'Breakin'' star and dance pioneer Adolfo 'Shabba-Doo' Qui?ones dies at 65: 'The world lost a legend today'
Dance pioneer Adolfo āShabba-Dooā Qui?ones has died at the age of 65.
Musician Toni Basil, who was his close friend and collaborator, broke the sad news Wednesday, which Yahoo Entertainment has independently confirmed. Basil did not disclose his cause of death. Qui?onesās team has not yet responded to Yahooās request for comment.
Qui?ones and Basil were two of the original members of the Lockers, the influential ā70s dance group that created and popularized the locking style of dance. They performed everywhere from Saturday Night Live to Disneyland to Soul Train.
ā Toni Basil (@Toni_Basil) December 30, 2020
But Qui?ones was perhaps best known for his performances in the hit 1984 dance movie Breakinā and its sequel, Breakinā 2: Electric Boogaloo.
In June, the influential dancer was one of a handful of cast members from those movies to reunite and look back on the legacy of the cult classics that have long been loved by audiences, although not so much by critics.
āI didnāt particularly care for Breakinā 2,ā Qui?ones said at the virtual event staged by Yahoo Entertainment (watch below). He explained that he felt the story was āgoing more toward a cartoony point of view.ā He also hinted that a third film was in the works. āIāve been in negotiations with people who can help make the movie,ā he said, outlining the basic premise: āIn todayās world, the king of street dancing should be a woman, first of all. ā¦ We hope to not recapture what we did before, but do something much greater.ā
Qui?ones was also a respected choreographer who collaborated with and danced alongside the likes of Lionel Richie and Madonna.
He started dancing at a young age ājust at parties and things,ā he told his hometown newspaper, the Chicago Tribune, in August 1987. āMy mom used to throw me out there like a fighting chicken. āGo out there and dance for Mom,ā sheās say. And theyād give me a little cup of wine to get me going. Thatās how it all started.ā
Qui?ones explained that he felt like heād developed into a good dancer by the time he was in his early teens.
āI wasnāt really good at sports or anything, and I wasnāt good at basketball, but I could cut a rug at a dance,ā he said. āI could bop, and we used to bop in Chicago back then.ā
Earlier this month, when it was announced that breakdancing would become an Olympic sport, Qui?ones spoke to Yahoo about his mixed feelings. āStreet dance is a personal journey for most of us,ā he said. āHow are you going to have these judges judge that?ā
He said he feared that āwhat we had to overcome in order to get to this Olympic momentā would be lost, as well as āthe flavor, personality and the spontaneityā of breaking. āThatās just another version of gymnastics,ā he says, āunless you have the people there who understand and understand very clearly the balance that needs to take place.ā
The day before he died, the performer told his social media followers that he was feeling better after having a cold. He also shared his relief after having tested negative for COVID-19.
After Qui?onesās death, his celebrity friends and others paid tribute.
The Estate of Michael Jackson released the following statement: āWe are heartbroken by the passing of Adolfo āShabba-Dooā Qui?ones and send our condolences to his family. Shabba-Doo was a genius and innovator who put body and soul into his dance and choreography. Michael worked with him over the course of many years including on the BAD short film and loved and admired him greatly.ā
Others commented on social media:
I just lost ANOTHER close friend... SHABBA-DO. LA dance legend. You may know from the Breakin Movies.. Has passed away... FFUCK 2020 SHABBA-DOO MONTAGE https://t.co/x57MVFwV90
ā ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) December 30, 2020
No!! #AdolfoQuinones aka #ShabbaDoo A dance #Legend lost! A true dance pioneer! Iām so saddened by this news and Iām so very sorry Toni for your loss, the #Lockers, his loved ones and especially his family! Stay safe. ??????. #SoulTrain #ElectricBoogaloo #HipHop #LEGENDARY https://t.co/coNS07aT1R
ā Rosie Perez (@rosieperezbklyn) December 30, 2020
Sad to hear of āShabba-Dooā and his passing...he brought so much to the dance culture, an inspiration to many, myself included...#TheLockers #ShabbaDoo #Breakin #ElectricBoogaloo #Ozone #AdolfoQuinones pic.twitter.com/dyiezwutHQ
ā Mario Lopez (@mariolopezviva) December 30, 2020
@Shabba_Doo may you rest well .... you inspired many including myself mainly because you were someone that looked like me & those around me! Rest in power ! #breakin #shabbadoo pic.twitter.com/wCyJ4W2cII
ā vergiluv (@VergiLuv) December 30, 2020
The world lost a legend today @Shabba_Doo not just a personal dance hero but a culture starter of poppin and lockin. I was lucky to take some headshots with him as well. A multi-talented very special person who didnāt ever hold back. #rip #breakin #ShabbaDoo #dancer
ā Dree Mon (@dreemonmusic) December 30, 2020
RIP Shabbadoo!!! This hip hop breakdancer appeared in the 1974 hip hop movie #Breakin and Breakin 2: Electric Boogaloo. Prayers and condolences to the family! Man!!! ??šš½ #Shabbadoo #ImAPioneer pic.twitter.com/FEQq5YytIv
ā MC Debbie D (@MCDebbieD) December 30, 2020
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