Shock Therapy.

Our interview with Culture Shock Toronto’s Glen Barbeau.

Courtesy of Culture Shock

Whether you like to do the robot or the funky chicken, a party just isn’t a party without everyone busting their moves out on the dance floor. For some of us less coordinated we might want to take a few lessons from the dance experts at Culture Shock. One of Toronto’s leading hip hop troupes, these folks know how to get jiggy with it and you can catch them doing their thing this Saturday night at Shallow Groove. Do expect spontaneous break dancing to erupt at any given moment; if you don’t however, expect your moves to be dance-off worthy, drop in on one of their Sunday hip hop classes and your robot days will soon be long gone. Here’s our interview with Culture Shock’s Glen Barbeau.

Pony: How did you first get involved with culture shock?

Glen: I started about 7 years ago. I used to be a ballet dancer actually and after I finished at the National Ballet School of Canada I was looking for a way to still dance but obviously not in the classical sense and at that level. Someone suggested C.S. to me. I went and I started to take their company classes for about 2 years. After that I began volunteering with their youth programs and train up for the troupe itself.

Pony: What was it about C.S. that appealed to you so much, and that continues to appeal to you as a dancer?

Glen: Well, because I came from classical I didn’t really want to go into the studio and see a bunch of krumpers, scaring the beep out of me. Instead at C.S. it was a nice happy atmosphere and since then, even though we’ve incorporated harder forms of hip hop, it’s still not competitive or angry, its just about the dance. The troupe is full of young adults who are working professionals and do this semi-professionally or as a hobby; it’s something they love to do that takes more dedication than you would have in just a simple drop-in class.

Courtesy of Culture Shock

Pony: How does C.S. fit into the hip hop community in Toronto? What’s that scene like?

Glen: Because we’re part of their larger organization, which was founded in San Diego in the early 90s, we have shared mandates and guidelines. One of these guidelines is that we don’t compete in competitions for money or contracts. However, a lot of our alumni have gone to dance with you know, the Jabbawockeez. As well as some of the dancers on America’s Best Dance Crew are ex-members. So we are generally affiliated with the dance community. In Toronto, we don’t really take it to that level, but some of our other troupes have. Even though the atmosphere in Toronto in terms of hip hop is competitive because there are other studios that cater to that. But if you want to have some fun and improve as a dancer, but still do so in a professional way, then that’s where C.S. comes in.

Pony: So I understand that once a year C.S. Toronto comes together with its sister troupes for a big showcase in Ottawa. Are you guys preparing for that now? When does that take place?

Glen: We’re currently preparing for our Canadian showcase in Ottawa. Our national director is there, Marc-André Clément, and he has his own production company as well so he is able to produce our showcases. We invite C.S. companies and our youth outreach programs. But we also have guest artists that are well respected in the hip hop scene.

Courtesy of Culture Shock

Pony: So is Saturday night’s event a fundraiser for the showcase to send you guys to Ottawa?

Glen: Yes exactly. This Saturday we will be raising money to help fund our involvement in the showcase because we are non-profit – any money made from the showcase goes back into our programming. But as well as that, in supporting us you are also supporting our youth programming. That’s one of the most important things we do. We have a few youth programs in Toronto, where youths (8-18 years old) come together and forge a community through dance. It keeps them out of trouble and they don’t have to pay for them, everyone can participate. It’s an initiative that helps us give back to the community and kids who will be the future of dance.

Pony: That’s a great way to give back. You guys also hold Sunday classes at Good Life. What are those classes like and who can participate in them?

Glen: Well, I really think our classes are great because our troupe is really approachable. We are there every Sunday, every single one of us. I think a lot of people are intimidated by dance classes because they think as soon as they walk in, the instructor will throw four counts of choreography to them and they’ll be expected to know it right away. We are definitely not that. Our teaching style caters to the capability and speed of the class. If people can learn and have fun then they will have a positive experience.

Pony: So what has been one of the most memorable experiences for you as part of C.S.?

Glen: The showcases in Ottawa every year are the best part by far. I’ve been going for the past 7 years. Even though it’s at the start of the summer and I just feel like winding down, I don’t mind training and putting hard work in for a few extra weeks because it’s a great time. It’s also so inspiring to see the quality and caliber of dancers that are a part of C.S., and to watch them grow and improve every year. It’s such a great sense of accomplishment.

Pony: So what can people expect at Shallow Groove this Saturday for your fundraiser? Will there be a dance-off of sorts?

Glen: It’s definitely going to be like a scene from a dance movie, where you look around and everyone knows how to dance. We have amazing music that night; DJ Kariz and Carl Allen will be spinning. You’ll see all the C.S. dancers there; it should be a great night.

Courtesy of Culture Shock

For more information on tickets, head to Culture Shock’s website here.
– Justine Iaboni for Mushy Pony.