What do you get when you have a passion for dance, add in a pinch of love for Taiwan, and mix it all together with a whole lot of humor and personality? The silly jokesters and talented b-boys of Instant Noodles Crew! Originally from Taipei American School in Taiwan, 8 of 9 members found their way to Southern California for college. The crew started with Geo, Chuck, and Rob — who began dancing together during their freshman year. During visits back to Taiwan, they got to know younger TAS students, who migrated to SoCal as well, eventually dancing with the older guys and joining their crew. A similar upbringing and educational environment allowed the crew members to easily gravitate towards each other — as people first, then as dancers. Instant Noodles is perhaps best known for their appearance as commendable contestants on season 6 of MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew. They were eliminated after the Justin Bieber challenge in Week 6 – but that didn’t discourage them from continuing with their dancing dream. Just this past week, the crew took home 3rd place in the adult division of the 2011 Hip-hop International World Finals.

Charles
Astrological Signs: Leo
Hometown: Taipei, Taiwan
Current City: Orange, CA
Languages: English, Chinese
You will most likely run into Charles at: Guppies, Cha For Tea, 85°C, b-boy jams

 

 

Rob
Astrological Signs: Aquarius, Rat
Hometown: Taipei, Taiwan
Current City: North Hollywood, CA
Languages: English, Taiwanese, Taiwanese Mandarin
You will most likely run into Rob at:
B-boy events/battles, 85°C, on the 5 Freeway [his 2nd home]

 

Mike
Astrological Signs: Leo
Hometown: Taipei, Taiwan
Current City: Orange, CA
Languages: Taiwanese, English, Mandarin
You will most likely run into Mike: Anywhere in Irvine

 

 

Chuck
Astrological Signs: Libra
Hometown: Taipei, Taiwan
Current City: North Hollywood, CA
Languages: Mandarin, English
You will most likely run into Chuck at: Comic stores, movie theaters

 

 

Chris
Astrological Signs: Cancer, Snake
Hometown: Taipei, Taiwan
Current City: Arcadia, CA
Languages: Taiwanese, Taiwanese Mandarin, English
You will most likely run into Chris at: Guppies, bars, 85°C, b-boy jams

 

 

Tom
Astrological Signs: Libra
Hometown: Taipei, Taiwan
Current City: Los Angeles, CA
Languages: English, Taiwanese, Mandarin
You will most likely run into Tom at: 85°C, Arc Pasadena [dance studio]

 

 

Arthur
Astrological Signs: Aquarius
Hometown: Taipei, Taiwan
Current City: Arcadia, CA
Languages: English, Mandarin, Spanish, Japanese
You will most likely run into Arthur at: Somewhere in Irvine [85°C]

 

 

Geo
Astrological Signs: Gemini, Ox
Hometown: Taipei, Taiwan
Current City: North Hollywood, CA
Languages: English, Mandarin
You will most likely run into Geo at: Umami Burger, wherever he’s rehearsing

 

TW543 had the opportunity to meet all the boys of Instant Noodles crew recently, catching them just before they hit the road for Las Vegas to compete in the 2011 Hip-hop International competition. We knew the boys were definitely talented and had tons of character – but were dying to know more. We focused our chat with them on 3 main areas: their passion for dance, their dedication to Taiwan, and the best for last – getting to know these guys on a personal level!

 

-PASSION for DANCE-

TW543: How do you guys warm up for a performance?

Geo: While preparing for performances, we get tired from always focusing on choreography. So the way we warm up is by playing breaking and b-boy music. Breakbeats. Funk. Soul. Some James Brown. We warm up first by freestyling and then going into choreography.

Rob: Before a performance, of course we want to kill it and do well. But in the end, we want to have fun and not be too serious.

 

TW543: Do you guys have any team chants before a performance?

Chuck: So we huddle up into a circle, hyping and trying to motivate each other. Then we reach across with everyone in the circle and do this “manly handshake”.

Chuck: I like to think of rainbows and tell myself… “Kill it Chuck!”

 

TW543: Aside from b-boying, what other styles of dance have you guys taken classes or are interested in?

Arthur: I started out with locking.

Tom: The majority of us have had some modern and ballet training in high school. Chuck and I pursued dance as a major in college.

Chuck: I find having experience in other dance styles helps you appreciate dance as a whole.

Geo: Some of us do hip hop choreography. When I was in college, I was on Kaba Modern at UCI. We started out as and are primarily b-boy, but we take ideals and aspects of other styles we’ve experienced.

 

TW543: What advice do you have for aspiring dancers out there?

Chuck: It doesn’t matter how many times you’re unsuccessful… as long as keep going. Don’t limit yourself to appreciating one style. This applies to all dancers.

Geo: When you dance, focus on what’s unique to you. Instant Noodles is not known for winning jams and competitions all the time. We’re more known for what we’ve developed stylistically. We’re humbled because people like our style, not because how many 1st places we’ve won.

Tom: I feel a lot of times the cultural aspects of dance become lost. It’s important for people to learn the histories of different dances and dancers. Understand where dance is moving as a collective movement.

Rob: In Taiwan, we grew up with a certain social understanding that there exists a single ultimate standard. The majority of dance exposure nowadays is through television and media, and it’s easy to consider what’s seen through those mediums as the standard. A true appreciation and exploration of dance doesn’t need to be in that form. As a crew, we want to explore… We want people to be aware that there’s a process. It’s not just like… there is one best way. You need to find what your strengths are and take it to the next level.

 

-LOVE for TAIWAN-

TW543: What does it feel like having gone to an American school in Taiwan as opposed to having gone to school here in the states as a Taiwanese-American?

Rob: In Taiwan, I spoke [and still speak] Mandarin… I identified with both Taiwanese culture and (what I thought was) American culture. I don’t really know otherwise. When I came here, that’s when I realized I’m not American at all. Not in a cultural sense, not in a social sense. We pretty much came here as fobs that spoke English really well. We still have this state of mind that Taiwan is home. I don’t ever feel like I completely fit in somewhere.

Chuck: We bond so well as a crew in terms of our history and similar experiences. People in Taiwan see me as… “Oh, you’re from America” while people here see us as… “Oh, you’re an Asian guy from Taiwan”. There’s a small group of people in the world sense who have this type of experience, growing up with this duality of citizenship. You’re American and Taiwanese at the same time. Two different cultures and yet you’re both of them. It’s something that’s really rare. When you find people that share this experience, like these guys, you gravitate towards them. In terms of how I feel, you always feel a little “off”. Not alienated, just different.

Geo: It’s like we’re our own kind of breed. When at TAS, I feel it’s like a constructed American environment so you grow up thinking you’re American. But as soon as you come to America… you find out America is not like that. *The rest of the boys laugh and nod* A lot of people aren’t aware that international schools are constructed American environments in Asian countries.

Chris: After growing up and spending 18 years in Taiwan before moving here to go to college, I’m still aware I’m Taiwanese and I want to stress that.

Rob: I feel like it’s easier and that I spend more time defining what I’m not, rather than what I am. I’m not Japanese. Not Korean. Not Chinese. I’m Taiwanese.

 

TW543: Where did you used to hang out after school in Taipei?

Instant Noodles: Internet cafes. Shilin night market. Played pool. Anywhere with FOOD. But the majority of our time was spent practicing on campus.

 

TW543: What is the dance and b-boy scene/culture like in Taiwan?

Tom: When the three older members started dancing, there were only two events a year in Taiwan. Taiwan’s scene is still very young, but it has progressed a lot since.

Geo: It’s gotten a lot better. There’s actually a collaboration of crews called Formosa [TC, SBC, Happy Soul], featuring the best b-boys in Taiwan. Formosa has represented Taiwan in international battles and freestyle sessions. Taiwan’s scene has improved, but it’s still not as developed as Korea, Japan, or the US.

Charles: Years ago, Taiwan’s trend was mostly Koreans influenced. Now, it’s mostly American. Taiwan is trying to find its own style, to find the soul within breaking.

Rob: As for us, we want to establish a Taiwanese presence everywhere we go and have people know that Taiwan exists.

 

TW543: What do you miss most about Taiwan?

Instant Noodles: FOOD… but also family. The majority of our family is all in Taiwan.

 

TW543: What your favorite foods in Taiwan?

Instant Noodles: Stinky tofu [臭豆腐]!!! Fried chicken steak [烤雞排]. Pig blood cake [豬血糕]. Oyster omelet [蚵仔煎]. Duck blood [鴨血]. “Small bun wrapped in large bun” [大腸包小腸]. MOS Burger. 我家牛排 [cheap chain steak house].

 

TW543: I understand that you guys are heading back to Taiwan in early August. What are you guys going to be up to there?

Instant Noodles: We’re participating in the FreeStyle Session in Taiwan and it’s the first time our entire crew has entered together. There are the 8 members here in US, but also 1 member named Aya. He currently lives in Taiwan serving in the military. Aya is a professional b-boy in Taiwan with big reputation for dancing there so long. He’s the one who taught and influenced us when we lived in Taiwan. We also have some interviews and gigs lined up as well.

 

-GETTING PERSONAL-

TW543: Tell us about some embarrassing habits or secrets about each other.

Instant Noodles: Nothing… we’re “perfect”.

Mike: *points at Geo* He doesn’t eat his “菜” [vegetables]!

 

TW543: Aside from dancing, what are some other hobbies or talents that you guys have?

Instant Noodles: Tom designs most of the Instant Noodles shirts.

Tom: Most recently, I designed the tank that I’m wearing right now. Refer to image of shirt. As you can see, the top part of the design looks like the “Tai”(臺) in Taiwan (臺灣). When you look at it sideways, the design spells out Taipei in English letters.

TW543: What’s the story behind that shirt? *points at the “Keep Calm, Noodle On” shirt*

Tom: “Keep Calm, Carry On” was British WW2 propaganda. It’s come back into pop culture and people have been changing the “Carry On” to other things, so we made it “Noodle On”. We also added a twist by changing the crown upside down to look like a bowl.

TW543: Where would you bring someone on a date? [Either here or in Taiwan]

Arthur: There’s this beach with this secret hill that no one goes to. Invite only.

Mike: Danshui [淡水].

Chris: Anywhere where there’s coffee [like Starbucks] or tea.

Charles: Anywhere.

Tom: 85°C.

Rob: Guotie shuijiao (Potsticker/dumpling) place. In high school, there was a bing (shaved ice) place next to a guotie (potsticker) place. When we would want to take a girl out, we would be like “guo tie shui jiao bing combo?!?” (potsticker/shaved ice combo). It’s something homey and cost efficient.

Geo: Umami Burger.

Chuck: I like to cook for the girl.

 

TW543: What are some inside jokes you guys have with each other?

Instant Noodles: We have this joke where we abbreviate everything. It’s to the point where we just say the first syllable or sound. For example, the word music would just be “mu”, as in “hey can you turn the ‘mu’ up louder?”. As for names, Charles would just be “Char”. Arthur is “Ar”. Chuck is… “Chuck”. We also love making acronyms out of Chinese phrases like… “zhun bei hao le ma” (ready to go yet?) is ZBHLM and “tou nao bao za” (head explosion) is TNBZ.

 

From their hilarious use of Chinglish phrases to their never-ending jokes and teasing, TW543 just couldn’t stop laughing during the interview. We guarantee anyone that after meeting and getting to know the boys of Instant Noodles better, you can’t help but fall in love with their goofy and likable personalities. All in all, their passion for dance and love for Taiwan are obvious and infectious. These boys are truly themselves. Unique, authentic, yet humble.

Related Links:
Official Website: http://www.instantnoodlescrew.com
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/instantnoodlescrew
Facebook: www.facebook.com/instantbboys
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/instantbboys

Interviewer: Sophia Liu
Photographer: Christine Yeh
Editor: Tiffany Hsu