Personal History: The Street Dancer Turned Pro

Born in Miami to a strict Pentecostal ministry family, the entertainer known as Aquaboogy grew up in an environment where Hip Hop and Street Dance were considered taboo. His early explorations of movement were done in secrecy, fueled by a deep, innate passion for dance that clashed with his religious upbringing.

As a teenager, he ran away from home into the rough streets of Hialeah, a crime-heavy neighborhood in Miami. On the streets, he found unexpected support from a local street gang. Before being consumed by the darker forces surrounding him, he was reunited with his family, who moved him to a safer neighborhood—far from Hialeah’s influence.

It was during his teenage years that he discovered the underground rave scene, where he reconnected with his forbidden love for Street Dance, particularly Popping and Locking, and the vibrant Hip Hop culture. Gaining early independence, he immersed himself fully into the world of dance in the early 1990s. Dance became his way out—guiding him away from gang life and the drug-laced rave scene, and toward a future he once thought impossible.

By 1996, he began booking dance gigs and touring with music artists. Just a few years later, he was living off his art. In 2003, he moved to New York City and joined the Off-Broadway Hip Hop variety show Break! The Urban Funk Spectacular. His performance, talent, and dedication made him a standout, earning acclaim from reviewers and audiences around the world (25 countries).

Through shows like Break! (produced by Steve Love), Aquaboogy helped spark Hollywood's renewed interest in Street Dance, paving the way for films like You Got Served and Step Up, as well as hit TV shows such as America's Best Dance Crew and So You Think You Can Dance. As one of the early innovators in this wave, Aquaboogy's journey is a testament to the transformative power of dance and the resilience of the human spirit.

Otto Vazquez – The Cultural Architect

Otto Vazquez was the first street dancer from Miami to go international in the 2000s, performing, touring, teaching, and expanding the culture across borders. A pioneer from the start, Otto helped shape Florida’s Street Dance community by organizing quality events and inviting iconic figures in the dance world to uplift and develop local talent—a legacy that still thrives today.

He has mentored countless young entertainers, many of whom have gone on to build impressive legacies of their own. Even now, he continues to mentor adults who once trained with him as children and teens. Known not just for his movement but for his mission, Otto is recognized globally as a positive, driving force in the dance world—one whose influence comes from a deep, lifelong commitment to the culture, the craft, and the lifestyle.

The Teaching Artist

“As an artist, if the kids of your local community centers do not know your name and therefore are uninspired by your example, you have failed your community.”

One of Otto’s legacies is his life as a Teaching Artist. Otto’s mission has always been to uplift and inspire youth through the power of movement. For over two decades, he has worked in under-resourced communities across Florida, New York, and North Carolina, often putting himself in challenging environments to make a difference. He recalls teaching during police lockdowns and navigating communities marked by gang violence—all while staying focused on creating safe spaces for growth, creativity, and healing. Through this work, Otto has impacted thousands of young lives and earned a strong reputation in the nonprofit world as an agent of change and a bridge for opportunity.

The Multi-Faceted Artist

In recent years, Otto has evolved into a multi-disciplinary artist, expanding his creative expression into acting, writing, music production, and filmmaking. His latest work, The Rebirth of Kool, represents the culmination of his artistry and vision—a bold project that fuses culture, storytelling, and performance into one unforgettable experience.

Professional Summarized Dance Credits 

Some of Aquaboogy's two decades of credits include: Flo-Rida, Grandmaster Flash (The Get Down), Digable Planets, Kanye West, Pitbull, Ne-Yo, A Tribe Called Red, i-Luminate (from America's Got Talent), Newcleus,  Dr. Pepper's "One in a Billion" Nat'l Commercial (also featuring Misty Copeland); Turk-Cell Int'l Commercial (also featuring Hedo Turkoglu from the Orlando Magic); he’s toured the world with the Off Broadway show, "Break, The Urban Funk Spectacular" from NYC; he's worked as a professional robot/mime and entertainer for The Clevelander Hotel in South Beach, Hard Rock Casino, Cirque Du Soliel, HBO & The Miami Int'l Airport. He's performed for Donald Trump's "High Rollers Club" (Trump Towers Atlantic City) and at the Mar-a-Largo Ballroom with Cirque Du Soleil; he's performed alongside music legends like Cindy Lauper, Nice and Smooth, Tony Touch and Fab-Five-Freddy. He worked with underground artists like: Lyric's Born, RJD2, Metal Headz, Aphrodite, Diverse, TC Islam, DJ Monk (from Rabbit in the Moon) performing at legendary events like: Zen Fest, Bob Marley Festival, Future Sounds of Breaks and many more. He's been on VH1, MTV, MTV Asia, MTV Australia, Latin Billboard Awards; he choreographed the red carpet intro to the Premios Juventud International Award Show in 2008 with Kilo (aka Down) and his hit "Lean like a Cholo"; worked two contracts with Carnival Cruises onboard the Carnival Inspiration; he's been a featured instructor for Rennie Harris’s "Illadelph Legends"; he was the only US soloist in the Sadler Well's "Breakin' Convention" 2015 US tour; he showcased a piece featuring his dance company Nu Paradigm Entertainment in the 2016 US tour. Aquaboogy starred in, choreographed and wrote an independent “musical” short film set in the 1940’s called “Enter the Zoot Suit Riot” that made it into the Cannes Short Film Corner in 2018. The film was based on a book he wrote and recently published, “The Rebirth of Kool.” He’s been a faculty instructor for the historical “American Dance Festival” at Duke University and is the former Artistic Director for Asheville’s and Western North Carolina’s premier world music & arts festival called “Lake Eden Arts Festival” (or L.E.A.F).

He's had major sponsors like: Diesel NYC, Echo Unlimited, Sprite, Bacardi, And1, Nike and more recently, El Pachuco Zoot Suits through his project “The Rebirth of Kool.”

Summarized National/International Dance Reviews: 

"Aquaboogy...a master of Popping & Locking known for his creative robotic movements and unequaled fluidity..."

Newsday

“He was watery in the groove, but the boy could "get down". Set to lock and pop all over Down Under stages as part of Break!, billed as "New York's hottest breakdancing show", Aquaboogy is bringing street dance to the mainstream.”

The Sydney Morning Herald

 

“Aquaboogy (Otoniel Vazquez) proved a master at slow-motion isolation which he then sped up, moving as if lit by strobes…”

The Herald Tribune

 

"Aquaboogie's... nickname stems from how he looks on stage: "People say it looks like I am made of water. It looks like I have no bones."

The Vail Daily

 

“One of the evening's most awe-inspiring entertainers was Aquaboogy (Otoniel Vazquez) the show's pop-and-lock star…A tiny ripple of energy that begins at the tip of Vazquez's fingers might 'travel' up his arm, across his shoulders and out to the tip of his other hand. Then, the ripple might reverse, traveling to the top of his head, then down his trunk and a leg until it seems to shoot out through the end of his foot. In one sequence, Vazquez repeatedly adjusted the position of his hat, using tiny, sequential jerky movements that made him look for all the world like a drawing in a flip book.”

The Daily Hampshire Gazette

 

“Aquaboogy is sensational in his Living Mannequin solo.”

The Houston Chronicle

 

“The second act started with a man named Aquaboogy, showcasing sharp popping and waving techniques in a piece focused on overcoming fear.”

Broadway World

 

“Aquaboogy displayed his water-like abilities through his “Living Mannequin” performance, in which he Popped-and-Locked his way into the audience’ psyche.”

The Huntington News

 

“Vasquez’s own style of popping and locking got him his name. His dancing looks a lot like liquid slow motion. On stage, Vazquez’s breaking movement starts with quick, little jerky segments, then move into a very fast and stiff robotic style. His entire body looks as if it’s under a strobe light.”

The St. Thomas Source

 

Links to reviews:

https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/break-the-urban-funk-spectacular-at-ymca-boulton-1.892838

http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20070730/AE/70730014

http://www.smh.com.au/news/arts-reviews/break/2006/06/26/1151174111903.html

http://www.breakshow.com/reviews.html

http://www.broadwayworld.com/charlotte/article/BWW-Review-BREAKIN-CONVENTION-A-Sadlers-Wells-Project-20151012

http://www.loveproductions.com/reviews/review_ne.html

http://stthomassource.com/content/arts-entertainment/things-do/2007/09/25/pop-and-lock-breakdancing-show-coming-reichhold