Extremo

Other Interests: Card magic, basketball
Profession: Dancer, Choreographer

Motto: "Never let anybody tell you what you can or can't do."

TITLES
2000 1st place Battle of the Year, Spain
2001 1st place Battle of the Year, Spain
2002 1st place Battle of the Year, Spain
2002 1st place Recall 2, 2-on-2 and crew competition, Spain
2002 1st place Royal Clash 3-on-3, France
2003 1st place Battle of the Year, Spain
2004 1st place Chelles Pro Battle, 2-on-2, France
2006 1st place Versus, 1-on-1, Zaragoza, Spain
2006 1st place Evolution, Iberica

JUDGING
2001 Battle des Champions, Switzerland
2002 Battle Of The Year, Switzerland
2004 Spin Off, Holland
2006 Battle Of The Year, International
2006 B-Boy Even, Italy
2006 Seven2Smoke International, Switzerland
2007 Red Bull BC One, Russia
2007 UK B-Boy Championships
2007 The Notorious I.B.E.
2008 Battle Of The Year, Russia
2008 UK B-Boy Championships, London

Profile

Alberto Pardo Vela aka EXTREMO has dominated the Spanish B-Boy scene with his crew Addictos for years, as well as creating a stir internationally. With his individual style, daringly choreographed moves and the right choice of music, the Spanish simpatico, who is rather reserved outside B-Boying circles, knows how to win the audience over again and again. He was one of the participants of the first RED BULL BC ONE in Switzerland in 2004.

EXTREMO started dancing 11 years ago, at age 16. He was on holidays and saw the Barcelonan B-Boy Crew Addictos in a club. He immediately realized that breaking combined everything he liked—incredible moves mixed with dancing and funk music. He first started out on his own, then, half a year later, found some B-Boys in his town he could practice with. He has been breaking ever since and in 2000 became a member of the crew Addictos. Apart from his own crew, the crews Battle Squad and Style Elements were his biggest inspirations.

EXTREMO received his name because he was dancing always and everywhere. He took B-Boying to the extreme. It became an obsession and his dream is to continue dancing forever, become an inspiration for others and teach the younger generations.

EXTREMO works as a dancer, choreographer and dance instructor. He teaches B-Boying at schools and gyms and gives workshops in and out of Spain. With his crew Addictos he has performed in shows and battles all over the world. Five years ago, he got into a well-known Spanish theater company, directed by the famous flamenco dancer Rafael Amargo and toured with their show. “It has been an incredible experience for me because I learnt a lot by learning other dance styles such as contemporary, flamenco, and tap dance, which I now include in breaking.”

EXTREMO loves to be on stage, even though he is still nervous every single time he battles or performs, “It is the best feeling in the world, especially when your energy reaches the crowd and they give it back to you.”

He loves Hip Hop culture. It’s the biggest part of his life. “It’s a culture that unites people from around the globe, no matter how different they are. Sadly, in my country the elements of Hip Hop are separated today. But if we work on it, we will be able to reunite them, one step at a time.” He furthermore regrets that B-Boying in Spain is still not seen as an art form, but as a fashion, a fad, when it’s been around for so long already. “This has to change; we want the acceptance we deserve. Me and my friends are constantly trying to change the vision of our dance.”

When EXTREMO started breaking, his family wasn’t too crazy about that. They didn’t understand why he would want to do that and they didn’t see that it could get him anywhere. Today they are really proud of his achievements and big fans of the dance.

When he judges a battle, EXTREMO mainly looks for personality and energy. For him it’s important that a B-Boy is innovative. He respects all styles and tries to be fair, no matter what style the dancer chooses. “It’s about being original. B-Boys have to be creative, clean, energetic, and charismatic. Naturally, it’s essential to have the foundation down, but you need to take it to another level, and make everything your own. And that really includes everything, from clothes to gestures and moves. The RED BULL BC ONE is the most important one-on-one competition in the world and if you want to win here, you really need to stand out. I am honored to participate again—even if it’s not on stage this time.”