Enlarge Shidaun "Africano" Campbell demonstrates pop and lock style dance at Battle Slam Jam.

Posted: August 25th, 2010 James Willamor

The fifth annual Battle Slam Jam incorporated skateboarding, dance, music and art at Grayson Skate Park on Saturday, August 21st. Rock and hip-hop artists blasted out tunes as young and old alike competed in skateboarding and breakdancing competitions. Shidaun Campbell, who goes by the name Africano, is an artist, human beatboxer, dancer and poet has helped with the dance portion of Battle Slam Jam since its beginning five years ago.

“The whole idea was to bring skate culture together with hip-hop, which has already been together for a while, but to represent it at one of the largest outdoor events in Charlotte, and one of the fasting growing events in Charlotte. I can definitely tell there is a lot of diversity here right now,” said Campbell.

Campbell was born in South Carolina and grew up in Charlotte. Even though he moved to Atlanta two years ago to attend Morehouse College, Campbell returns to Charlotte for events like Battle Slam Jam and the recent National Dance Day. “In Atlanta, the scene is maybe three times bigger but it’s had time to grow and it’s been a metropolis for a while. Charlotte’s becoming that.”

Donell Stines, CEO of Create Don’t Hate Productions, helped put together Battle Slam Jam. She says the goals of the event are to, “Provide an alternative performance space for professional and emerging artists, validate and unite the athleticism and art forms of today’s urban street cultures, and provide a safe environment in which to encourage mutual respect and spark future cross-cultural collaboration.”

“Art goes across culture, and you can see all kinds of people here right now. This has allowed not just different cultures of people to come together but different cultures of art to come together,” added Campbell.

Campbell stopped to congratulate 14-year-old Justin Cooper, winner of the pop and lock dance competition, and his mother.

“I’d like to see it grow and have more outlets for young people instead of kids just trying to find something to do,” said Campbell of the dance and arts scene in Charlotte. “Not taking music out of schools, and adding dance in school curriculum, and having after school programs. I’d like to see the community go in that direction; not just acceptance but support.”

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