As hip-hop celebrates its 50th anniversary, dancers from the Quebec region are increasingly standing out on the international stage with a style that has evolved greatly. An 18-year-old dancer has been selected to be part of a popular dance group in New Zealand.
Méann DiMuzio has stars in her eyes. Last October she flew to Rome to attend auditions for New Zealand’s Royal Family Dance Crew. In your opinion, the best team in the world.
She was selected in competition with 230 other dancers from around the world. The eight other selected dancers come from Bulgaria, Italy, Turkey, Denmark and England. I am the only and first Canadian. I freaked out!
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Méann DiMuzio at Studio Party Time. From January she will dance with her idols in New Zealand for a year.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Alexandra Duval
The troupe notably performed alongside Jennifer Lopez in 2020 and Rihanna at the last Super Bowl. The dancers of this troupe took part in Justin Bieber’s “Sorry” music video, among other things.
A dream has come true for the 18-year-old young woman: she is an extremely respected and recognized troupe in the world of dance.
The Royal Family Dance Crew has won three World Championships.
Proud of the studio party time
Méann has been working at Studio Party Time since he was eight years old. Among other things, she danced with the BAD troupe, which stood out during the fourth season of the show Révolution.
Founder Guildo Griffin, who is also a pioneer of hip-hop in Quebec, cheers.
It is certainly an honor, but at the same time it is also a small medal that shows us that we are on the right path. Thanks to Méann, Quebec is on the map. It is an incredible source of pride.
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Guido Griffin and Méann DiMuzio from Studio Party Time
Photo: Radio-Canada / Alexandra Duval
He believes the Royal Family Dance Crew is the best troupe in the world. The choreographer Parris [Goebel] is extraordinary. The dancers have a discipline, a style that is very precise, the movements are isolated, it’s beautiful.
His studio has seen many dancers excel, particularly in the United States.
He notes that Quebec troops have developed a unique calling card with our southern neighbors.
In Quebec we are used to collaborating and working together as a team. In the United States, work is often done on individuals and incorporating them into a team. As we get to the competition, we see individual dancers dancing as part of a team. When we dance, you see a family.
Mao District
This isn’t the only studio that stands out in the region. The DM Nation troupe from the District Mao Studio in Lévis was crowned hip-hop world champions in Phoenix in 2022. A competition that brought together dancers from 55 countries.
Founder and choreographer Marie-Odile Haince-Lebel explains that Quebecers’ success can be explained by creativity. We have few resources. In Quebec, like on TV, we will achieve great things.
Everywhere we go, for example in the United States, something happens when a force arrives from Quebec. The synchronicity, the rigor, the work of the dancers. There are very good dance studios.
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Caroline Lemieux (left) and Marie-Odile Haince-Lebel (right) are choreographers at DM Nation.
Photo: Courtesy of DM Nation
A new festival in Quebec?
Emmanuelle Lê Phan agrees. She has a bachelor’s degree in contemporary dance and founded the troupe Tentacle Tribe. She developed her breakdancing style. These are very good studios that specialize in the commercial level of hip-hop. But there are other paths a dancer can take.
Hip-hop has its roots in freestyle and improvisation. For me they are battles; It’s a circle exchange where you come in and improvise with your own sauce.
She also wants to develop street hip-hop in Quebec. She is working on a festival project for the state capital that will focus on free hip-hop dance.
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Emmanuelle Lê Phan, founder of the Tenticle Tribe troupe and contemporary dance graduate
Photo: Courtesy
According to the choreographer, this dance style with its diverse derivatives has made it possible to democratize dance. It is attractive to young people and not just the elite. Before ballet, it was royalty. Over the years it changes and you can find it not only in the theater but also on the street or even in the studio.
She remembers that breakdancing was the first hip-hop dance style, created 50 years ago. And it will be a new discipline at the Paris Olympics next summer. It will provide incredible visibility, she adds.