by Asuka Conyer and Onyx Sagawinit
Beginning in March, 2026, WAESN will be hosting quarterly Sustaining Member and mutual aid events. First up is a hip-hop dance lesson taught by Onyx Sagawinit. Read below about some of the history of hip-hop and why it’s inherently Ethnic Studies!
Watch this space for registration updates and more information on the upcoming event.
For all of human history, dance has been a language of community.
Creative movement has been used to heal, to remember, and to gather people together across generations and cultures.
So of course, it only makes sense to get WAESN moving!
We’re excited to announce an upcoming COMMUNITY DANCE CLASS, taught by instructor Onyx Sagawinit.
This special class is open to our WAESN members, loved ones, and friends to learn some grooves in an encouraging beginner-paced space. This class is also an opportunity to learn more about Hip Hop Foundations and history!
Have a wedding invite with a dance floor haunting you?
Looking for a new hobby?
Or perhaps you’d like some moves to save for that once-in-a lifetime dance battle….
If any of these resonate with you, ya’ oughta keep reading!
Meet the Instructor: Onyx Sagawinit
Onyx Sagawinit (e/em/eir) is a Kanaka Maoli dancer, choreographer, and youth instructor born in Hawaiʻi. Originally raised in Las Vegas, e are currently based in Seattle, Washington.
Eir journey in creative movement began in Hula; later expanding into Hip Hop foundations with early training in Breaking, Popping, Waving at The Rock Center for Dance (Las Vegas).
As a graduate of the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts; Onyx has taken eir training to contribute as a performer, choreographer, educator to the Seattle/Kirkland dance communities. E has also served as an accomplice in the preservation of accessible Hip Hop education whilst serving as a Dance Chair for the UW Hip Hop Student Association.
Onyx currently works as a beloved youth dance instructor at Eastside Dance Studio.
What does dance have to do with Ethnic Studies?
Through an ethnic studies lens, dance can be understood as a physical embodiment of history.
Creative movement preserves cultural memory by carrying stories, values, and lived experiences across generations.
Dance is not only a form of artistic expression, but also a way for communities to reaffirm themselves in ancestral storytelling.
In class, we’ll be exploring the style of Hip Hop; a culture of storytelling that holds particular significance as a response to lived realities shaped by inequality, racism, and social exclusion.
Hip Hop originated in the early 1970s in the Bronx, New York. Hip Hop legends such as DJ Kool Herc, and Grandmaster Flash cultivated the intentional beats, “Scratches”, and “Breaks” (long percussive periods in a track) that would soon have Black and Brown youth engaging the auditory cues in community spaces. (McCollum, 2019)
Influential creatives such as B-boys & B-girls used these rhythms to transform everyday struggle into creative resistance. Through dance, music, and visual art; Hip Hop became a tool for Black empowerment; a method of reclaiming space, identity, and physical agency while cultivating collective joy.
The Five Pillars of Hip Hop serve as principles of the creative-driven culture. These pillars represent more than artistic practices. They function as pathways for cultural expression, political awareness, and community empowerment:
- DJing – creating sound, rhythm, and music
- MCing – storytelling, lyrical expression, and voice
- Breaking– embodied storytelling and physical movement*
- Graffiti Art – visual expression and reclaiming public space
- Knowledge – awareness of self, community, political atmosphere
Through these practices, Hip Hop continues to serve as a living tradition that critiques social power structures while affirming the resilience of Black and Brown communities.
“Dance comes from real community stories… and we honor that by the continued preservation of the knowledge we have been entrusted with… like the 5 pillars of Hip Hop. All dancers (including myself) must recognize that we are guests in the many styles of dance that have long existed as an exchange of our ancestors’ lessons. Dance is a part of Ethnic Studies. It’s a way to continue cultural stories through the physical freedom of movement. It brings community, healing, and accessible emotional release, especially for people like me, who might find it hard to verbalize our personal journeys in words. Dance is great at breaking language barriers. It’s human nature to dance.” – Onyx Sagawinit
Creative movement continues to be a radical force for collective resistance. Dance also offers an opportunity to intentionally transform public spaces into sites of collective mourning and solidarity. Creativity is medicine. It reveals the humane moments of expressive care amid ongoing struggles for justice. Know that where there is life, there is beat and sound, and dance will always manifest.
Check out this link to see how dance was a vital tool in the 2020 Black Lives Matter Protests.
*Although the pillar of Breaking (1970’s) serves as a principal foundation of dance movement in Hip Hop. Other emerging styles of street dance such as Krump (1990’s) and Popping (late 1970’s) have become iconized styles of Black storytelling through dance as well.
CLASS FAQ’s
Q: “What should I wear to class?”
“Dance is about your creativity and who you are. Let that show up in what you wear.” – Onyx Sagawinit
Wear comfortable, flexible activewear that makes you feel confident and lets you move freely. Sweatpants, hoodies, cargo pants, or general gym attire are all great. Avoid stiff, non-stretchy clothing like jeans unless they’re stretchy (e.g., spandex-based).
Wear sneakers with good ankle support. If you have any joint or muscle concerns, feel free to bring braces or supports (ankle, knee, elbow, etc.) that help you feel safe and supported.
Q: “What should I bring to class?”
Bring water to stay hydrated and a towel if you like! Basically anything you’d normally bring to the gym. Hair can be worn however you’re comfortable (up, down, or pulled back).
Q: “ Is this class open to the public?”
Feel free to invite a friend or loved one!
If you’re anything like the rest of us, sometimes having a support buddy can help soothe pre-class jitters.
Q: “What if this is my first time taking a dance class?”
Perfect! This WAESN event is just for you. This dance class is geared to be taught for all learners in a safe fun-paced environment. We invite all levels of experience, backgrounds, and knowledge to join us in cultivating a space of shared joy through movement.
Much like Ethnic Studies, Dance centers creativity and embodied practice as a path to community healing and cultural resilience.
It is recognized as a vital way communities carry knowledge, process lived experience, and sustain identity.
Examples of principles like the 5 Pillars of Hip Hop offer one multi-faceted lens of storytelling as a practice of care among many global forms.
So, we hope you’ll consider joining us at our upcoming class. Where you’ll have the chance to learn a bit more about yourself, your community, and *maybe* even show off your own moves on a night out…
Q: “How much does the class cost?”
Registration is free for all WAESN Sustaining Members and K–12 students*. College students* can join for $10 and all others are $25. Proceeds will be split between WAESN and Eastside Dance Studio.
REFERENCES
Al Jazeera English. (2020). Black Lives Matter dance: Protest performances spring up. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeE5uUk_5_g
DJ Kool Herc. (2023). Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. https://rockhall.com/inductees/dj-kool-herc/
fitzjudar. (2007, February 6). THA BUCKEST OF THEM ALL! YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfjybaamzSE
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. (2024, May 7). Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. https://rockhall.com/inductees/grandmaster-flash-and-furious-five/
keep funk Alive. (2019, August 2). Boogaloo Sam | 1979 | Electric Boogaloo | Old Clip. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5EEX6ykjjw
McCollum, S. (2019, October 30). Hip-Hop: A Culture of Vision and Voice (L. Resnick, Ed.). The Kennedy Center. https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/resources-for-educators/classroom-resources/media-and-interactives/media/hip-hop/hip-hop-a-culture-of-vision-and-voice/
stevio. (2006, July 20). Rock Steady & Rock Force battle part 1. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0Gy-cZcXgU