Mbegne Kassé aka Ben-J

Mbegne Kassé aka B-Boy BEN-J was appointed by the international jury as one of the four wild card B-Boys competing at the RED BULL BC ONE in South Africa.

He started breaking in 2002, after watching videos from the US and France. He said when he first saw this beautiful dance, he was deeply touched inside. From that point on, his life changed and he knew he would become a dancer.

His dance is a mixture of different styles. He is super fast, has unique toprocks, and looks very fresh and sassy. Some people call him “B-Boy Melaakh” meaning “B-Boy Lightning” because of his speed.

BEN-J not only breaks; he’s a versatile dancer with experience in jazz, classic, house, hype, locking, popping, new style, sabar and yella (traditional Senegalese dances), and even classic ballet! BEN-J is definitely influenced by his African roots. He is a Fuladu who gets his origins in Saint-Louis, Senegal’s first capital. “Yella” is a traditional dance of the Fuladus and his style definitely references this.

BEN-J was inspired by Benji, Tuff Kid, Koudjo, Nasty, Germain, and Junior, but his biggest inspiration has been his crew Crazy Elements. They are his second family. BEN-J thinks that Hip Hop holds many possibilities for kids. It’s an educational way of life that allows the mix of different cultures to merge into a new culture with the universal language of self expression.

BEN-J says he grew up living the “Bad Boy” life style in the ghetto. Before he started dancing, he was into rapping and beat-boxing. “That’s what the town boys did,” he says. B-Boying changed his life and gave it direction. Now he has a goal that’s worth working hard for. He wants to be a world renowned dancer and choreographer and to be respected in the world of B-Boying for his achievements. “The best thing about being a B-Boy is to be able to truly astonish people with my skills!”

In the beginning, it wasn’t easy for his family to accept his choice of career, but now they see that it has changed him for the better and that it’s a great opportunity. They understand that B-Boying is his life and fully support him.

BEN-J feels that the scene in Africa is constantly growing and the kids are very dedicated. They have to struggle with the infrastructure though. They mostly don’t even have the option to practice on a good floor and instead train out on the squares on concrete. Even when dancing or battling on stage, BEN-J sometimes is nervous about what kind of floor to expect.

To BEN-J a good B-Boy is somebody who works hard, practices every day and is a master in the art of expression. In a battle, a first-class B-Boy shows foundation, style, originality and fair play. BEN-J’s tip to aspiring B-Boys: “Work hard every day of your life and you will reach your goals!!!