The Teen Groov Experience

“We are a group of individuals, striving for excellence. We unite through various styles of dance and we always aim for growth.”

Jayvee Dance Performing Arts Center – 1:15. I arrive at Jayvee to teach my street styles class at 1:30. The class consists of 8+ year olds. Along with those kids are a group of dancers who take my class specifically for training. Meet Teen Groov! A junior dance teams that the directors (Emeroy, Marc and Steph) of FamBiz lead. Based out of Alhambra, CA, Teen Groov consists of dancers from the ages of 12-18 and is one of the many performance and competition teams that are produced from Jayvee Dance P.A.C. They have competed at numerous studio and street competitions and performed at local festivals and events.

Started by Joanna Vargas, the founder of Jayvee Dance P.A.C., in 2005, she wanted a group of dancers who represented and upheld the studio’s core values as a dancer as well as

the proper dance etiquette. They get a lot of their training from the different teachers around the studio whether it is urban choreography, breaking or popping. They also get a wide range of choreographers to teach them for their Wednesday Monthly Jam class, which is open to anyone.

Marc, Steph, and I came on board September of 2009, and lead them to a 3^rd place victory in Urban Street Jam, their first time ever placing in an event hosted by the dance community. And during the summer of 2010, they participated in Olympics of the dance world, Hip Hop International, where they entered under two crews named: Name Taggz and 4 by 2. Placing 8^th in the USA Finals was 4 By 2, a team whose been to HHI before. Placing 14^th in the USA Prelims was the rookie team, Name Taggz, a group with youthful zeal ready and willing to learn and do what it takes to reach their full potential. I look forward to what these two groups will bring during the regular competition season.

Street Styles Class – 1:30-2:30 I’ve been teaching the kids fundamental popping during the summer. My street styles class doesn’t go too far into advanced technique since there are so many dance styles and so much depth in all of them that if I taught them all at once they wouldn't get the proper training or knowledge from my class. I take them into different phases of the dance, introducing each move and drilling it before putting it together into a routine. Along with making sure that they execute the moves with good form, I make sure they know the history of the dance and the correct terminology. This knowledge I believe is important as a hip hop dancer because if you don’t know where your from, how will you know where you’re going. Never forget your roots as they say. Every season, I switch up styles, and today I was introducing the style I was going to be teaching throughout the fall: Breaking.

Meditation and The Agenda – 2:30-2:45 Soon after street styles class I send the kids to meet up with Marc and Steph to Studio B, the roomiest studio in Jayvee, to prep for meditation. Before we go into practice we have them do Zazen to clear their minds of the clutter before practice and the stress they have to worry about after practice. Lack of focus and a drifting mind is the last thing we need in rehearsals and at competition events. It became a great tool in mental preparation when preparing both 4 by 2 and Name Taggz for HHI.

Dance Dance – 2:55-4:15 Soon after meditation we give the team a quick rundown of what the goal of the rehearsal is, and today’s was simple: Learn a piece choreographed by their fellow members, Dominique Gutierrez and Jazlynn Pastor. Before learning the new piece, we reviewed the choreography they had previouslylearned, which we limit to only about 20-30 minutes. Any longer than that means that we either didn’t teach the piece well enough or they didn’t take the time to practice it themselves.

Closing 4:15-4:30 We make quick reviews of their performance during the day. Performance not only meaning their dancing, but how focused they were during rehearsal. We discuss topics such as: Were they talking too much? Did they give attitude? Today's rehearsal was pretty smooth, which is a big difference from when we first took on the role as their directors, where rehearsals weren't always so quiet and productive. We share with the kids what to expect for the next rehearsal and we deal with any paperwork around this time like collecting their money for new shirts or sweaters.

They are a talented group of dancers with a great willingness to learn and take on any challenge we throw at them. As one of the directors, I feel it is our responsibility as the leaders that we not only prepare them to become better dancers and a better team, but to become better people. Subliminally (or not) adding in life lessons as we go throughout rehearsal. Everything builds up to a bigger picture, taking time to practice builds the routine, a routine leads to a performance in front of many, a performance shared with friends for a lifetime.

Teen Groov @ Urban Street Jam

Teen Groov Promo

Posted in: