Meet Ana Rokafella Garcia | B girl, Choreographer, Professor, Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ana Rokafella Garcia and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ana Rokafella, what matters most to you?
Authenticity is a priority for me as I create dance pieces or draft up workshop experiences. I am from the Bronx and most people still believe we are operating with a lawless mentality. Contrary to what many believe, here are so many people from the Bronx who work hard and bring about good vibes in this borough. The stigma perpetuated from those 70’s images is hard to erase in the mainstream / commercial psyche but it is why I strive to bring excellence and evolution to the stage or classroom. My intention is to always connect the roots with present artistic mediums because without the previous generational contributions to art, I would not be able to do what I do. The culture of Hip hop is based around creativity in constant forward motion so there is no reason for me to portray a thug if I know that is not me nor reflective of my community anymore. The level of difficulty present in my Break dance or Hip hop art is enough to inspire crowds and to express our worthiness of respect and love. My childhood and teen years were full of chaos and yet through dance poetry and music I was able to build a new lane for myself and my peers. I am still growing and looking forward to learn new ways to share my knowledge with the world.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I began dancing like most people in school with my friends but then went to dance for money on the streets of NYC/ Times Square area. From there I went to clubs and had some minimal exposure to do background dancing and some music video work but my career really didn’t take off until I was older and began to delve into Breakin. At the time I jumped into Breakin it was not a popular style and I was one of 2 Bgirls in NYC. There were a handful of women in 1994 across the US so we knew of each other and navigated the scene as it was going through a slow period of underground invisibility. But more people were beginning to understand that we as a community were not going to let this dance just fade away and soon many more dance events popped up to secure the cultural value and the essence of Hip hop dance. I entered the theatrical platform using the dance as a storytelling medium with my partner Kwikstep and began to revitalize the community in NYC. I was invited to travel to Europe and Japan so it helped to spread the word that not only was this dance vital part of the lineage of Black dance but also that women could also contribute and establish a space alongside the guys. I taught more workshops and appeared in film and music videos as a Bgirl and this solidified my place in the pantheon of Hip hop dance icons. I am fortunate to have caught the vibe when I did since I could step into the rebirth in the early 2000’s and ready now for the Olympic renewal of Breakin’s appeal in the public eye. The hard part is interacting with institutions that equate my dance with the streets or lack of education. My life as a practitioner and pseudo historian is to always enlighten people about the cultural aspects of Hip hop and how the dance is a fusion of movements that came before as well as new signature moves. Our dance community has successfully found longevity and has moved forward with technology and business strategies. We are not just kids from the streets, we are entrepreneurs and we are conscious of our value as well as the need to build for the future. I am proud to bring excellence into any room I am invited to dance or speak.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would say Washington Square park in the Village of Manhattan and 116th street in East Harlem are good hubs for the ambiance of the people in NYC. I would also say to visit 149th and 3rd avenue is another great spot to get a good feel for how our community eats and shops. I would invite anyone visiting to go to Wallworks Gallery, Bronx Arts Space for local art/merchandise and to the Boogie Down Grind Cafe.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to give a shout to Kwikstep my husband, dance partner, business partner
to my parents Angelina Falcon and Vicente Garcia
my brother Miguel A Garcia and my sister Carmen Garcia
Thank you’s for
the 25 years of support from The Point CDC
the 25 years of support from Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance
25 years of support from Pepatian Inc
Bronx Council on the Arts
the Bronx Museum of the Arts
My Full Circle Souljahs dancers and staff throughout 30 years
Melissa Ulto the editor and designer of the All the Ladies Say documentary film
Shiro graffiti writer from Japan with SHIROKA Tshirt designs
DJ DP One
Mommas Hip hop Kitchen

Website: https://larokasoul.com/

Instagram: @larokafella

Linkedin: Ana Rokafella Garcia

Twitter: @fullcirclesoul

Facebook: Ana Rokafella Garcia

Youtube: @bgirlrokafella

Other: http://www.fullcirclesouljahs.com/

Image Credits
floor picture Mr RayBeen3 grafitti wall picture NayMarie