Words by Moshen Sikness, Photo collaboration by Jaime Venum Burgos & Tracy Lee

There are only a small number of bboys today that carry inside them what many believe to be the “true essence” of this dance. And it is fair to say that Tony DeNaro AKA Ynot is one of them. As a member of the legendary rock steady crew, and an ambassador of the craft in its truest form, Ynots journey through dance has taken him from humble beginnings as a young boy in New Jersey, to a veteran artist/dancer, who has shared his continual love for music and his passion for this culture across the globe.

What are your earliest memories of dancing?

Well the earliest was my Mother dancing around the house. She loved Lindy Hop and Disco music and Rock and Roll….she was my first intro to that. My first time seeing any type of breaking was when i was about 14…we went to the city to Times Square and it was there that i saw The Breeze Team performing in the street. From there I found some locals and then eventually found the bboy scene. The rest is history!!

What would you say was one of the most pivitol moments that brought you to a greater level of commitment and identification with bboying?

I met some friends who danced later on through school. They had a crew called “Rock With Finesse” in New Jersey. These guys taught me a great foundation. From there they introduced me to the scene I knew very little about. They brought me to my first jam called “Break Beats”, an event that Rock Steady Crew used to throw at The Point in the Bronx. After that event I knew this dance was for me.

how did you dancing progress / or change, as your level of commitment became greater?

The more I got into the culture of the whole thing is when I saw progress in my skills. In the beginning its all about getting as many moves as you can and as fast ass you can. After some time I got more into the music and the art of Hip Hop. Thats was when I started to ‘understand’ more of what and why I was doing it. Thats when things started coming together. I am learning and understanding more now as I keep being it.

At that time, who did you recognize as leaders / influentials in the game….

Hands down in the 90′s RSC was a huge influence on the scene, especially in the New York area. Crazy Legs became such an important mentor to me and taught me so much about what this culture represents. If it wasn’t for him and other members of RSC, like Fabel, Wiggles, and Ken Swift, who were very active in the scene at the time, you most likely wouldn’t have the types of dancers you see today.

What musicians / dj’s / did you draw inspiration from during this time?

First and foremost James Brown. He was the ultimate visual along with the music. He not only conducted the instruments and sang, but also would dance. He to me is the nucleus of what we represent. After discovering James I found so much more other music through digging through records. I was a small time record collector but I also was specific to only certain music. Only music that moved me. Many DJ’s introduced me to new sounds like Forrest Gump (who I heard spin at the Zulu Anniversary), Bobbitto, Q-Unique, Fabel….then when I moved to Philly it was, Cash Money, Cosmo Baker, Blaak, Groove, The Illvibe Collective, Rich Medina and Skeme Richards.

The type of music these DJ’s selected and the jams/clubs they spun at were significant to my education and experience through music. From the Point, to the Manhattan Ball Room, to Fluid, to the 700 Club, all these places have taught me something and added to my experience.

As bboying gained more popularity in the early 2000’s… how did this change your experience being a dancer in this culture?

For a while I couldn’t see where I fit in. I got into this very underground mentality. I wanted to be the guy you heard of but never seen much. I wasn’t feeling the exposure of it as much. Competition was taking over. Jams/parties became less and less. But then I realized, its a New Dawn and a New Day…I can represent the way I dance no matter where the scene is heading. I can get involved and represent within the youth of my community and stay relevant.

You can’t knock whats going on around you unless you try it. It may be something completely different from how you started but its evolving and changing. If you don’t like it then represent within the community and make a change. I felt bboys should dance more to the music….so all I do now is dance to the music because thats what i do. The way I dance may not win competitions all the time, but I know it will inspire a few to want to get down with it. I’m just expressing the things I’ve learned through my journey through Hip Hop. I stand by it and I represent my name, crew and culture to the best of my ability. I will do that in any scene at any time.

How much of “answer to question 1” is present in your dancing today?

It is in my dance today even more then it was then. I try to get down with a lot of the older dances of the past so i can have more knowledge of where it came from. I also was intrigued by the street scene and I feel they also have a style/approach that is unique to what they do.

I still keep the same mentality I did from then and now its just me reliving what I’ve seen as my influences. Also getting back into the funk styles because when i was dancing in the 90′s everybody did everything. People just danced. So thats what i’m gonna do, just dance.

Quick questions:

Favorite kicks to dance in ? suede royal proceeds or fresh out the box shell toes.

Most incredible / memorable throwdown you have witnessed? who and where The zulu Anniversary in 97′, the whole jam was memorable for me.

Most inuential dancer in your life? Mr. Wiggles, Crazy Legs, Poppin Pete, Brooklyn Terry and Buddah Stretch all are huge inuences to me not just one.

Mix tape / album in your deck right now? Afrika Islam ‘zulu beats’ mix show 1983

Your favorite single peice of vintage bboy memrobilia in your posession? i don’t have too many vintage things really. But i do have some gems and dope clothing and music that was passed to me from Legs.

If you could create a team of 5 greatest dancers of all time, they would be? hmmm…James Brown, Barry Brothers (sorry i know thats more then 1 person), Gregory Hines, Fred Astaire, and Damita Jo Freeman.

If there is a signle greatest lesson or peice of knowledge that you have discovered through dancing / this culture… how would you describe it. The biggest lesson I’ve learned through this culture is about SELF. I understand ME much more how and I feel like that is important.