Post Hip Hop Dance: Then, Now and Beyond

In this episode, Myka talks to Tanya from the Shadow Puppetz crew, a Chicago-based freestyle popping and animation crew, established in 2019. Tanya is a Chicago-based freestyle movement artist, educator, immigrant, mother and community leader. Tanya has over a decade of experience in her craft and has proven herself a fierce competitor in dance battles nation wide. She discusses her early years of dance training in Moscow Russia, h...

In this episode, Myka interviews two professional dancers currently working with Chicago Dance Crash, Jessica Leyva and K.C Bevis,  who started their dance journey in pink tu-tus, bunned up hair and leotards. Now they find themselves involved in hip hop and street dance, a completely open and free form of movement and creative practice, something they did not get to experience in their earlier years. They discuss their experiences ...

In this episode, Myka interviews two Columbia College Chicago alumni, Orlando aka Juice and Chris aka Criss Cross. They discuss their experiences when first getting involved with the street dance scene here in Chicago, while reflecting on their years at Columbia. They talk about their individual connections that they have with dance and the specific styles that resonate with them. This episodes sparks conversation about what the fu...

In this episode, Myka interviews young dancer Charles aka Chaz, about his experience and journey with vogue, not just as a dance style but as a culture. Chaz shares personal stories involving his experience as well as some thoughts on how the world outside of the community may misinterpret what vogue is. This episode brings up hot topics involving who represents vogue and who should be allowed to represent vogue. Listen in to hear ...

In the first episode of season two, Myka talks to two of her crew mates Wyatt Sutter and CK "Deadshot" King about how they train as hip hop and street style dancers. They discuss lots of benefits to training in different ways and what has worked for them personally. This discussion also dives deep into some of the more controversial questions of this podcast such as "What is hip hop?" and "How does pop cult...

In this episode, Myka interviews Jaeya, a music business major and hip hop studies minor at Columbia College Chicago. She is a young new popper who found a love for the dance after seeing it through her father her whole life. She talks about how she feels about the dance community in terms of hip hop and the divide between the industry and the social culture. This episode sheds light onto the next generation of street dancers and t...

In this episode, Myka interviews, Kelsa "K-Soul" Rieger-Haywood a dance studies professor and street-style dancer, part of the crew Venus Fly.  She discusses the shifts she has personally seen through hip hop's many eras, not just through the dance form, but also through mainstream exposure. This episode brings up questions regarding the state of hip hop now and where it's headed. Listen in to see what she has t...

In this episode, Myka interviews Torrence Griffin AKA Tea Buggz, an OG popper from Chicago and member of the crew Robot Mafia. He discusses how he's seen hip hop and the style popping grow and enhance over the decades, while being a popper and teacher. This episode reflects on the past as well as acknowledging the importance of now and the progression of a culture. Listen in to see what he has to say...

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