By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
You haven’t heard of the 360 Allstars? The city’s youth sure have, and are ready for the adrenalin hit of world-class athletes, rappers and dancers set to hit Greater Dandenong during the April school holidays.
The week-long feast of break-dancing, live looping, junk drumming, basketball tricks, beatboxing, body percussion and BMX flatlanding is designed to not just turn young heads, but probably also spin their bikes, basketballs, and on their elbows, backs and ears.
The hype is growing: chalk stencils on footpaths around Dandenong are advertising the Allstars’ coming presence. There are YouTube clips, postcards and fliers around schools, venues and social media, all featuring the group, which includes world-class exponents B-Boy Physicx, B-Boy Leerok and Sam Perry next month.
The performers will be in Greater Dandenong for a week, leading young people through free master classes, workshops and street performances — on top of two spectacular concerts, just $10 for those under 25.
Expect also to see surprise performances popping up in Dandenong Plaza, Dandenong Market and Springvale’s Multicultural Place.
The Journal asked local break-dancers Robert Matyus, Khalil Qambari and Rahmat Nabi, and young rapper Reunion (also known as Ree Jay), who 360 is. They can’t wait to share the stage with the crew.
Reunion, of Springvale, joyously raps lyrical on the Allstars. His improvised spiel churns for minutes: “Are you ready? You going to get together? Everybody get down with the 360 Allstars . . .”
He says his hip-hop poetry is a “gift of the gods”, one that is his life and that he loves to share. “There’s many of us out there [around Dandenong],” he says.
The 17 year old started with listening to CDs as a 12 year old. He grew up around lots of “troubled kids”, and started to get into hip hop, which became a way of expression. “I wanted to spread a message to them: chase your dreams and goals.”
Qambari, Matyus and Nabi each willingly demonstrated their unique and frenetic dance styles.
Qambari, who has a machine-like stop-start action, hopes to learn elbow spins, break-dance culture and styles from the world’s best.
Matyus, a furious whirl of energy on the stage, wants to learn more about the art of turns. And Nabi, all smooth moves, can’t wait to see how the “big guys” perform.
Drum Theatre director Greg Hordacre said Allstars creator Gene Paterson, a national champion drummer, reinvented the circus and distilled it into a vibrant street show.
Hordacre lured the world-class acts with the pitch of the week’s workshop extravaganza with the region’s youth. The one-off festival is a rare opportunity for youth in this end of the world, he says.
“We want to make this place the most exciting place in Australia for the week.”
MEET THE 360 ALLSTARS
■ Gene Peterson (Australia) – national drumming champion.
■ B-Boy Physicx (Korea) – world break-dance champion.
■ B-Boy Leerok (New Zealand) – world break-dance champion.
■ Peter Sore (Hungary) – two-time world champion BMX flatlander.
■ Rashaun Daniels (US) – world-renowned basketball freestyler.
■ Rhys Miller (Australia) – Roue Cyr wheel spin king.
■ Sam Perry (Australia) – beatboxing, rapping and live looping whiz kid.
FREE WORKSHOPS
Each workshop limited to 20 places, so book early.
April 8
■ Break-dancing (12-25 years). 10.30-11.30am, Drum Theatre. Bookings: 9793 2155.
■ Basketball tricks (12-25 years). 6-7pm, Noble Park Community Centre. Bookings: 9793 2155.
April 9
■ Body percussion (7-12 years). 10-11am, Heritage Hill. Bookings: 9793 4511.
■ BMX flatlanding (12-25 years). 11am-noon, Drum Theatre. Bookings: 9793 2155.
■ Youth circus (12-25 years). 4.30-5.30pm, Springvale Town Hall supper room. Bookings: 9793 2155.
April 10
■ Break-dancing (7-12 years). 10-11am, Heritage Hill. Bookings: 9793 4511.
■ Live looping (12-25 years). 11am-noon, Drum Theatre. Bookings: 9793 2155.
■ Basketball tricks (12-25 years). 2-3pm, Hemmings Park, Dandenong. Bookings: 9793 2155.
■ BMX flatlanding (12-25 years). 2-3pm, Hemmings Park, Dandenong. Bookings: 9793 2155.
■ Youth body percussion (12-25 years). 3-4pm, Dandenong library. Bookings: 9793 2155.
April 12
■ Circus (7-12 years). 10-11am, Heritage Hill. Bookings: 9793 4511.
■ Youth circus (12-25 years). 2-3pm, Walker Street Gallery. Bookings: 9793 2155.
■ Body percussion (12-25 years). 5-6pm, The Castle. Bookings: 9793 2155.
April 12-13
The 360 Allstars Stage Show, 7.30pm, Drum Theatre. Bookings: 9771 6666 or drumtheatre.com.au.
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