Break Sk8 is a jam-skating group from Kokomo, Indiana. Founded by Shannon Anthony in early 2000, the group has since then traveled around the country to join competitions. They have become the official skate team for the NBA, NCAA and WNBA games. With credits to their great break-dancing routines while on roller skates, the group has become one of the most recognizable names in the field of jam-skating for the last seven years.
Shannon Anthony
Twenty-four-year-old group founder Shannon Anthony, also known as the Breaksk8master, hails from Kokomo, Indiana. As grandson of a local roller rink’s manager, he had the luxury of skating for free and for long hours back in his childhood days. He started roller skating at age nine, and tried dancing while on skates when he was fifteen-years-old. He owns Core Skates, a company that manufactures high quality Quad skate frames and bearings. He also heads the safety department in Delphi Electronics World Headquarters. He idolizes Michael Jackson for being the greatest entertainer of all time, and Cico for his jaw dropping moves. What challenges him is his quest to see how far roller-skating can go and how it can be turned into something very entertaining.
Tony Zane
Twenty-year-old Tony Zane hails from Lansing, Illinois. His dancing career started at the age of 16. To make ends meet, he works part-time at UPS. Aside from break-dancing, Zane enjoys all kinds of sports. His dancing idols are Usher, Omarion and Various B-boys. After seeing his performances, people are easy to comment that he’s good at what he does. This serves as his inspiration to hold on to his passion. Aside from letting people know that skating is still very much alive, he continues to skate in his pursuit to be the best skater he can be.
Jordan McQuiston
Jordan McQuiston started dancing and skating at the age of 13. This 22-year-old man from Kokomo, Indiana works as a shoe salesman at Elder-Beerman, and is saving up money to be able to enroll at a recording arts school. Aside from being a break-dancer, he is also a hip-hop/R&B producer and a skate boots designer. McQuiston also has a knack for singing and writing. His idols are Michael Jackson, Omarion, Chris Brown, Cico and Crazy Legs. His goal in life is to be the best, to defeat the odds, to try and make a living doing the things he loves to do, and to entertain.
Jessie Nice
Jessie Nice started dancing in 2000. This 28-year-old break-dancer from Perry, Indiana says that he considered dancing when he got tired of going around in circles and racing on his skates. He then started moving around, choosing favored dance moves and incorporating them into his own style. He has no dancing idols but he loves watching Usher and Michael Jackson. For him, the two are not just dancers, but are entertainers as well. He believes that just being on the Dance Crew is already an awesome experience. He is proud of his group for taking a conventional sport into a higher level, and for using their talents to amaze and entertain people from all walks of life.
Diamond Walker
Twenty-year-old Diamond Walker is from Kokomo, Indiana. Even though he was still new to the rink environment and was just staring to discover the skating world, he already tried exploring and creating different dance moves while on skates. He started skate-dancing when he was just 13-years-old. To get by with his everyday financial needs, he prepares goody bags for Chuckie Cheese at a local warehouse. Aside from dancing, Walker is fond of drawing, teaching and playing video games. His dancing idols are the B-boys. What motivates him is seeing his very own group mates get better with what they do. By just observing them, he already gets inspired.
In 2008, Break Sk8 auditioned for MTV’s 2008 reality talent search Randy Jackson Presents: America’s Best Dance Crew. During the initial try-out, they were praised for their abilities. But when the judges asked them to do a routine without the skates, they judges weren’t impressed and BreakSk8 was asked to leave. But the producer of the show, Randy Jackson, disagreed and he called them back to compete on the show.
(Photo courtesy of MTV)