Throughout his career, he has embraced the culture and sought to honor its legacy. Harris grew up entrenched in Hip-hop culture and was immersed in all its forms - music, dance, language. Lorenzo “Rennie” Harris is a leading ambassador for Hip-hop. In 1992, I performed with my childhood group, The Scanner Boys, for the last time at “Dancing in the Streets” at 30th Street Station in Philadelphia, before starting my company Rennie Harris Puremovement in 1992. Returning home to Philadelphia in 1987-88, I choreographed and performed odd jobs until 1991. After touring, I finished my commercial run as a choreographer and dancer with the legendary Cathy Sledge of the famed Sister Sledge. In high school, I became co-captain of a group called The Step Masters, then The Scanner Boys, and for a brief stint of time after high school I became a member of the Magnificent Force (NY) who toured and opened for rap groups such as Afrika Bambatta and The Soul Sonic Force, West Street Mob, Kool Mo Dee and the Treacherous Three, Super Nature (Salt and Peppa), Grand Master Flash and Furious Five, Doug E Fresh, Brandy, Madonna, Run DMC and Jam Master Jay, Newcleus, LL Kool J, Aaliyah, and Sugar Hill Gang, to name a few. Later, I formed a group called “Cobra III,” and performed in local bars and lounges. This was the official beginning of it all. I was with my brother and childhood friend nicknamed “Brainy.” We entered a dance contest at the church’s Saturday “Baazar” and won. This is not to say I hadn’t danced throughout the years it’s just to say it’s the next most vivid memory of me dancing. At some point I heard someone say, “he’s a good dancer.” Immediately I started kicking my leg up in the air like the Campbell Lockers did on the Carol Burnett Show and followed that up with my best version of the popular social dance, the “breakdown.” It wasn’t until I was about 12-13 years old that I remember dancing again. My earliest memory of Don’s influence on me was at a girl’s birthday party when I was dancing down a make-shift soul train line. Basically, the short that the old school “Newsies” wore.) Of course, in retrospect, back then I had no idea that Don influenced me. ( If you don’t know what knickersbockers are, they are shorts with pegged hems that were fitted around the bottom of the knee. I remember my Mom making me a pair of Knickerbockers because that’s what Don and his group wore. I remember seeing his group when I was in 3th and or 4th grade.
Newcleus jam on it soul train tv#
I was first inspired by Don Campbell and The Campbell Lock Dancers on the Carol Burnette TV show. Since the age of 14, I have taught workshops and classes at universities nationally and internationally. I was born and raised in an African-American community in North Philadelphia.