Grooving Towards Self-Acceptance
One, two, three, formation! Ready to jump into the world of dance, but feeling a little intimidated? Not to worry – SLU’s brand-new Hip-Hop Club is open to students of all skill levels and encourages beginners to come and explore.
Upon entering college this fall with seven years of previous dance experience, First-Year Joshua-Daniel Alleyne sought out a space to publicly express himself without the pressures of a competitive dance atmosphere. This semester, Alleyne has taken the initiative to form his own group under the Dance Ensemble, which focuses more intently on the basic principles of movement, learning about the culture of Hip-Hop, as well as pushing members to become comfortable in their own bodies and overcome the fear of perception when performing. Though there have only been a couple of sessions thus far, Alleyne happily reports that the group has not only become a positive physical and emotional outlet for his instructees, but helps him to ground himself in this new college environment by allowing him to continuously practice his passion for dance from an instructing position.
Hip-Hop Club meets Tuesdays from 8:30-9:30 pm and Saturdays from 3:30-5:30 pm in Griffiths 40, and currently operates on a drop-in basis. If you are getting bored of gym cardio, seeking for an artistic outlet, or simply looking for some friends, now would be the perfect time to investigate the club! Alleyne recognizes that putting yourself out there can be difficult for some, but claims there’s really no way to “jump into dance without jumping in,” and “giving yourself a chance and some grace” to figure out the art. He also finds that the majority of beginners who come have already gained confidence, learned to take constructive criticism, and return often.
Thusfar, the ensemble has worked on several pieces, including “Wildside” by Normani and choreographed by Sean Banks, “Houdini” by Dua Lipa and choreographed by Kyle Idanagarhi, “Yes And?” by Ariana Grande and choreographed by Koojaemo, and finally “Baptized” by Kid Cudi, featuring original choreography by Alleyne himself.
Going forward, Alleyne aspires to diversify dances by including elements in the choreography from styles such as Vogue, which “celebrates queerness,” contemporary, for learning sharper movements,
and Whacking, which includes both “sharp and liquid” motions. He also looks forward to continuously representing black artists and choreographers, and hopes to gain a larger platform at SLU once a more consistent group is solidified and skill advances. Be on the lookout next semester for potential flash mobs and other non-competitive shows on campus!