Breakdancing around the World: Cambodia

Posted on December 6, 2008

Though breaking started in the Bronx, NY, it has since grown from a U.S. fad to world-wide phenomenon. I‘ll periodically post a “Breaking all over the World” blog to showcase b-boys and b-girls from all around the globe.

The NY Times recently had an article on Tiny Toones, an outreach program in Phnom Penh, Cambodia that uses breaking to empower Khmer youth. It was started 4 years ago by Tuy Sobil after he was deported from the U.S. on a felony charge.

Born in a Thai refugee camp and raised in Long Beach, CA, he was unaware that he was actually a Cambodian citizen. Nor was he familiar with the U.S. law that mandates deportation for all Cambodian refugees convicted of a felony. He had been breaking for many years before being deported but didn’t plan to teach it when he first arrived. He initially worked as a drug counselor and started Tiny Toones only as a crew to practice with. After seeing the interest and impact it had on area youth, he decided to open it up, converting it to a full community outreach program.

Sobil now teaches breaking full-time and has over 150 students in Cambodia. For more information, check out the Tiny Toones website.

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