A rainbow of sneakers — high tops, low tops, metallic swooshes, neon laces — bounce, tap and glide on the wooden floor. Dancers move freely in cut-off tanks and sweatpants with hand-sewn pockets; loose jeans and boom-box t-shirts; high socks and big hoop earrings.
The ASU Hip-Hop Coalition dancers have an unmistakably chill yet athletic style, but this group is unique for reasons beyond their shoes and attire.
“It doesn’t matter what your race, your shape, your size, your sexual preference, your gender — it doesn’t matter what you are or who you are, we accept anybody and everybody,” says HHC President Mary Papuyo, a broadcast journalism junior.
HHC is a club for hip-hop dancers of all levels. The Level 2 team is a performance team that emphasizes showcasing their skills rather than competing, Papuyo says, adding that dancers who aren’t on Level 2 are encouraged to join one of the other levels. Any dancer is welcome to attend the Tuesday night cardio sessions, which are held in an upstairs gym in the Student Resource Center. Level 2 membership is based on auditions that were held in September, but anyone can join Level 1.
Even though she competed for many years as a cheerleader, Papuyo says she would never trade a competition for her membership with the HHC. As a dancer, Papuyo has experience in many forms, including salsa, swing and step, but she now focuses solely on hip-hop.
“Hip-hop is just such a deeper form of expression," she says. "It’s just not so by-the-book.”
With hip-hop, she says she can make the dances her own. It's her release.
“Everybody who does it, does it from the soul, the heart,” she says. “Living, eating, breathing, dance. I need to have it in my life.”
Last year, the HHC went to the Choreographer’s Carnival in Los Angeles, which two-year HHC member and dance instructor Jesse Doris, a sociology junior, and Papuyo agree is their favorite thing they’ve done with the group.
“I’ve never seen so much talent in one place,” Papuyo says. "Carnival features performances by some of the best choreographers in the dance industry, including the right-hand men and women to stars like Justin Timberlake and Beyoncé."
Papuyo can't pick just one dancer as her favorite, and she rattles off a list that includes Shaun Evaristo, Dana Wilson and Misha Gabriel (who have both choreographed for Justin Timberlake).
As for music, Doris and Papuyo both say Lil Wayne songs make for the best beats to dance to.
“It’s not so much the artist, it’s the beats,” Papuyo says, adding that she also likes Taio Cruz’s techno style.
Papuyo says HHC is more than just a dance group.
“Any other team I’ve ever been a part of is not run as efficiently, is not run as professionally, and is not run as much like a family as this is,” Papuyo says.
Contact the reporter at melody.parker@asu.edu. Contact the videographer at andrew.jeffreys@asu.edu.
