The World of Hip Hop.

The hip-Hop dance is first broken down into combinations, Then each combination is broken down into counts, and each count into movement. In the end all the moves and all the combinations are put together, and the dance is formed. In order to learn Hip-Hop, you must learn step by step how to create combinations, and then put them together into dance.

A combination is a collection of set movements which are performed continuously. Hip-Hop music is broken down into beats. Hip-Hop combination is broken down into 8 beats, we have 8 moves that are built on each one of the beats. You can think of a combination as a sentence in a song, or a short musical section. You can count the beats yourself. The 8th beat is usually the end of a sentence in a song, when you can “feel” a new section of the song is coming up, just like in a chorus.

The combinations really break down the hip hop beat of the song into smaller sections, so that if we put them together a whole dance will be created, like a song.

In the music world, a song is built one sentence after another.
In the dance world, the dance is built one combination after another.

If we “count” the rhythm, attach each count a single move, connect 8 of these, we have a combination- 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8

So how do we dance a fast dance?
For a fast dance we just double the moves. We count with an “and” between each beat:

1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 5,….

What do we get? On every eight beats, instead of 8 moves we have 16.

And if we want to slow down the beat we just do one move on more counts, and that lengthens our movements and slows down our rhythm.

Profile: Renee Arochas

Young and talented dancer with a sassy spunk and a love for the classics

Renee has been dancing since she was 2 years old‚ giving her 16 years of experience starting at her aunt’s dance studio Let’s Dance in Old Tappan.

Growing up‚ dance was very important in her life and she developed strong feelings for classic dance. “I love love love ballet,” she says and to her “there’s nothing like a graceful classical ballet.” Renee also has a fond appreciation and love for  jazz/hip-hop, like the dances and cheers they perform at games. The routines and moves give her a sense of joy “They makes me so happy!!”

Renee was on her dance team in high school and she admittedly was thrilled to hear that there was a dance team at Rowan University!  She immediately knew that it was only natural that she try out and of course‚ she was accepted to the team.

She is a freshman at the time and is enjoying her first year on the Rowan Dance Team. After graduation she is excited to experience life and says “The sky’s the limit!! I have soo many ideas about what i want to do, my family will tell you that my plans for the future change like the weather, but my plans always do and always will include living in France” (studying abroad in spring 2011).

The exuberant dancer absolutely plans to keep dancing throughout college and beyond. She is the happiest when she’s dancing, “Its a creative and physical outlet for all the stresses in my life.”

Studio Session: Where they started

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY

To Team Captain

Brianne Crines!

Some members of the team were able to help Brianne celebrate her 22nd birthday this past Saturday night.

The girls had a great time and all wish Bri all their love.

Dance & Happiness

After talking to members of the Rowan Dance Team and asking them about what dance means to them in their lives I began to see a pattern:

“I absolutely plan to keep dancing, I am the happiest when I’m dancing” – Renee

“I love to dance. I feel like i can express myself best through that movement because i can use my whole body” – Samantha

“I love dance so much because I get so so so happy when I’m dancing… I almost cant explain it… its like inner bliss!” – Brianne

The girls of the Rowan Dance Team absolutely LOVE dance. It brings a kind of joy that nothing else can replace. Some people go their whole lives looking for something that makes them happy. Luckily‚ not only did these girls find their happy‚ they found a group of girls who share their love for dance.

Season Finale

The Rowan Dance Team is gearing up for the upcoming game this Saturday November the 14th at 1:00. The football team will go up against TCNJ (The College of New Jersey) in the season finale. Currently the team has an overall 6-3-0 record. With a little work they are sure to come out on top this game‚ and have 7 wins this season.

GO PROFS!!

Profile: Samantha Caltabiano

A mesmerizing and impressive new addition to the team.

Samantha has been dancing for the past 17 years. At a very young age her talents were noticed and she was accepted to the Roseann Bruna School of Dance at the tender age of 2, making her the youngest dancer they had ever taken.

Originally‚ she took up dance in order to have her talent for a show she was auditioning for‚ but her love for dance was almost immediately discovered and everything else took a back seat. Her favorite dances became Hip hop and Contemporary/Modern because she says she feels “like I can express myself best through that movement because I can use my whole body”.

Samantha‚ or Sami, as she is referred to by the team‚ dances almost everyday of the week‚ whether its with Rowan or teaching dance classes herself. While at practices she is energetic‚ outgoing and a total riot to listen to and to watch. She is the kind of character you want to get to know‚ everyone’s best friend.

It’s no wonder she is so talented with all the experience she has had. She is a background dancer for a 90’s freestyle singer named Sammy C‚ was the lead dancer in her high school’s musical and has danced at both 76ers and Kixx games.

“I love doing new things and meeting new people and getting involved with things to help kids in the community” says Samantha. After college, she plans to be a special education elementary school teacher‚ while‚ of course‚ continuing to dance. Next year she plans on trying out for the 76ers dance team next year and continue as a background dancer.

I first approached Samantha because I assumed she next in line to be team captain once the seniors graduated in May. To my shock‚ she informed me she was an incoming freshman and this was her first year on the team. To say that I was impressed would be an understatement… Sami is just now beginning to show Rowan University what she’s got.

    

They’ve got skills.

The Rowan Dance Team has some seriously talented and amazing dancers/performers. They’ve got skills; as demonstrated by team members‚ Jolene Hernandez and Renee Arochas.

Jolene Hernandez

Jolene Hernandez and Renee Arochas

And the winner is…

THE ROWAN FOOTBALL TEAM… obviously.

After practicing for the past month to be the very best they could be‚ the Rowan Dance Team rocked it out to the beats of Beyonce and The Black Eyed Peas. The Football Team did not dissapoint this homecoming game by beating Kean University by scoring two touchdowns in the third quarter. The end score was 16-12‚ putting the Rowan Profs at 5-1 overall‚ and 4-0 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference.

With the impressive winning streak the Rowan Football Team has going‚ it’s safe to say that the talents of the team are being fueled by the positivity of the team‚ the enthusiasm of the fans and‚ of course‚ the saucy moves of the Rowan Dance Team.

photos by Matt Boyle

Homecoming game; it’s sooo on!