The Square Life

Clayton “C-Bass” Ashcraft has been cutting the rug since he was five, watching Michael Jackson videos, and has always had a passion for dancing. In 2006 C-Bass fulfilled his dream on So You Think You Can Dance, and MTV’s Little Talent Show. During his first year of college in Idaho, he immersed himself in the hip-hop culture and became an instant enthusiast and expert of break dancing. He currently owns Urban Vibe Productions, a dance company that promotes events from Rexburg to Provo.

S.Q. What were your influences that got you into dancing?
C.A. Definitely Michael Jackson for quite some time . . . Usher, Justin Timberlake for sure, (and) Bobby Brown.

S.Q. So where does the name C-Bass come from?
C.A. (Laughs.) Back in high school, a good friend of mine, Danny Carpenter, and I would always hang out. People called him Carp, so to go along with the fish theme, people just started calling me C-Bass. That’s how it came—nothing really too cool.

S.Q. We know you’re kind of a big deal in Rexburg; what made you come to Provo?
C.A. My whole goal was to get break dancing going up there for the hip-hop culture and be able to promote that hip-hop culture on a good level. You know, when people understand it, they love it. Rexburg is a really tough area to get events going, but once we started break dance competitions up, they took off. Eventually, the venues we used were bought out, and it again became very tough to promote it. I mean, the last event I did in Provo, we had about 1,300 plus attend. And so I just decided that I needed to spread my wings and start doing stuff in Provo. It seemed like people were just doing the normal dance party kind of thing, whereas break dancing is something different. If the people up there like it, then people down here are gonna love it.

S.Q. What’s your ideal music to break dance to?
C.A. Oh shoot, umm Van Halen . . . I mean anything from butt rock era to (laughs) just kidding. Let’s see, definitely like James Brown; there are a lot of underground break beats and stuff that I like. Wait, my favorite song to break to though is probably Scenario by A Tribe Called Quest.

S.Q. What’s been your most memorable experience on the dance floor?
C.A. I’d say just being able to get the crowd pumped up, like I uh . . . (laughs) it’s funny. I lived in Hollywood for a summer. And I’d go to clubs where people would dance, but mostly just stand around, dance a little bit, but don’t get crazy or anything. So I’d have to say one of my most memorable was just to be able to walk into one of those posh clubs and just kind of take over the whole thing. I like to be in situations where I can make people really happy or just kinda get a crowd pumped up! Have fun with life; that’s just kinda my whole thing.

S.Q. Nikes or Adidas?
C.A. Ohh, Nikes for sure. Dunks? Yeah. I’m passionate about my Nikes.