Today we’d like to introduce you to Stanley “Stress” Onyeneho.
Hi Stanley “Stress”, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Blvckflxg, originally known as “Black Flag,” emerged from the Bloodsheds and Badsides family, with the name inspired by the character “The Corsair,” reflecting their shared identity and bond. After the departure of Rip, a central figure in the crew between 2012 and 2013, Badside, also known as Twin Rip, stepped up as the ranking member to lead and nurture the crew. With a commitment to fostering growth, Badside organized the members into respective fams, while others became associated members of Black Flag.
This pivotal moment solidified the crew’s identity, transforming Black Flag into Blvckflxg. Soon after, the crew expanded with the creation of “Flxg South,” an initiative that integrated open-style dancers into their ranks. This move revitalized the Boston Krump scene, with many of today’s younger dancers in the city directly or indirectly connected to Blvckflxg through mentorship or inspiration.
As Blvckflxg continued to evolve, Badside passed leadership to Stress during the pandemic, anointing him as the new captain. Stress, along with other influential members, has been instrumental in shaping the crew’s ongoing impact on the dance community. Blvckflxg’s story is one of resilience, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of growth, consistently pushing the boundaries of the dance world.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As individuals, we’re all continually evolving, taking on more responsibilities in our personal lives, careers, families. Everyone’s chasing their own goals now, and that’s a good thing, but it also means we’re constantly working to balance that individual growth with keeping group morale and unity intact. It’s a real challenge to stay connected as a crew when everybody’s pulling in the direction of their own life. That’s part of why leadership matters so much to us from Badside to Stress, each transition has been about someone stepping up to hold that balance and keep the culture alive even as the people carrying it keep changing and growing.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Professionally, I work as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, specializing in behavioral health and recovery. My work centers on helping people rebuild whether that’s through individual counseling, program development, or building resources that make navigating hard seasons of life more manageable. I’m most proud of the systems and guides I’ve built that didn’t exist before I made them: things that now help other people move through their own struggles with a little more clarity. That instinct to build structure out of chaos and make space for people to grow carries directly into my life as a dancer.
As captain of Blvckflxg, I carry the responsibility of leading and nurturing the crew, continuing a legacy passed down through “Badside”. That means holding the culture together, guiding members through their own growth, and making sure the identity and values the crew was built on stay intact as we evolve. What sets me apart is that duality: I spend my days helping people heal and grow in a clinical sense, and I spend my time leading Blvckflxg doing the same thing through movement, mentorship, and community. Both worlds are ultimately about the same thing to me: showing up for people, building something real, and helping it last.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Honestly, in my line of work, I don’t really see luck as a factor at all I see preparation. What looks like luck from the outside is usually just someone who put in the work long before the opportunity showed up. I don’t believe Blvckflxg got to where we are by chance.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: blvckflxg_0
- Facebook: Blvckflxg DanceCrew
- Youtube: BLVCKFLXG TV
