5-year-old Denayden is the offspring of b-boy Corrie Daniel and b-girl Rana Lee, known to the dance world as Benzo and Skandalus. His dad is a member of the ground breaking crew, Bag of Trix and has thrown down in music videos alongside the likes of Missy Elliot, k-os and Glenn Lewis. His mom is a smoking hot dancer in her own right. Denayden has been accompanying his parents to shows since birth and frequently hangs out while his dad teaches breaking workshops or participates in dance battles. He’s grown up watching his parents, as well as the group of top breakers who he counts as his uncles and aunties, do some pretty spectacular things with their bodies, as though it was the norm. Not surprisingly, Denayden has picked up some moves and has been known to bust them out at shows, stealing centre stage from older dancers. Recently, videos of Denayden dancing have turned up on YouTube.
We asked Benzo and Skandakus what they think about Denayden’s relationship to breaking. Here’s what they said:
BUNCH: We love the videos on YouTube of your son Denayden breaking. People have started calling him Benzo Jr! Did you formally set out to teach him how to break or is it something he started doing on his own?
BENZO: More him being around it all the time ..I don’t like to force things on people not that teaching your kid is forcing but I wanted to see if it happened naturally and see if he wanted to do it within his own spirit. His mom is also a b-girl and so she influenced him as well within the womb, you know. We would bring him to practices even when he was a baby so he’s always been used to being there with all my friends. We watch video tapes of competitions and battles and listen to music so it’s something he’s around 24/7…The moment where he became really interested was when he would see moves on tv and be like oh there’s daddy and be able to pick the moves up.
Benzo throwing down.
SKANDALUS: It’s definitely something he’s picked up on his own. Right from a young age he was exposed to music and dance all the time. When he was in my belly I would still be out and about listening to music, I definitely remember heading out to listen to Fase and all the other fabulous local dj’s spinning, from my womb I knew he could hear the beats. We’ve never tried to teach him the dance, he’s picked it up on his own, but I think a major factor is his age. He doesn’t really want to learn, rather he wants to show us his moves and show what he can do.
BUNCH: Breaking seems like it’s really social. It’s a tight knit community. Do you think being part of that community has been an enriching experience for D? How? Does he have close/important relationships with grown-up breakers ?
BENZO: Oh yeah. He’s always around breakers and they all know him. [Dancers] Jedi and Jester and Heist are kind of like his uncles. The word uncle or aunt is a very good noun these days. To name somebody an uncle it shows the kids you should have respect for this older person and that they are really a part of your family. I like the fact that he thinks Jester and Heist are his uncles.
SKANDALUS: Yes definitely, being part of this culture and community has enriched his knowledge and experience with bboying and hip hop. I know he’ll always have a connection and passion for it. Like Benzo said, he has family which he calls his uncles – and aunts too! My partner in crime Lady Noyz, who is also a Toronto b-girl plays a huge influence in his life. She is definitely family in his eyes. It’s funny how I see Denayden observe random “urban” looking ads, commercials or people and he’ll refer to them as bboys!
BUNCH: When is Denayden around dance and dancers and what’s the context? How much time hashe spent hanging out with you in rehearsal or at battles?
BENZO: He’s done his part in many shows and when I go teach workshops I bring him along with me and he makes people feel more comfortable. Sometimes people shy away when someone is dancing very powerfully. It’s intimidating and you’re thinking you’re not gonna do as well but when they see a young kid going into the centre it lightens the mood and they see that they can do it, too. At his daycare, he’s got all the other kids breaking, that’s a part of him know you know? And I’ve done so many dance workshops at his school. When I go pick him up I see all the kids practicing their moves.
SKANDALUS: It could be at a practice, at a show, at a workshop, at a battle, at a rehearsal, just chilling at home, just walking down the street and bumping into someone we know. He’s spent a lot of time around the both of us at shows and battles etc.. His father has done several workshops at his daycare. He himself has a name at the daycare to be the dancer and is always showing kids his moves and they’ve now all been exposed to it as well and they love it! I’ve had several parents come up to me to tell me that their kids are break dancing! It’s sooo awesome to hear!
BUNCH: Any particular moments or stories that you can share with us?
BENZO: They are all great moments. I guess he’s a born entertainer. I just wanna make sure that as a father I set good morals for him and set good examples so he can follow my lead and be a hundred times better than me. Breaking is a spiritual thing between me and him.
SKANDALUS: I think the most precious moments are the times we share at home. I will push the couch out of the way and make room in the living room, we turn on the music and we just dance! We take turns going in the circle and have such a blast just dancing. But the one that takes the cake is every night after I give him his bath. He will run to the room with his bare little bottom, put his underwear on his head (because as we all know bboys wear hats!) and completely naked, he’ll turn on the music and jump on top of the bed and dance and show me his latest moves! He is an entertainer, always looking for ways to be funny and showing his moves. He’s the greatest thing everrrr!
B-girl Skandalus
