In 1991, I arrived in the capital of São Paulo, and from the very beginning, I recognized the importance of dance gatherings and the need for spaces where dancers could experience the culture and be inspired by one another. Over the years, I participated in several events and gatherings that fostered the dance scene, helping hip-hop culture establish itself as one of the most important means of accessing the arts for young people.

In 2007, I started a monthly gathering called Jam Olido, which became a gathering place for practitioners of locking, popping, breaking, waacking, house dance, and hip-hop freestyle, to name a few. Maintaining this culture through a party proved incredibly powerful and became a way to exchange information and strengthen collectives and groups in the city.

The Olido Jam inspired many events across the country, and the format was eventually replicated in many places. It's worth noting that the Jam not only had the element of celebration and celebration, which is the foundation of Hip Hop culture, but also brought the possibility of connecting the various styles of Street Dance/Urban Dance, allowing dancers to interact and explore other styles they might not have previously encountered.

This environment where diverse styles coexisted harmoniously was a novelty at the time. That said, I believe the UDES Urban Dance Meetings also helped the local scene. They brought together diverse styles and practitioners, thus bringing a greater number of people into the dance culture. Above all, this union brought political power and engagement. These meetings remain important as the greatest vehicle for bringing together new practitioners, who understand that Cypher/Roda is a democratic place and that their first steps can be taken in this safe environment. These meetings represent the culture expanding and perpetuating itself organically, and they remind us, above all, of its origins: the party.