Breakdance royalty pay tribute to fellow crew member

A young life taken in his prime has left friends and extended family in the breakdance community, struggling to come to terms with the untimely death of 20-year-old Ruben Jansen.

A glowing flame in the world of breakdancing, Ruben was born to dance, said a tearful Jessica Jansen, when asked about her son, the third eldest of six siblings, who was shot and killed in Eerste River, at the weekend.

“He had so much to live for, so much to give, he was going to be an ambassador, he was going to Germany, in October, as an ambassador for the South African Body of Dance (SABOD),” said the distraught mother.

In a post on the Sabod Instagram page, the organisation referred to him as a beacon of energy, a maestro of movement with an infectious smile that could light up any room.

“His electrifying performances ignited stages worldwide with a heart that lifted spirits. More than a dancer, he was a true pillar of our community and will dearly be missed.”

For now, the family has to deal with the aftermath of an all too common tragedy, trying to make sense of it all.

Jansen said Ruben was hanging out with friends on a bakkie, The next thing she said, two men walked up to the bakkie and started shooting. He managed to jump off but had already been hit by a bullet.

“He ran into his friend’s yard and fell down. He was still alive by the time the ambulance arrived,” she said.

She said two of his friends had also been struck - one in the arm and one in the leg.

Introduced to breakdancing at an early age as his father Xavier also practised the art as a youngster, Ruben started off at the age of three, his mother said.

“I think his dad saw himself in Ruben,” Jansen said, “and that was amazing.”

⁠Girlfriend Raadiyah Fester said she will forever cherish his loving and caring personality. “His passion and love for dancing is what made him the great dancer he was always keen on trying new moves and never stopped practising at the gym where you would find him everyday,” she said.

Over time many of his father’s friends, former crew members and some of the city’s breakdance royalty, including Brandon Peterson aka BBoy The Curse, came to know Ruben.

“Ruben was still a baby when I first met him,” Peterson said. “Knowing Xavier, Ruben was constantly exposed to breaking and around breakers, I guess it’s kind of inevitable for Ruben to pick up moves and try it. It got to a point where he could start training on his own and develop his own breaking vocabulary,” he said.

Fellow crew member, Dimitri Nel aka BBoy Meaty, another member of Cape Town who’s who in breakdancing circles, also has fond memories of Ruben.

“Ruben, in my opinion, was one of the best of his current generation, no doubt. A well rounded dancer who had everything a top dancer needs. He had all the qualities.

“He came across as an introvert, quiet, soft, not a person of many words, but if he was in a safe space, he was very expressive and funny too.

“He has shown great consistency, he has shown that he had the ability to take an idea or task and learn it till it became effortless. Which is rare as people usually start something and never finish it,” said Nel.

Long-time family friend Deon Daniels aka DJ Ready D said he’s known Ruben all his life. “He practically grew up in front of us. We’ve managed to witness his journey, we regarded him as part of our family. We noticed his interest in breaking at a very young age and we’re just glad that he managed to travel the country and the world doing what he loved.”