The Heart of Hip-Hop

When the Oakwood Hip-Hop Dance team was reestablished in 2020, it began as a small, dedicated group of students. Thanks to the director and teacher Ricky Cole, the program has blossomed. Ricky praises his students Lily ‘25, Vera ‘25, Jasmine ‘25, and Laly ‘25 for taking on the role as captains in 2023 and assisting with his vision for the program. This evolution reflects the team’s passion, unity, and shared commitment to shaping its future. 

Ricky returned to teaching at Oakwood in 2020 with a well-defined goal: to rebuild and elevate the hip-hop dance program. His leadership and the students’ drive sparked a wave of enthusiasm that spread quickly. “It was the students’ help that made it happen—word of mouth, their willingness to be seen,’ Ricky shares. ‘When I came in, there were maybe four students in the class, and it was online because of the pandemic.’” The following year, the students proposed creating a spirit squad that would perform at Oakwood’s Spirit Nights to gain visibility. “Hip-Hop team and spirit squad’s first performance was nerve-wracking, but the positive feedback boosted their confidence and set the stage for what came next,” Ricky adds.

Their performances generated buzz, and as Ricky notes, ‘by the third year, in 2023, it boomed.’ The team has grown exponentially over the past four years, fueled by the captain’s dedication and Ricky’s efforts to teach dance in Exploration at the elementary campus. His work sparked excitement among K-6th graders, who eagerly anticipated joining the team in middle school. Ricky has supported every step the captains have taken to help expand the program, recognizing their pivotal role in its growth.

Lily, Laly, Jasmine, and Vera each joined the hip-hop team with similar goals. “I started in 9th grade,’ shares Vera. ‘Back then, the team was tiny, but we didn’t let that discourage us. We saw the potential, and over time, we built something really special.’” Laly echoes Vera’s sentiment. “It was hard when we first started because not many people knew about us,’ she shares. ‘Things changed after we performed at Spirit Night. People started recognizing us and asking for more performances. That recognition brought in new members, and soon, we were a growing community.’”

The team attributes much of its success to the sense of camaraderie and enthusiasm that each member brings. “The foundation of this program has been love, unity, and passion’ adds Lily, who joined hip-hop a little later but quickly became integral to the team. ‘Those values and the foundations of teamwork and collaboration helped us grow.’” Jasmine, who joined the team in 9th grade, was motivated by her passion for dance and a desire to challenge herself. “I wanted to keep pushing myself and learning new dances because it helps me feel confident—and seeing others challenge themselves motivates me, too.” Vera reflects on how the sense of community has been key to the team’s growth. “We’ve always been open to new members. Whether or not they have dance experience, this is a space for everyone to grow and learn together. That openness is part of what has allowed us to expand.”

Behind the tremendous growth within the dance program, each student has been juggling the demands of their challenging academic schedules. While this balance isn’t easy, all four captains share a similar perspective. “I’ve learned to use my free periods to get ahead on assignments, which helps reduce stress when I’m dedicating time to hip-hop,’ shares Laly. ‘All the resources we have at Oakwood have helped, too—the study center and the teachers have given me guidance on how to balance it all.’”

Dance serves as a therapeutic outlet for Lily, “It’s important to have both physical and mental outlets. I’ll be studying for a calculus quiz and suddenly get up to practice the latest choreography. It boosts productivity when you get out of your seat and start moving. Dance is a kind of therapy that helps with my academics—they go hand in hand.” Vera shares that dance has been a stress reducer and has never felt like an added workload to juggle. “I dance to release stress. It is an outlet that helps me feel more calm and relaxed.”

For some team members, dance is more than just a hobby—it’s a lifelong passion. “Dance has always been the love of my life,” says Laly. “I see myself going professional, joining teams, and taking every opportunity that comes my way. I want to carry dance with me through college and beyond.” Jasmine agrees. “I want to continue dancing in college and want to continue competing. Dance has taught me how to learn from my mistakes, not give up, and to keep pushing myself.”

Whether or not dance is part of their long-term goals, it continues to play a significant role in these seniors’ lives. “I haven’t been dancing my whole life,’ says Vera, ‘but it’s something I always want to carry with me. I love the camaraderie and closeness. Whether it’s joining a recreational team in the future or just dancing for fun, it’s something I’ll definitely carry forward in my life.” 

Lily emphasized the leadership skills she’s gained through the team. “What I’m taking away from this experience is more than just dance—I learned how to be a leader in this space, and with these three girls, I learned what leadership looks like. The experiences that I have had here will stay with me no matter where I go.”