Exciting! There is no other word that better defines the vibe and mood of that evening of July 2019, during the “Rede Bull BC One Cypher Brazil” when, in front of everyone on the scene, two strong and inspiring B-Girls competed for a spot in the world competition in Mumbai , India. On one side, Karyn, on the other, the Mineira Itsa, who was the champion of the night. “It was all quite unexpected,” says Itsa.
On the day of the early runoffs in Belo Horizonte, she woke up late, she was about to lose her right to compete. With the help of a friend, she arrived in time to participate and won in Belo Horizonte, then, in a distinctive moment, she had an accident on stage and injured her right foot. Her participation and victory at "Camp Brazil" happened with her bandaged foot. But it was with that same foot that she won and got on a plane to Mumbai, India.
Overcoming has always been the fuel for those who know that the sky is the limit! Itsa's life was never easy, she was born in Belo Horizonte, growing up on the border of the Tirol neighborhood with the Itaipu slum, her childhood was full of discrimination and she needed to be strong and focus to move on. Her persistence and determination took her far and beyond...
Up until a few days before the pandemic, Itsa had a life full of trips performing ten shows a week, being certain that such situation had its upsides and downsides. She said: “I learned to take care of my health and have the discipline it requires to maintain my technical level”
She simply won’t stop! Even in such a complicated moment the world has been going through, she recently starred in the series “Until 18 - The Moment of Decision”, produced by Red Bull TV. It was between one appointment and another that Itsa agreed to talk to STREETOPIA:
Check it out below:
I wanted you to talk a little bit about where you were born, your childhood and your family life.
I was born in Belo Horizonte (MG), grew up on the border of the Tirol neighborhood with the Itaipu slum, in the Barreiro region. My childhood was full of discrimination, because of my body stereotype, my behavior that is not 100% feminine nor 100% masculine. I was a very agitated child, I always loved to play ball and have fun.
It seems that your relationship with dance started early. Tell us a little bit about it. Did your family support you?
My first reference in the dance was my cousin William, he moved to a house besides me, and I started to see him (hidden by the wall) training in the backyard. Then, I managed to convince him to take me to practice. My family did not believe it would go this far, and they were afraid of the places and times that training and events took place. When they realized that I was not going to give up the dance, they started supporting me.
And when did the love for breakdance appear?
It was really love at first sight. Seeing those movements being executed with such speed and musicality just moved me.
Did someone teach you how to breakdance? Did you have references? What were they?
Ge Santiago (B-Boy Ge) and Lorran Daglas (B-Boy Sarda), co-founders of the Crew “Skeleton Breakers”, were two of the first people to teach me breakdance, focused on battle. B-Girl Chellz and B-Girl Ruthchelly also taught me a lot, my first references besides them ... B-Girl Nathana from Uberlândia, B-Girl Sarah Bee, from France.
In 2018 you joined the “Cirque du Soleil” ballet. How was it from the selection to the result? How is the daily life of those who dance and work in circuses?
In May 2017, my former ballet teacher Danielle Pavam, made a post on Facebook, it was about the Auditions that Cirque du Soleil would do for dancers of all modalities. I signed up and went to audition in August of the same year. Fortunately, I passed, but still, I had to wait 5 months to be called. Having a life of travelling and performing 10 shows a week has its advantages and disadvantages. I learned to take care of my health and have discipline to maintain the technical level.
Tell us about your experience of being a B-Girl in Brazil and tell us the main challenges faced by women today?
I am living a dilemma at the moment, which is not to be recognized as “Non-Binary” in the culture and, in addition, to also be facing these challenges with women in breakdance (after all, they were the ones who welcomed me). We must pay attention to the fact that, just as much of the Trans community was excluded from the LGBTQIA + movement, Hip-Hop Culture today is excluding women (cis and trans) from the culture, not only them, but other minorities as well.
Does chauvinism, harassment and prejudice within the scene exist? Have you ever been a victim of this? What do you think about the subjects?
It exists, it is absurd, and it seems to be endless! Not only me, but thousands of women, men and transgender people are discriminated against. Several people gave up breakdance for situations of harassment, homophobia, humiliation or even segregation of the dance. The “Bgirls do Brasil Network” got together and created a harassment guide to raise awareness among the B-Boys and B-Girls of the scene. I believe that this is just the beginning, women will recover the true essence of Hip-Hop, educating men who want to participate in its events!
When did the idea of participating in the “Red Bull BC One Cypher Brasil” come up? Did you imagine reaching the final and winning?
It was all quite unexpected. On the day of the early runoffs, in Belo Horizonte, I woke up late, I was about to lose the right to participate. With the help from my friend I arrived in time and won in BH, then, on tour, I had an accident on stage and I hurt my right foot. I won "Camp Brazil" with my foot bandaged.
How did you prepare for this event? During that time when you were competing, did your stomach get cold or was it quiet?
I had not prepared for the event in general, I was recovering from my accident. I was happy to have seen friends from breakdance and Hip-Hop after so much time just traveling and working with the “Cirque”, it was the first time in a long time that I had not danced anything other than the show's choreography.
Why do you think the judges decided for you? What really made the difference in the finals?
I believe that the battles were quite fierce, but I was feeling very energetic, I think that day I managed to connect with my opponents, judges, D.J. and the audience as well.
What feeling did you have when you received the news that you were the winner of “Cypher Brazil”? How was the return to your city, was there a lot of parties and celebrations?
A feeling of surprise, euphoria, and at the same time a feeling of having silenced and proved wrong many people who doubted me. My family was not there in SP, but they followed everything through the live. My friends from “Cirque” and BH, everyone congratulated me. There was even a barbecue!
Tell us about your trip to India. What did you think of the place, the people and their habits? How was it received?
India is a place of where people are spiritually strong, despite the poverty and extreme pollution, I was very well received, the B-Boys Bart, Till, Pelezinho and Neguin were with me and we enjoyed the event a lot by training, participating in the “Continental Battle”.
The result at that time was not positive for Brazil. What did you think of everything and how did you feel about it? Do you intend to compete in the coming years?
I felt like a beginner, someone who had just been reborn in the world of breakdance and who has a lot to improve as a dancer.
What do you think about the spaces dedicated to women within Brazilian breakdance events?
I think it is still very uncomfortable for women, especially women with children, in many events there is no space for breastfeeding, baby changing facilities, space for children. The woman still feels uncomfortable to wear whatever she wants in an event, she is between masculinizing herself and being seen as a "lesbian", "too macho to be a woman" or putting on something more feminine and being sexualized, harassed because of it. It is very sad that sexism has reached places of inclusion such as Hip-Hop events.
If you could leave a message for everyone who is reading your interview, what would you say?
Do not be afraid or ashamed to dance what you are, to express what you want to be. In any competition ... The one who learns shall be the winner!
Luciana Mazza: Journalist, Filmmaker and Editor at Portal Breaking World
