Today we’d like to introduce you to Anthony Bady.
Hi Anthony, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, you could tell our readers some of your backstories.
I started Krump dancing in 2007. Before then, I had no interest in any form of movement art. Youtube was my only teacher at the time, but I knew that I would need to travel if I wanted to grow in this style. I started traveling in 2011, competing in tournaments and taking as many workshops as possible. By 2015, I was considered one of the pioneers of the St. Louis Krump movement.
Would it have been a smooth road, and what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Having a passion for a dance style many don’t know about or understand comes with plenty of obstacles. In the beginning, it was just my brother Chris and I. There were no gatherings or dance ciphers for us to attend at the time. We would go to the Delmar loop and dance in front of vintage vinyl. We were seen as such a joke back then. Social media was less advanced than today, so finding other Krump dancers in our region was difficult. We managed to get into contact with 5 more Krump dancers and finally started having our sessions.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a movement artist/Professional Krump Dancer. I specialize in the style of Krump, and I am known for creating a new dance movement in this city. I am proud of our community for coming together and creating this living entity. It no longer relies on one person to be the spark. Everyone is on fire. I love hearing about a session going on that I didn’t initiate. What sets me apart from others is something we all have the potential to tap into, but only a few of us do. I still have a child-like passion for whatever my imagination deems worthy of my focus. I enjoy creating and playing with my creations. I don’t allow obligation to hinder my peace and joy. Peace and joy is my chief obligation; through that, I am my most creative self.
Who else deserves credit for your story?
I had multiple partners involved in the success of our Artistic scene as well as the success of my career. The individuals that I worked with in building our movement: were Chris Gales(Subliminal), Howard Miller(RavRaw), Tyrus Watson(Smalltalk), and Robb Meekie(Geddon). These are the other innovators of the Krump community in St.louis. Some are more active than others, but each plays a vital role. I also thank Arica Brown, who gave me my first job as a Consuming Kinetics Dance Company dance teacher. She brought me a new perspective on movement art that continues to be useful. I trained in ballet, modern, jazz, contemporary, and hiphop and learned how to format dance classes. I also appreciate the art movement in St. Louis as a whole. Watching the community gather together for various creative endeavors ignites me to keep expanding. St. Louis is dope.
Contact Info:
- Website: linktr.ee/tonypilgrim
- Instagram: @itzvandal
- Facebook: Anthony Vandal Bady
Image Credits
Alexandria Photography Howard Miller Shutterfest 2016
