Michael Chambers
Encyclopedia
Michael "Boogalo Shrimp" Chambers (born 1967) is an American dancer and actor
known for his role as "Turbo" in the 1984
cult classic film Breakin'
and the 1984 hit sequel Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo
. In both movies he is credited as Boogaloo Shrimp, a name that remains inextricably linked to the Hollywood phase of popping
, boogaloo and robot dancing
also the freestyle art of b-boying
. During the height of the popularity of those movies, he (along with his Breakin' co-star Adolfo "Shabba Doo" Quiñones and other dancers from the film) is prominently featured in the music video for Chaka Khan
's song "I Feel for You
".
.
While still a teenager, Chambers' older brother would take him to a local pier where he would perform his moves for money. He claims to have earned hundreds of dollars through his street performances, leaving many to wonder "who was this kid!?" To solve the problem of anonymity, Michael's sister gave him a jacket that read "Mike aka Boogaloo Shrimp" hence his street dancing name. Michael's dancing would increasingly draw the attention of promoters, and particularly the eye of Adolpho "Shabba Doo" Quinones, who was seeking to form a new dance troupe after the breakup of his previous group The Lockers.
Chambers would also meet other popping/dance legends during this time, including Bruno "Poppin' Taco" Falcon and Popping Pete. Taco and Shrimp would go on to share ideas and styles, building upon solid foundations that both possessed. Both would later be featured in videos and movies, including Breakin'.
's All Night Long
. In 1985, he co-starred in "Stop the Madness
," an anti-drug music video sponsored by the Reagan administration, featuring several famous musicians, actors and athletes.
He also appeared in such films as Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult, Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey as a dancing robot and in the 1999
film Dudley Do-Right
. He also appeared as Urkel-Bot in a 1991 episode of Family Matters, again as a robot.
Chambers was the announcer on the kid's show Fun House
from 1990-1991. In contrast to his style of dancing, he would dance while "rapping" the opening spiel at the start of the show. He appeared in Sugar Ray
's 1997 video of the song Fly
and break danced in the video.
Michael is currently in talks to do a second sequel to the popular Breakin’ franchise. The project is on hold at the moment, as producers search for funding. Undeterred, Michael is once again prepared to go out into the public spotlight, this time not only as a dancer but as a lecturer on Hip Hop and street dancing culture.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
known for his role as "Turbo" in the 1984
1984 in film
-Events:* The Walt Disney Company founds Touchstone Pictures to release movies with subject matter deemed inappropriate for the Disney name.* Tri-Star Pictures, a joint venture of Columbia Pictures, HBO, and CBS, releases its first film....
cult classic film Breakin'
Breakin'
Breakin', released as Breakdance: The Movie in some countries, is a 1984 breakdancing-themed film directed by Joel Silberg. The film setting was inspired by a German documentary entitled Breakin' and Enterin set in the Los Angeles multi-racial hip hop club Radiotron, based out of Macarthur Park in...
and the 1984 hit sequel Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo
Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo
Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo is the 1984 sequel to the breakdancing film Breakin. It was first released in the same year as its predecessor by TriStar Pictures, and by Cannon Films the year after...
. In both movies he is credited as Boogaloo Shrimp, a name that remains inextricably linked to the Hollywood phase of popping
Popping
Popping is a street dance and one of the original funk styles that came from California during the 1960s-70s. It is based on the technique of quickly contracting and relaxing muscles to cause a jerk in the dancer's body, referred to as a pop or a hit...
, boogaloo and robot dancing
Robot (dance)
The robot is an illusionary street dance style – often confused with popping – that attempts to imitate a dancing robot or mannequin...
also the freestyle art of b-boying
B-boying
B-boying, often called "breakdancing", is a popular style of street dance that was created and developed as part of hip-hop culture among African Americans and Latino youths in New York City. The dance consists of four primary elements: toprock, downrock, power moves and freezes...
. During the height of the popularity of those movies, he (along with his Breakin
Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan , frequently known as the Queen of Funk, is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus. While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career...
's song "I Feel for You
I Feel for You
"I Feel for You" is a song written by Prince that originally appeared on his 1979 self-titled album. It became a hit single in 1984 for female R&B singer Chaka Khan, appearing on her album, which was also called I Feel for You...
".
Childhood
Michael was born in November, 1967, in Wilmington, California and is the youngest of 4. He grew up in a small town but a community with a diverse mix of ethnic groups and cultures. Initially, he formulated his unique style of dance through his interest in fantasy and sci-fi television shows, including the work of Ray Harryhausen and other stop-motion experts. He was also greatly inspired and taught by west coast popper and member of the Electric Boogaloos, Boogaloo Sam. He credits his older brother with introducing him to his first "moonwalk" a move he would later perfect, and share with pop superstar Michael JacksonMichael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
.
While still a teenager, Chambers' older brother would take him to a local pier where he would perform his moves for money. He claims to have earned hundreds of dollars through his street performances, leaving many to wonder "who was this kid!?" To solve the problem of anonymity, Michael's sister gave him a jacket that read "Mike aka Boogaloo Shrimp" hence his street dancing name. Michael's dancing would increasingly draw the attention of promoters, and particularly the eye of Adolpho "Shabba Doo" Quinones, who was seeking to form a new dance troupe after the breakup of his previous group The Lockers.
Chambers would also meet other popping/dance legends during this time, including Bruno "Poppin' Taco" Falcon and Popping Pete. Taco and Shrimp would go on to share ideas and styles, building upon solid foundations that both possessed. Both would later be featured in videos and movies, including Breakin'.
Breakthrough
Chambers got an early entrée into professional dancing via television commercials, followed by an appearance in the video for Lionel RichieLionel Richie
Lionel Brockman Richie, Jr. , is an American singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Since 1968, he has been a member of the musical group Commodores signed to Motown Records...
's All Night Long
All Night Long (All Night)
"All Night Long " is a hit single for Lionel Richie from 1983. Taken from his second solo album, Can't Slow Down, it combined Richie's soulful Commodores style with Caribbean influences. This new, more dance approach proved popular, as the single reached number one on three Billboard charts...
. In 1985, he co-starred in "Stop the Madness
Stop the Madness
"Stop the Madness" is an anti-drug music video uniquely endorsed and supported by United States President Ronald Reagan and the Reagan administration in 1985...
," an anti-drug music video sponsored by the Reagan administration, featuring several famous musicians, actors and athletes.
He also appeared in such films as Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult, Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey as a dancing robot and in the 1999
1999 in film
The year 1999 in film involved several noteworthy events and has been called "The Year That Changed Movies". Several significant feature films, including Stanley Kubrick's final film Eyes Wide Shut, Pedro Almodóvar's first Oscar-winning film All About My Mother, science fiction The Matrix, Deep...
film Dudley Do-Right
Dudley Do-Right
Dudley Do-Right, created by Alex Anderson, is the eponymous hero of a segment on The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show which parodied early 20th century melodrama and silent film in the form of the Northern genre....
. He also appeared as Urkel-Bot in a 1991 episode of Family Matters, again as a robot.
Chambers was the announcer on the kid's show Fun House
Fun House (game show)
Fun House was a United States children's television game show that aired from September 5, 1988 to April 13, 1991. Two teams , each consisting of a boy and a girl, played messy games and answered questions to win a chance to run through an obstacle-strewn Fun House at the end of the show. It was...
from 1990-1991. In contrast to his style of dancing, he would dance while "rapping" the opening spiel at the start of the show. He appeared in Sugar Ray
Sugar Ray
Sugar Ray is a band from Orange County, California. The band, starting off more as an alternative metal band, first gained fame in 1997 with their release of the song "Fly". This song's success, coupled with its pop rock sound that was quite different from the rest of their material at the time,...
's 1997 video of the song Fly
Fly (Sugar Ray song)
"Fly" is a song by rock band Sugar Ray. It appears on their 1997 album Floored twice: one version with reggae artist Super Cat and the other without ....
and break danced in the video.
Michael is currently in talks to do a second sequel to the popular Breakin’ franchise. The project is on hold at the moment, as producers search for funding. Undeterred, Michael is once again prepared to go out into the public spotlight, this time not only as a dancer but as a lecturer on Hip Hop and street dancing culture.
External links
- Comprehensive Interview with Michael Chambers, 17 parts on Youtube'
- http://www.myspace.com/officialboogalooshrimp
- Cast biography from Breakin