Mark Gomez used to be scared to stand in front of a crowd.
But when he started dancing in his first hip-hop debut on 2009, the fear vanished.
He’s now a principle dancer with Humber’s New Original Identity Seeking Emphasis (NOISE), a hip-hop troupe planning to beat up the competition at Urban Rumble 2015 on Nov. 28 at Don Bosco Catholic Secondary School.
Although the era of sharp clings and clangs of weights dropped on the floor by buffed out muscle men and women continue to paint the traditional picture of an everyday gym and there being a machine for everything—arms, legs and shoulders.
Dance has found its own spin by adding its own groove in to a traditional exercise routine.
Zumba and Girlicious are some of the classes provided to students that focus more on a fast-paced and high-energy cardio with the added twist of a fun dance routine. Girlicious is a high intensity workout that borrow the movements of jazz and pop dancing to help break a sweat in a cardio routine.
Michael Scheitzbach, a second year massage therapy and choreographer of NOISE said dance is a great alternative for those looking to have a full body workout.
“As dancers it’s very very physically demanding on our bodies,” said Scheitzbach.
His dance group NOISE include Humber and Guelph Humber students rehearsing for dance competitions such as Urban Rumble 2015 set to take place Nov. 28.
“It’s so much like sporting events—you meet a whole bunch of new people there, you compete and you get to do the best you can. That’s just like any sports competition, just a different way to express ourselves,” said Scheitzbach.
Angelo Seridon, a new comer to the dance group and also a massage therapy student at Humber College, said that dance is great way to keep active.
“People don’t really realize but it is a sport there is a lot to it,” said Seridon.
Seridon said he joined the dance group to find a safe space and productive space for him. Once he got the nerves and pre-jitters out of the way he was able to involve himself completely with the group, earning himself a spot on the dance team.
Seridon is the alternate dancer for noise and continues to attend practice regularly should they need him to perform.
Mark Gomez, a Guelph Humber student, said that dance is a great way to express yourself if traditional exercise becomes intimidating.
“Just have fun with it, feel the music—don’t be scared of it, nothing to be scared about,” said Gomez.
During his debut in 2009 at his former high school, Monsignor Percy Johnson, he recalls he didn’t really know what he was in for.
Six years after, he is still an avid dancer and has performed in more competitions than he can remember.
Scheitzbach wants to reassure new comers and seasoned veterans that the dance studio is nothing to be scared of. He said mistakes are welcome and all the choreographer looks for is that the individual is doing their absolute best.
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