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Crazy Legs (born Richard Colón) is a break dancer and graffiti artist, and is one of the original members of the Rock Steady Crew and its current president. Growing up poor in the projects of the Bronx, he saw the gang activity that his fellow Puerto Ricans were involved in. Chosing to make something of himself, rather than getting sucked into the gang life, he got into breakdancing and has since become the dominant face of breakdance culture to the world.
Career
His first real commercial exposure was as a street dancer in the movie Flashdance, however he has appeared in many movies including Beat Street, Wild Style, and Style Wars just to mention a few. He has also appeared in many television programs and music videos. He has appeared in many print magazines and newspapers including National Geographic, The New York Times, The Village Voice, Life Magazine and even Time Magazine. He has also appeared in television commercials for major corporations including Coca-Cola, Sprite, Verizon Wireless, Sean John, Avirex, and Nike. He participated in the Peabody Award-winning documentary Dance in America: Everybody Dance Now', and co-produced and starred in the documentary movie The Freshest Kids: History of the B-Boy.
As a member of the Rock Steady Crew, Crazy Legs performed in a tribute to the Nicholas Brothers at the Kennedy Center Honors, the Royal Variety Performance for Queen Elizabeth II, the Boston Ballet Gala, and in the Lincoln Center Serious Fun! series.
He has performed in an off-Broadway play Jam On The Groove working with Savion Glover. He was also instrumental in teaching John Leguizamo how to breakdance for his Tony Award-nominated play Freak.
He has choreographed music videos for Wyclef Jean and multi-platinum artist Moby. He and some of the other members of Rock Steady Crew performed at Carnegie Hall on January 19, 2001.
With other members of the Rock Steady Crew, Crazy Legs has toured extensively through the United States, as well as Japan, Australia, South America and much of Europe.
Rock Steady Anniversary parties
As president of Rock Steady Crew, Crazy Legs hosts and organizes the annual Rock Steady Anniversary, a community event that honors deceased members of the crew and celebrates Hip Hop culture both past and present. These anniversary parties DJs, breakdancers, MCs, graffiti artists, and thousands of Hip Hop supporters from all around the world. Under his leadership the group also holds an annual Celebrity Basketball Tournament during the yearly Anniversary Celebrations that raise money for the Greenwich Village Youth Council in New York. In 2003, NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg proclaimed July 26 to be “Rock Steady Crew Day” in New York City during their 26th Anniversary Celebration at Pier 54.
2004 was also a big year for Crazy Legs. He signed endorsement deals with Red Bull Energy Drink and FILA Sportswear who was the first sneaker company to honor a breakdance group. FILA debuted the "Rock Steady Crew 77" sneaker in April 2004.
As of 2005, Crazy Legs is the president of Backspin Productions and remains president of the Rock Steady Crew.
Awards
He won the 1991 Bessie Award for Choreography and the 1994 Hip Hop Pioneer Award from The Source magazine. He was inducted into the Hip Hop Hall Of Fame in 2002, and was presented with the Source Youth Foundation Image Award in 2003. He has also earned the 2003 AARTS Award from the Bay Shore Schools Arts Education Fund, and was also honored as the National Godfather of the 2003 Jersey City Puerto Rican Day Parade. He was also nominated for an MTV Award for Best Choreography for his work with Wyclef Jean. His dance program at the Point C.D.C. for young people in the South Bronx garnered him the “New Yorker of the Week” Award from New York 1 News.