Olivier "Oli" Nguyen; Profile

NAME Olivier Nguyen

AKA Oli

HOMETOWN Manly

DANCING SINCE 1991

CREW

• Zealous (ZBK) - Bboy Crew

• Lemmings - Showcase Crew

• Supreme Dance Renegades (SDR) - Popping/ Bboy Crew

BIO

Oli has been training in dance since the early age of 5. Born in France (Paris), he started with ballet, jazz and tap until he found his passion/ talent for Hip-Hop (Bboying, Popping, Locking) at the age of 15. A style he has been perfecting and succeeding in ever since. Oli is a current member of Zealous and S.D.R crew, Sydney’s up and coming Bboy/Popping crews and he has had 7 years teaching experience in Hip-Hop (old and new-skool).

INTERVIEW

How would you describe your style?
One word – “FRESH” ahhaha…. Jks jks….

Well, my main style is Bboying these days! I try to incorporate my top-rocks, footwork, power and tricks together with the music, to give my Bboy style a lot of energy/dimensions.

My other passion is funk dancing (popping and locking). In Popping, I am still finding my own foundation, but I am trying to mainly incorporate Animation, Boogaloo, Crazy legs, Boping and Waving into my popping style.
I also love to Lock, as this funk dance (in a way) best describes my personality. It’s a very energetic, joyful/ positive and animated dance.

What continues to inspire you to dance?
Life in general! I don’t know if it makes sense to people when I say this …
But lately, anything that I hear or see in life that has given me joy or excitement- I have interpreted this into my dance as a form of expression! Hard to explain heheh…

Also when traveling around the world, I have met so many talented dancers/crews (like Bboy Storm, Salah) who have inspired me to pursue my passion for dancing!

Locally, Bboy Watto, Don, Willastr8 and Cha Cha have been my inspirations, as those 4 dudes have taught me a lot in Bboying and myself! I have so much respect for those 4 guys as they have taken the time to help me in my Bboying.

My dance student inspire me a lot as well as their positive energy bounces back on me!

I have also joined Zealous crew last year. They have been a major inspiration on my Bboying and passion for dancing. All of the Zealous members are like family to me, as we all share the same passion and we all have the same mindset in dancing and life in general!

As a dancer, what are your goals?
My main goal is to challenge myself in huge dance comps under pressure. I want to dance my best in any given situation, whether it’s for fun at a party or at a huge international dance competition.

This year, I want to improve the most in my Bboying, Popping and Locking.
I also want to be a versatile dancer. I want to learn every style of dancing before I get too old and can’t move anymore heheh… Coz the more dance styles I learn, the better I feel/ adapt to any styles of music!

And when I can’t move anymore, I’d like to open my own dance school one day ☺

What would you say to anyone aspiring to be a dancer?
First try to be open-minded on other dance styles. Try not to hate other styles of dancing or even say “that’s not dancing” to another form of dance! As people dance coz they enjoy this particular style of dance…It may not be your interpretation of dancing but it’s theirs!

As when you’re open-minded to other styles of dance- this will help you to be more creative in your own style of dance! (duno if it makes sense but it has worked for me )

Learn as much as you can and have fun when you dance, as dancing should be a musical expression of yourself☺

How often do you dance?
Everyday lol….dancing is my life!
I train in Bboying 3-5 times a week, Popping/Locking 2-3 times a week,
And I teach 6 days a week☺

Any shout outs u wana give?
Shout outs to my crew: Zealous/ S.D.R for supporting me in my dancing!
Also all the Parramatta boyz (SKB dudes), Liverpool St. Familia and Ballz crew!

Bboy Watto, Don, Willastr8 and Cha Cha for inspiring me in Bboying.

Popping Jack, Dennis Kool, J-Funk, Gene,Kazuto and Romeo for keeping Sydney’s popping scene alive!

DJ Kid Koma, DJ Libre for providing the Freshest beats in Sydney and of course,
Critical Hype/ 360 for supporting Sydney’s Hip-Hop scene!

Peace

Oli – Zealous/S.D.R

CREDITS

2010
• ED HARDY STREET STYLE BATTLE 2 on2 Bboy Winner (Won by myself)

• Masters of Hip Hop Sydney 5 on5 Bboy Winners

• Masters of Hip Hop Melbourne crew Bboy Winners

• Masters of Hip Hop Melbourne 1 on1 Bboy Finalist

• CYC Jam Bboy Winner

• Platform 3 Crew Battles semi-finalist

2009

• Encryption Hip-Hop 2 on 2 winners (Freestyle)

• Encryption Hip-Hop 2 on 2 winners (BBoy)

• 360 Hip-Hop Freestyle Solo comp

• Looze control 2 on 2 Bboy com

• Freestyle Hip-Hop 2 on 2 “Ride the Rhythm” comp

• 2 on 2 Breakout Battle finalist

• Platform 2 Crew Battles semi-finalist

• Evolution Crew Battles semi-finalist

• 2 on 2 Dancekool Vo. 23 Bboy Battles quater finalist

2008

• Top 16 in Bboy crew battle - Evolution Europe (Spain)

2007

• 2 Time Winner of the HUnter Hihop Freestyle Competition

2006

• Winner of the Northern Beaches Salsa Competition

2005

• Winner of the mona Vale competition

• Winner of the Greenwood Vodafone Freestyle competition

• 2nd Place of the UN Nightclub 1on1 Hip hop Competition

• 2nd Place "Served Dance" Hiphop Competition

1993

• 3rd Place of the PAris Ballet Academy

OTHER CREDITS

• Top 60 SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE (Season 1)

• Featured in Omarion Concert as HIp hop and BBoy dancer

• Swarovski Crystals open show Sydney as BBoy dancer

• McDonalds Happy Meal advertisement as BBoy dancer

• Guy Sebastian "Out with my baby" video clip as back up pop dancer

• Nickelodeon "Me TV" to teach children "How to break dance"

• Paulini "Rough Day" video clip as back up hip hop dancer

• Spanish Group "Surque" video as Bboy

• Hip hop Elements tour Sydney "Savage" as a Bboy

VIDEOS

2009 -"Encryption" Canberra Battles:

Popping:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qutQu1qUXZU

Bboy Finals:

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