{"id":5117,"date":"2013-05-13T16:55:28","date_gmt":"2013-05-13T16:55:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dancemogul.com\/news\/?p=5117"},"modified":"2020-03-20T12:46:30","modified_gmt":"2020-03-20T16:46:30","slug":"zulu-gremlin-dance-is-the-physical-celebration-of-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dancemogul.com\/news\/zulu-gremlin-dance-is-the-physical-celebration-of-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Zulu Gremlin | Dance is the Physical Celebration of Life"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"gremlin<\/a><\/p>\n

Dance Mogul Magazine<\/strong><\/em> is honored to present Steve” Zulu Gremlin” Roybal, a great example of positivity in Hip – Hop and success in street dance culture. He gives us some insight to his accomplishments and what it takes to be successful. There are many paths to success in dance and we hope the next generation can pull from Mr.Roybal to help them on their journey.<\/p>\n

\"gremlin<\/a><\/p>\n

Steven Roybal, born in Los Angeles in 1970, is the son of a musician who has toured the United States with his father since birth. He began producing at the age of 13 as part of Denver\u2019s Inner City Youth Production in 1983. Steve learned at an early age how to work with large groups of people and handle budgets by producing concerts with artists such as Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Flash, and Earth, Wind, & Fire; special events such as \u201cThe Beat Street Tour\u201d; and competitions for all the elements of the Hip Hop culture. Throughout the 90s, aside from producing events and music, Steve worked as a street promoter for major record labels: RCA, Tommy Boy, Island, Polygram, and Warner Elektra Atlantic. In 1991, Steve signed as an artist to Virgin Records.\u00a0 He also choreographed pop artists like Timmy T, Mellow Man Ace, and Kid Frost. He was part of the first Hip Hop Broadway Show entitled \u201cJam On The Groove\u201d presented by Giorgio Armani, which toured not only the United States but internationally as well. In 1997 Steve created the infamous B-Boy Masters Pro-Am Urban Conference and has gone on not only to produce the Pro-Am World Tours, but he has also been contracted to produce conferences and events for other large companies. Steve has produced artists on major labels and has teamed up with the likes of McDonald\u2019s, Lipton, Red Bull, Universal Records, Rocawear, Pepsi, Sony, Def Jam, EA Sports, Verizon Wireless, MTV, BET, and many other companies to bring the US urban market abroad. He has become the \u201cgo-to\u201d man for labels and marketing firms trying to brand themselves with the urban market. Steve has been active in the Hip Hop community since the early Eighties.\u00a0 In 1984 he began teaching Hip Hop dance (at the age of 14) to college students at the University of Southern Colorado, while also giving private breakdancing lessons at the same time.\u00a0 His students also included the children of the Congresswoman at the time, Patricia Schroeder.\u00a0 Since he began teaching dance, his students have ranged in age from three years old to over fifty years old. Steve has contributed pieces currently shown in the Smithsonian Institute\u2019s American Cultural Arts Building.\u00a0 Other articles of Steve\u2019s personal archive \u2013 his sneakers, specifically \u2013 are currently on exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.\u00a0 He also performed in the first celebration and induction of the Hip Hop culture into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"gremlin<\/a><\/p>\n

In 2006, Steve became the Creative Director for Red Bull Beat Riders program and in 2008 became the Director of The International Dance Academy, Hollywood and The Hollywood Pop Academy located in the world-famous Kodak Center. In 2009 Steve became the Battle Coordinator for Hip-Hop Internationals \u201cWorld Battle\u201d and is now on the international panel of judges for Hip-Hop International World Championships. Some of Steve\u2019s noteworthy nationwide televised performances include \u201cThe Damon Wayans Show\u201d and ABC\u2019s \u201cDancing With The Stars.\u201d\u00a0 Steve participated and was featured in theatrical feature releases \u201cStep Up 2\u201d and the \u201cFreshest Kids,\u201d and choreographed a scene for \u201cStep Up 3D\u201d released in 2010. Most recently Steve choreographed and performed in pop sensation Justin Bieber\u2019s music video, \u201cSomebody to Love\u201d, Rhianna\u2019s \u201cBreakin Dishes\u201d live show for tours and Tommy Boy 30th<\/sup> Anniversary show at the 45th<\/sup> Annual Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland.<\/p>\n

\"gremlin\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Dance Mogul: <\/strong>At what age did you\u00a0develop\u00a0a passion for the arts?
\n<\/strong>Zulu Gremlin:<\/strong> Born the son of a drummer and an artist, so I started dancing very young.\u00a0Roboting at 10 years old.<\/p>\n

Dance Mogul: <\/strong>Who were some of your early\u00a0inspirations?
\n<\/strong>Zulu Gremlin:<\/strong> Lockers, Jackson’s, Sammy Davis Jr, Maurice Williams.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/youtube.com\/watch?v=LzOemjTjk0E<\/div>\n

Dance Mogul: <\/strong>Were your parents supportive of your passion for dance?
\n<\/strong>Zulu Gremlin:<\/strong> My parents managed my Breakin crew and my dad\u2019s band gave us gigs.<\/p>\n

Dance Mogul: <\/strong>When did you know that you could become a professional?
\n<\/strong>Zulu Gremlin:<\/strong> I knew at 12 when I started teaching at YWCA.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/youtube.com\/watch?v=7VtpnGaR15I<\/div>\n

Dance Mogul: <\/strong>How did you develop your work ethic?
\n<\/strong>Zulu Gremlin:<\/strong> My father passed his rehearsal ethics to us and our passion to learn did the rest.<\/p>\n

\n