CAC Youth to Turn up Dance floor Heat

Cook Arts Center youth are turning their hats and throwing on baggy jeans for their weekly Breakdancing class. Four of our Breakdance students in particular have taken their love for breakdancing to the next level, having formed their own crew under the name “Aerial Tactic” with the help of their class instructor, Brian Urbane, and our Program Director, Steffanie Rosalez.  The crew has been officially approved for Cook Arts Center sponsorship and will be receiving many more opportunities to perform in the Grand Rapids community and beyond.  We’re all very excited!  

Aerial Tactic is comprised of five members that range between the ages of 10 and 13.  Their names, along with their “Bboy” (i.e. breakdance) names are as follows: Ignacio L. “Ignasty”, Edgar J. “Rezponce,” Antonio J.  “Swidt,” Carlos L. “Skrewlooze” and Noe R. This crew is extremely talented and managed to place in a sizable breakdancing tournament that was held in Kalamazoo during the weekend of February 9th. The crew took 18th out of nearly 100 teams in the Kalamazoo West Michigan University tournament - a major accomplishment!

But these boys don’t just work on their dance skills here at the arts center or during tournament times.  For them, breakdance is a very serious affair.  They all agreed that they breakdance as often as they can, whether that’s at school or in their room listening to their favorite Breakdance music by DJ Fleg.  I’ve witnessed personally that these boys love their breakdancing class more than anything; before I could finish saying goodbye to all of them, they smiled at me and sped off after saying a quick goodbye to go practice some more.

Aerial Tactic crew from left to right: Carlos L., Antonio J., Ignacio L., Edgar J. and Noe R.  

Lookin' good, boys!
Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities administers the programs of the Cook Arts Center and Cook Library Center.
This blog was written by Justin Kamp, a current Calvin College student and guest blogger for Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities.