Course Highlight— Special Topics: Hip Hop Dance

In this series, Cultural Studies major Chenoa Baker ’21 highlights unique classes at Chatham and how they showcase our University Mission and values. In Spring 2019, Chenoa took Special Topics: Hip Hop Dance. She interviews Professor Gino Vaccaro about how he designed this course.

Q: What is This Class About?

Hip Hop Dance is about engaging the body, mind, and soul through interacting with great music and learning new dance techniques. Professor Gino Vaccaro was asked by a former employee of Chatham to teach hip hop and other courses similar to those that Vaccaro teaches across the city. Twelve years later, his course is still going strong. 

Q: How is the Course Designed?

The Hip Hop Dance course is designed in these parts: start with a warm-up, learn a new combination, execute the combination in class, and finish with a cool-down stretch. According to students, the great thing about the class is the professor always keeps it fresh with new material, and inspires high energy with great songs and dance moves. Professor Vaccaro says, “Most importantly, I use music in my class that is reflective of what is currently popular. This enables the class to be dynamic and students actually look forward to participating.” Students learn about a range of hip hop dance styles from epic floorwork in b-boy style to 1990’s throwback hip hop moves to Dancehall.  

Q: How does this Course Embody Chatham Values?

Hip Hop dance exposes students to various dance styles and creates an experimental environment. Students are able to try new things, ask questions, and are supported if they have trouble with the combinations. “The most important thing that I’ve strived for not only at Chatham, but in all artistic endeavors that I’ve been an educator, I want to make sure that the classroom is supportive. When I say this, I want students to know that each one of them is a valued contributor to this course, and that there is no question that is insignificant,” says Professor Vaccaro.

Q: Professor Vaccaro’s Favorite Part of the Course?

Professor Vaccaro’s favorite part of the course is the culminating performance (or paper about attending an event in the arts if you get stage fright). He recounts, “A few years back I had two students that chose to do an in-class performance.  They were going to perform the song “Right There” by Ariana Grande and Big Sean. They turned it into an acoustic version, where one student sang Ariana Grande’s part, and the other student rapped Big Sean’s rap hook. It was awesome! Another pretty amazing experience was I had a student that had her father come in to class with her and they sung a duet of a Jamaican freedom anthem, which was out-of-this-world amazing, and incredibly special to watch for both myself and the other students.”

Q: Students Should Take This if…

They want to exercise in a fun way that does not even seem like exercising at all. This course is great for all bodies all abilities, and skill levels. Students have the opportunity to  immerse themselves in different hip hop styles.

Check out this class along with other classes offered for Chatham’s new dance minor like Street Jazz, which will be offered this summer.