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Meet Mr. Henry Spencer, aka B-Boy Phlip
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B-Boy Phlip
His club routine is unmistakable and legendary. He strolls into the club. He daps up security. He nods to the DJ. He heads to the bar for a Heineken. He heads to the dance floor and strips off his shirt. He circles the dance floor. Showtime. Once Henry Spencer hits the dance floor, he suddenly springs to life. He launches himself into a whirlwind of head spins and gravity-defying poses. Whether the crowd is small or great, everyone stands in awe at this display of world class b-boying. And that's the way Henry Spencer likes it. He doesn't do this for money or fame. He does this because he wants to make people happy. His message is "positivity through everything" and he plans to communicate this message through b-boying. "This is the only true form of expression left in the world. No one can tell you how to do it. I only have control of me, so I do me."
Henry Spencer grew up in The Bronx, the official home of hip-hop. When he became interested in b-boying, Spencer adopted the name of B-Boy Phlip, which stands for Peep-How-Long-I-Pose (a reference to his unique ability to pose motionless in awkward b-boy moves). Eventually, B-Boy Phlip became a street sensation, and he headed for Hollywood after a brief stop in Hampton Roads. In Hollywood, he regularly appeared in television shows and commercials. His most notable appearance was on Dance 360, a hip-hop dance show from the UPN network in 2004-2005. Dance 360 was one of the first major dance shows to appear on national television, and it opened up the doors for recent shows such as Fox's So You Think You Can Dance. B-Boy Phlip also appeared in the 2005 film entitled "Dirty", starring Cuba Gooding Jr. ("Dirty" is currently available in video stores). However, after five long years of show-biz, Phlip grew tired of the Hollywood lifestyle and wanted to concentrate more on the art of dancing and less on the associated fame. "I prefer dancing in a local club for people rather than performing on television to entertain people that I will never meet." With a new sense of focus, Phlip headed back to Hampton Roads in 2005 where he would become a living street legend.
B-Boy Phlip is currently a member of the local b-boy group called BOCA (an acronym for Bust-Other-Crew's-A**es). Phlip claims that they are the best b-boy crew in the area. "We are the hottest b-boy group in Hampton Roads. I challenge any b-boy crew to come out and they will get smashed!" The BOCA crew can be found performing in many of the local clubs such as Retro Café and Club Tropicana. Phlip often reminisces about the famous b-boy battles at the storied Abyss, a huge club that used to be located in Virginia Beach. "That was me who started that", he proudly proclaims.
With all of his past fame and current passion, the logical question is whether or not we can expect to see B-Boy Phlip appear on a television show like So You Think You Can Dance. "I don't think so", replies Phlip. The main reason is because he doesn't care much for the fame, and another reason is because he still feels the effect of an ankle injury he suffered while trying out for the US National Gymnastic Team. Phlip, an avid gymnast, once had aspirations to become an Olympic gymnast. However, those dreams were derailed by career ending ankle and knee injuries. He currently fuels his passion for acrobats by serving as the boy's coach at Hurricane Gymnastics in Chesapeake, Va. Hurricane Gymnastics is quickly becoming a favorite for youths who need to relieve energy, stay fit, and gain body control. "If your kids have a lot of energy, send them out here. We'll work them out", he jokes. Phlip recently organized "Sunday Night Raw" at the gym, which is an opportunity for gymnasts, b-boys, rappers, and DJ's to get together and showcase their talent. The event is currently scheduled for every Sunday evening from 7:00 - 9:30 pm. Phlip sees "Sunday Night Raw" as his chance to give back to the community by creating a positive environment for local youths. Hopefully, with his message of "positivity over everything", B-Boy Phlip will make Hampton Roads the last stop on his amazing journey.
B-Boy Phlip can be contacted at bboyphlip@yahoo.com.
For more information about Hurricane Gymnastics, call (757) 549-8181.
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