He is from Cascavel, Paraná, but now lives in New York and considers himself a messenger of Hip-Hop culture and art. At 33, he is considered one of the best B-Boys in the world. He has been to more than 141 countries and has participated in more than 100 international championships, being the only Latin American and Brazilian to win the championship belt of Red Bull BC One. He has also won several other championships, like UBC Championship in Las Vegas, Unbreakable , Freestyle Session and Outbreak Europe. There were several world championships in the category 1 vs 1, in which he was the only Brazilian to reach these titles until today. He worked with big international names such as Fergie, Gwen Stefani, Sean Paul, Justin Timberlake, Paul McCartney and Missy Elliot. We are talking about Fabiano Carvalho Lopes, better known on the scene and in the rest of the world as Neguin. Our Neguin from Brazil! The Breaking World website chatted with him and today we present that interview exclusively to you:
I wanted you to talk about your childhood. What did you like to do as a child and what memories do you have of that time? Were they difficult or peaceful times back then?
My story begins in Cascavel, Paraná. I started in capoeira when I was three years old. And then after 10 years of practicing capoeira, I became interested in learning a different culture, so I took an interest and started to practice Hip-Hop Culture. I practiced all the elements of Hip-Hop Culture, but what I stood out the most was with the breakdance, because I already had all this philosophy and knowledge of capoeira. So, I merged the two arts that encompass several arts in one and from there I started a new trajectory within capoeira and breakdance, in which I am recognized worldwide today. But, during this period of my childhood, I also got involved with other activities, skateboarding, jiu-jitsu. I always got involved with arts and paintings somehow. I was always a boy who wanted to learning new things that inspired me artistically. Yes, it was a difficult time due to our country, it does not provide support or nothing, I came from a very humble family, who always supported my art, but financially there was always an obstacle to travel, to go to other states to be able to compete, but it was a very healthy childhood, I enjoyed it a lot and I still do. Today I am 33 years old, but I still feel like that 13 year old kid…
When did you say, "Is this what I want for my life"? Did Capoeira, jiu-jitsu come before the passion for dance?
That was when I finished high school and capoeira and jiu-jitsu arrived before breakdancing, yes. I finished high school, I started to work, I would have the ability to be a manager in a company but that was not what I had chosen as a career, because my art always was always more important to me, I took the first opportunity I had and I left the country, as a breakdance competitor and I took advantage of this opportunity and stood out, from there I already made my business card, people identified my talent and I started traveling to other countries, initially to compete and, obviously, I started giving lectures, workshops, and then other things came up like Cirque du Soleil, I started working with Madonna and my career had a fast projection, early when I was still 19-20 years old.
Is it true that you had great influences from your brothers who danced and rehearsed at home? What did they dance? Tell us a little about this interaction with your siblings and how you came to understand the dynamics of music and dance?
Yes, my brothers danced their style of “club”, the “flashbacks” and it was my sister who first introduced me to capoeira. My family has always inspired me in art, but their dance style was passinho (a type of short tap dance) you know, but what influenced me a lot were in fact the songs they listened to at the time. They listened to flashbacks and the most classic songs and obviously going through Techno and electronic music. I grew up listening to electronic music and even when I started to practice breakdance I also went to rave parties, so electronic music was always present in my style.
Tell us a little about inspirations ... have there been people who inspired you in dance? I wanted you to also talk about the fusion of breakdance, capoeira, acrobatic movements, jiu-jitsu. In breakdance, there were more difficult movements to learn or it was always easy to us in all these styles?
Inspirations, like any art you learn at the beginning, of course there are several inspirations, several people who are a reference in the sport, so my biggest inspirations were several dancers. Ken Swift, K-Mel, the members of my team, Pelezinho, before I met him I already admired his work a lot and my mix with capoeira is an addition to it, every movement of capoeira introduced in breakdance is a characteristic of mine and vice -versa and as for the breakdance, yes, it has a higher degree of difficulty, you know it’s harder than capoeira, but one complements the other and the dedication in each movement and each stage within what you practice ends up adapting and developing a new movement. Anyway, one complements the other, as if one were an integrating part of the other.
Talk about the main events you participated in and which ones were special to you?
I participated in more than 100 international championships, I am the only Latin American, the only Brazilian to be Red Bull BC One world champion, I am the champion of 2010, I also won another world championship called UBC Championship, in Las Vegas in addition to Unbreakable, Freestyle Session and Outbreak Europe. There were several world championships in the modality 1 vs 1, I was the only Brazilian to reach those titles. In Brazil, I participated in several smaller ones, but the beginning of my career as a competitor I already stood out more in international events, so, once I entered the international circuit, the battles were on all continents and I have traveled to 141 countries and out of which, at least 80 I've been competing.
Neguin, is dancing a challenge? I recently saw a testimony from you in which you said that you got to know the world through dance and Hip-Hop culture. What tips do you have for those who intend to make a living of dance?
It will always be a challenge as an artist and you will most likely have obstacles to overcome. First of all, you have to believe in your art, be good at what you do, dedicate yourself, because nothing in life comes easy, it’s a lot of dedication, a lot of discipline and you need to be focused, be focused on this art and see what the world has to offer to you, in my case it was always difficult, but I thought “I will prepare for when the opportunity comes, I’m ready, so what will I need? Will I need the email? I will! Will I need to speak English? Oops, I don't speak English, so I'm going to practice English, I'm not going to be on Facebook talking to girls. I am going to sharpen my English so that I am prepared to travel abroad ”. So, it's a matter of preparation! Speak English, study your art! Have all the knowledge to invest in your art, your talent, taking advantage of the opportunities that will come and from there have what we call success! To be successful, you need to value your art and work hard!
Currently, where do you live? What was it like to leave your country and live in another country, with another language and other habits? How was this transition and adaptation?
I live in New York, this city has always been my base, I lived in California for a while, but currently I live in New York. With the trips I took as a competitor, through my trips with dance, with capoeira and jiu-jitsu, I realized that it was the place that I identify with a lot, it is a place where opportunities are here to try! Both New York and São Paulo are not easy, it is the same thing and the same rush, however, I always liked the Hip-Hop culture and as it was born there and the House Dance Culture in the general context, New York awakened my possibility of living there, so I projected myself to live in that place and I have lived there for 12 years. I don't remember much of the difficulties at the beginning, but look, I didn't look back! I realized that Brazil didn't have a lot to offer so I decided to project my career abroad, where my art is most valued!
It looks like you were able to quickly connect with the right people, working with celebrities like Madonna, Fergie, Gwen Stefani, Sean Paul, Justin Timberlake, Paul McCartney and Missy Elliot. Tell us how it all happened?
My talent has always stood out in a certain way, social networks too, the internet facilitates this transfer and exposure, networking with the people I met. I was already living in New York when Madonna watched a video that was shown to her and she learned that I was in New York, she went to the club where I was and said: “I want to go there and see who this guy is ". In fact, Madonna went to a party where I was dancing in person, you see how in New York there is a very different reality, the celebrity, the pop music icon arrived at the party, as an ordinary citizen, right? Nobody looked at her as a celebrity and from there I started working with her, then the story goes much deeper. My network has always been about being in places and representing who I am, representing my image, representing Brazil, I think that reflects in all media, whether in a show or in a video and surely on social media as well.
Speaking specifically of Madonna, tell us about the time you danced and worked with the Queen of Pop. How was that opportunity and what do you remember about that period?
I met Madonna in 2009, so I stayed from 2009 to 2014, it was 5 years, I developed work with her as a performance, as a choreographer on tours and we ended up hooking up! I had a “thing” with her too, for a year, few people know about it, but it happened, it was a very healthy thing, a healthy relationship, it had all the dynamics, we still talk, lately very little, it's been many years since we last met, but we always exchanged ideas over the internet, but yes, it was 5 years of work and I had this really cool experience.
What about Cirque du Soleil? Tell us how the invitation came about and how that experience was?
Cirque du Soleil I have been working with them since 2008, but I always worked with them in a format of doing road shows and tours and not in a fixed place in Las Vegas, so I always did shows in Andorra, Europe, Mexico wherever they called me to. Then I would go for a month, sometimes a week. And also specific shows at a meeting or event, so I always worked on tour with Cirque du Soleil. This happened in 2010, 2014, 2016, that is, I am always doing shows with them. So I’ve been with them ever since 2008!
In 2010, as you said yourself, you were the only Latin American, the only Brazilian to win the Red Bull BC One, which is one of the biggest 1vs 1 championships in the world. And people have it as a reference. What in your opinion was decisive for this success?
The difference is clear, if I got there it is because I am authentic through my art of representing who I am and what I learned, in this case, capoeira mixing and having a specific identity, not being equal to everyone. I am not like the European, Asian or American. I have Brazilian characteristics! Afro descendant, all the mixture that Brazil offers us, so that characterized and made up my style, my talent. And if I got there it was because I looked for it! I went through difficulties, overcame all the obstacles and focused on that, the focus and discipline helped me to achieve what I achieved. So, if I did it, anyone can do it too! It is enough to have these principles to be authentic, original and to have focus and strength all of which with discipline!
Well, currently the most talked about subject here in Brazil between B-Boys and B-Girls is the fact that breakdance officially made it to the Olympic Games. What do you think about that? In your opinion, do we have B-Boys and B-Girls prepared to compete as equals with other countries and bring an Olympic medal to Brazil? What do you think of the level of our B-Boys and B-Girls today?
This is an extremely important achievement, not that the breakdance needs the Olympics, but certainly in this new platform, which is the Olympic Games, this will make it possible for people who do not know breakdance have a vision to know a little more, so, this came as an addition. Regarding Brazil, we are one of the most recognized people on the world circuit, I believe that Brazilians do have a great potential to bring medals and represent the country, but they will have to show full dedication, a lot, because there are other countries that are already greater powers, have more discipline, have more support. Like Russia, China and then, for Brazilians, I think they will need to continue practicing and studying, to have all this help, to try to help the country as best as possible with all my baggage as a competitor, but that's it ... I fully support the Olympics, because breakdance is not just a sport, it is a culture, but we are also athletes, whether we like it or not, so, whether it is a Red Bull BC One championship, either in the Olympics or in a battle around the corner, breakdance will be present on all platforms and we hope that the Brazilians will have great prominence and represent us well and we also hope that Brazil will support its competitors a little more, they are our athletes after all! Let's see what happens…
Just to conclude, I would like you to talk about the MTV program “Ex on the Beach, Brazil Edition” that you recently participated. Was it challenging?
Participation came through an invitation as early as November, and I decided to participate because I am not traveling much, so I am available and used the program as a new experience for me and at the same time represent what I do within an environment that is very different from what I live, so I went there as an athlete representing my life, style, which has this side of enjoyment, was a very good experience for me and we will see now how it will be, they will launch this week, for being an edited program I hope that the repercussion of my image is very positive and that they bring new audiences and people who did not know me get to see what I do artistically.
What message would you leave for all B-Boys and B-Girls who enjoy your work?
The message I would leave is gratitude! I always try to inspire people so they can teach others, so I think that if I can inspire thousands of people, and those have been initially inspired by me and they can do same! My message is that we are all in the same boat, we are all messengers of art and culture! A big hug to everyone!
Luciana Mazza: Journalist, Filmmaker and Editor at Portal Breaking World
