1Up Crew created an event format for choreography where we give dancers an opportunity to experience a battle-like tournament.
I was aware of the struggles others had as freestylers transitioning into choreography. In choreography you are trying to match the choreographer’s movement. For a freestyler accustomed to creat- ing your own version of movement, it is difficult to learn to match the choreographer’s posture, understand their weight-shifting, dance to counts. 1Up Crew had a lot of ups and downs adjusting so our dancers could partic- ipate in both choreography competi- tions and freestyle battles. Each of us had to work to understand both. Freestyle and choreography comple- ment each other when used together. Freestyling supports choreography by expanding your creativity. When you freestyle, you find different ways to explore your own body. When choreographing, people often experience what we call “choreo block.” Freestyling can help prevent getting stuck. Choreography can help freestylers with retaining mate- rial. Material is used in battles when you are stuck in a pinch and need a “wow” factor or crowd pleaser to respond to your opponent. Doing choreography can also help freesty- lers when it comes to teaching and passing down information. 1Up Crew brings these two worlds together by hosting our own labs, ses- sions (where dancers get together to practice and exchange energy), classes, battles and showcases. We participate in both choreography competitions and freestyle battles to show others that dance is beautiful in all forms.
1Up Crew created an event for- mat for choreography where we give dancers an opportunity to experience a battle-like tournament. They each perform their 40- to 60-second rou- tine and judges decide the winner on the spot. We call this event “We Does This: Choreography.” For freestylers, we created a 5 v. 5 team battle event called “Double or Nothing” (DON). At DON, teams are required to use commandos (a quick team routine) and utilize each mem- ber during each round. This battle is timed and inspired by the movie You Got Served . We also started 1Up company classes for both dancers who do cho- reography and freestylers to partici- pate in. In these classes you can learn a specific style such as popping, lock- ing, turfing, afro and heels. We hope those who take choreography classes are willing to come and learn freestyle, and those who freestyle come and learn it in choreographic fashion. 1Up Crew is bridging the gap between freestyle and choreography. Through classes and events we can bring all dancers in our hip hop com- munity together so we can further grow the culture while remembering the foundation of hip hop. TARIK ROLLERSON was born in Richmond, CA in 1993. He is the co-founder and director of 1Up Crew , established in 2013, based out of Oakland, CA. He has been the executive pro- ducer of Prelude NorCal, a dance competition series, since 2022. Tarik is a teacher and chore- ographer at In The Groove Studios and Sunset Academy of Dance. @1upcrew @tslidah
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In Dance | May 2014 | dancersgroup.org
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