training group:

WHAT: "The Foundation Lab"

WHEN: Tuesdays 730-10pm & Fridays 7-10, Aug 7 - Nov 24th

WHERE: Tuesdays Whim W'Him, Fridays Baila District 

WHO: Jojo Diggs + Guest Teachers 

HOW MUCH: $700 PIF, or $200 x 4 months 

GROUP SIZE: Large, approx 40 people 

This group is for you if:

• You want to return to the joy of dance 
• You are tired of learning someone else's choreo and want to find yourself more 
• You are wanting to learn, drill and deepen your understanding of foundation and history in a warm and focused environment
• You are ready to do the “boring” work of repetition 

This group is NOT for you if: 

• You just want to learn choreo without deeper understanding 
• You are not interested in history, music or context 
• You only want to perform 
• You don’t have time or space to dedicate to your craft 

Expected Results: 

• Understand and respect how vocabulary and choreography in classes and performances is shaped by Black culture
• Practice demonstrated respect and care for Black culture and the people who create it in and out of rehearsal space 
• Be able to execute foundation moves in freestyle and choreography with care, intention and skill 
• Deepen your understanding of how these forms work within your body history
• Identify what matters to you as an artist and learn how to express that 
• More advanced ability to hear layers of music through “Music DNA” breakdowns
• Closer relationship with the cultural context of these forms through dialogue, the Party People environment and encouraged participation in the community 
• Higher level of confidence in your movement, freestyle, and even as a person 
• Connection to a family / crew who cares about you as a human 

Seeking: 

We want to support those who want a real understanding of foundation to freestyle and / or to have integrity for the movement that often shows up in choreography. It is helpful for you to be able to demonstrate a basic execution of the movement prior to the season starting. This is to ensure your experience feels supportive and not overwhelming. 

What we’ll be covering: 

We will begin with the fundamentals of House and Hip Hop and will deepen these forms with genres that share context such as Breaking, Top Rock, Krump, etc. A strong focus on foundation steps, party dances, freestyle and choreography, with guest teachers coming in to supplement your personal style with forms such as Krump, Whacking, Waving, Fusion, Breaking, House floorwork, and more. Expect repetition, conversation and freestyle games. 

We will also be having someone come in to discuss injury prevention, dance-centered training, and self-led physical therapy guidance. 

Process: 

We’ll be taking an inter-disciplinary approach to understanding how you want to express yourself in your movement. Expect to learn movement, history, music depth, community building and how these forms impact each other. The primary focus is HH and House but expanding outward allows a wider access to vocabulary, expression and imagination by understanding the relationship these forms have to each other musically and physically. 

You will receive an accompanying journal that will include a list of foundation moves, an associated checklist to track your progress, and a series of reflection questions to guide you through your journey with the team. You will also receive a mid-term 1:1 personal feedback mini session with Jojo.