‘It’s competitive aggressive battling and physically very difficult.’
I hear you’re a hip-hop dance instructor.
Yeah I’m an instructor dancer and choreographer — the whole nine yards.
When did you start dancing?
I started studying contemporary dance at the University of Calgary. I stumbled into hip hop at a dance festival in Maine. I took a dance class from this guy Rennie Harris and just got really into it. From there I met people in Calgary who were breaking and learning the same as I was.
What year was this taking place?
About 1996-97.
What was the culture in Calgary like then?
It was pretty small. There was some breaking. There was this guy Wayne Headley who had a store called Aluminum Planet. Kids could come and practise at his store in TD Square. That’s where I met a bunch of people that were involved in hip hop in Calgary. Everyone was pretty young and just starting out.
It seems very male-dominated. Was it hard to break into as a woman?
It was and still is. It’s a very male-dominated culture in general. A lot of the pioneers of all the dances — popping locking breaking — they were all men. Breaking especially has this very male-dominated culture or vibe to it. It’s competitive aggressive battling and physically very difficult. When I used to try to go learn I’d be in a room of eight guys who were like “Who’s this lame girl who can’t do anything?” But I always found a couple of guys who taught me a bunch of stuff. But it’s definitely very challenging as a woman.
Did you incorporate your contemporary training into your breakdancing?
I didn’t. I was very lucky because when I started to go to dance festivals I encountered these legendary pioneers of hip hop. So I actually learned the dances from these creators and recognized it as something completely unique and devoted myself to it. I didn’t feel the need to blend contemporary into it. I was just studying those dances unto themselves.
Have you ever seriously injured yourself?
Two weeks ago I really seriously injured my knee. But other than that I’ve been very lucky I haven’t had an injury that’s incapacitated me. But it’s common. There are a lot of injuries that go along with it especially breaking: knee and groin injuries.
I imagine you really have to take care of your joints.
It’s not really something people especially in the hip-hop culture really pay that much attention to. Maybe the newer generation because they’re more educated but definitely you hear the stories of the guys who started it back in the day they have no knees or wrists left because they would jump off a stage and land on their knees or in a split. Now they’re all kind of broken.
What type of hip-hop dance do you enjoy the most?
It changes. Right now what I’m practising the most is popping. But I also really love locking.
What do you think of reality dance TV shows?
I think it’s amazing that people are interested in learning dance especially kids and teenagers. But there are a lot of misconceptions. People come in with set expectations of what hip hop is. Those shows aren’t educational. That’s not their mandate. But I think they’re wonderful. They’re giving dancers work and recognition and really getting young people excited about dance which I think is so positive.
What’s going on with Pulse Studios?
It’s not open yet. It opens January 8. We’re hoping to have a wide demographic from kids to adults. I’ve been teaching in the community for many many years and I really want to develop the kids. Starting children at a young age and developing them into these monsters of dance at a young age and letting them grow up in the culture knowing what it really is and knowing about the ideas behind it: peace love respect unity knowledge and having fun. Knowing and respecting the different dance forms. Being able to freestyle but being able to do choreography and just inspiring a generation of children to grow up into amazing dancers.
Do you have kids?
I have four kids.
Are they all dancers?
No but my littlest ones five-year-old twins they still think I’m cool and like to dance around. They’ve been so fortunate because a lot of these pioneers and famous people in dance come to the house and are always around. They don’t even know how lucky they are but they love it.
Have you been able to travel because of dance?
I’ve travelled to different events and workshops around Europe Los Angeles New York and Montreal. It’s hard because I have kids so it’s a bit more of a challenge for me. But I try to because I love going away. It’s so inspiring especially Europe. I love to go away to get inspired.
