Breaking Out

The break dancing leaders of Sisterz of the Underground blaze a trail for women in hip hop

A A A Comments By Bernice Yeung Wednesday, Aug 21 2002

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"I coulda held the freeze longer!" Rabiano says. "Fuck me!"

"That girl Mary took four times longer than the rest of us," Rowlan blurts out. "You know, there's a strategy. You tell your story. First you lay it out with foundation, your uprocks and six-step, to show that you respect this enough to learn the basics. Then you do a little power move or whatever, and end in a freeze. Short and sweet."

Brandon Fernandez

Members of the Sisterz of the Underground collective.

Brandon Fernandez

Sarah "Dark Star" Ramirez hopes the Sisterz's workshops will inspire girls to participate in hip hop.

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Starved and exhausted, they scarf down takeout Indian food. With full bellies, they start to contemplate the long car ride back to Dayton, where they are staying.

But as they get up to leave, Ramirez starts doing headstands on the bed, her feet kicked up against the wall.

"Let's just go home and take real baths," someone suggests.

Weary heads nod.

"Or just go to sleep," adds another tired voice.

"Or," Ramirez suggests in complete seriousness, "we could go back and practice?