There's a lot to learn when dancers accept new modes of expression.

There's a lot to learn when dancers accept new modes of expression.
By LAURIE M. FISHER
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
No tutus, tap or toe shoes can be found at Ballet Western Reserve's newest class: hip-hop. And that's the point.
Each Tuesday at 7:15 p.m., men, women, boys and girls clad in comfy clothes and sneakers take their places facing the studio mirror. The 20 students begin to warm up as they walk and jog around one another to the beat of contemporary music.
Ballet Western Reserve started the hip-hop class in January because "we wanted to introduce a new style and technique to both dancers and nondancers," said artistic director Anita Lin.
Hip-hop is such a popular style of dance today," she said, adding that music videos and the boy band craze has widened hip-hop's appeal.
"We usually don't teach commercial dance. However, we became more educated on its roots in African American history. There is a whole technique involved, not just throwing the body on the floor," Lin said.
Interest: Another reason BWR offers the class is "to get more boys into the studio," she acknowledged. "We want to demonstrate there is more out there than just sports [for boys]," said Lin. "We want to show it is cool to dance."
"There is nothing wrong with guys dancing," she said. "If you go to Cuba, Europe or Russia, male dancers are regarded as sex symbols."
She also hopes the hip-hop students will learn to appreciate other dance forms. In the past several weeks, Lin noticed hip-hop students watching ballet classes that are held in the studio.
"They'll see dance is not weird. Dance takes more athleticism than what they thought," she said.
Stephanie Theil, who also instructs jazz and modern dance at BWR, and Drew Williams team up to teach the hip-hop class.
"Hip-hop is anything you want to make it. It's not one particular style. It's fun, funky and syncopated at times," explained Theil.
Students: During March, the class worked on choreography set to hip-hop music titled "Let's Dance" by Hezekiah Walker. In one end of the studio, Theil taught siblings Zoe, Vita and Eli Lamberson of Canfield and other students how to moon walk.
Eli, 10, worked up a sweat as he twisted, jumped and mastered new steps along with his sisters, who are members of the Ballet Western Reserve Company. Eli had also participated in hip-hop classes at Chautauqua Institution last summer.
Meanwhile, Williams was spinning on the floor in break dancing style. He said it takes some upper body strength to accomplish more complicated moves. Other dancers, including BWR company member Jessica Terrell and her boyfriend, Jason Pendlan, practiced the stylized movements.
"I wanted him to take the class," said Jessica, a junior at Girard High School.
"I am learning stuff that I didn't know," Jason admitted. "It was easier and more fun than I thought it would be."
The hip-hop class will strut its stuff with the other dance classes at BWR's end-of-the-year school performance in May. "Not only will the rest of the school be exposed to the hip-hop class, the class will see ballet, jazz, tap and Irish step dancing," Lin said.
Lin hopes nondancers will try the class.
XHip-hop is one of the few classes at BWR that can be joined for a $10-per-session fee. The monthly cost is $32. For more information, call 330-744-1934.