Dance Preview:
Wilson Dance Projects’ Get Down 2006.
July 17-28
Blue Studios (2633 Hochwald Ave SW)
For more info: 837-7600 or www.wilsondanceprojects.com
Tara Wilson is pleased to be watching Calgary’s hip-hop community grow.
"There’s so many good dancers and there’s a lot of people that are starting to form groups and doing their own shows," she says. "And there’s a lot of people teaching — I think there’s a lot of people that are inspired to do more with hip-hop as an art form."
As a local dance educator, Wilson has also contributed greatly to local hip-hop, doing so in part by organizing world-renowned dancers to come teach in Calgary. Which brings us to her company: Wilson Dance Projects. For the past five years her company has hosted summer hip-hop workshops, and this year is no different. Get Down to the Funky Sound 2006 is intended for dancers of all levels, professional to beginner.
"I am really trying to get people to associate hip-hop with Calgary," Wilson says. "I’m really trying to make that connection in people’s minds…it’s something that’s going to happen slowly underground."
"There were about 150 people that came in total (last year)," Wilson adds. "We had people from Vancouver, Montreal, Manitoba, Saskatchewan. So that was cool, to have people coming from all over Canada to Calgary for hip hop, because it’s not really considered a big centre for hip hop. And everybody had a great time, so a lot of people are coming back…hopefully more Calgarians will come this year too."
"Last year we brought the Electric Boogaloos, and a couple of them are coming back this year," Wilson explains. "And then, this year we’re bringing another artist named Ken Swift who is a very, very famous B-Boy."
Instructors for Get Down 2006 include renowned artists such as Swift and Electric Boogaloo members’ Suga Pop and Poppin’ Pete, as well as Caleaf Sellers from New York, Jojo "Kinetic Philosopher" Zolina from Vancouver, and Madbasick of 4EverFresh from Calgary.
Swift, originally from New York’s famed Rock Steady Crew, is one of break dancing’s pioneers. He was featured in films such as Wild Style and The Freshest Kids, and recently opened a dance school in Brooklyn, where he continues to influence the hip hop community.
The Electric Boogaloos pre-date hip-hop, and their dance innovations have directly influenced the hip-hop movement — as well as music and dance artists ranging from Usher and Prince to Janet and Michael Jackson. Their dance style ‘Boogaloo’ can be described as an isolation movement with smooth body and legs rolls. Whereas, another movement style called ‘popping’ — created by group member Boogaloo Sam — is a rigid style that may appear flowing but mechanical.
"They are always teaching something new," Wilson says. "They start everything from the beginning, but I have taken a few classes with them, and I’ve never seen them teach something the same way twice ever."
"This will be my third year in Calgary," says the Boogoloo’s Suga Pop. "I will continue teaching the Boogaloo part of dancing and locking…and how it’s grown through the years."
"Basically each dance style belongs to the music, in other words the music changes each dance style," he explains. "The music of popping is different from the music of locking is different from the music of breaking."
Suga Pop says students should come ready to sweat and warm up "cause we’re going to jump right into it…classes will be 50% technique and 50% groove." |
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