Sprockettes mark 10 years with epic reunion performance (photos)

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28 Sprockettes — including all the founding members — danced together at the Bike Fair yesterday.
(Photos by J. Maus/BikePortland)

It was one of those moments that will be talked about for years. Portland’s beloved mini-bike dance troupe, The Sprockettes, gave an emotionally charged and historic performance in front of a large, appreciative crowd at the Bike Fair on Saturday.

10 years ago the Sprockettes, a group of women who met while “zoobombing” the hills in Washington Park, started their amazing journey on the same pavement in Colonel Summers Park where they danced yesterday. All of the group’s founding members were in attendance. Former Sprockettes flew in from all over the country (Minneapolis, Richmond (VA), San Francisco, Oakland), leaving their jobs and families behind in order to rekindle old bonds formed over a shared love of bikes, dance, and community activism.

What began in 2004 as a way to make their mark among the other local bike groups in town, eventually became much more. Over the years The Sprockettes have garnered major media attention, gone on several national tours, and inspired other women in cities across the globe to form bike dance groups of their own.

Along the way they honed not just their moves, but also their mission; which is equal parts entertainment and empowerment. Run as a collective, the Sprockettes spread a message of positive self-image for all body types, while “offering an alternative to the dangerous mono-culture of what the ideal body type is; and promote female positive perspective that celebrates women’s empowerment.”

In other words; celebrate who you are, take control of your life, and have fun.

Saturday’s performance embodied those principles. It capped months of preparations, planning and practices. And it all came together beautifully.

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Before the special anniversary performance, we were treated to an awesome set by the current Sprockettes…

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And then it was time for the veterans to show they’ve still got the moves…

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Then all 28 Sprockettes came together for a performance of one of their classics, “Sexy on the inside”…

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I’ve been so lucky to have been able to document these women for the past nine years. They’ve been a tremendous inspiration for me and my family and I’m so proud and excited for what they’ve been able to accomplish. Well done ladies!

And thank you for being so bad ass.

“S-P-R-O-C-K-E-T-T-E-S!”

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— View our entire gallery of the performance on Flickr.

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, contact me via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a paying subscriber.

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Todd Boulanger
Todd Boulanger
10 years ago

It was so sooo nice to be back at Col. Summers Park too!

Anne Hawley
Anne Hawley
10 years ago

What a fantastic set of photos of an amazing bunch of women. Thank you for this coverage. Very uplifting!

Blake Hicks
Blake Hicks
10 years ago

Quite the Epic reunion indeed. Wish I could of been their in person to see & feel the experience. Thanks for documenting as much as possible, extremely inspiring.

Joe
Joe
10 years ago

*EPIC*

Rebecca
Rebecca
10 years ago

Best part of Bike Fair. Loved it!

Scott Batchelar
10 years ago

Just in case anyone wants to see one of the Sprockette’s performance numbers from the Multnomah County Bike Fair here it is!

http://fc4charity.tumblr.com/post/90199164176/10-years-and-those-sprockettes-still-know-how-to

Gasper Johnson
Gasper Johnson
10 years ago

rather awesome. great politics and style!