Teacher Spotlight: Rukkus!

Check out an interview with Break Dance Instructor Rukkus!

How many years have you been dancing?
I’ve been dancing for about 19-20 years.

What is one achievement in dance that you are proud of or an experience that had a major impact on your specialties?
I’m proud of makin it to MTVs America’s Best Dance Crew. I've also appeared in the movie Step Up 3.

What is your philosophy in break dance?
I define hip hop by 2 main things; 1) the physical act of whichever form you are practicing and 2) the spiritual awakening achieved when fully immersed in said physical act. Physically/ mentally, when we learn a hip hop form (in my case and the case of my students- Breakin) we learn the motor skills and practice turning the technique into muscle memory in order to comfortably attack our own agenda within the form. And on a spiritual/ characteristic level this helps to build confidence, self expression and creativity. When these skills are developed we look good and feel good within our practice of the form. 

What are your goals for your students?
My main goal for my students is for them to perform movements with confidence and presence. 

What can a child learn from a dance education that will impact the rest of their lives?
Children can learn so much from dance. Expression is the idea that really comes to mind right now. Learning dance as a child allows them to discover their own sense of expression at a young age and communicate this expression in a constructive way through a challenging and complex physical language. 

Rukkus drops some dance advice in video below. 

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