It's very rare these days to find a dance studio dedicated to only hip-hop. Fortunately for Tacoma, such a studio exists. Koncrete Studios relocated to Tacoma from Olympia about a month ago. Dancers from around Tacoma come to Koncrete not only to practice but to train. Owners Jason Wickett and Cierra Lauren believe all dancers have a chance to improve and grow, no matter how skilled they are.
The studio is meant to embody hip-hop, expressing and supporting all of the foundational elements of the culture. Koncrete offers many types of classes in various skill levels, ranging from hip-hop choreography to krumping, pop-locking, isolating and breakdancing. Besides teaching classes, Koncrete hosts events for urban artists to showcase their work to the community.
Before the studio became what it is today there were obstacles to overcome. Wickett says he had to find a new place for dancers after the studio's old owner in Olympia went bankrupt and left abruptly with the remaining deposits. With some positive encouragement and some help from the community, Wickett found inspiration to open his own dance studio. At first things were rough, with Wickett handling everything on his own and paying for upkeep out of his own pocket. The situation improved when Lauren agreed to take partial ownership of the business, but even with two co-owners, things were still tough. Through all the hard times, Wickett and Lauren never stopped believing in the studio. They stayed motivated by the shared vision they for how great the studio could become. This is what keeps them moving forward. "We knew what it could be," says Wickett.
Koncrete stayed in Olympia for a year before moving to Tacoma for a variety of reasons. One was a space issue. Koncrete needed a bigger space that could handle large dance classes and have room for expansion. Also, most the dancers that originally trained at Koncrete Studios in Olympia came from Tacoma, making Tacoma a fitting new home.
"It's a great place to be. I highly, highly, highly recommend it," says April Phillips, a mother of one Koncrete's young dance students.
With a diverse range of creative activities, Koncrete Studios is always planning events for the community - events not limited to one specific element of hip-hop. Koncrete is always in search for a broader range of elements to showcase. For instance, Saturday Aug. 13 from 7-11 p.m., Koncrete will host a B-Boy Jam/Cypher including DJ-ing and rapping.
For more information on Koncrete Studios check out the website koncretestudios.weebly.com
The LION is an experimental arts journalism project run by youth from all around Pierce County in partnership with FAB-5. The aim is to provide youth with an outlet to explore and share about art related topics and issues within their community. The LION will be contributing to the Weekly Volcano throughout the month of August.
Koncrete Studios
1828 112th St., E.
Tacoma
360.350.2965