Hello and welcome to the B.R.S. Arts Alliance where you can find and explore the 3 most highly sought after, undiscovered and influential dance styles in the world.

The DNA reads that these 3 unique art forms known as BOOG-A-LOO, ROBOTTIN’, and STRUTTIN’ (B.R.S.) originated in Northern California, the Bay Area, U.S.A.

The lost time capsule of these B.R.S. dance styles lie between the well known motown era, funk era, and what we know as the world wide hip hop era. Poptart, CEO of Tart Productions brings you the lost DNA files of the B.R.S. Arts Alliance which we label “THE DAY BEFORE HIP-HOP” and introduce the pioneers who have lead the way and are now considered “Legends of the Bay” representing the cities of Oakland, Richmond, & San Francisco, California.

Coming to the stage, the B.R.S. Arts Alliance! Enjoy the show!!!!!!

BRS is the acronym for BOOG-A-LOO, ROBOTTIN’ AND STRUTTIN’ dance styles. These three dance art forms originated in San Francisco, Oakland and Richmond, California, USA from the late 1960’s and were high developed through the 1970’s and early 1980’s. “BOOG-A-LOO” styles were pioneered out of Oakland CA, “ROBOTTIN'” styles out of Richmond CA, and “STRUTTIN'” styles out of San Francisco CA. Together these three very similar but different variations of Northern California Bay Area dance expression built the foundation for Northern California-Bay Area “Group Stepping.” The BRS dance styles are endorsed and recognized by a wide array of icons throughout the world, as they reflect the soul and funk era of American pop culture. In an effort to preserve the BRS dance culture, the BRS Arts Alliance was formed (BRSAA).

From the Cities of Oakland to Richmond to San Francisco, CA USA, it has been noted and documented that the “soul/funk” music scene influenced many areas of dance, the same way the dance influenced the music. The BRS dance movement began with dancers from the communities creating soulful movement and combining their styles with a robotic and diabolical “hit” or “pose” (stop and go motions) to the music of live bands playing classic R&B, soul and funk music. The Northern California Bay Area communities watched their own local youth develop original BRS dance groups to compete in local area talent shows to showcase their dance talents. The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Area holds historical statistical figures in having the highest concentration of BRS style dance groups from the late 1960’s to date in Northern California’s History. Even today, it has been recognized that independent and commercial media have been misled into misclassifying the BRS dance style art forms. This also applies to the dance scene in general and been a key suppressor of the Bay Area BRS dance art form. Despite the accomplishments of BRS dance pioneers for both individual and group dancing, the result has been that BRS dancers never received their recognition. BRS groups learned and maintained a sense unification, discipline, and organization. Communities in Oakland, Richmond, San Francisco (including Berkeley, Vallejo, San Jose and other parts of the surrounding Bay Area) always supported their youth’s involvement in this organized art form. This eventually helped aspiring artists of their areas to elevate in musicianship and performance and later excel during the birth and development of the Hip-Hop genre.

The organization was originally conceptualized and developed in 2001 by Lonnie “POPTART” Green, Eustinove Smith and Ralph “Doctor Plik Plok” Montejo. By 2004, the BRS Arts Alliance was further organized by key figure in BRS culture, which includes Mark T. Elliot and William Randolph III. The BRS Arts Alliance promotes and professionally supports a network of dance groups and their business ventures as an organized entity. The BRS Arts Alliance represents the importance of recognizing and preserving the advancement of a dance movement that transcends the vision of any one person, group or region.

Today, the BRS Arts Alliance is embraced and managed by a board of BRS dance pioneers and members which include the founders:
Lonnie Green (P-T 3000, Demons of the Mind), Ralph Montejo (The Richmond Robots/The Criminons), Mark T. Elliot (Close Encounters of the Funkiest Kind), and William Randolph (Black Resurgents).

Although Northern California Bay Area dancers currently dominate the BRS Arts Alliance membership, Lonnie “POPTART” Green and Ralph “Doctor Plik Plok” Montejo have expanded the organization to an international membership base (August 2008).