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Hip Hop
Vallejo hip hop dance group hopes to fulfill 'Prophecy'
By Sarah Rohrs/Times-Herald staff writer
Posted: 07/10/2009 01:01:28 AM PDT
At Vallejo's Dance Unlimited, the Prophecy has the lowdown on all the cool hip hop dance moves -- so cool, in fact, the group goes
international in Las Vegas this month.
The Prophecy dance crew will compete in the 8th Annual United States & World Hip Hop Dance Championships featuring thousands of dancers from at least 30 countries, July 28-Aug. 2.
Eight of 20 Prophecy dance members, aged 15-22, will be there. Picking the lucky participants will be difficult, Dance Unlimited choreographer Gregory Chapkis said.
"They've been doing really well in the Bay Area. We decided to go international," Chapkis said.
Prophecy placed second at the Prelude Northern California Dance Competition, allowing the young dancers to advance, team manager Tracy Williams said. At that contest, the mostly high school-aged members beat older college-aged dancers, she said.
As the high-energy, thumping hip hop music filled the spacious Dance Unlimited building on Georgia Street, several dancers said they are excited and proud to be in Prophecy and vying for top honors in Las Vegas.
"The whole world is going to be competing," dancer Tag Williams said.
As proof of hip hop growing popularity worldwide, the event, at the Loes Lake Las Vegas Resort, is drawing the largest number of dancers in its history, promoters said.
Dance groups are set to arrive from Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Vallejo dancer Symone Butler said hip hop dancing requires technical skill and intricate dance steps. Dancers must work in harmony and keep each other pumped up, she said. The group practices several hours Tuesdays and Thursdays, and, often, on weekends. There are "lots of tricks" and "illusions," others added. Some dancers have been on the team several years.
As they practiced in the spacious mirrored Dance Unlimited studios, many youngsters, enrolled in other Dance Unlimited classes, watched in awe.
A key to Prophecy's success is Chapkis' own skills, plus his ability to attract choreographers who work with top Hollywood and musical stars, such as Britney Spears and Janet Jackson, Williams said.
Besides designing the dance moves, Chapkis does his own music mixes, combining a variety of different styles with many sounds which he generates on his own, Williams said.
Hip hop dance brings together people from all ethnic and economic backgrounds, and puts everyone on a level playing field, she said. "It
helps everyone understand each other and promote unity," she added.
In addition to preparing for the Las Vegas competitions, Dance Unlimited is gearing up for its "Collaboration" showcasing dozens of dance groups July 24-25 at the Vacaville Performing Arts Center.
For more details on Dance Unlimited, go to www.danceunlimited.net, or www.dudancecompany.com.
Contact staff writer Sarah Rohrs at srohrs@thnewsnet.com or (707) 553-6832. Dance Unlimited's Prophecy group of hip hop dancers, ages 16-22, practice at their downtown Vallejo studio. The dancers are preparing forfor the upcoming Hip Hop International 8th Annual United States and World Hip Hop Dance Championships in Las Vegas July 28-August 1. (Mike Jory/Times-Herald)
