Guyton Mundy didn’t care much for line dancing, so he decided to spice it up with a little hip hop.
Today, the Florida dance instructor teaches his hip hop line dancing throughout the world.
“It’s huge in Europe and England,” Mundy said. “They consider it like ballroom dancing almost, they’re so competitive. They do it every day.”
Mundy brings hip hop line dancing to the Black Hills Dance Festival May 4-6 in Rapid City. During the festival, Mundy will teach two of the local dance teams as well as beginner classes.
Mundy got his first taste of dance growing up in North Carolina, mainly in clubs. He eventually moved to Florida and, in 1993, won a position as a dancer for Walt Disney World.
As a Disney dancer, Mundy performed at live shows, parades and for television. About five years ago, Mundy was invited by a club patron to teach hip hop classes in England.
While overseas, he got his first real taste of line dancing.
Mundy admits that, initially, he wasn’t much interested in the traditional line dance style of dance, but the experience got him to thinking about hip hop’s potential.
“I decided to choreograph some stuff and that’s where it really took off,” he said.
From the start, people embraced the idea of hip hop moves in a line dancing format. “People just really went ‘Wow,’” he said. “Especially the younger kids … people look at it a certain way. A lot of kids don’t want to get into just a shuffle step. They want something more challenging.”
Mundy’s hip hop line dancing incorporates elaborate arm movements, body styling and even floor work.
For less experienced dancers, hip hop line dancing might be the perfect fit, Mundy said. The group aspect of line dancing gives everyone a safety net of sorts.
“It’s like going to a big party with all your friends,” Mundy said. “If somebody isn’t secure in their dancing … line dancing is a great way for them to get out there and dance and not feel uncomfortable and feel like everyone is watching them.”
Contact Lynn Taylor Rick at 394-8414 or lynn.taylorrick@rapidcityjournal.com.
