Eric Escovedo Oral History

Eric Escovedo Oral History

B-boying/B-girling (Dance)

Oral history

Eric Escovedo was born in Southwest Fresno to a white father and a Native American mother. In this oral history, Escovedo reflects on growing up mixed in Fresno and about his specific experience being Native American. Escovedo describes being introduced to hip-hop music and culture initially through his Chicano step-father and through local car shows at Kearney Park and the Fresno Fair Grounds that often included b-boy/girl battles. Eventually, Escovedo braved various gang-associated neighborhoods around Fresno to practice hip-hop dance at local recreation centers such as Holmes Playground, the Mosqueda Center, and Romain Park. Escovedo also practiced dance after class and during lunch while attending school where he developed a specialty as a popper and started to go by the name Waldo; he goes on to note that Southwest Fresno was more known for b-boy power moves, whereas dancers in North Fresno were focused more on more stylistic foot movement. Escovedo also learned about hip-hop dance by watching bootleg videos of the popular B-Boy Summit events supplied by Madera resident Mikey Ice, a local member of the Zulu Nation. As a crew member of Outer Realm, Escovedo battled various Central Valley crews including: Climax, the Bumz, Mystical Illusion, the Smurfs, the Wizards, and Lunacy. Escovedo reflects on the growth and evolution of the local hip-hop dance community, noting that local crews held their own in battles across California and even internationally. Crews also battled locally and Escovedo discusses his participation in battles at Holmes Playground and larger events like Street Rock.

Sean Slusser (interviewer)

Oral history interview, 1 digitized recording, Straight Outta Fresno, Fresno State University

Digital publisher: Claremont Graduate University

The Valley Public History Initiative: Preserving our Stories holds all rights, title, and interest, including literary rights and copyright, to the oral histories and documents collected as part of Straight Outta Fresno: From Popping to B-boys and B-girls project. Oral history narrators retain the non-exclusive right to copy, use, and publish their oral histories during their lifetimes.

MP3

English

Sound

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Fresno (Calif.)

West Fresno (Calif.)

Ted C. Wills Community Center (Fresno, Calif.)

Mosqueda Community Center (Fresno, Calif.)

Roeding Park (Fresno, Calif.)

Theodore Roosevelt High School (Fresno, Calif.)