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When Ronnie Abaldonado started Full Force dance crew with his older brother and their friend Rock Gallego in Las Vegas in 1995, he had no idea how far it would go. Just 12 years old at the time, he was inspired by legendary breakers like the Bronx’s Rock Steady Crew, which dominated the breaking scene in the ‘80s and went on to franchise multiple groups worldwide. But he couldn’t foresee that Full Force would go on to create a legacy of its own.
“My older brother [Rodolfo Jr.] had a vision. … He wanted to expand Full Force, so that we went global and had different chapters. And I was the complete opposite. I felt that we were a smaller crew, and I just loved the camaraderie,” says Abaldonado, now 42. “My mentality growing up with the first generation of Full Force was, if it ends, it ends here. It dies with us. I didn’t think about longevity.”
Thirty years later, Abaldonado realizes his older brother was right. Members from Full Force would move to San Diego and go on to form the Jabbawockeez, which won season one of MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew in 2008 and later became known as the first dance crew to headline a Las Vegas Strip show in 2010. The Jabbawockeez continue to influence Vegas’ entertainment scene with their show Timeless at MGM Grand.
Members also would go on to form Super Cr3w, which won the second season of America’s Best Dance Crew. Abaldonado refers to Full Force as the “origin story” for both Jabbawockeez and Super Cr3w, having established a style and standard for them to go on and leave their mark on the world of breaking.
But it’s not just about what they’ve done; Full Force is forward thinking about what they’re going to do for future generations.
“The only way we keep our legacy alive is if we recruit new members,” Abaldonado says.
One of the newest members, 25-year-old Kobe Hall, says he was inspired by Full Force’s originality from a young age. Growing up on Guam, his dreams of moving to Las Vegas and dancing professionally were fueled by the crew. A meeting with Abaldonado convinced him to make the move, which he did in 2022. Months later, he “battled in” to Full Force (which is a breaking crew’s way of initiating new members). After much hard work and dedication, today he dances professionally on the Strip and competes in national breaking competitions.
“It’s great to represent the new generation of the crew. But I have to be responsible, because of everything they’ve built up for us so far,” Hall says. “There’s a certain standard that I try to keep myself at. I also push boundaries, because Full Force has created so many of the things that have become the foundation of what breaking is today. And I feel like it’s my job to continue that legacy for the generations to come.”
Full Force is honoring that legacy with their 30th anniversary celebration on February 2 at Ahern Hotel. Hosted by Ivan Manriquez (aka Urban Action Figure) and local emcee Arturo Cecena (aka MP Art), the event will feature a two-on-two youth competition for ages 15 and under, a one-on-one adult competition and a three-on-three adult competition, all with cash prizes. Prelims will run 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., with the main event starting at 6:30 p.m.
FULL FORCE 30TH ANNIVERSARY February 2, 6:30 p.m., $15-$20. Ahern Hotel, keygatekeeper.com/ff30tickets.
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English (US) ·