From Learning the Steps to Leading the Steps with Beginner Hip-Hop Intructor Manni

 

Hip-Hop Dance has become a HUGE part of dance culture in recent years, with the origins of the dance style starting off in the early 1970s in the Bronx, New York City, and influenced by many styles such as B-Boy/B-Girling (freezes, acrobatics, footwork, power moves, etc), funky styles (popping, locking, and boogaloo), Party Dances (The Smurf, Cabbage Patch, Running Man, and Reebok) Krumping (origins of LA), Turfing (origins of Oakland), and Litefeet (Origins of NYC) were later introduced in the late 2010s to the hip-hop scene.

This style has evolved into more than just a movement, becoming a way of storytelling, competition, and community building. This style has also been influenced by battling at parties or on the streets, which has created an emphasis on creativity, individuality, and skills.

Over time, Hip-Hop has evolved into both street styles and studio/performance styles that remain rooted in its foundations, with improvisation, rhythm, and cultural expression. Hip-Hop as a genre has exploded into a global phenomenon that has truly taken the hearts of many from shows like "America's Best Dance Crew" and "So You Think You Can Dance" to HUGE movie scale productions like "Honey", "You Got Served", and the "Step Up" franchise as well as competitions like "Battle of the Year", "Red Bull Dance Your Style", and "World Of Dance" that showcase this style through many different communities in the world.

Today, I am interviewing Manni to talk about her dance journey and her journey with going from a student learning the moves at Elemental Studios to becoming a teacher who inspires other students to grow and develop, as well as build confidence in their dance journey. So, before we get into the interview, let's learn about her, shall we?

Hey y'all, I'm Armanni Portee, but you can call me Manni (Mon-EE). I am born and raised in Colorado, I've been dancing for as long as I can remember! I am proud to say that I am completely self-taught!

Dance isn't something that I do...it's who I am. The moment the music hits, the bass drops, and the lyrics speak to my soul, I'm gone! There's no stopping me once I hit the floor. Dancing is my freedom, my therapy, my joy. It makes me feel alive, loved, and like I belong.

Let's get into the Interview!

1. Since starting out as a student attending the studio, assisting in other teachers' classes, and now teaching your own classes, what has been your favorite thing about being a teacher at Elemental Studios?

Manni: "My favorite thing about being an instructor is my students! Being able to teach and have my students learn and take away more than just choreography means so much to me. Seeing the impact I am making with 2 classes, 2 hours a week, just makes my heart happy. Even as an instructor, I am learning from my students, and it's just a blessing."

2. How did you get started with learning Hip-Hop dance?

Manni: "I got started with Hip-Hop pretty much the day I started walking, haha. Hip-Hop was one of the first styles I had learned from dancing with my cousins growing up and watching YouTube." 

3. What do you try to do in each class to try and challenge or bring out in your students each class?

Manni: "I challenge my students to put their own style and personality into the choreography we just learned and to freestyle. I tell my students all the time, "Anyone can learn choreography, but it takes a dancer to make it their own." Dance is expressive, and everyone has something unique about them; those are the things I want to see shine through when they are dancing."

4. What advice can you give students who feel like they are stuck in their journey or don't know where to start?

Manni: "My advice to anyone chasing their dreams is simple: 'never give up and remember, it's never too late." As a self-taught dancer, I never grew up in a studio or had professional training. Everything I know, I learned on my own. For years, I prayed and wished for a dance studio here in Colorado. For years, nothing changed. Then, in September 2024, a friend introduced me to Aasa, and shortly after, I found Elemental. I'm 26 years old, and finally, I have a studio where I can truly dance. I may have started "late" or felt behind compared to others in class, but consistency, passion, and perseverance brought me here. This lesson isn't just about dance. As I pursue nursing school, my journey hasn't followed the traditional path either. It wouldn't be MY story if it did. So, no matter what your dream is, no matter how "late" you feel or how long the road may be, don't give up on yourself. Sometimes the longer road is the best road. Your journey is unique! And it's never too late to start." 

5. Who are some of your favorite dance inspirations or icons?

Manni: "Some of my favorite dance inspirations are: Jabbawockeez, Ciara, Victoria Monet, Teyana Taylor, Chris Brown, and Royal Family Dance Crew."

6. How would you describe your class to a student who was interested in trying it out but wasn't sure?

Manni: "I would describe my class as a fun and energetic hip-hop class where you'll learn moves perfectly designed for your body! It's not just about dancing; you will also get a fantastic workout while having a blast. Whether you're new to hip-hop or want to sharpen your skills, this class is all about feeling good, moving confidently, and enjoying every beat."

7. What are some hobbies that you like to do outside of dance?

Manni: "Some of my hobbies are weight lifting, working out, collecting sneakers, traveling, and spending quality time with my family."

8. What has been a constant challenge that you see your students are facing, and how do you help them try to work on overcoming it?

Manni: "One of the biggest challenges I see in my students is freestyling. Freestyling can be very intimidating as you have to think quick on your feet and just do, or you don't think at all, just feel. I help my students overcome this by telling them in class, after the choreography, to start freestyling for 5 seconds, after you get comfortable with 5 seconds, jump to 10 seconds, and so on and so forth. When they are at home, I tell them to pick a song, listen to the song from beginning to end at least 2-3 times. Then, pick a section of the song that stands out to you the most and allow your body to just feel and free your mind. These are great exercises and practices to get more comfortable with freestyling."

9. How do you choose your music for your choreography?

Manni: "The way I choose music for my choreography is based on how I am feeling or how the lyrics resonate with me. I love seeing choreography that tells a story, and that is what I strive to do with my choreography, but I have to make sure I connect with the song in some way to be able to create to it."

10. What other styles have you wanted to incorporate more in your classes?

Manni: " I have never really thought much about what other styles I have wanted to incorporate into my class, Hip-Hop being such a universal form of dance, I believe it can blend with almost any style! This would be a great challenge for me to see how I can elevate Hip-Hop and combine different styles with the genre."

Thank you to Manni for interviewing with me, and if you want to catch her classes and see what vibes she is bringing, she teaches on Tuesdays at 6:15pm in Studio B and Sundays at 12pm in Studio B, both for Beginner Hip-Hop. Also, make sure to say hi to her if you happen to see her at the studio, trying out other classes that she isn't teaching. See you guys in the next interview!