Kambi Gathesha

Hip Hop Dance, Pop and Lock

Hometown: Maryland

Major Influences: The Electric Boogaloos (esp. Poppin' Taco), Michael Jackson

      Kambi Gathesha is a street dancer who specializes in popping and waving (two dance forms of the Funk style dance genre). A lifelong performer, Kambi brought his talents to the Juilliard School (as a drama major).

      While in New York, Kambi honed his craft as both Actor and dancer immersing himself in New York’s street dance scene seeking to understand its chief aesthetic. He earned the moniker “kinetic” for his energetic style.

      As a dancer and choreographer, Kambi performed in and helped stage pieces for PMT seasonal showcases, C.R.O.W.D. theater company, Nitestar theater company, MTV (specials featuring Beyonce and The Neptunes), Lincoln Center, NYU, and NYC slam AIDS benefit.

     As an actor, Kambi’s credits include Williamstown: Paul in The Marriage of Bette and Boo,” Hardy in “The Burden of Solitude,” and Oed in “Big Love,” Juilliard: The Three Sisters, Architecture of Loss, The Winter’s Tale, and As You Like it.

     As an artist, Kambi’s central mission is create work that has integrity and moves people; he seeks to constantly challenge himself as an artist to step outside his comfort zone and create new work, help propel all forms of urban dance (b-boying, funk style, hip-hop, house, etc) into the next millennium, and educate a new generation of street dancers. Kambi currently teaches at PMT studio, choreographs for its seasonal showcase perform in the studio’s company (PMT Dance Company), dances and choreographs for Streak dance Concept and can be seen in two forthcoming productions: C.R.O.W.D. theater’s production, “One Note,” and the Stemsel Bros. independent film “Conversations with the Man.”

Teaching Schedule:

Sct. 1.2 - Adv. Beg. Hip Hop Dance Performance Workshop - Monday 8:30-10:00pm (Start Date: 9/17/2007)

Class Description:

Popping -This class explores the dance style known as popping, a form of dance that belongs to the funk style genre (which also includes dances such as locking, boogaloo, wacking, waving, ticking, and other forms); the main focus of this class will be to give students the basics of this dance and guide them on their way to becoming individual dancers. Popping is a freestyle dance and students will learn to develop an ear for music and freedom of movement. The class will also give a historical account of the art form.