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Nair of Teaneck, N.J., and Roman of Fort Lee, N.J., graduated in May, so a new executive board will take over in September. To thank the graduating seniors, group members presented them with a cake, which included a number “5” candle, during their last break dancing event this spring.
With the New York City skyline as their backdrop, more than a dozen students participated in the lesson, led by hip-hop dancers Nova and J La Roc, members of Jersey City’s MDK Crew. They learned a mini-routine to the hip-hop classic “Rapper’s Delight” by the Sugar Hill Gang. And indicating just how much hip hop has changed since the ’70s and ’80s, the music blared from a mega iPod dock, instead of a boombox.
The lesson seemed like part gym class, part music video. The students, whose sneakers squeaked against the linoleum floor as they practiced, laughed when they missed a step and swelled with pride when they mastered the routine.
“Let’s try it one more time. Count it off. 5, 6, 7, 8, from the top,” Nova called out as the students again ran through the routine, which included body twists, hip swiveling, foot stomps and scissor-leg swings. “That was better. Again, 5, 6, 7, 8. … That was almost perfect. You got it guys.”
After an hour of practicing, the lesson wrapped with a cipher, in which the students formed a circle and, one by one, took turns showing off their skills. Some performed the routine they had just learned, while others remixed the dance steps as the crowd hollered, cheered and applauded for their peers. One student spun on his head, another did a handstand.
“It will give us a chance to just dance,” J La Roc said, as the group nodded in agreement. “You can just rock.” |
