Mr. Wiggles
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (April 2010) |
Steffan "Mr. Wiggles" Clemente is a street dancer, noted for his popping skills. He is a member of the Rock Steady Crew, The Electric Boogaloos, Tribal Click, Zulu Nation, and TC5 (the cool five). Wiggles has been active as a dancer, actor, choreographer, dance instructor, music producer and graffiti artist.
Biography
Steffan "Mr. Wiggles" Clemente, born 1965 in Bronx N.Y., is a South Bronx Puerto Rican raised on Hip Hop since the early 70's. He learned all his Hip Hop crafts in the harsh streets of the Bronx. His dancing career started by battling all around the rough streets of New York City. He built his battling reputation until he was able to battle around the world. This includes Europe, South America, Asia, Middle East, Canada, and on the great stages of Broadway. Mr. Wiggles has also been credited for 2 important movies which helped establish Hip Hop today. These movies are "Beat Street" and "Wild Style". He was given the name REK by an underground graffiti writer named SEEN from TC5 for his popularity in dancing at school, but later changed it to Mr. Wiggles after a show in Virginia Beach. Aside from dancing, Mr. Wiggles also worked in theater, film, and music with popular artists such as Graciele Danielle, Bill Irwin, Anne Marie D'Angelo, and the like. He has been a featured artist in the Apollo Theater and performed at Kennedy Center. He has appeared in music videos with artists such as Missy Elliot, Usher, Madonna, and Limp Bizkit, among others.
Steffan Clemente is married to Zoraya Clemente and has 6 children named Unico, Alexandra, Talib, Ammar, Atiya, and Zamaria.[1]
Wiggles performs as a solo artist and with the Electric Boogaloos and Rock Steady Crew. He is also committed to participating in outreach programs teaching youth about the positive aspects of hip hop culture.[2]
Recently, Mr. Wiggles' hip hop video "King Tut Style" was featured on Red Letter Media's "Wheel of the Worst". The video ended with Rich Evans dancing a parody as "Mr. Jiggles" who proceeds to dance and destroy a Christian anti-pornography VHS tape.
Awards
Wiggles received a 1993 Foundation for Contemporary Arts Grants to Artists Award.[3] Wiggles was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for the Ghettoriginal production of Jam on the Groove. He won a Bessie Award for Best Choreography for the theatrical production of So What Happens Now, a play dedicated to Buck4, a deceased Rock Steady Crew member.
Recently, Wiggles along with the members of Rock Steady Crew was acclaimed at the first VH-1 Hip Hop Honors.
See also
References
- ^ Ruby Roth (20 June 2011). "We Be Vegan: Mr. Wiggles" – via YouTube.
- ^ "Mr Wiggles Interview - Rock Steady Breakdancer LatinRapper.com". www.latinrapper.com.
- ^ http://www.foundationforcontemporaryarts.org/grant_recipients/wigglesclemente.html