By Lil Nickelson
On Sunday, April 6, 2025, the Harlem-based Maysles Cinema Center, located at 348 Lenox Ave., hosted the closeout event for “Fresh, Bold & So Def Symposium II – Celebrating Women in Hip-Hop.”
A special new cut of the documentary “All The Ladies Say” was shown; it features the work of “B Girls,” female breakdancers in the U.S. and internationally.
Breakdancing, a physically demanding street dance, has long been dominated by male performers known as B-Boys. “All The Ladies Say” challenges that narrative, spotlighting the contributions of B-Girls through archival footage, contemporary visuals, and an exclusive interview with Baby Love—an early pioneer and former Rock Steady Crew member. Despite facing barriers, B-Girls have claimed space in the male-driven world of Hip-Hop, inspiring a new generation and expanding the global dance community.
Veteran B-Girl Ana “Rokafella” Garcia collaborated with her husband, internationally renowned B-Boy, Hip-Hop dancer and dance historian Gabriel “Kwikstep” Dionisio, to highlight the female break-dancers, as well as showcasing the triumphs and challenges females face in the Hip-Hop culture.
The couple founded Full Circle Prod Inc., NYC’s only non-profit Break Dance Theater Company, generating theater pieces, original poetry, and NYC-based dance related events. “All The Ladies Say” was presented with the encouragement and assistance from Martha Diaz, founder and executive director of the Hip-Hop Education Center in collaboration with the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Maysles Documentary Center, and the Irma McClaurin Black Feminist Archive in SCUA, University of Massachusetts Amherst.
The screening was followed by a panel discussion led by Rokafella and Kwikstep along with Aruna Vermeulen, an award-winning B-Girl from Rotterdam; Melissa Negron Ulto, who has had an extensive career in Hip-Hop documentary filmmaking and she edited this documentary; and Peaches Rodriguez, a B-Girl, a world-class breakdancer whose specialty is popping. Rodriguez was one of the first women to do popping style and was also seen in “Beat Street,” a classic Hip-Hop feature film.
The B-Girls on the panel all agreed that when they first started breakdancing back in the day, the only way to truly learn the craft was by spending time with more experienced dancers—watching, practicing, and picking up the groove from the masters themselves.
Today, the internet and platforms like YouTube and TikTok have made it easier for aspiring dancers around the world to learn the moves by watching and replaying videos until they get them down. But the swag—the groove—that can’t be taught through a screen. That comes from being in the mix, surrounded by seasoned dancers, feeling the energy in real time. While the panelists made it clear they don’t knock self-taught dancers who rely on online content—especially those in remote areas—they emphasized that mastering the essence of breakdancing requires showing up. Watching live battles, attending performances, and immersing yourself in the culture is how you really catch the vibe that brings the dance to life.
They also discussed the challenges they have faced through the years regarding their femininity, getting back in shape, and dealing with motherhood issues like babysitting, as well as the representation of women in popular culture. They asked by a show of hands how many people in the audience were B-Girls and B-Boys, and I was amazed because 90 percent of the audience raised their hand–a substantial number were from Europe as well as Asia.
After the panel discussion, refreshments were served on the lower level, and a curated selection of merchandise was available for purchase. Meanwhile, lively conversations sparked between the documentary filmmakers and the B-dancers in the audience. The filmmakers were eager to gather insights and get tips on upcoming events where they could experience the culture firsthand—and maybe catch a bit of that elusive swag for themselves. To learn more about the documentary and the B-Girls featured in parts 1 and 2 as well as other breakdancers in the community go to their website, alltheladiessay.com.
Lil Nickelson
Lil Nickelson is a senior consultant with an MBA degree focused on Finance and Financial Management Services from New York University, Leonard N. Stern School of Business. Skilled in sales, management, business development, marketing strategy, and social media, with a history of working in the food and beverages industry. Her column “Dining with Miss Lil” has been featured in Harlem newspapers and with Harlem World Magazine for numerous years.
Photo credits: Panel discussion members Kwikstep, Rokafella, Aruna Vermeulen, Melissa Negron Ulto, and Peaches Rodriguez.
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