Technique Meets Expression: Interview with Twerk and Contemporary Instructor with Kat

 

Twerk is a dance style that originated from the bounce music scene of New Orleans in 1990. It has a broader origin with many other dance styles that are found among the African diaspora that comes from Bantu-speaking Africans of Central Africa. This style is a larger set of moves that are specific to the New Orleans style of hip-hop known as "bounce". The moves of  "mixing", "exercising", the "bend over", the "shoulder hustle", "clapping", "booty clapping", "the sleeper", and "the wild wood", which were all recognized as booty shaking or bounce. 

The tradition of this dance style shaped social clubs, pleasure clubs, block parties, and parades, which created a historical rise to sissy bounce with bounce music that was performed by artists from the New Orleans African-American community, which led to a rising popularity after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. This style expanded and created a widespread appeal in black party culture throughout the hip-hop and rap scene regions such as "The Dirty South": New Orleans, Houston, Memphis, Charlotte, Virginia Beach, Miami, and Atlanta. Since then, it has grown in popularity across the world and is used in many choreographies and freestyles by all kinds of dancers of many different backgrounds.

Contemporary dance style is a very versatile, expressive dance style that emerged in the early mid-20th century, combining elements of ballet, modern, jazz, and other dance styles. This style has drawn inspiration from many choreographers such as Merce Cunningham who was considered one of the first choreographers to develop an independent attitude towards modern dance and defied the ideas that originally established it. John Cage in 1944, a musician who observed Merce Cunningham's dancing described it as "no longer relies on linear elements... nor does it rely on a movement towards and away from climax. As in abstract painting, it is assumed that an element (a movement, a sound, a change of light), is in and of itself expressive; what it communicates is in large part of determined by the observer themselves." 

Merce Cunningham then formed the Merce Cunningham Dance Company in 1953 and went on to create over 150 different works for that company, many of them performed internationally by ballet and modern dance companies. Since then, Contemporary has exploded as a dance style, showcasing grounded and strong legwork with a combination of modern dance aspects with torso focused choreography. This style has been a way to create personality, improvisation, and has been a way to embrace diversity in many different elements, creating an unforgettable experience for the observer. 

So, before we get into the interview, let's learn a little bit about Kat, shall we?

"Hi, I'm Kat! A pediatric nurse case manager by day and a dance instructor by night. So, yes, I'm constantly balancing care plans and choreography, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm vibrant, high-energy, and big on community. I believe in laughing at yourself, taking up space, and self-expression because adulting is hard! But truly, I'm grateful for my life and my ability to connect with you all."

Here's our interview!

1. What is your favorite thing about being an instructor at Elemental Studios?

Kat: "My favorite thing about being an instructor at Elemental is getting to pour back into a community that's given me so much. I love being a part of someone's dance journey, whether it's helping them build confidence or find their spark."

2. Since you teach Twerk Foundations/Beginner Twerk, what are some of your favorite techniques or foundations, and how can a student work on them at home?

Kat: "I think one of the most important parts about twerk is knowing how to relax your hips and glutes. The up/down twerk is a very foundational movement and the salt shaker is my personal favorite. I incorporate both into choreography but if students would like a more in-depth explanation, they can always send a message or we can set up a private session. Working on the choreography outside of class is a great way to progress faster."

3. How did you start your dance journey?

Kat: "I used to watch Michael Jackson and Destiny's Child performances in my room, that's where I truly fell in love with dancing. I took ballet and tap when I was little, but didn't stick with it. I started dancing again in 6th grade and kept going through college. I did all the styles (ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, poms, etc). I took a few classes here and there, once I moved to Denver but was really discouraged because I wasn't where I could've been if I hadn't stopped. I restarted again at Elemental in 2024, and the rest is history!"

4. You also teach Beginner/Intermediate Contemporary. How have you used that style in other dance styles you know or have taken classes for?

Kat: "I love this question! Contemporary really helps you understand lines and spatial awareness within your own body, and what it means to fully extend or breathe through a movement. It also helps with the technique that's used in jazz, heels, poms, and even hip-hop."

5. What are some of your favorite hobbies/interests that you have outside of dance?

Kat: "I have some grandma hobbies! I embroider by hand, knit, and bake on occasion. I also love going to music shows/festivals. My interests are all over the place!"

6. What do you think are the biggest misconceptions about Twerk as a dance style?

Kat: "I think people feel like their body has to look a certain way to take a twerk class. I also think some people don't like this style of dance because they see it as overtly sexual. In reality, it's not about having a certain body type or being provocative. There's a lot of cultural significance behind the style that comes from African/Caribbean movements. Some of those movements were meant to symbolize fertility, but they were also meant to symbolize joy and freedom."

7. How do you choose the music for each style, and how do you think it influences your movement choices?

Kat: "I try to choose popular songs for both, I think it contributes to the environment of the class for both my students and myself. My twerk class tends to have more throwbacks, which also adds a little bit of a hip-hop element. With contemporary, my song choices exhibit emotions that we as a society sometimes have trouble expressing. And those emotions come through in the musicality of the movement."

8. What do you think are the most common challenges that your students face in your classes?

Kat: "I think it's honestly the same for both classes. I think students in both styles struggle with how they think a movement should look, rather than how it feels to them in their body."

9. If you were to describe your class and teaching experience to someone who wants to try your classes, what would you say?

Kat: "I have a lot of experience in a lot of different styles, so I tend to pull from a little bit of everything. I would describe my classes as vibrant and genuine. I always want my students to know it's okay to take up space and it's okay to be unapologetically yourself."

10. What inspires your choreography in each style?

Kat: "I'm a very visual person, so watching dance or technique videos really inspires me. I also listen to my song choices in the car so I can imagine what the music feels like without getting stuck in my own thoughts of how I think it should look."

Thank you to Kat for interviewing with me. I really enjoyed getting to know you and your journeys with both styles. Kat does not teach contemporary anymore; however, you can catch her at her Beginner Twerk Class on Mondays at 6:15pm-7:15pm and for her new class Beginner/Intermediate Poms on Thursdays at 7:15pm-8:30pm. Make sure to follow Kat on her Instagram, @little.black.t, and dm her for information regarding private sessions. 

See you guys in the next interview!