Scroll through the Instagram feed of Rauf “RubberLegz” Yasit, and you’d be forgiven for not being able to define exactly what kind of dancer you’re watching. The way he spins on his head might remind you of classic break-dancing, but then he’ll balance in a headstand like a yogi as his arms and legs twist to create intricate shapes in the air. Some of his movement experiments have a contemporary flair, but in his intense flexibility and contortion-like poses, you may also see glimpses of a circus acrobat.
Defining him, as it turns out, is completely beside the point, and his ability to exist in the space between genres is one of his greatest assets. Since beginning his career as a self-taught b-boy competing in Germany, Yasit has become one of the most sought-out collaborators in the contemporary dance world, working with choreographers like William Forsythe and James Gregg, collaborating with companies like Puma and Burberry, and lending his skills to multidisciplinary projects.
“There have been very few street dancers that have been able to enter the concert scene,” says choreographer Jacob Jonas, a friend and frequent collaborator. “Rauf has definitely bridged that gap.” Through years of meticulously honing his craft and staying curious, he’s carved out his own unique place in the dance world.
Read the full story at Dance Magazine.
Photo by Eric Matheron Balaÿ, via Dance Magazine
