Konomi Dance Works LLC, Maui’s First and Only All-Out Hip Hop Dance Studio, and home of “Maui Kpop Dance Workshop” is gearing up for an exciting Fall Session. With a new schedule, new classes, a new teacher, and two new performing Hip Hop dance crews, who wouldn’t be bubbling with excitement?
Inarguably, the studio has the youngest group of instructors on the island. Passionate for the arts and urban dance, they intend to keep local dancers up to date with the latest styles and trends in the dance world. While doing so, the teachers hope to instill love and appreciation for music and dance within the hearts of their students. “Dancing has been around since the “beginning of time” and is meant to be fun and stress free, and that’s how it should stay,” 20 year old owner and instructor Katerina Dominguez states.
The studio’s Bboy instructor, Alex “Kid Karma” Hutaff-Bautista, will be leaving for college and as a result, “we were anxiously trying to find a replacement who would work as well with the children as he did,” says Dominguez. “Fortunately, we found talented 17 year old DeeJay Alejo to take over the Breakin’ The Ice classes and we are really excited about the style, youth, and energy that he brings to the Konomi Dance Works Family.”
In addition to DeeJay’s Bboy classes, the studio offers a variety of exciting new classes including Jazz, Jazz Funk, Contemporary, Tap Funk, and more, taught by Dominguez. Maui’s only Poppin’ & Animation instructor, 20 year old Brandon Haros teaches beginning level Waving/Liquid classes for keiki and an intermediate level Poppin’ class for teens and adults — think “Cyrus” from the popular TV show “So You Think You Can Dance”. The studio also offers a Latin Jazz inspired ZUMBA Fitness class with Katerina’s sister, Jennifer Campbell. Some popular previous classes have remained on the schedule as well, such as Urban Hip Hop Routines, Beginning Hip Hop and of course, K-Pop Dance.
Katerina organized and began teaching the Maui Kpop Dance Workshop in November of 2011. Since then the performance crew has grown and developed quite a following, appearing at local events such as the Maui Korean Festival, the Maui Matsuri and to thunderous applause on Oahu at the KawaiiKon at the Waikiki Convention Center in March of 2013.
Recently, Konomi Dance Works LLC held auditions for new Hip Hop dance crews. Dancers of all levels and styles auditioned to be a part of the start of something new on Maui. “I think that it’s going to be a really fantastic experience and fresh start for everyone involved. It will be a great creative outlet for myself and Brandon as well as the members of the crew…In addition, this crew is going to get the opportunity to perform not only at Konomi Dance Works performances, but hopefully they will also debut in the local hip hop scene and make a name for themselves” says Dominguez of her goals for the new crews.
Fall Session 2013 began on August 5th and will run through December 7th. Visit the studio’s website at www.konomidanceworks.com or call 214-3650 for more details and information.
