Break-dancing and hip-hop may bring to mind an urban landscape and tough crowd attitude, but that’s a narrow definition for an art form that is exemplifying a wholesome and energetic lifestyle for Kaua‘i teens.
Meet Kaua‘i-born surfer and former model Lila Metzger, co-founder of Kaua‘i UnderGround Artists, a non-profit school of dance focused primarily on “a clean and healthy lifestyle by words and action.” Next week KUGA will offer a community workshop with visiting artists January 17 and 19 at the Lihu‘e Parish Hall.
“The why we do it is for kids to build character, integrity and commitment,” Metzger said. “The result of that is that we can “kill it” when we’re dancing.”
Metzger’s approach to breaking and hip-hop is to create a positive avenue for all that youthful energy, to build confidence, express emotions and help youth create a focus or goal that will ultimately lead to a love for life.
“I remember the struggles of being a teen here,” she said. “If you don’t get out of the spinning cycle, you get sucked down in it. If you don’t have a passion for yourself that makes a conscious decision, that (negative cycle) will make the decision for you and pull you in.”
Metzger returned to Kaua‘i from Southern California in 2003 and has been making a positive impact on youth and young adults through dance and music ever since.
“I came home and took a hip-hop workshop with Darcy Naganuma,” she said. Naganuma is also a Kaua‘i girl-made-good who has her own modern dance company in New York.
“When Darcy moved back to New York I wanted to keep dancing and there was no hard-core hip-hop classes on Kaua‘i,” she said.
With the inspiration of another dancer, Marisol Burkhart, Metzger and she joined forces to teach dance to kids.
“It was a progression,” she said. “We started with little kids at local gyms and out of a garage.”
Metzger described Burkhart’s passion for keiki as the spark that led to the creation of KUGA. The two dancers began by driving all over the island to teach.
It wasn’t long before the two-some grew by one more.
“Sarah returned to Kaua‘i after going to college in Oregon,” Metzger said.
In 2003 Sara Ahn joined the team. Ahn is a formally trained dancer and also works for the Department of Education as a sign language interpreter.
By 2005 the three women made KUGA official and in 2006 procured a studio in Kalaheo, which they are quickly outgrowing.
“Our goal is education by using hip-hop and break-dancing as a positive,” Metzger said.
Besides choreographing and teaching their own work, KUGA brings dance teachers to the island. Peipei Yuan, aka, “Peppa” was the first artist KUGA sponsored to come teach on Kaua‘i.
“She started our foundation in breaking,” Metzger said.
Next week’s guest artists are Jon Ayson, formerly of Rainbow Dance Theater in Oregon, and Kaua‘i resident Kina Beaudry, who has danced with Western Washington Hip-Hop Dance Team from Seattle.
In February KUGA will launch a teen dance troupe with dancers culled from their existing classes. Ultimately Metzger’s vision is to have a strong troupe of dancers ages 16 to 18 years old who will go into the schools to work with kids.
“I grew up here and I remember,” she said. “There’s a gap in that age range of 16 to 18 — there’s nothing to do.”
KUGA has worked with the County of Kaua‘i to provide alternative activities for at-risk children and teens. Currently they are part of TripS, an after-school enrichment program at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School where they offer classes in poetry, break-dance and hip-hop choreography. One of the organization’s goals is to make a collaborative effort with the public school system to help kids excel in school and break-dancing by setting up a reward system and accountability.
On Feb. 2, new classes begin for ages 2 and up. Classes are divided by age: Hip-hop Tots, for keiki 2 to 3 years old; Teenyz, from 4 to 7 years old; Young Gunz, from 8 to 12 years old and Tenacious Teens are 13 years old and up. Classes are taught at the KUGA studio in Kalaheo, the old mini-mart behind the “76” gas station. To register for a six- to eight-week session or for the upcoming workshop, visit kuga808.com or e-mail kuga808@mac.com.
Want to dance with KUGA?
What: Winter dance workshop
When: Jan. 17, 19
Where: Lihu‘e Parish Hall
Jan. 17
1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. — Kids breaking
2 p.m. to 3 p.m. — Hip-hop fusion
3 p.m. to 4 p.m. — Hip-hop
4 p.m. to 5 p.m. — Capoeira
Jan. 19
Noon to 12:45 — Kids breaking
1 p.m. to 2 p.m. — Hip-hop fusion
2 p.m. to 3 p.m. — Hip-hop
3 p.m. to 4 p.m. — African Dance
• Pam Woolway, lifestyle writer, can be reached at 245-3681, ext. 257 or pwoolway@kauaipubco.com
