V.Y.B. prepares for next week’s Kanvas hip-hop showcase

“And swerve and cat cat. Do your own swag here. One, two, three, hold, step. Boom.”

These are some of the dance commands I heard as I had the pleasure of watching the V.Y.B. (Voice Your Body) Dance Company rehearse for the Kanvas Holiday Showcase, a huge hip-hop event at The RITZ Ybor next Wednesday. More than 20 dance companies from all over Florida will take part. Poppers, lockers, bboys and bgirls, hip-hoppers, krumpers, street dancers and spectators come out for the V.Y.B. Dance Company's choreography showcase and a series of freestyle dance-offs.

Its founder, Artistic Director and choreographer, DeMario Henry, is trying to make a positive change to the hip-hop dance scene in Tampa Bay.  “I’d noticed a lack of dance classes available for professional young adults in this area. If you plan on doing something professional like being on So You Think You Can Dance, or pursuing other career dance options, Tampa doesn’t have that many resources. I wanted to provide a place where dancers could have that opportunity, especially in the area of urban hip hop.”

This article appears in Dec 9-15, 2009.