Charlene Grange
A breaker, choreographer and teacher, Charlene started Street Elements and has guided generations of dancers. Her work connects the foundations of hip-hop with performance, training and opportunities for young people.
MALTA · SINCE 2005
FROM THE
FIRST CYPHERS
TO BIG STAGES.
Street Elements grew from a breaking crew into a place where young dancers find foundations, confidence and community. The stage has grown; the culture remains at the centre.
OUR ROOTS
Built by dancers.
Kept alive together.
Charlene Grange founded Street Elements in 2005. With co-founder Liston Bongailas, she helped build a crew around breaking and hip-hop at a time when Malta’s scene was small and changing. When many crews disappeared, Street Elements continued to train, travel and battle, giving younger dancers a path from their first steps to international competition.
Today, the school works across Mosta and Xgħajra, teaching breaking, hip-hop and other movement styles while making room for battles, workshops, shows and community events. The aim is still to share the culture, not just the moves.
THE PEOPLE BEHIND IT
Charlene
& Liston.
Liston Bongailas
A breaker, MC and hip-hop artist, Liston has represented Malta in battles, coached emerging dancers and brought music and storytelling to major stages. Together with Charlene, he keeps the crew’s community spirit moving forward.
THE CREW
One generation opens the floor for the next.
Older dancers pass on the foundations. Younger dancers bring their own voice. Battles teach them to listen, respond and create in the moment, while rehearsals and shows give the whole crew a stage.
THE JOURNEY
Two decades
in motion.
The first crew
Charlene forms Street Elements in Malta’s active breaking scene. The crew begins building its identity through training, battles and a shared love for hip-hop.
Keeping the scene moving
As the number of local crews falls, Street Elements keeps training and seeks battles abroad, building experience that can be brought home and passed to younger dancers.
A breakthrough in Athens
At Fluido Jam, young crew members Kyle Cassar and Lindsey Pisani reach the under-14 semi-finals, Clarence Pulis makes the top eight, and the crew reaches the top 16 in the six-person battle.
Read the story ↗Liston reaches a Milan final
Liston places second in the Floor Wars FootWork Battle, a milestone for a Maltese breaker on the international battle circuit.
Read the story ↗ELEMENTI in Valletta
Street Elements organises an international hip-hop weekend at City Theatre, with workshops, all-style and breaking battles, and solo showcases.
See the project ↗Malta’s Got Talent finalists
The crew brings its movement and Liston’s words to a national television audience, reaching the final of Malta’s Got Talent.
Watch the performance ↗The next generation travels further
A children’s group qualifies for the Dance World Cup Finals in Spain. In Manchester, 12-year-old Jerome “Bboy Jerri” Fenech wins two first-place breaking titles at Rotation Dance Exchange, with fellow Street Elements dancers also representing Malta.
Read the Manchester story ↗More stages, the same roots
Liston performs “Mela” at the Malta Eurovision Song Contest. Street Elements continues to teach in Mosta and Xgħajra and helps bring breaking and dance to community events including the Urban Sports Festival.
See “Mela” ↗
WHAT WE CARRY FORWARD
Peace. Love. Unity.
Having fun.
From a small crew to a wider community, Street Elements is here for the dancers who come next. Learn the foundations, find your voice and make space for someone else to do the same.
Join the community →Read more
Milestones on this page are drawn from published reporting and event records. The story and founder roles reflect Street Elements’ own account.