BWW Interviews: Bradley Rapier - Groovaloos Freestyle Across the Country

"Life isn't always choreographed....sometimes you have to Freestyle." And that's exactly what the GROOVALOO Freestyle is all about. Having recently completed a holiday run at the Union Square Theatre in New York, the winners of TV's Superstars of Dance are taking it on the road for a totally energized National Tour.

GROOVALOO Freestyle is a new piece of theater and you've never seen human bodies move like this. Based on the troupe's true-to-life experiences as told by the dancers who lived them, GROOVALOO is driven by intoxicating displays of physicality, a vibrant musical score and powerful spoken word poetry. The show's intertwined stories chronicle the struggles, hopes and triumphs of the 18-member cast. GROOVALOO celebrates the passion and purpose of life while revealing the heart, soul and artistry of freestyle and hip-hop dance.

As the dance craze continues through television and other media, GROOVALOO Freestyle is a testament to hard work, dedication, and the love of the art form. Each of the performers personal stories are as captivating as they are interesting. The show really is about identity and founder Bradley Rapier's story of being black, but growing up in an upper middle class family in Canada and not feeling he had the "right" to perform hip hop dance and then creating GROOVALOO is fascinating.

GROOVALOO was conceived and created by Bradley Rapier and Danny Cistone in collaboration with The Groovaloos, and directed by Cistone. I recently asked Bradley Rapier about life and The Groovaloos.

When did your interest in dance start?

RAPIER: I was always a bit of a hyper, excitable and over active kid. The youngest one in my family, I never took dance classes, was more into sports, but I remember from a young age jusT Loving the Jackson Five, and I recall winning a silly little dance contest on the ice during a break in a hockey game. By around age 10 or 11, I was bugging my older sister on the weekends to teach me the latest dance step. There was also a family friend that would come by and show me the robot. By middle school I was sort of known as the kid that danced which was funny because all I would do was groove around, I was not doing any particular dance style. Maybe it had to do with the fact that I was the only black kid in my school! (it was like that until 10th grade, when there were then two of us - LOL!). Anyway, it became official in 11th grade at a high school dance. A tall white guy, Colin Bloudoff, came in and started jamming. All my friends encouraged me to go out and dance against him. I went over there and did my thing, but I quickly realized that he was doing "something". I was groovin', but he was doing something specific. Turned out he was Locking. Like a cliché, we became friends and he along with his dancing partner, Wayne Headley were the main people to introduce me to many of the street dance styles that blew me away and turned my life around.

I was intrigued by the fact that you had been pursuing a career in medicine. What was the deciding factor in your change of career paths?

RAPIER: I was not that kid who just knew just what they wanted to do early on. I liked school, sports, science, music, math, all of it. So I basically kept doing it all as long as I could while pursuing a medical career. I was playing University Football and running track and field at the same time I was working on my Bachelor of Science degree (FYI - not the sanest idea!). By that time I had also joined StreetScape, Colin and Wayne's dance group. We had quite a bit of success, TV appearances, commercials, fashion shows, etc, but as much as I loved it and was very curious as to how people from LA, etc made it work, it didn't seem like a viable option as a serious career, especially in the context of where I was from. But, then a large clothing company, Sun Ice, approached StreetScape offering us a year contract with the company as their main marketing tool. I was in good standing, so I took that year off school, we traveled the country, even performed in Vegas but it never the same after that. Later the group broke up but I was hooked. A couple of years after that I won The Canadian Talent Search and that was it. I was a bonafide struggling artist!

Now you grew up in Canada. What do you see as the difference opportunity-wise between life in Canada and life in the United States for a dancer?

RAPIER: Things and opportunities have improved greatly in Canada over the years, which is awesome, but the big difference is opportunity and perspective. There's just a greater volume of projects and artists and people willing to take risks and start projects in the US. Plus, at least in the styles of dance I'm involved in, there's often a bit of a lag time between the "real deal", the raw culture and what gets to north of the border and when. I remember after being in LA for a few years and they would then bring me back to Canada as "Bradley from LA". It seemed silly, but after a time I saw the difference in what I was doing and had learned that wasn't always fully translated. There was a difference, a focus.

Did you have any dance education or was this a naturally developed talent?

RAPIER: I suppose my dance education started with my family friends, my sister and StreetScape. From there I craved and pursued the dance, drove thousands of miles to meet people like the Electric Boogaloos, members of The Lockers, Stylelements Crew, etc. Practiced and watched and practiced, just not at a studio. In a weird way I feel that it is natural now, but I definitely remember being lousy for long time. There was also the factor of my parents. My mother danced when she was young, and both my parents would dance at Caribbean dance parties and such. And my dad was the one who made me sit down and really listen to jazz, and get it under my skin (in between quizzing me in science!)

Tell me about the birth of The Groovaloos.

RAPIER: I had made the big move to LA in 1994. A couple years of heavy struggling and then I started to get established as a dancer by around 1996. I always had ideas for shows ever since my days in StreetScape. Colin and Wayne were a huge influence on me in that regard. In 1996, my wife Joanie (my San Diego sweetheart), Alison Faulk (a scholarship student of mine), and a friend, Lionel Araya sat down and talked about an idea for a group. Joanie came up with The Groovaloos name. We started into a few things, even won a major dance contest, but then Lionel moved away so we shelved it. By 1998 with people I had met at auditions and other friends I had met I was showcasing some of my ideas to producers in LA. My wife and I started having what we call Groove Nite's where we would get together at our apartment or at a dance studio and just play music and dance together, freestyle, and hang out. Apart from starting a community, it was also my way of surrounding myself with this dance I loved. In 1999, I was now doing choreography as well as dance. I partnered with a b-boy legend named Flomaster and we choreographed and performed in the 98/99 tour and commercials for Skechers shoes. It was a great success. Well, from the people from that project, and from Groove Nite's and showcases a certain group of about a dozen of us really started to gel. In April of '99 National Dance Day was held in LA. Joe Tremaine and Debbie Allen were the hosts. Joe asked me to choreograph the finale for the show. I decided then it was time, The Groovaloos were officially launched then. It was awesome. People just went crazy at our performance.

Has your vision for The Groovaloos changed since its inception?

RAPIER: Not changed but grown. I had always wanted, from the start, to give people a glimpse into the art form that so changed my life and by sharing that spirit within the dance I believe we have been doing that on all mediums. This dance culture, different from others, asks you to learn the foundations but at the same time quickly asks you to put your own stamp on the dance. To get comfortable in your own skin so you can bring you. Authenticity is key. As crazy as it sounds, that process of getting in the circle and getting to the real me in terms of street dance expression has helped shape much of my life. It has brought so much incredible joy to me, but also challenged and tested me in so many ways. That's why it's so infectious, people sense they are seeing, feeling and are apart of something real. We want the world to get a glimpse of that and be inspired and motivated by that regardless if they dance or not. Beyond that now Groovaloos is a dream building company. Our story is a dream. We came from all over the country and beyond to LA to chase our dreams. We've formed a family. We've weathered many things individually and as a group, but still move forward. There's a line we say in our show, "Life isn't always choreographed, sometimes you have to freestyle". Those moments when you have seemingly nothing to offer and no idea what to do, you have to keep on, trust and believe. It's so Groovaloo.

Has it lived up to your expectations?

RAPIER: It's funny, in terms of the show it's taken us seven very trying, amazing, frustrating, exhilarating years to get to this place. The argument could be made that it's about time, but it doesn't feel like that. The reality is that every time something actually becomes real it's blowing me away. I mean we talked about playing NY seven years ago but to be here officially playing Off Broadway is surreal. To have been chosen to be on the final episode of So You Think You Can Dance is crazy. To have won SuperStars of Dance is crazy. For Nigel Lythgoe to have even created the show for us to be on is more crazy. Crazy crazy blessings. We talk about it all, but as it happens it's amazing and humbling and wonderful. I see and believe in so many more things but at the same time, these actual moments are incredible. And I think we're just beginning.
TJ: What has been the most exciting and unexpected thing to happen with The Groovaloos to date?
RAPIER: The most unexpected thing was what we did today! We closed out trading at the NASDAQ! It was awesome. We were up on the big NASDAQ screen in Times Square, doing the countdown, talking about our show, introducing ourselves and ringing the bell to actually close out the trading for the day. It was so cool! And nothing like we have done before that's for sure.
So many great exciting things over the years of course including our stage show, but I think being on NBC's SuperStars of Dance and representing the US was one of the coolest. It was such a great experience, all these countries, all these styles and cultures together competing and getting to know each other. It was like the Olympics. We really came together and worked so hard on that show putting our pieces together. And then to win it all... man, that was a very very special time.

Do you have any other projects that you are working on currently?

RAPIER: We all have our own individual things, but right now Groovaloo, at least for me, is the main thing. We are starting our national tour in January and then making plans and for international tours (hopefully including Canada!), returning to NY, discussing TV and film ideas. All very exciting. (That's enough for me at present and still make time for my wife and family!)
TJ: How do The Groovaloos spend the holidays?
RAPIER: Like most people it's about family. When in LA my wife and I will invite any Groovaloos not leaving town or not having family over to our home for the festivities (and food). This year most of us are here together n NY so it will be different! We're doing secret Santa's, planning get-togethers, shopping and such, but most importantly we'll together and being thankful for what we've been given and sharing the meaning of Christmas. And there will definitely be music and dancing!

Do you have any New Years resolutions?

RAPIER: Keep inspiring and being inspired. Keep being thankful, joyful, grateful and living with purpose and most of all: Keep Groovin'!

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So, get your groove on, folks and catch them when they come to your town on their National Tour. You can check out the tour dates by visiting www.Groovaloo.com and tickets can be purchased by visiting Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com or calling (212) 307-4100. Signing off for now, ciao and remember, theatre is my life!