Red Bull BC One

**Other Interests: ** LONG walks on the beach, KEEPING IT REAL, and being really really ridiculously good looking **Credo:** “Be like water.” – Bruce Lee **Titles** - **2008 Invitation** The Notorious IBE - Heerlen, Netherlands - **2008 participation** Battle of the Year - Braunschweig, Germany - **2008-2009 1st place** World Of Dance B-Boy Battles, USA - **2009 Invitation** The Notorious IBE - Heerlen, Netherlands - **2009 participation** Red Bull BC One - Manhattan, New York - **2009 1st place** Seven 2 Smoke, Rocking Oetka 2, Netherlands - **2009 1st place** Outbreak 5 - Orlando, Florida - **2010 1st place** World B-Boy Classics - Rotterdam, Netherlands - **2010 1st place** Unbreakable - Leuven, Belgium - **2010 Invitation** The Notorious IBE - Heerlen, Netherlands **Profile** Thias Kem Lopez aka THESIS is a returning competitor at the Red Bull BC One. In 2009, he made it to the quarter finals, where he lost to champion Lilou. THESIS began B-Boying 10 years ago at the young age of 7. He reflects, “Hip Hop is the first thing I can remember. Introduced at a very young age, I saw it as a break from all the bullshit in life. Even then, I saw freedom in it and I took it because it just made sense to me. It made me feel complete.” While not every parent is encouraging when a child’s unique ambition is to become a professional B-Boy, THESIS is grateful to have major support from his mother and stepfather. He admits, “Without them I really wouldn't be where I'm at today.” When he was 9, his mother gave him the name “THESIS”. He explains, “Thesis = proving a point…Do the math!” Thesis is of Mexican and Native American descent and feels that he is privileged this way. “The rhythm is in my blood! I can feel it!” Since 2005, he has been taking titles everywhere from his birthplace in Phoenix, AZ to The Netherlands to his hometown of Seattle, WA. THESIS appears on battle DVDs such as B-Boy Ho-Down 2006 and IBE 2008 and he, along with his crew TheM Team, is sponsored by clothing company Mash Hall. While he works full time as a B-Boy, THESIS enjoys critical writing and is interested in learning to DJ. Very experimental with movement, he has tried Salsa, House and Modern dancing as well as Capoiera in an effort to incorporate them into his B-Boying and complete his style. On the battlefield, THESIS is confident that if a B-Boy who is well rounded, uses this quality wisely, it would be impossible for him to lose. Maintaining his stamina and having fun when battling is essential for him. He describes his battle strategy as, “Just play your own game and win it.” He focuses on not allowing his opponents to try to defeat him psychologically. Battling in the Red Bull BC One in 2009 enhanced THESIS’ ambitions. He was not happy with the outcome of his battle against Lilou in the quarterfinals and is ready for a payback. “Having a loss like I had in the previous year is not an option! It’s time for a new face, a new mentality, a new approach. It’s time to make it more obvious. This will NOT happen again!”