Hip-Hop show team getting started | Arts & Culture

If your children have lots of energy and love to dance, you might want to have them try out for the Patel Conservatory’s hip-hop show team. The show team, which is entering its second year, will participate in competitions and perform city-wide as a community service.

“We are looking for young dancers with a lot of energy, character and some dance experience,” said DeMario Henry, Patel Conservatory dance instructor.

Henry says gymnastics and/or acrobatics training is a plus, adding that participants should be eager to learn and to perform. Dancers should be in grades four through 12 to participate.

The team will meet Saturdays from 3:30 to 5 p.m. for instruction and rehearsal. Students will learn original choreography and occasionally train with guest instructors.

Performances will be scheduled as opportunities arise. Some of the 2010-11 team’s activities included dancing at the Glazer Children’s Museum, at the Patel Conservatory’s Spotlight Awards ceremony and at a benefit for The Children’s Home.

“We are expanding the program to be even more community based. The students will get lots of performance experience out of it, as well as really good training. I think children need to understand the concepts of giving back and sharing their gift with others. It builds character within the child and stays with them as they grow up,” Henry said.

The Patel Conservatory is part of the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Tampa. To register or for more info, call 813-222-1040. You can also visit www.patelconservatory.org.