Dance>
| Organizations | Step and Urban Dancing | African and Caribbean Canadian Dance Groups | Dance Schools |

Step and Urban Dance Groups

Gum-boot dancing was first performed by workers in the African diamond mines. The dance was considered a way to relieve the anxieties felt by the workers and was something that they could call their own.

Then, African-American Greek-affiliated fraternities and sororities brought back the ancient dance, during the brink of the civil rights movement and it was performed for the same reasons in which it created: to unite as a people and to posses something which they could call their own.

Today there are a number of dance groups across Canada which are dedicated to keeping the history of stepping alive by using many of the traditional movements coupled with a modern focus to create a contemporary flavour which continues to unite and entertain Afro-Canadians.

Here are a few of contemporary step teams which have successfully revived step dancing in Canada.

    Abstrakt Breakin Systemz
    Toronto ON
    416-432-3762
    e-mail: info@abscrew.com
    website: www.abscrew.com

    Group of breakdancers, poppers, and acrobats that performs across Canada in festivals and charity events.

    Bag of Trix
    Toronto, ON
    e-mail: info@bagoftrix.ca
    website: www.bagoftrix.ca

    An international-award-winning breakdancing group. They are active in the national and international competition circuits, and are also a performing and touring group that offers instructional classes and workshops. They work to challenge stereotypes about hip hop culture through their diverse membership, community outreach, and collaborations with fellow dancers.

    Black Ice
    18 Raymore Drive
    Toronto ON M9P 1W5
    416-248-1406
    e-mail: Marie@BlackIceStep.com or Info@BlackIceStep.com
    website: www.blackicestep.com

    Founded in 1992, in association with the Caribbean Students’ Organization at York University, Black Ice is an African step group.

    Canadian Floor Masters
    Ottawa ON
    website: http://mywebpage.netscape.com/buddhafromcfm/index.html

    Breakdance group.

    Dead Reckoning Crew
    Vancouver BC

    Breakdance group.

    DeCypher Cru
    Ottawa ON
    e-mail: decyphercru@hotmail.com
    website: www.decyphercru.ca

    All-female breakdance group.

    defSOL Productions
    710 Overholt Court
    Saskatoon SK S7N 4S8
    306-382-8367
    e-mail: hiphop@defsol.ca
    website: www.dreaproductions.com

    A hip hop company that also instructs in Ottawa area schools.

    East Rock Crew
    St. John’s NL

    Breakdance group.

    Ellementale 5
    Montreal QC

    All-female breakdancing collective.

    Flow Rock
    Montreal QC

    Breakdance group.

    Funk Fanatics
    Toronto ON
    416-938-9693
    e-mail: piecez@funkfanatics.com
    website: www.funkfanatics.com

    Breakdance performance group.

    Fo’ Real Hip Hop Dance Crew
    Toronto ON
    e-mail: foreal.hiphop@gmail.com

    A University of Toronto hip hop performing group consisting of undergraduate and graduate students, alumni, and friends of the university. It works to advance the awareness and acceptance of hip hop and urban culture through positive and active participation in social, cultural and educational events. Founded in 2003, the non-profit group performs and competes across Toronto and the surrounding area and participates in charitable events. Fo’ Real has a Facebook page.

    Freshly Squeezed
    Edmonton AB

    An all-aboriginal breakdance group.

    HoneyKats
    Toronto ON
    416-885-2715
    e-mail: info@dancekrazeproductions.com
    website: www.dancekrazeproductions.com

    HoneyKats is a Toronto-based performing group that works in hip hop and street jazz. Their website offers several videos of the group performing. Their home studio, Dance Kraze, offers hip hop and street jazz instruction for beginners to professional at George Brown’s Casa Loma campus studios.

    Illmask
    Montreal QC

    Breakdance group.

    Illmatic Styles
    Montreal QC
    Websites: http://www.myspace.com/illmaticatyles
    www.lazylegz.com

    Breakdance group.

    Illmatix Dance Crew
    Toronto ON

    Funk dance group.

    Lokdown Crew
    Halifax NS
    website: www.lockdowncrew.com

    Breakdancing group.

    Militant Mastering Our Blessings
    A Christian Toronto-based step dance group.

    Rubberbandance Group
    Montreal QC

    Breakdance group.

    Shebang
    Street Dance Academy
    160 Spadina Ave. 2nd floor
    Toronto ON M5T 2C2
    e-mail: contact@shebangcrew.com
    website: www.shebangcrew.com

    All-female breakdance group.

    Solid State Breakdance Collective
    24 Mount Royal Ouest #704
    Montreal QC H2T 2S2
    514-287-9090
    e-mail: info@solidstatebreakdance.com
    website: www.solidstatebreakdance.com

    A primarily female urban dance collective that mixes breakdancing and contemporary dance, which they describe as “urban dance theatre.” They perform across Canada, and have recently branches into European performances. They work to spread positive, non-commercial messages about hip hop culture, and are also working with counsellors, therapists, and school boards to develop programs to help improve body image and self esteem in young women. Their performances and competitions frequently raise significant funds for charities such as the Canadian Red Cross and breast cancer programs. Through Studio Sweatshop, they offer instruction in breakdancing.

    Stylordz
    Hamilton ON
    e-mail: stylordz@hotmail.com
    website: www.stylordz.com
    Breakdancing group.

    Tactical Crew
    Montreal QC

    The above materials prepared by Kelliebeth Hand, Terry-Ann Jones, and Sean Hewing.

    © York University 2002 All Rights Reserved