‘More than just dance, it’s about community, storytelling, and resistance’
Dancers in Clark’s Hip Hop Collabo sit in a circle before practice begins — communication and community are just as important as hitting the mark on the dance floor, and this team is rooted in a shared celebration of culture.
Hip Hop Collabo consists of 25 dancers. “We try to represent Black culture through dance moves and choosing songs from hip-hop or rap artists, important black figures within both of those genres,” says Ella Assouramou ’26, MAT ’27, who majors in combined languages (Spanish and American Sign Language).
In February, the team used Instagram to share the importance of hip-hop in Black history. “More than just dance, it’s about community, storytelling, and resistance,” the team posted. “Hip-hop has been a sanctuary for Black Americans, a space for creativity, expression, and resilience on both coasts.”
Hip Hop Collabo includes members and non-members, an opportunity for people who are not officially in the club to learn choreography and enjoy time with the group. “You can go and dip your toes and perform without being fully committed to the club,” says Assouramou. During her sophomore year, Assouramou choreographed a routine for the non-members with another team member, Skye Donaldson ’26, MAT ’27, a studio art major. For Donaldson, being a member of this team reminds her of her childhood.
“My dad would always play ’80s or ’90s hip-hop in the car, and he would talk about going to parties in the ’80s where people were breakdancing on cardboard,” she recalls. Hip Hop Collabo has led to lasting friendships. “It’s cool to have been dancing with these people for years,” Donaldson says.
One of the newcomers on the team is Téa Richardson Ojeda ’29, a biochemistry major. Ojeda, who’s been dancing for twelve years, describes the art form as “a freedom of expression.” When coursework feels overwhelming, Hip Hop Collabo is a respite, providing a break “from all the work and everything that’s going on in the world to focus on a little 8 count instead.”
Hip Hop Collabo will perform April 3 and 4 in Atwood Hall. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. The theme will be a tribute to important hip-hop artists.
