From Heerlen to the world: Breakdancer Marciano van Kempen

As if breaking is just another hobby, something to do occasionally in the evenings. Nothing could be further from the truth. For 25-year-old Marciano van Kempen, born and raised in Heerlen, breakdancing is his sport, his work, his past, and his future. Although he currently also works in his grandmother's food truck, his ultimate dream is to spend all his time on breaking. And it’s not an unattainable goal—especially with the support of Life Cipher’s coaching program behind him.

Crew Battles
Marciano started breakdancing at the age of eleven, inspired by a classmate who invited him to a lesson at SCHUNCK. Fourteen years later, he’s already reached some impressive milestones. “Participating in the Red Bull BC One Holland Cypher was definitely a personal highlight,” Marciano shares. “Especially because it was a one-on-one battle. I’m really proud of that. With our crew, HFC, we made it to the top eight at the UK Champs in London, one of the biggest crew battles in the world. Thanks to breakdancing, I’ve also been fortunate enough to visit incredible places like New York, LA, and Singapore, meet amazing people, and achieve a lot. Not bad for a breaker from Heerlen, right?"

Connection with Music

Marciano describes his breakdancing style as traditional, emphasizing the essence of breakdance: dance itself. “Sometimes I think people forget where the sport comes from. Many breakers only focus on tricks. It often looks like they’re just training, even during a battle. But it’s about dancing, the connection with the music. Without music, there would be no breakdancing.”

The sport’s recent recognition by the Olympic Games comes as a relief to Marciano. “Especially in the lead-up to the Olympics last year, we noticed how much more became possible thanks to the increased attention for breakdancing. For example, there’s now more access to subsidies and support from businesses, which is, of course, very welcome.”

A New Generation

Through Life Cipher, Marciano aims to develop a training program for the next generation of breakdancers. “Together with Luc and Diego, I recently started training kids who’ve already been dancing for a while and want to take their skills to the next level. Last year, we also began organizing battles as a crew, teaming up with a crew from Weert. Our goal is to bring Limburg’s breakers closer together. Until recently, I knew the Weert crew existed, but we had never actually connected. It’s strange when you realize we’re only about 30 minutes apart. For every battle, we reach out to other local dance schools to get as many kids involved and connected as possible,” he explains.

Unlocking Levels

For Marciano, the ideal career is a balance between teaching and shining on stage—or in this case, the cypher. “And organizing events! I really enjoy that, especially when I can share my knowledge in the process. But when I go too long without a battle, I start to itch. So I’m going for that combination of performing, organizing, and teaching.”

This focus on knowledge and development is crucial for him. “Learning something new gives you a thrill, like unlocking a new level. Besides, if you don’t keep learning, you’ll always stay the same, and then you’ll get stuck in a rut. That’s no good for anyone.”

Bigger Moves

Marciano admits that his growth and skill development are on the right track, thanks in part to Life Cipher. “My personal challenge in this program is to get closer to myself. I do that mainly by embracing the travels we make and the jams we attend. There, I see people like me with the same mindset, and I find that inspiring. For example, I like to watch b-boys with a strong sense of dance who add bigger moves in a beautiful way. I learn from that.”

When it comes to teaching and organizing events, Marciano is discovering the importance of building a strong network. “Sometimes you really have to push through; a lot happens through connections. Life Cipher is a big help in this. We meet many people through the competitions we visit and the events that are organized. After every trip, I list for myself: Who did I meet? What did I see and learn, and what can I do with that? It’s incredibly helpful.”

Life Cipher also regularly organizes events where participants take on assignments, go out into the field, or meet other creatives or stakeholders in the community. “Every meeting is just as great as the last. Everyone puts in their best effort—it’s educational, but also fun. We all get so much satisfaction out of it. Sometimes a rapper or designer comes in to talk, which is very inspiring. Even if it’s a different discipline, it’s great to see someone’s creative process and then use that perspective to look at your own work.”

Love for the City

When asked about his ultimate coach, Marciano doesn’t hesitate: “Jop (Vermeesch, ed.), definitely!” After a moment’s thought, he adds, “Good b-boys aren’t necessarily good coaches. But Mario Bee is an exception and a real inspiration. He organizes The Notorious IBE and has coached many crews in the past. I could learn so much from him in various areas.”

The Life Cipher project is unique to Heerlen, a city Marciano has a love-hate relationship with. “We’ve got plenty to complain about, but I just can’t leave. We’ve built so much here, and the city is thriving, especially in recent years. I just feel a lot of love for our city. Every city should have a project like this. It’s important to recognize the creatives who represent the city well, because that’s what we do. We might not always be visible, but we’re here.”