Dance
Meet 3 women doing their thing in the hip-hop dance scene
Juste Debout champion Niki from Sweden, BC One judge AT from Finland, and Austrian hip-hop dance theatre pioneer Farah talk about their careers as dancers.
Juste Debout champion Niki is a luminary in the field of hip-hop freestyle with her slogan, "the world is my playground." Beside her sits B-girl AT from Finland. She's one of the world's most successful B-girls and was one of the judges at the Red Bull BC One World Final in 2017. She's also part of the FlowMo Crew and a developer of the online platform bboydojo.com, where she teaches breaking. Farah from Austria organises the Flavourama battle and dances on stages all over the world with the urban dance theatre company Hungry Sharks.
We sat down with all three to hear their thoughts, reflections and advice on the challenges of forging a career in hip-hop dance.
"When it's about being heard in the hip-hop dance scene, as a woman you often have the feeling that you have to prove yourself first" says Niki. She learned through dance that it's important not to compare yourself to others all the time. "We women have a special energy. When you watch us dance, there's magic in the air. I never get enough of this." Farah agrees. With her crew Potpourri she experienced first-hand that an all-female group will get noticed fast if they're working hard and have talent.
Niki sharing her craft at a workshop in Vienna
© Leo Rosas
Stay true to yourself
AT from Helsinki has been judging a lot of competitions recently. It's still a relatively rare thing to see B-girls on the judging panel of major events, but AT's advice to anyone is: "Stay true to yourself". Dance is art, and art needs to be individual. You have to know and trust yourself, in order to make it to the top.
She's enthusiastic about recent developments, that more and more B-girls are joining the scene and there are platforms created to empower them. This covers anything from dedicated B-girl battles to classes for ladies only. Awareness is rising and B-girls are becoming ever-more appreciated. Despite the fact that AT herself has always practised with guys, she says that she was always treated respectfully.
Farah thinks differently about gender roles in her own primary style: hip-hop freestyle. Hip-hop freestyle isn't as demanding when it comes to strength as breaking is, therefore the separation of men and women isn't there. In battles and competitions, the ladies "have the same power, swag and style as men," she says. So it's right and important that men and women compete in the same category.
B-girl AT teaching in Vienna
© Leo Rosas
What does it take to build your reputation?
What does it take to build your reputation in the scene as a woman? "You have to master your craft", Farrah asserts, but there's much more to it than that. Since day one she's had a burning passion for the dance, like the other two. All three agree with Niki when she says that: "practice alone isn't enough." She continues: "be open-minded but focused on what you want". Being part of the community is also mentioned as an important factor that'll help to fuel your reputation. If you bring something to the table that enriches the culture, you win. This is valid for men and women alike and the most important point in building your name.
Farah shares her expertise on being a pro-dancer
© Leo Rosas
You're a dancer – but what else do you do?
A question that every dancer knows well. For Niki, AT and Farah the answer is the same: "I make a living with dancing. It's my job". None of the three originally planned to become a dancer. Niki says: "I always went with the flow and still do this today". Hard work and trust in their own skills helped Niki, AT and Farah to make it with dance. Three ladies with a lot of power and a very special magic.
