Tuy Sobil, center in the white tank top, watches as his students break dance in the third-floor studio of his home in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Sobil is a teacher and former gang member from Long Beach who founded the break dancing nonprofit Tiny Toones in 2004. (Jeff Gritchen/Staff Photographer)Contra Costa Times
By Greg Mellen, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 10/17/2008
LONG BEACH - Images of b-boys, break dancers and crew battles don't necessarily equate to social activism in many minds.
The slums of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, may not seem like the breeding ground for a new wave of world class hip-hop dancers.
But if a seemingly mismatched combination of a b-boy artist from Seattle, several Long Beach activists and a deportee former gang member turned teacher have their way, those preconceptions will soon end.
Phanna Nam, or Peanut as he is known in dancing circles, is a Cambodian-American member of the renowned Massive Monkees dance group in Seattle. A year ago, he traveled to Cambodia for the first time and had a life-transforming experience.
After graduating from high school Tan, 24, was attending college when he says, "I had a revelation, a calling to go to Cambodia."
While overseas, Nam met another talented break dancer, a teacher and former gang member from Long Beach named Tuy Sobil, and a bond was formed.
Tuy, better known as KK in dance circles, was deported to Cambodia after being convicted of armed robbery and completing his jail sentence in the United States.
Tuy soon drew the notice of admiration of local children for his dance moves and before long they were flocking to watch and learn his techniques.
Seeing break dancing as an effective tool to engage children from the impoverished area in a constructive pursuit, Tuy founded Tiny Toones in 2004.
Since its formation, the group has become a spectacular success and springboard to offer education and social services to the children, many of whom are the children and siblings of sex workers, drug users and dropouts.
Now, in addition to learning windmills and head spins, kids also learn about HIV/AIDs and receive access to a variety of mental and physical health services. Many are also given food and shelter.
After teaching classes in his home for the first few years and picking up expenses, Tuy is moving Tiny Toones to a new center that will continue to offer dance classes plus myriad drop-in services and language training in English and Khmer.
When Nam met Tuy and saw the kids of Tiny Toones, he knew he had to be a part of it.
"We just connected," Nam says of his relationship with Tuy. "We had a lot in common, although he's a little more severe with the gang stuff. He's given me an opportunity and a dream."
What impressed Nam was the organic way in which Tiny Toones came together.
"The thing that drew me was this was asked for by the people. It wasn't a church or someone that came in and told the people what to do," Nam says. "It's not telling them what to do, it's working with them and growing with them."
Nam has been dancing since he was a child and became a founding member of Massive Monkees, which has earned world acclaim.
Now, Nam wants to bring that to Cambodia. The young dancer plans to move to Cambodia in November and start working with the kids in earnest.
With the help of several Long Beach residents who are helping put together a nonprofit in the United States, Nam sees Tiny Toones as having the chance to become a major player in the international break dancing scene and produce world-class talent.
"Can you imagine bringing a kid from a village (in Cambodia) to London to compete?" Nam says. "Eventually we'll get Tiny Toones out there."
Ryan Tong, a recent Cal State Long Beach graduate who is helping with the business side of Tiny Toones, says the goal of Tiny Toones is also to teach the kids to manage and oversee finances and eventually let them run the nonprofit.
"As much as art is important, so is money." Tong says. "That's freedom."
Although not a dancer himself, Tong is eager to learn.
"I'll be one of the first guys who learns break dancing to do social work," he says with a laugh.
A step down that path will occur tonight at Cal State Long Beach with a break dancing contest and benefit titled "Beyond the Mats 2," which will raise funds for Tiny Toones.
Nam expects upward of 400 or 500 spectators and participants.
In addition to putting on a good show with hot music and dancing, Nam and Tong hope to also get the message out to the b-boy and b-girl culture that they are part of something global and important and they can make a difference.
"We want to raise the consciousness of people here," Nam said. "We want to connect b-boys with issues of importance."
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