Shabba Doo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shabba Doo
Pop Art Illustration of "Shabba Doo" Adolfo Quiñones
Born	Adolfo Gutierrez Quiñones or Adolfo Gordon Quiñones (sources differ) (1955-05-11)May 11, 1955 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died	December 29, 2020(2020-12-29) (aged 65) Los Angeles, California
Other names	Adolfo "Shabba Doo" Quiñones
Occupation	Actor dancer choreographer
Years active	1975–2020
Known for	Orlando "Ozone" – Breakin', Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo
Spouse(s)	Gwendolyn Powell ​ ​ (m. 1976; div. 1982)​ Lela Rochon ​ ​ (m. 1982; div. 1987)​
Children	2

Adolfo Gutierrez Quiñones (born May 11, 1955 – died December 29, 2020), known as Shabba Doo, was a famous American actor, dancer, and choreographer. He was known for his amazing breakdancing skills.

Shabba Doo was one of the first people to make hip-hop dancing popular. He played the character Orlando "Ozone" in the hit 1984 movie Breakin'. He also starred in its sequel, Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo.

Early Life and Dance Beginnings

Growing Up in Chicago

Adolfo Quiñones was born and grew up in Chicago, Illinois. His father was from Puerto Rico and worked as a salesman. His mother was an accountant whose family moved from Mississippi to Chicago. She raised Adolfo and his younger sister, Fawn, by herself.

Fawn Quiñones was also a dancer. She often appeared on the TV show Soul Train. Adolfo lived in the Cabrini–Green housing complex when he was young. He went to Cooley Vocational High School and Robert A. Waller High School.

Moving to Los Angeles and Finding His Style

In the 1970s, Adolfo's family moved to the Los Angeles area. He started dancing in clubs, especially around Crenshaw Boulevard. Places like Radiotron were popular for breakdancing.

He would often have dance battles with other dancers. This is where he developed his unique style. He first called himself Sir Lance-a-Lock. This name later changed to Shabba-Dabba-Do-Bop. Finally, it became the shorter, more famous name, Shabba-Doo.

Shabba Doo's Career Highlights

Pioneering Locking Dance

Shabba Doo was a key member of a dance group called The Original Lockers. Other members included Don "Campbellock" Campbell and Toni Basil. This group helped create and popularize a dance style called locking.

Locking involves freezing in a position, then moving quickly. It looks like you are "locking" your body. This style became very important in hip-hop dance.

Starring in Breakin' Movies

Shabba Doo's most famous role was Orlando "Ozone" Barco. He played this character in the 1984 movie Breakin'. The movie was a big hit and showed breakdancing to a wide audience.

He also starred in the sequel, Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo. These movies helped make breakdancing popular around the world.

Other Acting and Choreography Work

Besides the Breakin' movies, Shabba Doo also directed and appeared in a film called Rave - Dancing to a Different Beat. He made guest appearances on many TV shows. These include The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, Married... with Children, and Miami Vice.

Shabba Doo was also a talented choreographer. He created dance routines for many famous singers. These included Lionel Richie, Madonna, and Luther Vandross. He was a main dancer and choreographer for Madonna's "Who's That Girl?" Tour in 1987. He also choreographed for the hip-hop group Three Six Mafia for the 78th Academy Awards.

He appeared in music videos too. You can see him in Lionel Richie's "All Night Long" and Chaka Khan's "I Feel for You".

Later Life

Shabba Doo passed away on December 29, 2020, at the age of 65. He was a true legend in the world of dance and hip-hop.

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Shabba Doo para niños

• List of dancers