said with a chuckle. By Austin Trunick By what name was Boogaloo Shrimp Documentary (2019) officially released in Canada in English? He started getting real smooth in his lines and his grinding and it was immaculate.. I was humbled and very thankful, since most people would sum up my career by the two Breakin films. His dance style, which he tagged "liquid animation," soon caught the eye of other dancers, and he got the opportunity to work with notable acts in the music industry such as Madonna, Three 6 Mafia, and Michael Jackson. And we both were in dark places and going through problems., But, he says, they bonded over both becoming Bible students as Jehovahs Witnesses. Three years ago we came into our spirituality and forgiveness and became better people. No cause of death has been announced. As his career went on, Chambers moved into the special effects area of the film industry himself, his robotic moves making him perfect to play the Robot Bill in Bill & Teds Bogus Journey and a recurring role as the Urkelbot on the TGIF staple Family Matters. about Al B. You were still so young when you starred in Breakin, but you also already had a lot of experience making music videos and hanging out with huge stars like Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie. The air that night (May 2018) was electric. RIP, wrote DJ the Blessed Madonna (not to be confused with Madonna, with whom Quiones worked). Because of this longstanding beef people thought we had, theyve always taken our situation and stirred the pot, he said. It wasnt really something that everybody did. RIP, wrote DJ the Blessed Madonna (not to be confused with Madonna, with whom Quiones worked). Also, there were plans for me to be in a third, which was Steve Urkel going to the Epcot Center and donating the Robo-nerd to the science center, but the effects artist Kenny Myers told me they could not reach an agreement with his work, and they cancelled my job. BDO gives you access to innovative new approaches to the health information you need in everyday language so you can break through the disparities, gain control and live your life to its fullest. And we always knew that. In a 2008 interview, when he was 53, the dancer said, Thats a number that kind of surprises people because when they think about the Breakin movies, they thought of me as a kid dancing. Because of this longstanding beef people thought we had, theyve always taken our situation and stirred the pot, he said. Michael Chambers is known for his breakdancing moves, which shot him into the limelight via the movie "Breakin." Although he was only 16 when Breakin was shot, Chambers had already been dancing on a professional level, appearing in music videos for Lionel Richies All Night Long and Chaka Khans I Feel for You. Though impressive, perhaps his biggest contribution to pop culture up to this point had happened behind the scenes: working with Michael Jackson ahead of his famous Motown 25 performance, teaching him b-boy moves and helping him master the moonwalk. Titles . He felt smighted that in literature and media, nobody mentioned his name. When the story broke about breakdancing being accepted into the Olympics in 2024, for him to at least see that was in the media, that warmed my heart, because at 65 he was able to see street dance get that worldwide respect.. The life story of Michael Chambers aka "Boogaloo Shrimp: the dancer, actor, singer, comedian and master of waving, ticking, backsliding and liquid animation dance during the 1980's breakdancing phenomenon. Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic. We jumped in at the end, and a lifelong dream was fulfilled. But I think his heart was broken when a lot of the new generation from the Step It Up movie and TikTok were not giving credit to the innovators. Matter of fact, people didnt treat me like I was a star. Copyright2023, BlackDoctor, Inc.All rights reserved. How much of yourself back then do you see in Turbo? No cause of death has been announced. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. They couldnt keep me out of there, he said. Thank you for visiting my website. Featuring an extended interview with Chambers and on-camera tributes from his peers and admirers, its a great, in-depth look at the career of one of pop cultures unsung heroes. Shortly after, Poppin Taco started working with Michael as his choreographer and went on the road with him.. (Cannon Group HANDOUT). Among the many dance numbers in the Breakin movies, two stand out. Chambers, aka "Boogaloo Shrimp" in the "Breakin'" films, told Variety that he and Quiones had been estranged for a long time but reconciled over the last three years, due to their shared. It was a bit overwhelming and sometimes frightening. But now it (belongs to) the world.. | Source: Getty Images. Now That's What I Call Music! Michael 'Boogaloo Shrimp' Chambers is a world-renown dancer, choreographer, educator and entertainer. !, He noted that he often passed for younger than his age on screen. Chorographer/singer Toni Basil, who co-founded the Original Lockers, expressed extreme sadness about Quiones death on social media, while several other celebrities also paid tribute. Thats how he got so good; he would put in the research and study it and then master it. Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. For years, Chambers said, the part Quiones played in that went under the radar. 1 on iTunes Charts, Look up: The 32 most spectacular ceilings in Los Angeles, Hidden illegal casinos are booming in L.A., with organized crime reaping big profits, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, Best coffee city in the world? I Thought It Wasnt in the Cards for Me, Comedian Lala Milan Is A Health And Wellness Guru In The Making, Shemar Moore Welcomes Baby Girl at 52: Already the Love of My Life!. If it didnt work I think this culture would have been in trouble We had Beat Street (and) everybody was throwing their hat in the ring, but it was Breakin (that was) the one that really worked. 2020 Singles & EPs Picture Us Rollin - Single 2020 Appears On But at the end of the day hes my spiritual brother. He had actually contacted me out of nowhere, Chambers said. The only thing I could do that was special was dancing, he said. She was a mega-icon, and Im proud that he was able to go from the street and breaking to Madonna and launching a new dance style.. BDO is the worlds largest and most comprehensive online health resource specifically targeted to African Americans. You need to be logged in to continue. I Thought It Wasnt in the Cards for Me, Comedian Lala Milan Is A Health And Wellness Guru In The Making, Shemar Moore Welcomes Baby Girl at 52: Already the Love of My Life!. (A visible string, more obvious in recent Blu-ray releases than ever before, doesnt detract from the scenes magic.) I used to look at him and think, God, you know, I want to be like him. Boogaloo Shrimp Documentary: Directed by Taylor Golonka. TV show on CBS. Chambers added that Quiones role in introducing Madonna to certain dance styles has been underrated. A documentary film about Michael Chambers, the American dancer, and actor also known as "Boogaloo Shrimp." Michael is most renowned for his role as "Turbo" in the 1984 cult movie "Breakin'" and its sequel "Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo." Chambers was born in Long Beach Island, California, and got the "Shrimp" part fo his stage name from his father, an ex-Air Force military man who had raised his family in Wilmington. Apr 16, 2019 Were you totally over camera shyness by the time you starred in your first movie? Birthday Hollywood heartthrob and S.W.A.T. Michael Chambers in Boogaloo Shrimp Documentary (2019) People Michael Chambers. Michaels father worked for Van de Kamps seafood and Chicken of the Sea, and he used to call Michael, his youngest, Shrimp, which also ties right into the whole seaport thing too Michael is Afro-Creole American because the Boogaloo part of his name originally comes from the New Orleans area, but it also became one of the buzzwords used in a new type of dancing, pop-locking (from popping and locking), originally practiced by a guy named Boogaloo Sam (Sam Solomon), who founded a 70s dancing group, The Electric Boogaloos, who were named for Do The Boogaloo by James Brown, which was a type of dance that Brown popularized. The Breakin movies made the young Boogaloo Shrimp into an 80s dance icon. Both films made use of Chambers unique dance style, dubbed liquid animation after it was inspired by the stop-motion animation method of the great special effects maestro Ray Harryhausen. Every time we danced, it was like silence and awe on that set.". I was not raised to be racially biased, so it was a job opportunity and it was not like many people were employing street dancers in lead roles. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. Breakin' had been a response to the success of Flashdance (1983), only with more focus on dancing than plot and with real break dancers and poppers Adolfo "Shabba-Doo" Quinones and Michael "Boogaloo Shrimp" Chambers in the cast. 1967-11-13 (55 years old). And Breakin showed that, with that white girl in it. Director Topper Carew had made a documentary before the Breakin films called Breakin n Enterin which featured the best of the best in Los Angeles, as well as a young Ice-T and Egyptian Lover. 10 Signs Youre Living With Clogged Arteries, Tracee Ellis Ross at 50: Loving Her Body With No Filter, Taraji P. Hensons Workout: It Keeps Me Calm & Happy, Football Legend & Coach Deion Sanders Has Toes Amputated, BlackDoctor.org Advertising and Sponsorship Policy, Da Brat is Pregnant! The director, Rich Correll, and the producers of the Family Matters TV show were very happy with the ratings, so they called me back for a second episode. Prior to taking to the movies, Quiones was already a part of pop culture history for choreographing and appearing in Lionel Richies All Night Long video. The life story of Michael Chambers aka "Boogaloo Shrimp: the dancer, actor, singer, comedian and master of waving, ticking, backsliding and liquid animation dance during the 1980's breakdanc Read allThe life story of Michael Chambers aka "Boogaloo Shrimp: the dancer, actor, singer, comedian and master of waving, ticking, backsliding and liquid animation dance during the 1980's breakdancing phenomenon.The life story of Michael Chambers aka "Boogaloo Shrimp: the dancer, actor, singer, comedian and master of waving, ticking, backsliding and liquid animation dance during the 1980's breakdancing phenomenon. He currently is a staff writer covering television for the Calendar section, and has also written extensively about trends and cultural issues in the entertainment field. It took only 21 days to make Breakin at a budget of $900,000, he said. ", Last year he released the "Boogaloo Shrimp" documentary through Indie Right Distribution. So sad to see so many of our foundational dancers passing this year.. Sheila E called him A great Hiphop dancer. Enjoy! | Photo: Getty Images. Chambers, aka "Boogaloo Shrimp" in the "Breakin'" films, told Variety that he and Quiones had been estranged for a long time but reconciled over the last three years, due to their shared. Even now, he is still dancing at 52. Id get there at 7 in the morning and not leave till almost 10 at night., Besides working for Richie, his choreography credits included Madonnas 1987 Whos That Girl? tour and TV work on MTVs Blowin Up. He made television appearances as a dancer as far back as 1976, on Whats Happening! I think that it was the first film that showed hip-hop had a multicultural face to it. Michael Chambers is a 54 year old American Dancer born on 13th November, 1967 in Long Beach, California. Anything from Glory, to Mo' Better Blues or even Training Day, Equalizer, about Da Brat is Pregnant! For the record, I was not hanging out with big stars, it was all work related.