Tekya “Abramz” Abraham is a breaker/ b-boy (breakdancer). He fell in love with dance at a young age and started dancing in 1991. He is the founder/ director of Breakdance Project Uganda (BPU), a voluntary non-profit organization that uses hiphop, dance, arts, as well as formal and non-formal education, for empowerment and positive social change. Abramz is also a former member of the legendary Rock Steady Crew.
As a dance teacher and performer, he has worked in various regions of Uganda and many other parts of the world. His work has inspired so many dancers and other kinds of creatives as well as development workers. Through his vision, dedication, passion, achievements and skills, he has impacted many lives across the globe. His vision and approach to using dance a tool for empowerment and social change, have been used as case studies in various institutions around the world.
Abramz has judged many dance (breaking) competitions/ battles locally and internationally and also competed in some himself. All this and many other factors, make him the most internationally recognized and celebrated East African breaker (breakdancer).
Abramz is the main subject of the international award-winning Hiphop & breakdance documentary film “Bouncing Cats,” released in 2010, which was directed by Nabil Elderkin and sponsored by Red Bull. It was narrated by Hiphop artist Common, and featured BPU, Crazy Legs of the Rock Steady Crew, K’naan, Mos Def and Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas.
As a dancer, he has worked in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Denmark, Poland, Italy, Swaziland, Mozambique, Switzerland, USA, Sweden, Germany, Burkina Faso, Senegal, and Austria.
Check out some of Abramz’ dance photos below and videos below.
Abramz dancing! Photo by Nabil ElderkinAbramz in a breaking (breakdance) cipher at the 2008 annual Brave Festival in Wroclaw, Poland.
JOHN LEGEND TALKS ABOUT THE “BOUNCING CATS” DOCUMENTARY FILM.
WATCH THE FULL LENGTH “BOUNCING CATS” DOCUMENTARY FILM.
ABRAMZ RECEIVING THE 2016 ANNUAL “WEFREE” HERO AWARD AT SANPATRIGNANO, RIMINI, ITALY.
Abramz, Crazy Legs and Bouncing Cats on CNN Breaking News.
FLOOR WARS 2011 TOPROCK BATTLES IN COPENHAGEN, DENMARK.
Abramz was one of the two dance facilitators for Bridgeworks 2018 ArtLab in Kampala, Uganda. This was a one week exchange between German and Ugandan professional artists in the disciplines of theatre, music and dance.Abramz teaching kids at the 2014 HIV/ AIDS awareness day event in ‘Go Down’ slum, Namuwongo, Kampala.Abramz teaching kids at the 2014 HIV/ AIDS awareness day event in ‘Go Down’ slum, Namuwongo, Kampala.Abramz dancing at the 2014 HIV/ AIDS awareness day in ‘Go Down’ slum, Namuwongo, Kampala.Abramz performing for the inmates in Luzira maximum protection prison in 2011. This was at the beginning of a 7 year long weekly program that was a collaboration between Product of Prison (PoP), Breakdance Project Uganda (BPU) and Uganda Prison Service (LUP). They held free weekly classes through out the year and a big event inside the prison at the end of each year,Abramz performing for the inmates in Luzira maximum protection prison in 2011. This was at the beginning of a 7 year long weekly program that was a collaboration between Product of Prison (PoP), Breakdance Project Uganda (BPU) and Uganda Prison Service (LUP). They held free weekly classes through out the year and a big event inside the prison at the end of each year,Abramz teaching at Maputo International School in Mozambique in July 2012.
Abramz showcasing and teaching during the annual WeFREE days events at SanPatrignano, Rimini, Italy in 2012. Photos by Matt Russell.
GALLERY: Abramz teaching at SanPatrignano in Rimini, Italy during the 2013 annual WeFree Days events.
Abramz teaching a breaking class at the Schulhaus Berghalden (Berghalden School) in Switzerland during the 2015 YAEP tour/ summer program. Photo by Kibuuka Mukisa.Abramz teaching a breaking (breakdance) workshop at the ‘Straight Talk’ centre in Kitgum, Northern Uganda in 2011. Photo by Amy Tew.Abramz in a dance cipher at the Four Elements International Hiphop convention in Graz, Austria in 2010.Abramz with some of the Breakdance Project Uganda members at one of their open ciphers in Katwe slum, Kampala in 2015. Behind the scenes of CNN African Voices. Photo credit: Marc Hoeferlin/ CNN.Abramz was one of the judges for the Break Free worldwide championship, the first global online breaking (breakdance) battle, with over 500 competitors from all continents. Abramz was also the ambassador the Africa and Middle East regions.
GALLERY: Abramz was one of the speakers on the dance panel at the World Festival of Black Arts, also known as Festival Mondial des Arts Nègres (FESMAN), in Dakar, Senegal in December, 2010.
Panelists: Abramz and Christian Boscheri speaking at the 2016 WeFree Days events at San Patrignano in Rimini, Italy.Abramz teaching kids at the 2018 Azulato Children’s festival, organized by Goethe Zentrum Kampala.Abramz teaching kids at the 2018 Azulato Children’s festival, organized by Goethe Zentrum Kampala.
Community outreach: Abramz teaching a breakdance class in Gulu, Northern Uganda in January 2020 at a free community program organized by StarFace Camp. Photos by Josh Jones.
Abramz holding a session with dance and music students from New York University and Makerere University during one of their annual exchange programs. Over the years, the NYU dance professor, Deborah Damast has organized many sessions where their exchange students get to meet Abramz, and BPU.Abramz holding a session with dance and music students from New York University and Makerere University during one of their annual exchange programs. Over the years, the NYU dance professor, Deborah Damast has organized many sessions where their exchange students get to meet Abramz, and BPU.Abramz teaching at Breakdance Project Uganda in 2012.Abramz teaching at Maputo International School in Mozambique in 2012.Abramz teaching at Maputo International School in Mozambique in 2012.Abramz doing a judge’s showcase before judging breakdance battles at the Youth Fest at Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. Photo by Kibazzi PiusAbramz teaching a breaking class at Ungdomskultur Fryshuset Väst in Gothenburg, Sweden in 2017.
GALLERY: Abramz teaching at the Naguru Remand Home juvenile prison in 2007.
Abramz teaching kids during Breakdance Project Uganda’s workshop at the 2017 ‘Journèe de la Francophonie’ (Francophonie Day) at the French School, Kampala, Uganda.Abramz and DJ Rasmus Schack performing at the Street Party event in Norrebro, Copenhagen, Denmark, during the 2010 ‘My World Images’ tour. Collaborative dance workshop during ‘WeFree’ tour, Italy, 2012.Abramz teaching kids at Little Light, a non-profit working to empower under-served communities in the slums of Namuwongo, Kampala, Uganda. May 2010.Abramz dancing during the Breakdance Project Uganda (BPU) and Rock Steady Crew community outreach in Kisenyi slum, Kampala, Uganda in 2008.Abramz teaching a breaking class at the Straight Talk centre in Gulu, Northern Uganda in 2011. Photo by Amy Tew.Picture time with some of the participants, right after Abramz dance workshop at the University of Hamburg, Germany in 2017.Abramz dancing during a freestyle session at one of Breakdance Project Uganda’s community outreaches in GoDown slum, Namuwongo, Kampala. Photo by Kibuuka Mukisa.
GALLERY: Abramz teaching a breaking (breakdance) class at the Schulhaus Berghalden (Berghalden School) in Switzerland during the 2015 YAEP tour/ summer program.
GALLERY: Abramz teaching students on Day 1 of the 2014 MTN Bushfire Schools Festival in Swaziland. He taught over 300 students, divided into a number of groups.
GALLERY: Abramz teaching students on Day 2 of the 2014 MTN Bushfire Schools Festival in Swaziland. He taught over 300 students, divided into a number of groups.
Bboy BabyOG (Mexico), Abramz (Uganda) and Bgirl Safire (USA), Judging the kids breaking (breakdance) battles at the 2015 BreakThrough Festival in Zurich, Switzerland. Photo by Kibuuka Mukisa.Abramz speaking at the 2008 Brave Festival press conference in Wrocław, Poland.Abramz with children in Diep Kloof, Soweto, South Africa in 2008.Abramz with children in Diep Kloof, Soweto, South Africa in 2008.Abramz teaching at a children’s centre in Świnica, Poland as part of the 2009 Brave Kids Project.
GALLERY: Abramz guest teaching at the Makerere University department of performing arts and film, in 2014.
Abramz and DJ Lean Rock, at the 2015 Break Through Festival in Zurich, Switzerland.Abramz doing a judge showcase at a Breakfast Jam event at the Uganda National Theatre in 2015. Photo by Kibuuka Mukisa.Abramz doing a judge showcase at a Breakfast Jam event at the Uganda National Theatre in 2015. Photo by Kibazzi Pius.Street Off 2022 breaking battles in Kampala, Uganda. Judged by bboy Lilou, Sunni and Abramz. Event was organized by Alliance Francaise Kampala and Stree Off.Abramz hosting the 2017 ‘Open Day & Dance Festival’, a collaboration/ exchange event organized by Makerere University in partnership with the Norwegian University College of Dance (NUCOD). Photo by Walugembe Isaac.Abramz hosting the 2017 ‘Open Day & Dance Festival’, a collaboration/ exchange event organized by Makerere University in partnership with the Norwegian University College of Dance (NUCOD). Photo by Walugembe Isaac.Menno (The Netherlands), Ez Mike (Switzerland), Abramz (Uganda), Poe One (USA), Jazzy Jes (CH) and Mikey (CH) at the 2015 BreakThrough Festival in Zurich, Switzerland. Photo by Kibuuka Mukisa
Black Alley Band, from Washington DC, freestyle jamming with Breakdance Project Uganda (BPU) at Makerere University, 2023. This was organized by the U.S Mission In Uganda, as part of the American Music Abroad program.
HOPE TV at the PYE Global and In Movement youth camp at Hope North in 2011.
Tekya "ABRAMZ" Abraham 