About Shabba-Doo
Lived 1955 – 2020 (aged 65). Shabba-Doo was an American actor, choreographer, dancer, film director and director, known for Breakin' and Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo.
Adolfo Quiñones (May 11, 1955 – December 29, 2020), known professionally as Shabba Doo, was an American actor, break dancer, and choreographer. Of African American and Puerto Rican descent, Quiñones was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. In the 1970s his family moved to Los Angeles, where he became interested in dancing and began performing in nightclubs. He adopted the pseudonym Shabba Doo and joined the dance group The Lockers, who were responsible for popularizing the locking style of street dance.
In 1984, Quiñones played one of the lead characters in the breakdancing-themed musical film Breakin'. The film was successful at the box-office, grossing $38,682,707 domestically, and spawned a sequel Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo. Quiñones continued acting in films and television.
Throughout his career, Quiñones performed and choreographed dance for musical acts such as Lionel Richie, Madonna, Luther Vandross, Three Six Mafia, and Chaka Khan.
Early life and education Quiñones was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, United States; His father, Adolfo, had been born in Puerto Rico and became a salesman and a laborer. His mother, a Black American Ruth (McDaniel) Quiñones, was an accountant whose family had moved from Mississippi to Chicago during the Great Migration. His mother raised him as a single parent from the age of three. He had a younger sister, Fawn Quiñones, who was also a dancer, and frequently featured on the musical variety television program Soul Train. Quiñones was raised in the Cabrini–Green housing complex in the city's Near North Side. For high school, Quiñones attended Cooley Vocational High School and Robert A. Waller High School (now known as Lincoln Park High School). In the 1970s, his family moved to the Los Angeles area. He began dancing in clubs around Crenshaw Boulevard and at venues like Radiotron, near MacArthur Park. Break-dance culture was growing at these establishments, and he dueled nightly in them with rivals on the dance floor. He started calling himself Sir Lance-a-Lock, which then became Shabba-Dabba-Do-Bop, which was finally shortened to Shabba-Doo.
In 1980. Quiñones acted on stage in David Winters's rock musical Goosebumps.
In May 1984, Joel Silberg's breakdancing-themed musical film Breakin''' opened in cinemas, where Quiñones was cast as a lead playing Ozone. The film opened at number one in the box office, earning $6,047,686. and eventually grossed $38,682,707 in the domestic box office, making it the eighteenth highest-grossing film of 1984.
In December, 1984, Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo premiered, directed by Sam Firstenberg with Quiñones returning as Ozone. The film grossed $15.1 million in the United States and Canada.
Also in 1984, he danced in Chaka Khan's music video "I feel for you"
In 1987, Quiñones was a primary dancer and main choreographer for singer Madonna's Who's That Girl? Tour in 1987.
He served as choreographer for Jamie Kennedy's MTV sitcom, Blowin' Up''. He choreographed Three Six Mafia's performance at the 78th Academy Awards; the group won the Oscar for best original song for "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp".
Personal life and death Quiñones was married twice and had two children. His first marriage was to Gwendolyn Powell from 1976 until 1982. After divorcing Powell, Quiñones married actress Lela Rochon in 1982. Quiñones and Rochon were married until 1987. He died at his home from arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease on December 29, 2020, at age 65.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1978 Disco Fever Dancer at Jet 1980 Xanadu Xanadu Dancer Uncredited 1984 Breakin' Orlando "Ozone" Barco Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo 1989 Tango & Cash Dancer 1990 Lambada Ramone 1993 Rave, Dancing to a Different Beat Unknown 1995 Steel Frontier Deacon Television Year Title Role Notes1976 What's Happening!! Rocket Dancer Episode: "My Three Tons"1980 The Big Show Himself 1 episode 1985 Miami Vice Pepe Episode: "The Maze" 1985 Kids Incorporated The Genie Episode: "A Lad and His Lamp" 1989 The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! Himself Episode: "Dance" 1990 Married... with Children Cecil Episode: "Rock and Roll Girl" 1991 The Sitter Nick TV movie
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Important facts
Family & relationships
People in Shabba-Doo's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Shabba-Doo's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Shabba-Doo?
American actor and dancer
When was Shabba-Doo born?
Shabba-Doo was born on 11 May 1955 in Chicago.
When did Shabba-Doo die?
Shabba-Doo died on 29 December 2020 in Los Angeles.
What was Shabba-Doo's occupation?
Shabba-Doo was an actor, choreographer, dancer, film director and director.
What was Shabba-Doo known for?
Shabba-Doo was known for Breakin' and Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo.
What nationality was Shabba-Doo?
Shabba-Doo was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Shabba-Doo. https://biography.guide/shabba-doo/
MLA: "Shabba-Doo." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/shabba-doo/.
Chicago: "Shabba-Doo." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/shabba-doo/.
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