attaii
page
poses.
5 were
ail Advj
consist^
P and
’presentai
em Offic
at is
'g student
'f cheatinj
ale revisi
The desci
es
i be foum
Web
tamu.edul
page
es todonii
-dge with ft
let lien
,olt e
who
ts jealous
violent
tas a vii
wants
i' where
erbally
l you di
lames
> of a pott
elationsli
' lud y k *
in fource
s
rape
f these,
attacker,
totified
potential
rkins sail
nt of
ol
and one
e sexit
age of
relate:'
ites,
account
all callsi
e to let
violet
comnmi
:e domes
nore,
emore, re;
:ory at I
re read lie
j began
ue; get tie!
chelle
te to talk I
99-SAFEj
The Battalion
Page 3 • Tuesday, February 10, WKM
fteuep fp&m w£W£>ut iks THe
By Sarah Szuminski
THE BATTALION
Junior wildlife and fisheries sciences major Hatice Thomas stops
aticing and turns around to face her students in the hip-hop dance
jjssshe teaches along with co-instructor Shay Jones, a junior corn
ier engineering major.
Tall ready for some music?” Thomas asks, after she and Jones
utisli teaching the last eight-count for the day.
The class of about 50 students cheers and the dancers get ready to
niltlieirnew moves to music. As the beat begins. Thomas and Jones
/‘five, six, seven, eight,” and the room snaps into motion.
The one-hour hip-hop class is one of the most popular courses
the Student Recreation Center, as students flock to the
pstairs archery room each week to learn new dance steps and get
te exercise.
Freshman biology major Leanne Skinner said she found the class
searching for an outlet to fill the dancing void left after corn-
college and leaving behind her days as captain of the high
toldiool dance team.
"It's a lot of fun, and it’s definitely a good workout,” Skinner said.
^Thomasand Jones) are really good; they’ve got some great moves.”
The fee for the class is $15, which buys anyone w ith a Rec
inter membership admission to four classes - one per week. Each
students leam four new eight-counts, which ultimately com-
Ktomake up a full-length dance routine.
Jones and Thomas not only instruct the class, but also choreo-
iptithe original routines.
‘We've been dancing for awhile," Jones said. ”We just put on
temusic and make up the steps."
“A lot of the time, it’s just us being silly,” Thomas added.
Hie dances are kept at a difficulty level that w ill fit everyone’s
ility,since some students have previously taken dance while oth-
n have not.
We try to keep it easy,” Jones said. “We throw in easy steps, but
make sure to challenge everyone."
Mi Phelan, a Ph.D. student studying human resource develop-
C a|HtLagreed that the class requires some coordination, but said it is *
lastly just for fun.
It's not geared for performance, so it’s okay if you can’t get it
'l iiattly right," she said.
the class mostly appeals to women, there are a few men
ihotiy their hand at learning hip-hop.
Jiors Tommy Nelson and Jeff McFadden said they were drawn
tie class after taking a free introductory session.
Tvealways wanted to take a class like this," Nelson said, “and
Malot of girls in here.”
Madden said it seemed like a good opportunity to have fun and
btome new moves, adding that he could use the practice,
fiegot a really bad case of the white man’s disease,” he said.
Ihomassaid about three or four men usually enroll in each of the
four class times offered, but she hopes there will be more in the future.
“We need to get the males out here,” she said.
Thomas said girls seem more willing to take a dance class and
tell their friends about it.
Phelan said she was surprised to see men in the class, but they
seemed to be holding their own in a room full of women.
“They have their own style,” she said. “They put a guys’ twist on
the dance.”
In fact, everyone in the class puts some of his own style on the
steps learned. Thomas and Jones’ choreography leaves room for
their students to add a personal twist. Some of the funkier moves,
however, can be intimidating when first introduced.
When teaching a step they called the “snake,” Thomas and
Jones had to provide some additional instruction for many
people in the class who could not master the move.
“The bigger your step, the bigger your snake will be,” the
instructors explained, instructing the class on how to drop their
head to the side before following with their hips.
Making sure everyone understands a step is one thing to
which the instructors give a lot of attention. Throughout the
class, Thomas and Jones have everyone rotate, so dancers in the
back get a chance to have a front-row view. They also create an
encouraging environment where their students can feel comfortable
trying to get the new moves down.
“We ask people to challenge themselves,” Thomas said. “Most of
the time, when someone says they can’t do something, they end up
being able to if they just try.”
Thomas and Jones step up the intensity at the end of every class
with what they call the "Outkast challenge.” This is when the instruc
tors have the class perform the routine to a song with a faster beat.
The idea started with last year’s instructors when they created the
Justin Timberlake challenge to the song, “Like I Love You.” This
year. Thomas and Jones switched it over to Outkast’s “The Way
You Move.”
The class shifts into high gear during the challenge, as the
dancers struggle to keep up with the song’s quick tempo. It is
an energetic way to end each class and give a final kick to
the workout.
Skinner said she enjoys the class and would recommend
it to anyone.
“Last week after 1 left, I was so excited I couldn’t
wait to get back,” she said.
Phelan agreed, saying the teachers’ energy and
spirit keep the class entertaining.
“I’m really glad they’re offering it," she said
“and $15 is a steal.”
Thomas and Jones said they plan to offer a second session of hip-
hop classes later in the semester, complete with new choreography.
The Rec Center also currently offers classes in jazz and belly dancing.
More information about the hip-hop class can be found at ree
xports.tamu.edu or at the member services desk at the Rec Center.
■k MSC Variety Show -fr
Now accepting applications for all
kinds of acts. Compete for local fame and
Applications in Town Hall
cube in the Student
Program Office or online
at townhall.tamu.edu
Auditions Feb. 17th,
18th, and 19th.
Application deadline Feb. 12th at 5pm.
JT ‘VaCe.ntine Qift
JLil<^e- Other
a prize money fortune!
I want ter
suck your
talent, and
blood, and i
also love
chocolate.
Godiva Chocolates
with every purchase.
Recieve a bonus gift
with a purchase of
$ 100 or more.
emc
BRAZOS VALLEY WOMEN'S CENTER
774-6032 Now Open Saturdays!
St. Joseph Professional Building • 2700 E. 29th St., Suite 330A • Bryan