THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2024 Page 11 our students on those fi ve elements within each of our specialized classes. Urban dance styles have always been the heart of inner cities as a way of expression and a means of building self-esteem.” She refers to a teaching style called “EDUTAINMENT,” or teaching the history behind each art form in addition to choreography. Boston, she said, has a specifi c dance style that includes a penchant for a very hyped-up and energetic vibe. “We still have a very bouncy style compared to the West Coast teams, who are more smooth,” she told The Advocate, “so we like artists like DMX. The studio that I own and the company is predominantly Hip Hop. We do mostly urban dance, street styles, so breakdancing from back in the day, we still do that, popping, locking, krump. New school HipHop, old-school Hip Hop. So, it’s all Hip Hop.” And this studio is not just performing; they’re winning on a large stage. A group of 40 dancers from Phunk Phenomenon recently competed in a national competition run by Hip Hop International. Ranging in ages from nine to dancers in their 30s, the team won a Gold Medal for the Megacrew category. Now they’re preparing for an international competition in Arizona in August, where they will compete against 50 countries. They secured the nationals win earlier this year with a routine to the song “Ante Up,” a collaboration by Hip Hop artists Busta Rhymes, Tefl on and Remy Martin. When she makes a mix, Briggs-Connor likes to entertain all ages of her audiences, blending old-school memories with new beats. For this routine, they took “Ante Up” and layered it with new beats like dance hall and Afrobeat. “Everything had to be within the realm of street dance for the rules of this competition,” Briggs-Connor said, “so we’re going with a full mixed style routine, basically hitting all the genres of hip-hop dance.” For Briggs-Connor, these competitions are full-circle moments where all the hard work of choreography, dancing and sweating until near midnight on weekday nights comes together. She’s been hitting the dance fl oor since she was three years old at Genevieve’s Dance Studio in Chelsea, and she basically hasn’t left since. “I danced at that studio in Chelsea, and I grew up there,” Briggs-Connor said. “My mom [Barbara Casino of Chelsea] put me in when I was three years old because I loved to dance. I danced all the way until I was 18 there, and I started teaching for her when I was 16, and I cheered for Chelsea High School. I’ve danced my whole life.” —The Phunk Phenomenon team is raising funds for their international competition trip to Arizona in August. Find out more at https://app.99pledges. com/fund/PHUNKatHHIworlds. You can also learn more about Phunk Phenomenon at https:// www.phunkphenomenon.com/. And to learn more and contribute to Jared Connor’s fi ght with Sanfi lippo syndrome, the family has a website: http://www. jaredsfi ght.org/. The Phunk Phenomenon Dance Team are shown performing on the TD Garden parquet fl oor at halftime during Game 1 of the NBA Finals Celtics game against the Dallas Mavericks. (Courtesy Phunk Phenomenon) The Phunk Phenomenon Dance Team are shown performing on the TD Garden parquet fl oor at halftime during Game 1 of the NBA Finals Celtics game against the Dallas Mavericks. (Courtesy Phunk Phenomenon)
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