Faculty
Mat Guenther
Break Dance
Mat Guenther strives to preserve the history of and inspire growth in the Art of B-Boying (Break Dance). Having studied with some of the pioneers of the dance, such as Mr. Wiggles and Crazy Legs*, he continues the traditions of the Old School, while allowing freedom for students to explore and push the foundational boundaries of the dance. His ambition is to help bring B-Boying (Break Dance) into the 21st century as a recognized, legitimate, and well-rounded art form that garners the same respect as other styles of dance, such as Ballet, Modern, Jazz, and Tap.
Mr. Guenther has been teaching since he was 15 years old. He began teaching Martial Arts, which he started studying at the age of 10. The various styles he has studied include Yang style Taijiquan, Cheng Chung Jaio Baguazhang, Ho Chin P'ai Northern Shaolin, Shorin-Ryu Karate-do, Capoeira Angola, Tae Kwon Do, and Juijistu. He began break dancing in January of 2001. In March of that year, he joined a professional break dance performance company, Pure Energy. With them he performed around the DC-Metro Area for 6 months before leaving for the University of Pittsburgh to start coursework in the field of Exercise Science. In the summer of 2002 he interned as a Physical Therapist's Assistant at Health South. He has been teaching break dance and B-Boying at DC Dance Collective since September 2002.
* Both Mr. Wiggles and Crazy Legs belong to Rocksteady Crew (of which Crazy Legs is the president). Rocksteady Crew was the first and most influential crew to perform in mainstream media. Their performance credits include (but are certainly not limited to) the movies Flash Dance, Wild Style, and Beat Street. Their mission is to preserve the history, styles, and culture of the Old School. The Rocksteady Crew was founded in 1977 by Jimmy Dee and JoJo and is still going strong.
| Day | Time | Class | Level | Instructor | Age Level | Enrollment Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu | 6:30pm-7:30pm | Break Dance Technique/Conditioning | Beg II & above | Mat Guenther | A/T | D/E |
| Thu | 7:30pm-8:30pm | Break Dance | Open Practive | Mat Guenther | A/T | D/E |
Breakdance
This class expands upon the founation laid in the beginner class. More advanced musicalityand stylistic concepts are explored. The movements learned increase in difficulty and dynamicity, with much of the focus on developing the circular "ground rocking" footwork style that makes breaking so unique. Students learn to integrate a wide variety of movements together into a seamless whole so that their dancing begins to "flow" from beginning to end and they begin to develop a signature "style".