Purdance

Brian Chio

Bio

During an orientation at UC Berkeley, Brian witnessed love at first sight. He saw a group of college students dancing to Usher's "Yeah" freely outdoors and immediately wanted to partake. Although he did not know how to dance at the time, he knew that it was something he had to do. He became a dancer and choreographer for student organization Danceworx for 3 years and continued to dance after having graduated with groups outside including Project Em, Expressive Doubt SF, Wrawsome, and Groove Against the Machine. He feels very fortunate to have danced and performed with these groups at some of the biggest dance stages like Vibe, Body Rock, and Battlefest 360. He is excited to embark on a new journey of teaching dance, where he can give back to the community.

Teaching Philosophy

"I believe that everyone, including the ones who think they have two left feet, have a natural rhythm and it is my job to help you unleash that rhythm if you haven't done so already through the form of kpop dance. I will guide you through the process of movement control, musicality, and timing step-by-step. Patience is my strength so don't be afraid to speak up when you feel lost! At the end of the class, I hope to leave you feeling inspired and having fun dancing at a place you're not supposed to."

Lauren Benjamin

Bio

Lauren Benjamin is a Bay Area native. Bred in the dynamic, multicultural melting pot, Lauren got her start as a multidisciplinary artist at the age of five. She studied visual and performing arts during formal elementary art programs as well as performing with the highly regarded, Children’s Musical Theatre of San Jose (CMT). Developing a passion for performance, she ventured into the dance world and has cultivated a thriving dance career over the last 25 years. She received her Bachelor of Fine Art degree in painting and photography from Memphis College of Art in 2004 and went on to obtain a Master’s degree in Education from the prestigious, Mills College in 2009. Lauren's dance training includes various disciplines, from the classics like Jazz, Modern, Lyrical/Contemporary, Tap, Ballet, and Lindy Hop/Swing Dance to Hip Hop, House, Boogaloo, Locking, Waacking, and Breaking. She has had the honor of receiving instruction from many notable choreographers, including Rennie Harris, Brian “Footwork” Green, Caleaf Sellers, Stefan “Mr. Wiggles” Clemente, Tyrone “The Bone” Proctor, Don “Campbellock” Campbell, Carlos Jones, Souix Lehner, and Chester Whitemore. Lauren has danced with Phoenix Dance Company, Basic Contemporary Jazz Collective, Embodiment Project, Loose Change and Starchild Dance Company, among other professional companies. She has presented her choreography at San Francisco Hip Hop Dance Festival, San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, as well as the MoAD (Museum of African Diaspora) in San Francisco. She has also been welcomed as a guest choreographer and teacher for several Bay Area youth performance organizations including Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company, Irvington High School Conservatory Theater, and Berkeley High School Dance Productions. Additionally, Lauren has taught and choreographed competitive dance teams for 10 years, and in doing so, has received several awards for outstanding choreography and has had many top overall scoring routines. Most recently, Lauren has been recognized for her teaching and curriculum development in visual and performing arts at Berkeley High School, where she has been an instructor for over five years.

Teaching Philosophy

"I am extremely passionate about teaching. I believe that approaching life through the artist process can allow one to experience a more well-rounded, holistic life. Throughout my academic career, I have closely studied theories and developed my own research on the benefits of art learning. I have come to know that art develops the mind in more complex and meaningful ways than people commonly are aware of. My primary philosophy as a teacher is to teach for deep and critical understanding. I believe that art is the means to developing the effective cognitive skills that apply to successful problem solving. I am interested in helping students not only develop techniques specific to the discipline, but also helping to bridge gaps in their thinking about art. I believe that art is reflected in everything, including math and science, and that the creative process can greatly magnify the dynamics of all scholastic disciplines. I strive to teach my students that being an artist is a state of mind and a skill that can be translated into any area of life."

Alex "Prince Ali" Flores

Bio

Alex Flores has always had a love for dance and music. It wasn’t until 2005, when he became Prince Ali, that he began his journey in the art of Popping. He delved into the roots of the San Jose popping style and learned from seasoned vets such as Spacewalker and Money B. He then endeavored to absorb the southern California popping style by learning from Midnight, an original Los Angeles popper and street performer since the late 70s. After refining his skills in dance battles in the California street dance scene, in 2009 he was inducted into Playboyz Inc, a dance group established in 1981 that has preserved the south Bay style of dance known as “San Jose Strutting.” Prince Ali's mission is “to preserve the dance and its roots but to also implement that into my character. Without foundation, there is no platform for us to become ourselves.” Prince Ali teaches and specializes in original popping style, techniques, flavor, mentality, and attitude. “Dance gave me freedom. And that is something that I would wish for everyone to have. Freedom.”

Teaching Philosophy

"One of the most empowering aspects of learning is making sure people enjoy what they are delving into. I love to engage with my students so that they may understand the techniques on a personal level. We can all learn by drills and 8-counts, but most importantly we all must learn by implementing those skills in a real dance setting. I breaks down movements and techniques then works with my students so that they become free with their dance."