MARY WISNIEWSKI
Assistant Living Editor
Sophomore Quincy Wimbish grins as he finishes another move. Wimbash shares the dance floor with two friends — juniors A. K. Obisha and Auchaia Farley. Farley is leading a hip-hop class in the Tennis Pavilion, and runs through a routine with Wimbish and Obisha.
The three alternate four-beat moves to various songs, developing a routine over the hour-long session that comes off well, given their knack for dancing.
Whether at the club or the gym, hip-hop dancing can be a training tool or just a way to relieve stress.
“I’m here because I was in ‘Dance in Flight’ last year, and want to continue doing it this year,” Wimbish said. “I want to get an idea of some of the new moves.”
Farley has taught hip-hop dancing for two years at Pepperdine. “Hip hop is an attitude,” she said. “If you like music you can do it, but you have to have spunk.”
The dance style sprang from 1970s New York and has roots tracing back to West Africa. Today, it’s one of the more popular dancing styles. Lessons aren’t hard to come by, and there are plenty of places — from nightclubs to music lounges — to show off practiced moves.
But it isn’t the only type of dancing that is popular on campus. Besides hip hop, Pepperdine also offers ballet and modern dance lessons. Manager and health fitness instructor Jeeny Miller said she expects ballroom and square dancing lessons on campus by the end of the month.
Students can join Pepperdine’s dance classes along with all group exercise classes for $60 per semester. The schedule is still being finalized.
For students with other aspirations, a Santa Monica studio might just be the right prescription. John Cassese, president and main instructor of John Cassese: The Dance Doctor Studio, provides lessons in a wide variety of dances including hip hop, ballroom, bolero and hustle.
Cassese is also a literal “dance doctor,” traveling to outside locations to give personal lessons. His resume includes Adam Sandler, Pamela Anderson, Aaron Carter and other celebrities, but he and his team also cater to beginners.
“All ages from 10 and up come to dance,” Cassese said. Group lessons run daily and cost $12 per person, and private lessons run $75 to $100. Pepperdine junior Katie Carroll paid the dance doctor a visit to learn how to salsa — an eight-beat dance that means “sauce” in Spanish. “The attitude is my favorite part of the salsa,” she said. She adds that she enjoyed the step-by-step instructions and will definitely return for more.
For informal lessons, another venue is the Borderline Bar and Grill, in Thousand Oaks. Opened 13 years ago, the restaurant features a dance floor that sports line dancing, swing and more.
“(We) started off predominately with country line dancing,” said owner Rusty Mangialardi. Now, every night of the week spotlights a different type of dance.
The common thread between these dances is the lessons: Borderline offers classes before everyone hits the floor.
“We give the entry-level people a way to enjoy the dance,” Mangialardi said. He added that although there’s a wide range of dances, line dancing still draws in the largest crowds.
Co-owner Justin Klein said he thinks line dancing is unique. “It’s a dance that can be done by yourself but also in a group,” Klein said. “There is structure and discipline, but you don’t even need to be in a couple.”
Junior Cathy Vu said she enjoys going to Borderline and musters up a good line dance routine despite her lack of practice.
“Dancing is fun, especially with attractive guys,” Vu said.For students like Vu, Carroll and Wimbish, it’s not necessary to be John Travolta to have Saturday Night Fever. For them, a new dance or two is just a few steps away.
09-08-2005
