FESTIVAL

HDI 2009 Judges
The 2009 Panel of Judges consists of TRUE legends in NYC's underground club culture, who have seen generations of freestyle dancers bless the hardwood floors of the city's most important nightclubs and events.

TYRONE PROCTOR (Waacking): A pioneer of the urban dance form Waacking, Tyrone Proctor has been dancing since the late 1950’s in his hometown of Philadelphia. By the early 1970’s Tyrone was one of the featured dancers on Soul Train and toured the country and the world as a teen idol. In the 1980s, he choreographed for Jody Watley and other stars. He currently teaches Waacking in NYC and internationally.

DAVID PADILLA (Hustle): Raised in Spanish Harlem, David Padilla is one of the true masters of the “Latin Hustle”, which was later popularized in movies such as Saturday Night Fever. A champion performer from Dance Fever and a master instructor, David was handpicked by Spike Lee to choreograph the hustle dance scenes in the film Summer of Sam. David continues to host weekly hustle socials in New York City called Universal Hustle and Salsa.

CHINO 3 (House Dance): One of the pioneers of the semninal style known as “Lofting”, Chino 3 is a veteran of the late 70s and early 80s NYC clubs and set the foundation for much of the house dance floorwork now seen today. He made appearances in the movies “Maestro”, as well as the first nationally televised hip-hop show, “Grafitti Rock”. Chino 3 is a co-founder of “Dat Party” and “In2Deep” and also flexes his skills as a DJ.

DRAY EBONY (Vogue): Grandfather of the Legendary House of Ebony, Andre Paul, a.k.a. Dray Ebony, is an icon of NYC’s ballroom community. Growing up bewteen Harlem and the Bronx. Dray is current a Community Health Specialist working with HIV/ Aids patients.

EVELYN SANTOS (Experimental): A staple on New York’s underground club scene since the 1960s, Evelyn Santos is one of the foremost promoters in NYC, hosting seminal events such as Ain’t Nothing But a House Party, Body and Soul, Club Shelter, Temple and Paradise Garage. Evelyn has been recognized by the New York Times for her work as a choreographer and has been featured in films such as Maestro.