Funkamentals - Grimes

This is a groove-oriented technique based approach to learning Hip Hop/Street dance vocabulary and movement principles.  Funkamentals is designed to explore fundamental body language, mechanics and spiritual modes present in a variety of African American/Afro-diasporic social/trendy/popular dance practices.  Special attention is placed on the principles of “freestyling” and collective individuality.  This movement system is not limited to executing the physical activities characteristic of many Hip Hop “technique” classes.  In addition to focusing on what’s most appropriate in training the human body, this movement system includes the mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of the movements.

d. Sabela grimes is a multi-hyphenated artist, choreographer and educator.  Sabela has conceived and presented a body of dance theater work that proactively seeks to expand beyond contemporary notions of Hip Hop culture and aesthetics.  Projects such as World War What?Ever?, 40 Acres & A Microchip: Salvation or Servitude, Sankofa and his evening length tour-de-force BULLETPROOF DELI exemplify his propensity to funktion as performer, choreographer, writer, composer, actor and costume designer.  Sabela’s work continues to journey through the present future of Hip Hop’s past and the corrugated spaces of its many incarnations.  He created, and continues to cultivate, Funkamentals a technique-based approach to learning Black vernacular and Street dances/dance forms. Sabela holds a MFA in choreography from UCLA’s World Arts and Culture Department and a BA in English also from UCLA.  In addition to his own work, Sabela has choreographed music videos and film.  He also has functioned as composer/sound designer for Victoria Marks’ Medium Big Inefficient Considerably Imbalanced Dance, Baker & Tarpaga Dance Project’s, Beautiful Struggle and David Rousseve's, Stardust.  Sabela directed Raphael Xavier’s Black Canvas and is collaborating with Miss Prissy and Lil’C as Artistic Director on The Underground.  Sabela continues to work with Rennie Harris Puremovement (RHPM).