Shabba-Doo
Adolfo Quiñones, a.k.a. Shabba Doo
☆ May 11, 1955
✞ December 29, 2020
Adolfo Quiñones, a.k.a. Shabba Doo, was a street dancer, actor, and choreographer born on 11'th May 1955 in Chicago, Illinois. A Soul Train dancer and member of The Lockers. His role in the "Breakin I' and ‘Breakin II" movies helped spread Street Dance worldwide. He was a versatile dancer who danced not only Campbellocking a.k.a. Locking but also Breaking, Popping, and Waacking, where he could develop himself at such a high level that he became known by his "Shway style", his unique way of Waacking.
Adolfo began dancing at family-hosted house parties. At the age of 16, he appeared on the debut season of the TV series Soul Train, alongside his sister Fawn Quiñones. In the 1970s, when the show relocated to Los Angeles, Adolfo and his family also made the move.
There he met Greg "Campbellock Jr." Pope, who showed him for the first time the Campbellocking dance in a contest in the Black Student Union at Fullerton College.
Writing his name in History the dancer and his incredible skills were noticeable and recognized by invitations and opportunities to Shabba Doo. His groundbreaking moves and charismatic performances earned him a dedicated fan base and respect among his peers until nowadays.
In 1984, he choreographed a movie called "Breakin'", and ended up playing one of the main roles in the movie as Orlando "Ozone" Barco.
The movie was and still is a big hit in the Street Dance culture, being one of the biggest inspirations for generations of kids worldwide who never had any contact with Street Dances before.
In the same year, the film "Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo" was released too, with Shabba Doo starring again in his iconic role.
Quiñones had a successful solo career, showcasing his dance skills and choreographing numerous music videos including "All Night Long" by Lionel Richie and "I Feel for You" by Chaka Khan. He also joined tours with top artists like Madonna in "Who's That Girl?" and performed with Michael Jackson on multiple occasions. Along with that he acted in a lot of films and TV series like "Tango & Cash", "Lambada", and even "The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!"
He traveled around the world teaching and judging Locking and Waacking, imparting his expertise and motivating numerous dancers from different generations to continue progressing in their craft. The rhythm of his life was a testament to the power of perseverance, talent, and the unyielding spirit of an artist determined to leave an indelible mark on the world.