Kokoe teaches teen and senior (55+) hip-hop dance classes for the Recreation Department.
Can you tell us about your journey in dance?
My dad used to play music when my mother was pregnant and put the speakers to my mom’s belly. When I was delivered, it was said I started to cry, but as soon as my dad put on his favorite Lucky Dube tune, I started to move!
At the age of 2, I was placed on my mom’s Afro-tribal Caribbean dance team to be the showstopper. We traveled around the USA and even got to dance at the White House for Bill Clinton and for the president of Sierra Leone.
Then, by the age of 5, I joined my grandmother’s liturgical dance team and learned ballet and modern dance movements. When I turned 9, I started doing cheer, poms, and step for the Wheaton Boys and Girls Club. At 13, as a CIT [counselor-in-training] under Long Branch Community Center, I started a dance team with elementary school-aged kids and my peers.
At 14, I met my best friend from New York, who introduced me to break dancing and hip-hop movements. And at 15, I became captain of the JV cheer team at Wheaton High School. Then, in my senior year of high school, I started a Christian dance team, and we danced to Christian hip-hop music. At 17, I started the Advanced Dance Workshop at Washington College, where we studied cultural dance pieces from India, Ireland, the Caribbean, and the Dominican Republic.
Last, in 2014, I was afforded the opportunity to teach dance to the students at the Takoma Park Teen Lounge, with an emphasis on dance therapy in line with my mental health class. I was able to help the students leave their emotions on the dance floor, grow in confidence, and learn public speaking and leadership skills. I was able to follow them throughout their high school and now college careers to see the impact. That’s how I knew dancing was part of my personal mission.
What styles of dance do you specialize in, and what drew you to these particular styles?
I specialize in African, Caribbean, hip-hop, modern, step, liturgical, bachata, poms, and chair dance (for the elderly), with a focus on dance therapy. I want to continue learning, so I am currently taking classes in line dancing and hand dancing to grow as both a teacher and a student. I believe dance helps people expand their minds, travel, and be introduced to new cultures. It also helps individuals release built-up tension and emotions that have been pent up in the body. Additionally, dance serves as a form of communication.
How would you describe your teaching philosophy?
I love integrating the rich cultural traditions of West Africa and the Caribbean with the expressive and empowering elements of hip-hop and other dance styles. I believe movement is a form of therapy that promotes healing, self-expression, and connection. By drawing on the rhythms, life experiences, and storytelling of individuals, dance can facilitate personal growth and wellbeing, ultimately creating a tasteful and meaningful dance piece.
How do you keep your classes engaging and motivating for your students?
I offer a supportive and inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and encouraged to participate. We also do dance journaling. I regularly ask for feedback from students and their parents and help them track their progress. Additionally, I hold homework help sessions to encourage them and emphasize that it takes a whole person to dance!
What are some common challenges your students face, and how do you help them overcome these challenges?
One of the biggest challenges my students face is allowing school drama to impact their focus and performance. Youth can be easily distracted, especially by things that won’t matter in the future. To combat this, I create an open environment where they feel comfortable discussing their problems with me. I use these opportunities to empower them to rise above the distractions and be the bigger person in all situations.
Can you share a memorable or rewarding moment from teaching dance?
In 2014, I taught a dance class at Takoma Community Center with middle school-aged students. I was able to follow one of my students through high school and college, and the dynamic shift in her dance style and personality blows my mind. She came into my class as a timid young lady who used to cry a lot because of things going on at home, which also showed up in her dance. But now, everyone says she is a carbon copy of me! She is now a dance teacher herself and always tells her students about me. Recently, one of her students joined my class because of her, and at the end of the class, she surprised me by showing up as a guest.
If you could collaborate with any dancer or choreographer, who would it be and why?
Wow, this question is hard. I don’t only have one dancer or choreographer that I would like to collaborate with—I have four. I would love to dance with Misty Copeland, Debbie Allen, Alvin Ailey, and Fatima Robinson! If I had to choose only one, it would be Alvin Ailey. To me, he is one of the originators of African American dance. Learning his styles and movements helped me elevate and hone my dance techniques. I wish he was still alive to teach me.
Debbie Allen is packed with a wealth of dance knowledge, and I think I could learn from her when it comes to owning my own dance business.
Misty Copeland is so light on her feet and executes every movement effortlessly, I would love to do a ballet/hip-hop routine with her.
Last, Fatima Robinson is one of the baddest hip-hop choreographers in the game. I feel like we could teach each other and create an atomic dance routine that might even start a new genre!
This article appeared in the July Edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. Check out this article and more on the City webpage.
