Dance: Step & Urban Dance Groups
Aspects of African Canadian Dance Culture
Dance | Organizations | Step & Urban Dancing | African & Caribbean Canadian Dance Groups | Dance Schools
Dance Forms
Gum-boot dancing was first performed by workers in the African diamond mines. The dance was considered a way to relieve the anxieties felt by the workers and was something that they could call their own.
Then, African-American Greek-affiliated fraternities and sororities brought back the ancient dance, during the brink of the civil rights movement and it was performed for the same reasons in which it created: to unite as a people and to posses something which they could call their own.
Today there are a number of dance groups across Canada which are dedicated to keeping the history of stepping alive by using many of the traditional movements coupled with a modern focus to create a contemporary flavour which continues to unite and entertain Afro-Canadians.
Here are a few of contemporary step teams which have successfully revived step dancing in Canada.
Abstrakt Breakin Systemz
Toronto ON
416-432-3762
e-mail: info@abscrew.com
website: Facebook
Group of breakdancers, poppers, and acrobats that performs across Canada in festivals and charity events.
Bag of Trix
Toronto, ON
e-mail: info@bagoftrix.ca
An international-award-winning breakdancing group. They are active in the national and international competition circuits, and are also a performing and touring group that offers instructional classes and workshops. They work to challenge stereotypes about hip hop culture through their diverse membership, community outreach, and collaborations with fellow dancers.
Black Ice
18 Raymore Drive
Toronto ON M9P 1W5
416-248-1406
e-mail: Marie@BlackIceStep.com or Info@BlackIceStep.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BlackIce_CNR_11
Founded in 1992, in association with the Caribbean Students' Organization at York University, Black Ice is an African step group.
Dead Reckoning Crew
Vancouver BC
Breakdance group.
DeCypher Cru
Ottawa ON
e-mail: decyphercru@hotmail.com
website: https://decyphercru.wordpress.com/about/
All-female breakdance group.
defSOL Productions
710 Overholt Court
Saskatoon SK S7N 4S8
306-382-8367
e-mail: hiphop@defsol.ca
website: www.defsol.ca
A hip hop company that also instructs in Ottawa area schools.
East Rock Crew
St. John's NL
Breakdance group.
Ellementale 5
Montreal QC
All-female breakdancing collective.
Flow Rock
Montreal QC
Breakdance group.
Fo' Real Hip Hop Dance Crew
Toronto ON
e-mail: foreal.hiphop@gmail.com
A University of Toronto hip hop performing group consisting of undergraduate and graduate students, alumni, and friends of the university. It works to advance the awareness and acceptance of hip hop and urban culture through positive and active participation in social, cultural and educational events. Founded in 2003, the non-profit group performs and competes across Toronto and the surrounding area and participates in charitable events. Fo' Real has a Facebook page.
Freshly Squeezed
Edmonton AB
An all-aboriginal breakdance group.
HoneyKats
Toronto ON
416-885-2715
e-mail: info@dancekrazeproductions.com
website: www.dancekrazeproductions.com
HoneyKats is a Toronto-based performing group that works in hip hop and street jazz. Their website offers several videos of the group performing. Their home studio, Dance Kraze, offers hip hop and street jazz instruction for beginners to professional at George Brown's Casa Loma campus studios.
Illmask
Montreal QC
Breakdance group.
Illmatic Styles
Montreal QC
Websites: www.myspace.com/illmaticatyles
www.lazylegz.com
Breakdance group.
Illmatix Dance Crew
Toronto ON
Funk dance group.
Militant Mastering Our Blessings
A Christian Toronto-based step dance group.
Rubberbandance Group
Montreal QC
Breakdance group.
Shebang Street Dance Academy
160 Spadina Ave. 2nd floor
Toronto ON M5T 2C2
e-mail: contact@shebangcrew.com
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shebang!
All-female breakdance group.
Solid State Breakdance Collective
24 Mount Royal Ouest #704
Montreal QC H2T 2S2
514-287-9090
e-mail: info@solidstatebreakdance.com
A primarily female urban dance collective that mixes breakdancing and contemporary dance, which they describe as "urban dance theatre." They perform across Canada, and have recently branches into European performances. They work to spread positive, non-commercial messages about hip hop culture, and are also working with counsellors, therapists, and school boards to develop programs to help improve body image and self esteem in young women. Their performances and competitions frequently raise significant funds for charities such as the Canadian Red Cross and breast cancer programs. Through Studio Sweatshop, they offer instruction in breakdancing.
Stylordz
Hamilton ON
e-mail: stylordz@hotmail.com
website: https://myspace.com/stylordz/bio
Breakdancing group.
Tactical Crew
Montreal QC
The above materials prepared by Kelliebeth Hand, Terry-Ann Jones, and Sean Hewing.
