PRESENTED BY
NAME Frace “Luke” Mercado
AKA Skywalker
DANCING SINCE 2001
CREW
• SKB (Street Kulture Breakerz/Bboys) – The Bboy Battle Crew
• Lemmings – The Showcase Crew
• TF9 – The freestyle battle crew.
BIO
Throughout Luke Mercado’s relatively short dance career, he has reached on all levels of the dance from battles, dance comps, concerts, festivals, tv commercials, newspapers, Movies and even Opera. Luke began Bboying (Breaking/Breakdancing) in 2001 after being inspired by such music videos as RUN DMC’s - It’s like that, and Bomfunk MC’s – Freestyler. Luke Trained in high school with now retired Michael De la Cruz, who than recruited him into the infamous and longest standing Bboy/hip hop crew in Sydney, SKB (Street Kulture Breakers/Bboys)
Luke & SKB had won many Bboy and “Hip Hop choreography” dance competitions throughout the early years of 2001 – 2003. As SKB members we’re becoming more mature and gained non dance related responsibilities they wanted to focus more on battle competitions than the choreography competitions. Luke wanted to expand his skill in choreography and recruited fellow friends who we’re dancers and created the dance crew “Lemmings”. Lemmings have been taking over the Choreography Hip Hop Scene during 2004 – 2008, pausing this year 2009 for solo projects and self improvement.
In 2008 an all style freestyle competition by the name of “360” had came out. This gave Luke the idea of creating an all style battle crew. He than gathered friends from other style dance crews; Nu Skool & Do or Die and created the No.1 Freestyle crew in Australia “Toilet Funk 9”.
INTERVIEW
How would you describe your dance style?
My breaking style is Smooth, technical and explosive, topped off with originality and Flavour.
What continues to inspire you to dance?
I know what I am capable of, there are countless aspects to the dance and I want to master them all.
As a dancer, what are your goals?
To always INSPIRE & never EXPIRE. Meaning I want to leave my mark in the scene, and keep inspiring the future generations. I’m not here to be forgotten, outdated, and expired.
What would you say to anyone aspiring to be a dancer?
Being a dancer will surely be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make in life. Find others that have your aspiration and make it happen. All you need to do is move to the music, and your already there.
How often do u dance?
Three 2-4 hour days a week.
Any shout outs u wanna give?
All the doodes in SKB, Lemmings, Toiletfunk 9 & ZEALOUS, you’ve all made dancing one hell of a ride. Also very special thanks to my Miss Katrina Orpilla, who is my no.1 supporter in dance and everything else I do.
CREDITS
Competitions
2009
• 360 Freestyle comp - 1st place (Toilet Funk 9)
2008
• The Australian Hip Hop Championships – 4th Place (Lemmings)
• The Australian Hip Hop Championships Qualifiers – ranked 1 (Lemmings)
• Looze Control Sydney Finals – 1st Place (Lemmings)
• Looze Control Preliminaries – 1st Place (Lemmings)
• Oz Hip Hop Championships (Sydney Heat) – 1st Place (Lemmings)
• 360 Freestyle – 1st Place (Toilet Funk 9)
2007
• Ozbboy Championships – 1st Place (SKB)
• Ozbboy Championships (NSW Qualifications) – 1st place (SKB)
• Montanasa Bboy Competition – 2nd Place (SKB)
2006
• Battlegrounds national comp: Most inspiring group of all time. (SKB)
2005
• Kick up the Dust dance challenge – 1st place (Lemmings)
• Battlegrounds Bboy challenge – 1st Place (SKB)
• Groove – 2nd place (SKB)
• Groove – 2nd place (Lemmings)
• Groove Bboy Challenge – 1st place (SKB)
2004
• Euphoria – 1st place (Lemmings)
• Groove – 1st Place (Lemmings)
2003
• Elite – 2nd Place (SKB)
• Tripple M Dance Challenge – 1st place (SKB)
2002
• Elite – 1st place
• Groove – 1st Place
• Battle of the year – 1st place
2001
• Kick up the dust – 1st place
ACHIEVEMENTS
Recent Major Television Performances
• 2008 ABC Opera: La Boheme
• 2008 Fox Sports NRL Opening, Step up 2 Promotions
• 2008 Movie “The Plex” Dancer and Actor
• 2007 FOX SPORTS A1GP
• 2006 Channel V Telstra commercial for “1c call” ad campaign
• 2006 Channel 7 Medibank international tennis open
• 2005 Nickelodeon: Kid Zone
• 2004 Nickelodeon Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards
• 2004 Nickelodeon S'arvo
• 2004 Channel 10 Breakdancing at Wonderland
• 2003 Disney Channel Studio D
• 2003 Channel 10 X Games
• 2003 SBS Chill Factor” On SBS – Break Dancing
• 2002 SBS SBS Commercial
• 2002 Channel 10 X Games
• 2002 SBS Chill Factor” On SBS – Break Dancing
Recent Major Event and Advertisement campaign performances
• 2009 Supporting Act for “Dirty Laundry”
• 2009 Adidas Originals Promotion
• 2008 Colour Hill song woman’s conference
• 2008 “Nikeology “
• 2008 So you think you can dance/ Nova 96.9 Promotions
• 2008 Chinese New Year parade, Dance coordinator and choreographer
• 2008 Sydney Opera House - Opera: La Boheme
• 2007 Dicksmith Powerhouse - PS3 Launch
• 2007 Bone Thugs and harmony – Supporting act
• 2007 “Fox Sports” A1GP Backup dancer for Ricky Lee
• 2007 “Nikeology “
• 2007 DMX Support act
• 2007 “Telstra Get Connected” Advertisement Campaign
• 2006 “Red Bull Flight” Club Promotion
• 2006 Sydney Opera House – International music and dance festival
• 2006 Royal Elastics 10 year anniversary,
• 2006 Urban Music Awards On stage Performance for Nino Brown & Israel
• 2006 “Toyota Yares “Product Launch,
VIDEOS
Lemmings
2008 Looze Control
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85LapZR9OUI
SKB
2005 Groove (SKB’s last full crew performance)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9LpFT03oTM
SKB Promo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXFaNaKRQ_o
Toilet Funk 9
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nycWIVIMXlk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZMoP5gWZbQ
See you on the floor...
