The dance community is mourning the death of Breakin’ star Adolfo Quiñones, aka Shabba-Doo.
Toni Basil, who co-founded The Lockers group that helped popularize street dance in the 1970s, shared the news of Quiñones’ death on social media on Wednesday. A native of Chicago, Quiñones was an innovator of the dance style that became known as “locking,” and played Ozone in the hit breakdancing films Breakin’ and Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo, which both came out in 1984.
“It is with extreme sadness The Lockers family announces the unexpected passing of our beloved Adolfo Shabba-Doo Quiñones,” Basil wrote. “In this difficult time we are requesting privacy.”
In addition to film and television roles, Quiñones also served as a choreographer to popular artists like Lionel Richie, Madonna, and Luther Vandross, and was a primary dancer and main choreographer for Madonna’s Who’s That Girl? Tour in 1987.
Sheila E and Ice-T also mourned Quiñones’ death on Twitter, with Sheila writing, “I just heard I’ve lost another friend Shabba doo. A great Hiphop dancer. We toured together w/ Lionel Richie 1983. Gosh, Rest In Peace my brother. @officialshabbadoo @Shabba_Doo.”
Ice-T shared a video compilation of Quiñones dancing, tweeting, “I just lost ANOTHER close friend… SHABBA-DO. LA dance legend. You may know from the Breakin Movies.. Has passed away… FF**K 2020 SHABBA-DOO MONTAGE.”
See more tributes from Quiñones’ famous friends and fans below: