Jeff Goring and Supernaturalz on their way to Asia
April 14, 2008 - 02:06
Rachel Calvelli
PICKERING -- Canada's going for the gold with break dancer Jeff Goring and his group, the Supernaturalz, at the Pre-Olympic competitions in Beijing.
The group of 10 dancers leaves in May for the competition. Pickering's own Goring will be among the group.
"We definitely have a good chance at winning in Beijing, we just need to train hard," he says.
Goring has been dancing professionally since 1992. He is heavily influenced by the Hip-Hop culture and music genre.â?¨ "I got my start through a Hip-Hop group. I couldn't rap, so I figured I could do something else like break dancing," he says. â?¨ The Pre-Olympic event is the second stage of the B-Boy Unit competition. The first stage was March 30 at Guvernment in Toronto, where groups across Canada competed for the chance to represent their country. Supernaturalz won the event.
"A lot of people don't realize how big break dancing is," Goring explains, "but it's huge in Beijing and Korea; the government even sponsors a lot of the competitions."
Goring has travelled with his group in countries throughout Europe, across Canada and the United States, but this will be one of his first major competitions in Asia.
The Supernaturalz train 3-4 times a week, and will be "picking up the training" for the competition in May.â?¨ When Goring is not training with his group he can be found at the Petticoat Creek Library teaching teens ages 11-14 how to break dance.
He leads an eight-week program on break dancing where participants get one-on-one training as well as performing as a group.
"It's an awesome way to keep kids busy and out of trouble," he says. "We can try to give them help and be good role models."
He also explains that Hip-Hop as portrayed in the media is not the only view of the culture.
"When you get into what (Hip-Hop) really is, it's a lot more positive. We leave it all on the floor," Goring says. "We might be competitive, but after the battle we all give respect and hang out."
The group will participate in 15-minute battles with "crews on either side," Goring explains. "One person can go or the whole group, some of it's improv, but the tricks are planned out."
Goring loves the fact that he gets to make an income doing something he really enjoys.
"There's a strategy to it, cuz you have to see what your opponent is doing and then you have to beat that."
For more information about the group, visit their web site at www.myspace.com/supernaturalz.
For information about Goring's break dancing program, visit Petticoat Creek's Teen Events, www.cityofpickering.com. â?¨
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