Grab your dancing shoes…
By FP contributors, Jules Boyd and Gwen Attridge.
Ready for adventure? We are too. Follow along with the FP Movement team as we try new things, challenge ourselves, and get active.
Have you ever wondered what it was like being in a dance crew? You know, the ones with the matching outfits, nailing every beat of choreography as the crowd goes wild? Well, on a sunny Tuesday afternoon, Team FP got our very own taste of the world of professional dance — head-to-toe in FP Movement, of course. Prepped with a selection of our favorite studio-friendly pieces in a fresh, spring-forward white hue, we conquered the challenge of the day: a beginner hip-hop class.
With a range of experience levels spanning from complete novices (self-proclaimed “two left feet-ers”) to those who have danced in childhood and beyond (and who even teach classes themselves today!), we all had the same end goal: to break a sweat, and have fun while doing it.
On an unassuming side street in the Rittenhouse neighborhood of Philly, Koresh School of Dance’s storefront blends in with the idyllic townhomes. Once our team shuffled in, we were amazed by how large the studio space was! Our instructor, Chelsea Stroud, is a former NBA dancer as well as a dancer-turned-coach for the University of Delaware’s dance team who now teaches hip hop classes at Koresh. After a quick introduction and a few motivational words from Chelsea, who emphasized the importance of having fun over trying to be perfect, we were ready to learn our routine.
We started out with a warm-up of stretches and sit-ups to get our blood pumping. With the help of loud, fun dance music, everyone was able to let loose and break a sweat. Chelsea’s song pick for our routine, “Havana” by Camila Cabello, was the perfect choice to get everyone moving. We started by breaking down the routine without music; Chelsea split it up into three separate 8-counts, which are dance patterns that are split up to allow more unique movements before a change up or repetition. After each set of 8-counts, we practiced aligning what we learned to the beat of the song. Finally, we put all three sets together for a full routine — we even split up into two separate groups to perform for each other! No matter the experience level, it was so fun to try something new and move along to the music.
Jules, next-to-zero background in dance: I was a little nervous going into this — not because I didn’t think it was going to be fun, but I just knew I was going to be terrible at it. Which I was. But that’s okay! It was such a unique experience for someone like me who has never really dipped their toes into any type of professional dance. I definitely struggled trying to follow along with the routine because I didn’t pick it up as quickly as those who have a dance background, but I was able to keep up with everyone for the most part. I loved how relaxed and motivational Chelsea was — she stressed how this was about having fun and the most important part was that we tried our best.
Gwen, dancing in the genes: Being born to a lifetime dancer and studio owner (hi Mom!), I am no stranger to this form of movement. From dancing through my youth all the way up until college, it is an activity I’ve held near and dear to my heart for a long time. I have recently revisited it after a few years off due to COVID, and actually took up teaching classes myself, taking after my Mom. When I heard our team was going to take a class, I was ecstatic to be included. However, despite being so familiar with dancing, every class is an opportunity to learn no matter how much you know. Every instructor comes from a different background and has their own style of moving and teaching. Due to her dance team training, I knew our instructor, Chelsea, was going to bring it with the sass in the piece she taught us. And boy, did she deliver. I loved every second of it and even took some notes to add to my own classes. As a dancer and teacher, this was a great opportunity for me to expand my knowledge and range of movement, which I’ve always loved and has remained important to me.
J: I can definitely see why people truly find joy in dancing. I think the idea of being on such a unique type of team where everyone is separate yet responsible for performing the same exact action at the same exact time is so amazing! Though I know I’m not a strong dancer, it was so fun watching all of us pick something up so quickly that we were able to piece together and perform in under an hour. I went into it thinking I wouldn’t be able to follow along at all, but surprisingly did fairly well because of how fun and motivational the atmosphere was!
G: I loved that Chelsea gave us a piece packed with personality. No matter the skill level, everyone really brought their all, and finished each performance smiling and laughing. At the end of the day, the choreography was about having fun and getting in touch with that sensual side, which is so powerful for a group of women. They say dancing taps into your divine feminine, and that energy was so prominent during this class, with us all dressed in matching outfits and performing as a team. That is the beauty of dance, it brings people of all backgrounds together with movement that is good for your body and your mind. To me, it can’t get better than that.
J: Of course we can’t forget what we wore! The stark white outfits were such a cool contrast to the dark walls of the studio, and under the lights they definitely popped. I wore our Slow And Low Pants, which were super comfy and allowed for a lot of movement, paired with our Scoop It Up Tank for a tighter, more controlled top.
G: When doing hip-hop, comfort is key, and personal style is more evident than in other dance styles like ballet or tap. Luckily, our Movement line is filled with staples that checked both of those boxes. A low-rise baggy pant is a preference of many professionals in this style, and the Slow And Low Pants were the perfect pick. I paired them with the Good Karma Long Tank to balance the proportions, which ended up making an awesome outfit for this event. I was able to move freely while feeling secure so I could really get into my groove.
To learn more about Koresh School of Dance or inquire about their classes, click here.
Ready for adventure? We are too. Follow along with the FP Movement team as we try new things, challenge ourselves, and get active.
Have you ever wondered what it was like being in a dance crew? You know, the ones with the matching outfits, nailing every beat of choreography as the crowd goes wild? Well, on a sunny Tuesday afternoon, Team FP got our very own taste of the world of professional dance — head-to-toe in FP Movement, of course. Prepped with a selection of our favorite studio-friendly pieces in a fresh, spring-forward white hue, we conquered the challenge of the day: a beginner hip-hop class.
With a range of experience levels spanning from complete novices (self-proclaimed “two left feet-ers”) to those who have danced in childhood and beyond (and who even teach classes themselves today!), we all had the same end goal: to break a sweat, and have fun while doing it.
Where We Went
On an unassuming side street in the Rittenhouse neighborhood of Philly, Koresh School of Dance’s storefront blends in with the idyllic townhomes. Once our team shuffled in, we were amazed by how large the studio space was! Our instructor, Chelsea Stroud, is a former NBA dancer as well as a dancer-turned-coach for the University of Delaware’s dance team who now teaches hip hop classes at Koresh. After a quick introduction and a few motivational words from Chelsea, who emphasized the importance of having fun over trying to be perfect, we were ready to learn our routine.
What We Did
We started out with a warm-up of stretches and sit-ups to get our blood pumping. With the help of loud, fun dance music, everyone was able to let loose and break a sweat. Chelsea’s song pick for our routine, “Havana” by Camila Cabello, was the perfect choice to get everyone moving. We started by breaking down the routine without music; Chelsea split it up into three separate 8-counts, which are dance patterns that are split up to allow more unique movements before a change up or repetition. After each set of 8-counts, we practiced aligning what we learned to the beat of the song. Finally, we put all three sets together for a full routine — we even split up into two separate groups to perform for each other! No matter the experience level, it was so fun to try something new and move along to the music.
What We Learned
Jules, next-to-zero background in dance: I was a little nervous going into this — not because I didn’t think it was going to be fun, but I just knew I was going to be terrible at it. Which I was. But that’s okay! It was such a unique experience for someone like me who has never really dipped their toes into any type of professional dance. I definitely struggled trying to follow along with the routine because I didn’t pick it up as quickly as those who have a dance background, but I was able to keep up with everyone for the most part. I loved how relaxed and motivational Chelsea was — she stressed how this was about having fun and the most important part was that we tried our best.
Gwen, dancing in the genes: Being born to a lifetime dancer and studio owner (hi Mom!), I am no stranger to this form of movement. From dancing through my youth all the way up until college, it is an activity I’ve held near and dear to my heart for a long time. I have recently revisited it after a few years off due to COVID, and actually took up teaching classes myself, taking after my Mom. When I heard our team was going to take a class, I was ecstatic to be included. However, despite being so familiar with dancing, every class is an opportunity to learn no matter how much you know. Every instructor comes from a different background and has their own style of moving and teaching. Due to her dance team training, I knew our instructor, Chelsea, was going to bring it with the sass in the piece she taught us. And boy, did she deliver. I loved every second of it and even took some notes to add to my own classes. As a dancer and teacher, this was a great opportunity for me to expand my knowledge and range of movement, which I’ve always loved and has remained important to me.
What We Thought
J: I can definitely see why people truly find joy in dancing. I think the idea of being on such a unique type of team where everyone is separate yet responsible for performing the same exact action at the same exact time is so amazing! Though I know I’m not a strong dancer, it was so fun watching all of us pick something up so quickly that we were able to piece together and perform in under an hour. I went into it thinking I wouldn’t be able to follow along at all, but surprisingly did fairly well because of how fun and motivational the atmosphere was!
G: I loved that Chelsea gave us a piece packed with personality. No matter the skill level, everyone really brought their all, and finished each performance smiling and laughing. At the end of the day, the choreography was about having fun and getting in touch with that sensual side, which is so powerful for a group of women. They say dancing taps into your divine feminine, and that energy was so prominent during this class, with us all dressed in matching outfits and performing as a team. That is the beauty of dance, it brings people of all backgrounds together with movement that is good for your body and your mind. To me, it can’t get better than that.
What We Wore
J: Of course we can’t forget what we wore! The stark white outfits were such a cool contrast to the dark walls of the studio, and under the lights they definitely popped. I wore our Slow And Low Pants, which were super comfy and allowed for a lot of movement, paired with our Scoop It Up Tank for a tighter, more controlled top.
G: When doing hip-hop, comfort is key, and personal style is more evident than in other dance styles like ballet or tap. Luckily, our Movement line is filled with staples that checked both of those boxes. A low-rise baggy pant is a preference of many professionals in this style, and the Slow And Low Pants were the perfect pick. I paired them with the Good Karma Long Tank to balance the proportions, which ended up making an awesome outfit for this event. I was able to move freely while feeling secure so I could really get into my groove.
To learn more about Koresh School of Dance or inquire about their classes, click here.
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