When I first saw “Groove Nation” on the schedule of Hart House’s drop-in fitness classes, I imagined a kind of funky jazzercise popular with middle-aged men who wear sunglasses indoors. Little did I know that it is, in fact, a choreography-intensive hip hop class suited for skilled and passionate dancers alike.
The level IV class takes place Monday nights from 9:10-10:30 pm, and it frequently goes overtime. The class begins with a short warm up followed by over an hour of learning and performing intricate choreography, and ends with a brief cool-down and stretch.
With very little time devoted to traditional exercise routines, one might expect that Groove Nation isn’t much of a workout; however, this assumption is false.
By the end of the class, everyone in attendance has learned a lengthy piece of hip hop choreography that they are expected to perform repeatedly to the best of their abilities. This, combined with the mental exercise of learning and remembering choreography, makes for an intense workout. If you leave Groove Nation with a dry shirt, you’re doing it wrong.
Dustin, the Groove Nation guru, is a friendly and supportive instructor who is open to questions about movement, timing, and form.
That’s not to say he’ll go easy on you. Participants are expected to pick up choreography quickly and dance full-out every time.
If you don’t have much dance experience, I recommend trying out Groove Nation II, Thursdays from 5:30-6:45 pm. Not only is this class shorter, but the choreography is simpler and is taught at a slower pace.
Whichever class you choose, you can be assured that the dance will be both challenging and fun. Dustin chooses songs from across the hip hop spectrum; anything from Beyoncé to Jeremih to old school hip hop can make appearances.
Groove Nation, while exhausting, is more than just a workout. Dustin encourages every dancer to put their own flavour into his choreography and to perform as if they were in a professional dance setting.
This unique fitness class allows participants to let their personality shine through, making even the most gruelling class a blast.
In short, don’t be fooled by the name; Groove Nation is straight-up hip hop. If you love to dance and be yourself, and you’re ready for a mental and physical workout like no other, it’s the class for you.
