舞所不谈

In this episode of Dance Chat, we sit down with Caleaf Sellers — Brooklyn-born dancer, original member of Mop Top Crew, member of Dance Fusion, co-founder of 36 Chambaz of Stylez with Buddha Stretch, and one of the directors of Mop Top University. Caleaf takes us back to the Brooklyn parks, block parties, and club spaces where dance was not yet a formal “career path,” but a way of gathering, celebrating, learning, and surviving. From dancing with his mother at home to plugging sound systems into his apartment window for neighborhood jams, his story traces the roots of Hip Hop and House through lived experience. We talk about how dancers learned before classes and social media, why originality mattered, and how “biting” was understood in the culture. Caleaf also shares how a night at The Tunnel led to being scouted by Rosie Perez for a Diana Ross music video, opening the door to touring, music videos, and working in the entertainment industry. A major part of the conversation focuses on 36 Chambaz of Stylez — why it was created in New York, how its structure was inspired by The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, and why foundation, technique, partner dancing, freestyle, cypher energy, and cultural context are central to the way Caleaf teaches. Throughout the episode, Caleaf reflects on what has changed in dance culture: the shift from parties to contests, the loss of social connection, the importance of giving energy in a cypher, and the responsibility dancers have to pass knowledge forward with respect. In this episode, we discuss: * Growing up in Brooklyn before Hip Hop had a name * How Caleaf’s mother became his first dance teacher * Park jams, block parties, and dance as community celebration * Learning by watching before formal street dance classes existed * The importance of originality and not “biting” someone’s style * The Tunnel, Rosie Perez, and Caleaf’s first industry opportunities * Dancing in Diana Ross’s “Working Overtime” music video * Touring with Crystal Waters and performing through freestyle * The difference between dancing behind an artist and dancing for yourself * The creation of 36 Chambaz of Stylez with Buddha Stretch * Why dancers must start from foundation before chasing difficulty * The role of partner dancing, cyphers, and social exchange * Why freestyle begins with music, feeling, and letting go of self-judgment * How dancers can find individuality through variation and personal interpretation * What it means to contribute to the culture instead of only taking from it * The realities of organizing dance events and building a home base in New York * Leaving dance, returning with purpose, and creating your own opportunities * The importance of care, health, longevity, and dancing through age * Why dance, music, and culture continue to connect people across borders Follow 🔗 Caleaf: ins@caleafsellers 36ChambazofStylz: ins@36chambazofstylz 36ChambazofStylz Summer Camp: registration Host: ins@ruijingshu rednote @theTryGirl Podcast: apple podcast 小宇宙

本期《舞所不谈 Dance Chat》请到来自纽约布鲁克林的传奇舞者 Henry Link——Elite Force Crew / Mop Top Family 成员，街舞与俱乐部舞蹈文化的重要亲历者之一。 从小时候在家里听着 R&B 打扫卫生、踩在妈妈脚上学 Hustle，到在纽约 The Tunnel 跳 House、被 Rosie Perez 发掘参与 Diana Ross《Working Overtime》MV，再到 Michael Jackson《Remember the Time》现场和 Elite Force 的诞生，Link 用自己的经历讲述了一段活生生的街舞历史。 这一集里，我们聊到： * 街舞为什么不只是动作？ * Battle 和比赛到底有什么区别？ * 什么是真正的 musicality？ * 为什么复制别人不是传承？ * 一个老师到底应该教什么？ * 以及，最重要的问题——你为什么跳舞？ 这不是一堂历史课，而是一次来自源头的提醒： 跳舞，最终不是为了赢，不是为了被看见，而是为了连接、表达，并成为你自己。 欢迎在评论区分享：你跳舞的原因是什么？ Follow 🔗 Link: ins@linkefc 36ChambazofStylz: ins@36chambazofstylz 36ChambazofStylz Summer Camp: registration Host: ins@ruijingshu rednote @theTryGirl Podcast: apple podcast 小宇宙

In this episode of Dance Chat, legendary dancer Henry Link of Elite Force Crew / Mop Top Family shares stories from his Brooklyn upbringing, his first lessons in dance, the birth of Elite Force, and his journey through clubs, music videos, battles, and global dance culture. Link reflects on dancing with purpose, the difference between battles and competitions, why copying kills individuality, and how true musicality goes beyond memorizing sounds. He also offers advice to younger dancers: build confidence, learn your history, bring your own culture into the dance, and always ask yourself — why do you dance? Follow 🔗 Link: ins@linkefc 36ChambazofStylz: ins@36chambazofstylz 36ChambazofStylz Summer Camp: registration Host: ins@ruijingshu rednote @theTryGirl Podcast: apple podcast 小宇宙 Full video on Substack/YouTube: Dance Chat

本期简介： Peter 从高中开始接触编舞，到成为纽约舞团 Project D 的团队主理人，再到离开团队成为“自由舞者”、离开 Google 做创业，重新找回舞蹈与自我的连接。这一期我们聊了： * 他是如何开始跳舞的，又为何离开了团队 * 编舞文化的变化：从风格多元到“为比赛而优化” * Freestyle 与编舞之间的鸿沟，以及如何跨越 * 舞蹈社群的代际传承、竞争压力与创作者困境 * 他如何用技术解决舞蹈行业的痛点（从 studio 租赁到 pop-up 课程平台） * 舞蹈创作的真正价值：不是赢，而是表达与快乐 这期是一个舞者在十年之后，终于开始“为自己跳舞”的反思。 欢迎关注: Peter ins @peterlee__ Dance Club ins@dnceclub_ Host ins@ruijingshu