TIM GUNTHER
ATHLETICS
Aidan Mills and Keekoa Mercier
Breaking Out at MAC Hip hop and breakdancing pump fresh blood into dance program By Jake Ten Pas
S
tars, stripes, swooshes and springing pumas – sneaker logos are symbols of motion, and tonight they explode across the floor of Studio One. Flat-soled athletic, leisure and skateboard shoes make for the best breaking gear because they allow the dancer to stop, pivot, turn and, if they’re smooth enough, slide. It’s a far cry from the old-school dress code that used to define MAC dance classes — when all club dancers had to, at the very least, wear tight black pants, blue shirts and black jazz shoes. “You can’t get funky in those clothes,” says hip hop instructor Melissa Nornes. “I can’t. I don’t know how anyone can. The bending of the knees, the attitude, the posture is a lot different, and if you don’t change your clothes between jazz and hip hop class, you’re just not going to be in the right mood. If I’m not wearing the right clothes or shoes, it doesn’t feel right.”
58 | The Wınged M |
JANUARY 2020
For those not versed in the intricacies of dance terminology, the differences between hip hop – spelled without the hyphen in dance circles –—and breaking might not be immediately apparent. Rest assured, though, they are very different disciplines. Muddying the waters is the fact that “Hip-Hop” as a cultural movement is often said to have four primary pillars: Rapping or MCing, DJing, graffiti and B-boying, otherwise known as breakdancing. Confused yet? Fortunately, MAC has instructors so steeped in the traditions of dance and music alike that they can help offer clarity. Before stepping to club classes, keep reading to learn more about how these relatively recent forms have changed not only MAC, but the world of dance as a whole. Continued on page 60
