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Dance legend coming to D&E

ELKINS — Area residents will have a chance to learn more about urban dance as the Davis & Elkins College American Vernacular Dance Program presents the second in a series of Urban Dance Guest Artists Lecture-Demonstrations Thursday.

The session focusing on popping, will be presented by Popin’ Pete, a founding member of the nationally known The Electric Boogaloos.

An open-level popping workshop, conducted by Popin’ Pete, will take place from 2:50-4:05 p.m. in the Pit Dance Studio in Myles Center for the Arts and a lecture demonstration on popping will be presented from 5-5:50 p.m. in Harper-McNeeley Auditorium. A question-and-answer session will follow. There is no admission fee to attend.

Growing up in Fresno, Calif., a young Popin’ Pete gained an interest in dancing by watching others in Fresno and on “Soul Train.” In 1976, his older brother, “Boogaloo” Sam, was inspired to create his own style of dance after seeing the original Lockers perform on TV. He created the popping and boogaloo styles and, in 1977, founded The Electronic Boogaloo Lockers.

Later, dropping “Lockers” from their name, The Electric Boogaloos appeared on many popular television shows including “The Midnight Special,” “Kicks” and “Soul Train.” After seeing their “Soul Train” performance in 1982, Michael Jackson approached members of The Electric Boogaloos to choreograph the “Thriller” and “Beat It” videos. Their collaboration spanned nearly two decades and included work on “Captain EO” and “Ghosts” videos, live performances, choreography and training.

Currently Popin’ Pete is working alongside some of this generation’s most talented music artists such as Justin Timberlake, Gwen Stefani, Mya, The Black Eyed Peas and Janet Jackson.

The last session of the Urban Dance Guest Artists Lecture-Demonstration Series will feature Cricket of Step Up 2 the Streets, who will present on house dance from 11-11:50 a.m. Nov. 17.

The guest artists have been teaching movement workshops in the Survey of Contemporary Urban Dance in the U.S. course, a required class for all dance majors at D&E, curated by Assistant Professor of Dance Emily Oleson.

“I wanted to make sure we got subject matter experts to address each dance style we’re covering,” Oleson said. “I’m very fortunate and grateful to have D.C.-based guest artist Shanna Lim as a liaison connecting our school to these high caliber guest artists for our curriculum. Our dance students are getting top quality instruction in areas of American social dance that are usually marginalized in college dance departments.”

For additional information on the fall Urban Dance Guest Artists Lecture-Demonstration Series, email olesone@dewv.edu.

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