Detroit
Hip Hop is here to stay
When most people think of Detroit, MI, especially these days, one thing comes to mind: the struggling automotive industry. With such a large portion of the city’s economy resting on vehicle production, it’s sometimes easy to overlook its other defining characteristic—music. The Motor City is also referred to as Motown, homage to the record label that was born there in 1960.
Music has always been an important part of the entertainment culture in Detroit. Even after Motown Records moved its headquarters to Los Angeles in 1972, the Motown sound remained, and Detroit became a hotbed for R&B music production. Next came the era of Rock ‘n’ Roll bands, indie punk groups, techno DJs, and eventually a thriving underground hip-hop community. More recently, mainstream hip-hop artists like Eminem and Kid Rock have come out of Detroit, proving there’s more to Motor City than just automobiles.
As hip-hop music grew and evolved, so did hip hop dancing. “In Detroit in the ‘80s, breakers danced to instrumentals, techno and the music of that time such as b-box,” explains Detroit native Toni Webb-Washington, founder of Toni’s Dance Company (TDC). “In the ‘90s, dancers performed to faster house music, referred to as ‘Mix Songs.’” Today, dance battles can be seen in clubs throughout the city, usually performed to radio songs infused with slower R&B tracks and faster rap beats.
“The underground battles in Detroit are awesome!” exclaims Webb-Washington. “Most times they are informal and spontaneous, occurring at small gatherings at bars or concert halls. Others are organized by DJs or b-boy groups and take place in various parts of the city, usually involving several break dance styles such as b-boy, pop, lock, wave and more.” Often, b-boys from nearby cities, such as Chicago or Toledo, will drop in to battle it out with local Detroit-based crews.
What makes the underground hip hop community in Detroit so unique, according to Webb-Washington, is a style called ‘Jit.’ “I haven't seen this style performed anywhere else,” reveals Webb-Washington, who has danced in New York, LA and Atlanta. “You can catch guys Jitting on stage at a few of Detroit's clubs.”
According to Haleem Rasul, founder of a local hip hop crew called Hardcore Detroit, Jit is a “Detroit dance style that was overlooked when east coast breakin’ and west coast poppin’ were sweeping the nation.” The technique, characterized by fast footwork usually performed to techno music, is an updated take on the Jitterbug, which originated in the early 1930s. Detroit Jit took off about 40 years later on the eastside of town, made popular by crews like Tracy McGhee and an “infamous” Detroit gang called the Errol Flynns. “Jit never had the exposure it needed to secure a stable spot on the world dance recognition chart, therefore we currently have other cities trying to claim this style,” explains Rasul. “And that’s why it’s my goal and duty to uncover and teach the truth about Detroit’s dance history through workshops and other mediums.”
Although Hardcore Detroit is often referred to as the city’s premier hip hop crew, the journey has not always been easy. “Being based in Detroit is bittersweet because Detroit has a rich dance history and much talent; however, it remains unseen on a larger scale,” laments Rasul. “And now that Detroit seems to be spotlighted with corruption and bankruptcy, it’s making it even more challenging for us to excel as a city.” For Rasul and his crew, the most important thing is not winning dance battles, but prevailing in the face of adversity. “That’s why I named my crew Hardcore Detroit, because despite the obstacles and the hurdles, we are still going to succeed.”
While street crews tend to draw the largest crowds, the hip hop scene in Motown is not just limited to battles and b-boys. “The hip hop community is now very segmented in Detroit,” reveals Webb-Washington. “You have the Jitters, the breakers, and the choreographed dance teams, and they all dance differently and perform at different types of events.”
In addition, the dance studio scene in Detroit is beginning to see more emphasis on hip hop in the classroom. According to Jen Toby, artistic director of planetdance, hip hop is an integral part of her students’ weekly training. “I'm proud to say that planetdance has several dancers that take hip hop and compete in it with group numbers and solos as well,” she states.
Teachers like Toby use numerous resources in and around the Detroit area to further their knowledge of hip hop. “Every year I always go to the Detroit event Arts, Beats & Eats, and they usually have a tent with a DJ and it tends to draw in a lot of breakers that will battle for hours in the tents,” she says. “Another event that draws a lot of breakers is The Detroit Electronic Music Festival. It’s an event that comes every May with several DJs and the event attracts thousands of people. You can see the most amazing dancers at this event.”
In addition, Toby is starting to bring in local Detroit-based hip hop dancers to teach workshops and master classes at her studio. “A local artist named JiG is teaching two summer hip hop classes during our summer class session,” she reveals. “He is from the Detroit area and toured with Missy Elliot and is now back in the area teaching at my studio. The kids love him and he is doing a great job.”
According to Webb-Washington, instructors should also use the local Detroit universities to enhance their teaching abilities. “I would recommend a dance teacher do a short-term residency at Marygrove College or Wayne State University, which are both known for their acclaimed dance programs,” she informs.
For dance enthusiasts just looking to be entertained, the place to go is St. Andrew’s Hall, a longtime staple of the Detroit hip hop community. “Years ago I would go downtown to St. Andrew’s nightclub on Sunday nights and they would have the most amazing break dancers,” recalls Toby. These days, hip hop freestyle dancers showcase their skills at St. Andrew’s Hall every Friday night.
Another big draw in town is Detroit’s Best Dance Crew Competition, which just took place this past August. The winning crew, Anonymous, beat out 12 other groups and was awarded a cash prize as well as the opportunity to perform live at a Detroit Shock game. The event, which was hosted by comedian Horace H.B. Sanders, included a guest appearance by ASIID from MTV's “America's Best Dance Crew.” Funds raised went to The Dance Capital, a Detroit based non-profit organization that serves the community by providing health education and professional dance instruction at low to no cost.
Hip hop artists in Motown are not only dedicated to honoring and preserving their rich history, but also reaching out to young, aspiring dancers in their community. “I partner my agency and dance foundation with the Detroit Public Schools, where I have been able to expand our programs in the after-school setting,” says Webb-Washington. “This has allowed me and other instructors represented by my agency to instruct at-risk youth whose families do not have the means to pay tuition at local studios.”
Although Detroit stands at an automotive crossroads, there is no question about the future of dance. After all, you know what they say—cars may come and go, but hip hop is here to stay.
Resources:
Hardcore Detroit hardcoredetroit.biz/
planetdance planetdancestudio.com/
The Dance Capital thedancecapital.org/
Toni’s Dance Company tonisdancecompany.com