Honey Rockwell grew up in the South Bronx and is considered to be a pioneer in the hip-hop art of B-Girlin’. She is now a mother of three and still maintains a steady career in dance. Honey released the first ever female home dance video to be sold world wide and is currently working on a second volume. Some of her most recognizable work is the movie “Mannequin 2”, “Jam On the Groove”, Madhattan (Las Vegas), MTV’s New Year’s Eve 2000, and dancing with Cuba Gooding Jr. and Kid Rock on the VH1Vogue Fashion Awards. She is currently teaching classes, working on projects with TEC, and opening up her own hip-hop shop. Ms. Rockwell continues to grow as a dancer and inspires the next generation of Bgirls.

Bronx, New York, New Jersey and All Over
Written By: Paul Maniaci
Posted: 08/28/2006

Honey Rockwell is doing what she loves as a professional b-girl. It seems as if she was predestined for this line of work growing up in the Bronx, naturally gifted as a gymnast. Schooled by the world famous Rock Steady Crew Honey continues to dance and looks forward to spreading all the positive influences of hip-hop, the culture that inspires her, to children through outreach programs and classes that she conducts.

CCB: I want to get the terminology right. I read somewhere online that you call yourself a b-girl not a break-dancer.

HR: I say b-girl because the word break-dancer is media terminology. The media gave that to the guys back in the day and it was used in a negative form. If you were a break-dancer you were someone who was a hoodlum. “Oh, look at those break-dancers dancing in the street, vandalizing the street, and causing trouble.” They didn’t like to be called break-dancers. Actually they didn’t even have a name until maybe the late 80’s, early 90’s when they started calling themselves b-boys. It was short for break, the break of the beat. Because when the DJ spinned they would dance on the break of the beat. They just shortened the term and would say the b-boys and b-girls. If you were a b-boy or b-girl you were someone that dances not someone that was involved with all the elements of the culture. If you’re a b-boy usually you aren’t known as a DJ or an MC.

CCB: Can you talk a little bit about what hip-hop culture means to you?

HR: For me it’s a way of life. I’m very proud to be a part of it. It’s helped me out with a lot of a lot of different things in life. It’s given me an outlet from my everyday stress. At first it started out as something that I participated in with the dance element and now in the later years of my life it’s a celebration. I’m not really into the politics of it because when hip-hop was created it was created out of joy and happiness.  It’s something that’s positive.