Words by DeWayne Rogers and Gavin Godfrey
Images by Hiltron Bailey for Steed Media Service
The Search For Truth
It’s 5:30 a.m and as the blaring alarm clock pierces the stillness of her quaint studio apartment, Leslie Morales blindly reaches for her newfound savior. Though her firm Judeo-Christian beliefs prevent her from engaging in idolatry, this next action would teeter dangerously close to crossing that line.
She stretched out her arm, pressed the snooze button, and muttered, “There is a God.”
Though the blessed respite would last a brief 10 minutes, the added moments would be all she would need to refocus her mind on the tasks that awaited her.
By 5:45 a.m., Leslie was in the shower, allowing the hot water to shock her senses awake.
By 7 a.m., her three-mile jog would come to an exhausting end with her feet touching the outer edge of the small gravel parking lot of Dance 360 Studio.
Everyone else was already there waiting for her. Tony, Rich, Matty B, Sonya and Cherry. This group of six friends are individually just a bunch of talented dancers — all possessing similar visions of one day making it to the big stage. But together — well, that’s when the magic truly happens. Together, they joined forces to become Da Resurrektion, a dance crew dedicated to resurrecting the traditions of old-school dance in a new era. Though their time hadn’t come yet, they were all patiently waiting for that moment … the moment that would change their lives forever.
Somewhere Off In a Parallel Universe
The pace is maddening on this particular afternoon at Stage 23 of Warner Brothers Studios. Hordes of press outlets and freelance journalists are all camped out in a cramped media room waiting for some action. Meanwhile, groups of exuberant pubescent girls in tight dresses and young guys sporting signs that read “Super Cr3w” and “Fanny Pak,” began to descend upon the theater, anxiously anticipating the taping set to take place for the hit MTV show, “America’s Best Dance Crew.” With all of the sheer pandemonium swirling about the set, the show’s judges Shane Sparks and Lil’ Mama seemed impervious to the madness. Instead, their thoughts began to drift back to the struggles and ultimate triumphs that brought them both to this very successful point in their careers.
“Did you ever think three years ago that you would be here?” Sparks thoughtfully asked.
“Well, not exactly here,” Lil’ Mama responded. “But I had dreams.”
Those dreams would begin to take shape at the age of 10 when the feisty young Brooklyn, N.Y., native began placing pen to pad in hopes of one day breathing life into the words, rhythms and phrases that consumed her. One of eight children, her dreams could have — and probably should have — been tossed aside, since focusing on something so impractical can often be lost in the shuffle of juggling the needs of so many siblings. That would not be the case though, and if tragedy to triumph had ever been an appropriate phrase, it would certainly be the case with Lil’ Mama.
When her mother Tara was diagnosed with colon cancer, the rapper began to immerse herself even deeper into music. On the other end of that painful process was the birth of the undeniable hit, “Lip Gloss.” Jive Records immediately saw both the inner and outer star that shone in Lil’ Mama, and quickly signed her. The joy of having a major label deal was surreal, but was soon tempered by her mother losing her four-year battle with cancer. Though the pain is still etched deeply in her heart, knowing that her mother witnessed her dreams being realized provides a small amount of solace for Lil’ Mama. But it still hurts.
For Sparks, the journey may not have been marred by the personal tragedies suffered by Lil’ Mama, yet his journey was difficult in its own way. The Cincinnati native didn’t exactly have a golden gateway to endless riches and untold fame. It took hard work, dedication and perseverance. No one was going to separate him from his dream of one day becoming a world-renowned choreographer. Though many doors were slammed in his face early on, there was a resiliency about Sparks that could be felt in the urgency of his dance moves. He had to make it … he just had to.
This Will All Pay Off One Day…
“That was better, but we have to keep pushing ourselves for perfection.”
Leslie readily accepted the admonishment from her teammate. But today was one of those days where the grind was really starting to weigh heavily on her, so she really didn’t want to hear it.
The questions continued to float to the surface of her consciousness. “Will the blood, sweat and tears ever pay off?” “Will I ever get to prove all of my haters wrong?” But most importantly, “Will I ever be able to return home, look my mother in the eyes and tell her I did it?’
Those questions and others haunt Leslie daily. But with every every thrust, every kick and spin, her will pushes her to believe that the impossible will be made possible. All she has to do is believe.
Gratification Realized
It’s fitting that Lil’ Mama and Shane have found success in the first two seasons of “America’s Best Dance Crew.” Like the contestants who converge on Hollywood to gain the opportunity to show their stuff, they too were once in that position — and still are to a certain degree.
As the taping for this particular show concluded and perpetual favorites Fanny Pak were sent home in tears, both Shane and Lil’ Mama were still in a state of shock, not able to easily push aside the disappointing outcome. But if the eliminated crew can take anything from the two judges who offered not only their expert advice, but also their heartfelt words of encouragement throughout their journey on the show, it’s that moments such as these will only serve as minor speed bumps in their inevitable journey to the top. But that’s only if they want it badly enough. Shane and Lil’ Mama did. The empirical evidence of their careers suggests as much.
