Fueled by a passion for inspiring students to learn the craft of Hip Hop, Anton Le joins HCA’s dance faculty for our 2019/2020 season. We talked to him about how he first got hooked on Hip Hop, his teaching philosophy, and why new adult students should take the plunge and try a dance class!
How did you first get involved in dance?
I first got involved with dance around the age of nine. I was inspired by Michael Jackson, watching him on television. The only source of dance education I had at my disposal was YouTube. I would watch tutorials on hip hop fundamentals such as waving, popping, and break-dancing. It wasn’t until high school that I started taking dance class, all through my freshman to senior year. Dance was recreational for a majority of my early life. It wasn’t until my senior year of high school that I started taking it seriously and focused on my training, which brought me to where I am now.
How would you describe your instructional approach? What should people expect from your classes?
My instructional approach is one that is focused solely on the students. I push to challenge my students to be their very best – but at the end of the day, I want them to have fun and leave the class feeling satisfied. People should expect my classes to be a safe environment, free of judgment. Communication between myself and the students is very important. This includes asking questions during the class, which I highly encourage. Lastly, I pace the class so that everybody feels comfortable but still challenged.
You’re leading an adult hip hop class in addition to our children’s classes. Adults can sometimes be timid about starting something that they’ve never done before. What would you say to encourage them to take the plunge and try Hip Hop?
All I have to say is that you have nothing to lose! You should always try something once and if you do not enjoy it after a class, then you can at least feel accomplished having tried something new. Hip hop is a dance and culture that welcomes people of all ages; once people try it out, many get hooked. The classes are also meant to be fun, and I promise that everyone else in the room might feel just as nervous as you are. So I encourage everyone to take that leap and have fun!
What is your favourite aspect of being a teacher?
I love inspiring students to continue their hip hop dance education. It makes my heart feel full. Seeing others take my classes pushes me to continue improving my craft in order to give back more to classes. I will never stop being a student and I will never stop wanting to give back to the dance community as it continues to give more to myself.
Anton teaches Hip Hop at HCA on Thursdays and Fridays, with classes for children, teens, and adults. For more information, check out our website or give us a call at 905-528-4020.
