Hey everyone!!!
I hope all is well and you all are raving safe. I had the wonderful opportunity to interview the Rave Ninjaz.
The Rave Ninjaz are a group of multi-talented and creative men and women that have uniquely combined Martial Arts, Dance and Raving to literally and physically light up the dance floor for everyone's raving pleasure.
I have witness them on stage and on the dance floor several times and I am impressed by the talent and skill that they display every chance they get. So when I asked them to do an interview I was extremely excited that they agreed!
The Rave Ninjaz is founded by Ghostninja. A brain child formed by passion and love for lights, music and making ravers smile. The group is 2 years old and going strong. Ghostninja's glow "weapon" of choice is his custom lightsaber that he takes to every event.
He was kind enough to give me a brief summary of how he first entered the rave scene:
"When I first got into the
scene I was about 14 of course being at that age, I couldn’t get into clubs so
I went to Outlaw Raves. When I got to the Outlaw all I saw were patterns of
light twisting in the night sky forming designs that I thought were only
possible by clouds or T.V. It amazed me sooooo much that I ran up to one of the
people who were doing the patterns and I ask him “How did you do that?” he
handed me a pair of toy sabers and look at me in the eye and said the best
advice that has been my very essence from then, till now, and beyond. He said
“Let the music take control if you like a puppet, with no control over your
body. Express your emotions through your dance” And ever since then I got
nothing but P.L.U.R."
Reading that I KNEW I picked the right group to interview. Very intrigued, I proceeded to a short Q&A with him.
Me: How many members do you have currently and what role or roles do they play in the group?
Ghostninja: "We are 9 members strong. As of right now Lady Shay is my Manager she takes care of all business of the Rave Ninjaz. Erock is my wingman in Rave Ninjaz my second in command. Vikng is our craftsman, he makes armor and weapons out of almost anything. Rad is our hypeman. When parties get off on a bad foot, He makes sure that your having a blast! As for Rayne, Seth, Jebus, and Joseph, they all play vital roles in Rave Ninjaz to make sure your rave experience is a good one."
With 9 members to interview I decided to save some questions for the other members but......
Me: Cool. I love the vibes you guys give out. What are you plans for this year, or is it top secret ninja plans? What would you say to you fans out there in the scene? Especially the younger ravers. Any words of wisdom?
Ghostninja: "Rave Ninjaz plans right now are still secret but don't worry we will be telling everyone soon and as for words of wisdom: Don't be afraid to loose yourself, but do be afraid once you've lost yourself. :)
I must say, I cant wait to see what's next.
So, I got to chat with Erock, Ghostninja's wingman. It was great to talk with him. More than once I have been mesmerized by his AMAZING Nunchuka skills and the passion that radiates from his spirit.
Erock: I got into the rave scene when I was invited to an outlaw rave during the summer of 2009 by a friend of mine who called himself Ghostninja. I was a little hesitant at first since I never been to a rave before and the first thing that popped into my head was a bunch of people and under age kids hopped up on drugs, but Ghost talked me into it so I decided to give it a chance and see for myself what all the hype was about.
When we got there I was instantly mesmerized by what I saw. I was surrounded by people who were swinging around these lights on strings and chains, others were spinning fire and women who were using light up hula hoops. It wasn’t so much the lights themselves that caught my attention but the art behind it. The way they used their respective glow toys it was almost as if these light wielding party goers all knew martial arts and that’s when I knew at that moment I wanted to be a raver.
For as long as I could remember I’ve always had a passion for martial arts and martial arts movies. I remember the day after the rave I had just finished watching a Bruce Lee movie and I walked into the living room only to find my father using his nunchucks and that’s when the idea hit me. Glow Nunchuks. I did some research and managed to make my own pair after lots of trial and error it was time to try them out on the dance floor.
The next rave I went to was at a local club in queens and since I’m not much of a dancer I decided it was time to put my new glow chucks to the test. I waited for the bass to drop and then I just started to cut lose and when I was done I looked up and realized I was in the middle of a circle of people staring at me. People had their cameras out pointed at me. At first I thought I did something wrong like maybe I hit someone and didn’t realize it but someone came up to me and said “bro that was fucking insane” and he showed me pictures and video of me using my chucks and I thought to myself “oh shit that’s me? wow”. And everyone started complimenting me asking all types of questions telling me how much they loved my light show, and it was just amazing.
People often ask me how Rave NinjaZ got started and truth is this. Me and Ghost attended a rave called Final Fantasy II and during the party after doing our light shows on the dance floor we were asked to perform our light shows on stage during John Basses set and we said ok.
Performing on stage alongside my brother in arms is one the most memorable moment’s in my life it was just amazing. He had his saber and I had my chucks and with that said, we just did what we do best, we lit up the stage.
Wow........Since I didnt have to ask ANY person questions (He answered everything I wanted to ask) I moved on and proceeded to ask.....
Me: How did the other members become involved? How do you feel about the rave scene and its impact on the younger generation?
Erock: "They way most of the other member got involved is pretty much the same. They saw us performing and they started asking questions about how they could be a rave ninja. They showed us their skills with their respective glow toy and we were so impressed we had them join the ranks. While others already had a respectable skills and reputation in the rave scene it was kinda a no brainer to have them join. Each member has their own style and brought something new to the group and when you put all that together you get something amazing."
His thoughts on the rave scene and it's impact on the younger generation.
"I personally love the rave scene, for me it’s an environment that provides creative freedom for me where I can cut loose and be anyone I want to be. All the ideas I have come up with are best put to use on the dance floor and with each and every party I go to I come up with new ideas that are perfectly suited for the occasion. I feel the rave scene has had both positive and negative effects on the younger generation but the mass media only tends to focus on the negative aspects of the rave scene such as the drugs that are commonly associated with these parties. While, yes I do agree, it is a problem but I don’t feel like it should be constantly highlighted every time the topic comes up without talking about the positive aspects of the rave scene as well. The rave scene gives the younger generation a place where they can meet new friends in a friendly environment. They can bond over new ideas and friendly vibes in the presence of their favorite music. It provides the opportunity for them to be whoever they want to be and not be judged negatively by others for being different but instead be praised for it. It welcomes everyone and is not selective to who can come and have fun. The negative aspects are associated with all types of other parties as well and not just the rave scene but it only becomes a problem for the individual if the individual themselves allows it to become a problem."
Well said Erock. KUDOS!!
I had the opportunity to interview Lady Shay. She is the Manager of the group. In a previous blog I gave her some pretty awesome praise and when I spoke to her I was a tad bit nervous because she has such a straight-forward, no nonsense presence. Boy was I in for a shock.
Me: Hello Shay, How are you? Can you spare a few moments of your time to tell me a bit about yourself?
Shay: "Sure! I am doing ok, no complaints. I am a single mother of an awesome, soon to be 3 year old girl. A former dance teacher and the manager of a fantastic group called Rave Ninjaz. I have been in the rave scene for over 13 years. I am the.....oldest of the bunch *groans* and use my education in dance, law and business to interact with promoters and fellow performers. I am trained in Ballet, Tap, Swing and Hip-Hop dance. I taught myself Breakdance, Ballroom and various forms of African dance."
Me: WOW! Impressive resume. So how did you get involved in the Rave Ninjaz?
Shay: "Thank you *blush*. It was funny to me how I got involved actually. I stopped raving and dancing in early 2009. I was working full time and then I became pregnant. After taking some time off I met Erock and discovered that not only was he a fellow raver, we both knew Ghostninja. Reunited with someone that I consider a brother, he made me manager and the rest was history."
Me: Sounds interesting. I'm curious, Why did you blush? Is managing a group hard work?
Shay: "Well, I am a very shy person when it comes to my talents. It is hard to respond to compliments at times cause being a perfectionist makes it hard to respond LOL. As for your second question, it isn't very hard. I have an amazing team and we work together to not only improve our individual talents but our work as a group. I am proud of them and all that they do. Family through it all. I get called the mother of the group. Makes me laugh.
Me: Ha! What glow weapons do you use?
Shay: "I use a custom made staff and Nunchuka (beginner) that were created by the super talented Erock. I also use custom Chinese fans (personal fave), a Parasol (in construction) and my dancing."
Me: Impressive! Although I want to ask so many more questions I sadly have to resist the urge. But, before I do, is there any words of wisdom that you wish to share with the younger ravers and those eager to get into business?
Shay: "Again, I thank you for your compliments. I have so much I wish to share with the younger generation but If anything I would say, Respect yourself and love yourself. Let your dreams and passions soar. Remain aware of all you do and PLEASE be careful. We all like to have fun but our safety should ALWAYS come first. That can also be used for business as well."
Thank you for your time Shay. I hope to see you on stage again soon!
While interviewing Shay my inbox went crazy with several messages from another member that goes by the name of Seth....... I enjoyed this conversation a lot.
Seth: "One of my best friends, Matty Di one day amidst smoking turned to me and said “Im thinking of throwing a rave for my birthday would you wanna help out?” At the time I hadn’t been raving in a good five or so years but was curious too see how the scene had evolved so I agreed to it. That rave was Pokeball last December which turned out to be so successful we ended up making Blue Star Productions and threw a series of raves after. I’d been doing training in various sword arts throughout my life so after meeting Ghost Ninja at a rave and seeing him give a lightshow with lightsaber’s I was greatly intrigued and decided I wanted to be involved with the Rave Ninja’s got myself a saber and thus was the transformation into NekoNinja. However my swords skills where trained for fighting which lacks the flashy dramatization that’s required for a lightshow which brought a new dynamic to my training one which I enjoy very much. My style is now composed of a mix of bushido and fencing concepts melted into shuffle, stomp and hardjump which is perfect as the music I love the most is Happy Hardcore and Terrorcore. Being able to do these things at a rave is mainly what makes the experience of the rave scene so enjoyable as well as a few of the other things I’m involved in such as, The Kandi Kid Empire (Kandi Kid 4 Life!!!!) Shuffle Kings & Queens and a few gloving groups."
Me: What brought you to Rave Ninjas? How do you incorporate your styles with that of your fellow members?
Seth: "I saw Ghostninja at a rave performing with his sabers and talked to him about the possibility of working with him, we sparred a bit and he asked me if I wanted to join the ninjaz. What makes working with the ninjaz so much fun is the variations in style in each of our members. Ghost is great at flash moments and sweeping techniques. Shay's a monster with her staff and great with timing so it's easy to move and weave around her. Erock is amazing with his chucks and paired with a sabers makes for a dazzling display of colors and Viking makes some of the sickest custom gear I've ever seen. Together were one badass family and always look out for one another"
Me: I heard rumors that some members, Shay for example, is expanding her skills with sabers, nunchuka, fans and parasols. What are your thoughts on that? I recall seeing her and other members on stage sharing weapons and battling. Are you proud of them?
Seth: "Yes this is true, it's all apart of our plan for the future. We're all planning on learning each others weapons so we're able to do things like swap off weapons mid performance and disarm each other. Everybody been working near nonstop to make our performances as smooth and awe inspiring as possible, it really makes me overjoyed to see how seriously everyone takes this and how much fun we all have in the process."
Fun time chatting with you Seth. Off the record conversation was a blast. Shay......the group mom LOL.
Next up on this LONG list is the only other female in this group is Rayne. She is as unique as the spelling of her name and I thank her for taking time out of her very busy schedule to answer a few questions.
Name: Rayne Dominic Valentine
Years in the scene:11
How I got started: I'm originally from Detroit, the city where techno was born. I went to my first party around 14 then went to my first massive that same year. I've been hooked ever since.
Motivation: Simple. It was, is, and always will be the music and that vibe you can only get from this type of environment. The lights, the bass, and just that whole feeling you get as soon as you enter the venue. It gets me high and it's a kind of high that I never want to come down from.
Hobbies: Video games, occasionally fire poi, drawing, cooking with my girl, and exploring the city.
Favorite weapon: I can go with any weapon but I'd have to say my hands. Brings the show to a more personal level.
Favorite style of music: Hardcore/Gabber I love it. It amps ANYTHING up haha!
Random Fact: I am the only glover on the Rave Ninjaz team. Although I use a variety of weapons.
Me: How did you end up joining rave ninjas? How do you adjust to being the only other woman in a group of mostly men?
Rayne: "I ended up in Rave Ninjaz by accident honestly lol. Ghost was really impressed with my gloving at a party in 2011 and decided to make me a ninja right then. Haven't looked back since.
As far as being the only other female among a group of guys, it's also nothing new for me. I joke that im a 18 year old boy stuck in the body of a female lol. I've always had more male than female friends, I'm a Marine and I worked in a male dominated field for the bulk of my enlistment, and now I'm a chef and I'm the only female that works in the kitchen. Truth is, I'd rather hang with the boys, girls tend to be a ton of unwanted drama 80% of the time."
(Due to time constraints our interview was cut short. Be on the lookout for more from Rayne and several other members in the near future.)
The last member that I had the honor of interviewing is the youngest of the Rave Ninjaz. A young man named Jebus....
He introduced himself as such
Jebus: "Hello my name is Raphael but everyone know me as Jebus. I'm a flow staff user for rave ninjas. I'm 19 yrs old. I joined the "rave scene" when i was 16 and my first rave was supernatural 1 Since then, I never looked backed. I was one of the first rave ninjas along side Eric and Ghostninja and I started to branch off to do my own things. I started Paw.ent as a way to promote another group called Kings of Bass Productions. I never forgot rave ninjas and now we perform at their events and venues. A simple fun fact about me is that i love to enjoy life thank you for showing interest in our group."
Me: Can you tell me more about yourself? What drew you in to the rave scene? What was your motivation for joining the Rave Ninjaz? Your weapon of choice, music style and advice for others coming into the scene?
Jebus: "Growing up in Brooklyn I was never full respected. I was what most people considered an outcast so I started hanging out all over the city Manhattan, Bronx and Queens just looking for a place to chill and feel like I belong. Then I came across Chinatown fair and I made lot of friends. During the summer of 09 we heard about some party and that was when I went to my first rave. I felt like I belonged. I fell in love with the ideal of freedom to express one self with no worries and listen and dancing the night away not caring about the future, just the present. Before I joined the scene I knew Ghostninja. We used to hang and when I join the scene we just went around to different outlaws and going H.A.M. I started doing poi, after years of childhood swinging lights around with a string came in handy. During my Martial Arts training in Jujitsu I picked up a staff and fell in love with the power and control I can have then started working on different glow staff techniques until I upgrade."
At the time of writing this, I was unable to interview three members. Craig, Tekno and Batsu (Rad). I hope that in the near future I can speak with them.
I want to thank all the members of Rave Ninjaz for their time. It was an amazing experience and I look forward to seeing you all doing what you do best.
If anyone wants to be kept in the loop with this fantastic group, you can "Follow" them on twitter https://twitter.com/RaveNinjaz
Also, drop a "Like" on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/RaveNinjaz?ref=ts&fref=ts
Once you see them in person......you will not be disappointed!
Keep it PLURR!!
