news
Hyping Humber Hype
Membership on Humber Hype Dance breaks down to three core concepts – three Cs: commitment, camaraderie and competition.
That’s what you learn from Matt Sison, a fourth-year Kinesiology student at University of Guelph-Humber and a Humber Hype Dance team member for three years.
Being on the team “definitely enriches my university experience by meeting new people and developing a sense of school spirit through varsity,” offered Sison, who’s been dancing for seven years.
Humber Hype holds a fundraiser tonight (Wednesday January 18, 9pm-midnight) at LinX Lounge on the Humber North Campus. There’ll be karaoke, a dance challenge and a live DJ.
The $2 cover and proceeds from games and raffles go to helping the team pay for costumes and attending any upcoming competitions.
The team trains twice a week for six hours and, on some days, that’s followed by performances during half-time entertainment and time-outs at Humber Hawk basketball and volleyball games, according to Sison.
The team specializes in hip hop and jazz forms. “For hip hop, it’s all about ‘fitting into the pocket,’ of the music, whether it’s utilizing smooth or sharp movements, isolations or taking on a persona,” said the student. “On the other end, with jazz, there’s a lot of technique involved, such as performing jumps, turns, floor work, and flexibility.”
Some Humber Hype dancers lean to jazz, the classical, others to hip hop, the contemporary. The two sides complement each other, said Sison. “It’s all about potential and the ability to improve so we all work hard and help one another to learn genres that we aren’t the most comfortable with, while lending our own unique style.”
His work in the classroom and labs inform his work on the dancefloor. “Definitely there are so many ties to Kinesiology,” said Sison.
In class he’s learned the anatomy involved with certain movements, the power used for leaps and jumps, stretching for flexibility, using the core for balance during turns and maintaining good nutrition during the season. During placements, Sison gained experience as a dance coach.
“I'm hoping that what I learn from being on the team will help transition me into work as a PhysEd and dance teacher.”
Learn more about Kinesiology at University of Guelph-Humber. And, check out Humber Hype Dance online.
Sean Flinn, Web Communications Specialist, 416-798-1331, ext. 6299, sean.flinn@guelphhumber.ca