# Danzversity — Full Reference

> Danzversity is a Hip Hop and street dance cultural academy in Austin, Texas, founded by Jaymie O. Howard. We teach youth ages 2-17 and adults using the Elemental Dance Method, a structured progression-based curriculum rooted in Hip Hop culture. Culture, not competition.

## Identity

Danzversity is not a competition dance studio. It is a cultural dance academy that teaches Hip Hop as an art form rooted in history, musicality, and community. The studio was founded by Jaymie O. Howard, a lifelong Hip Hop dancer and educator who created the Elemental Dance Method as a structured way to teach Hip Hop culture through movement.

The name "Danzversity" combines "dance" and "diversity" — reflecting the belief that Hip Hop belongs to everyone and that the dance floor is a place where all backgrounds come together.

## Training Philosophy

At Danzversity, inclusion is at the core of everything we do. We view movement as a direct reflection of how we show up in life - with passion, presence, and purpose.

Immersed in Hip Hop culture, our training goes far deeper than learning steps. We teach essential foundations alongside dynamic concepts, giving students the tools to experiment, innovate, and find their unique voice in both freestyle and choreography.

Guided by focused discipline and real mentorship, we nurture more than just great technique. We help shape open-minded, compassionate individuals who lead with heart inside and outside the studio.

## Location & Contact

- Address: 7531 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78757
- Phone: (512) 677-7978
- Email: dance@danzversity.com
- Website: https://www.danzversity.com
- Hours: Monday through Thursday, 3:45 PM to 8:45 PM (public classes); youth classes Tue/Thu, adult dual-block Mon-Thu evenings. Saturday paused.
- Google Rating: 5.0 stars with 49 reviews (100% five-star)

## The Elemental Dance Method (Proprietary Curriculum)

The Elemental Dance Method is Danzversity's proprietary teaching framework. It operates on two layers: the four Elements (class DNA — every class touches all four), and the three Phases (the student journey). Movement Literacy over choreography. Culture over competition. The Bounce is home base.

### The Four Elements (Class DNA)

Every class moves through all four Elements as sections within the same 60 minutes. The night's theme determines which Element leads.

#### Earth (Foundation)
Hip Hop foundation, footwork, grooves, body isolations, and the Culture Plug. The Bounce lives here — the anchor cue that lets beginners step into any class and succeed.

#### Air (Creativity)
Freestyle, personal style, and creative expression. Air is where students stop copying and start creating.

#### Water (Emotion)
Fluid styles, emotional expression, and musicality. Water is about feeling the music and letting it move through the body.

#### Fire (Power)
High energy, dynamic movements, and performance intensity. Fire is earned — the confidence that comes from doing the work through the first three Elements.

### The Three Phases (Student Journey)

1. **The Classroom** — Phase 1. Build the language. Beginner-focused, instructor-led. The first ~50 minutes of every (Found)ations class.
2. **The Session** (The Lab) — Phase 2. Apply the language. Cypher-style, MC-led — the final ~25 minutes that close every class. Every prompt carries a base layer and a stretch layer, so mixed levels work at their edge. (One-block format as of July 10, 2026; the separate 7:45 PM block ran July 6–9 only.)
3. **Path Splits** — Phase 3. Two destinations honored equally: Cypher Track ((You)nity Nights, monthly community cypher) OR Team Track (audition-based).

Performance lives in the Team Track. The Cypher Track lives in (You)nity Nights.

### Culture Plug
Every (Found)ations class begins with a Culture Plug — a brief lesson on Hip Hop history, a pioneer, a song, or a cultural concept. Students understand the art form they are practicing, not just the steps.

## Youth Programs (Ages 2–17)

### Root Runners (Ages 2–4)
Parent-and-me class for ages 2–4. Free monthly trial classes this summer; full weekly enrollment returns fall 2026. Join the list at danzversity.com/youth/root-runners.

### Flow Finders (Ages 5–7)
Foundational Hip Hop skills for young dancers. Students learn basic grooves, rhythm patterns, and simple choreography. Cultural education is woven into every class through age-appropriate Culture Drops.

### Vibe Builders (Ages 8–12)
Intermediate progression. Students develop stronger technique, learn freestyle foundations, and begin working on performance skills. This is where many students discover their passion for Hip Hop.

### Elementz Crew (Ages 13–17)
Advanced youth program. Students work on complex choreography, develop personal style, and may audition for performance teams. This group bridges the gap between youth and adult programs.

### Youth Pricing
- $100/month (1x per week) or $150/month (2x per week)
- Free trial class available for new students

## Adult Programs (18+)

The adult program is one 75-minute class, Monday through Thursday, 7:00–8:15 PM: (Found)ations. Each class starts in The Classroom (~50 minutes of instruction) and closes in The Session (~25 minutes of cypher-style application) — same room, same instructor, one commitment. Saturday classes are currently paused.

Built specifically for adult beginners with little or no dance experience — people who have never set foot in a dance studio. Movement Literacy is the lens. The Bounce is home base. As long as a student is bouncing, they are succeeding.

### The Classroom — first ~50 minutes (Phase 1)
Beginner-focused. The founding of self: the roots of the movement, the history and culture behind it, and the principles every dancer builds on. Movement Literacy through the four Elements of the EDM. Drills, breakdowns, repetition, and the Culture Plug.

- Instructors: Mon Bass / Tue Darius / Wed Jaymie / Thu Bass
- Open to all. First class FREE for new students.

### The Session — final ~25 minutes (Phase 2 / The Lab)
The cypher that closes every class. Lights dim, mirrors off, music gets louder, instructor becomes MC/Hype Man. Apply what was just learned in The Classroom. Every prompt has a base layer and a stretch layer; The Bounce makes mixed levels work — everyone's on the same beat.

- Nightly themes: Soul Cypher (Mon) / Party Moves & Eras (Tue) / The Routine (Wed) / Open Lab (Thu).

### [(You)nity Nights](https://www.danzversity.com/collective/younity-nights) — Phase 3 Destination (Cypher Track)
Monthly all-ages cypher event. The long-term home for most adult students — community without commitment. Not a class, not a showcase. Just the circle.

The other Phase 3 destination is the Team Track (audition-based entry into DanzVRSR Crew, Uni-Versity, or Breakin' Team).

### Drop-In
- $20 per class, no commitment
- First (Found)ations class is FREE for new students

### Method Membership
- $69/month for unlimited classes every night
- Discounts on workshops and masterclasses
- Stripe price ID: price_1TMIQIBYaGFLeHOEt4O724uu

## Breakin' Program (Ages 8–17)

Breakdancing (breaking) taught with cultural grounding. Hip Hop's original dance form, taught the way it was meant to be learned — with respect for its roots.

- 12-week series: $360
- Ages 8–17
- Covers: toprock, footwork, freezes, power moves (age-appropriate progression)
- Every class begins with a Culture Drop on b-boy/b-girl history

## Performance Teams

Danzversity has four performance teams. Adult teams are audition-based entry. Youth team progression comes through the youth program pipeline.

1. Youth Hip-Hop Team
2. Breakin' Team
3. DanzVRSR Crew (unified adult Hip Hop performance team, Beginner through Intermediate — performed at the Austin Spurs halftime show)
4. Uni-Versity (unified KPop performance team, Beginner through Intermediate, Jaymie-led)

Teams perform at community events, showcases, and select events. The focus is on representing Hip Hop culture authentically — culture over competition.

## The Collective (Community Programs)

### (You)nity Nights
Monthly community dance nights open to all ages and skill levels. Music, movement, and community. No experience required.

### Workshops
Guest instructor sessions featuring dancers from across the country and internationally. Topics range from specific Hip Hop styles to choreography intensives.

### Family Classes
Parents and kids dance together. Designed for families who want to share the experience of learning Hip Hop.

### Couples Classes
Partner dance experiences with a Hip Hop twist. Great for date nights or bonding.

### Camps
Summer and seasonal dance camps for youth. Multi-day immersive experiences combining dance training, cultural education, and community building.

### Dance Battles
Community-organized dance battles celebrating Hip Hop's competitive tradition. All ages and levels welcome.

## After School Program

Danzversity partners with local schools to provide after-school dance programming. The Elemental Dance Method is adapted for school settings, providing students with a creative outlet and cultural education.

- [After School Program Details](https://www.danzversity.com/after-school)

## Free Trial Class

New students can claim a free trial class to experience Danzversity before committing. Available for both youth and adult programs.

- [Claim Free Trial](https://www.danzversity.com/#free-trial)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What ages can take classes at Danzversity?
Danzversity offers classes for ages 5 through adult, with youth classes Tuesday and Thursday evenings: Flow Finders (5–7), Vibe Builders (8–12), and Elementz Crew (13–17). Our parent-and-me Root Runners program (ages 2–4) runs free monthly trial classes this summer, with full weekly enrollment returning this fall. Adult classes are for ages 18 and up.

### Do I need dance experience to start?
No. All programs start with foundational skills. The Elemental Dance Method is designed so that anyone can begin at Earth level regardless of prior experience.

### Where is Danzversity located?
Danzversity is located at 7531 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78757, in the Crestview/North Austin area.

### How much do classes cost?
Youth classes start at $100/month (1x/week) or $150/month (2x/week). Breakin' is $360 for a 12-week series. Adult membership is $69/month for unlimited classes, or $20 per drop-in. A free trial class is available for new students.

### What is the Elemental Dance Method?
It is Danzversity's proprietary curriculum. It operates on two layers: four Elements (Earth, Air, Water, Fire) that every class touches as class DNA, and three Phases (The Classroom → The Session → Path Splits via (You)nity Nights or Team Track) that describe the student journey — the first two phases living inside every 75-minute (Found)ations class. Movement Literacy over choreography. The Bounce is home base. Every (Found)ations class begins with a Culture Plug — a brief lesson on Hip Hop history and culture.

### Does Danzversity offer a free trial class?
Yes. New students can claim one free trial class for any youth or adult program.

### Is Danzversity a competition dance studio?
No. Danzversity is a cultural dance academy. The focus is on learning Hip Hop as an art form, not competing. The motto is "Culture, not competition." However, performance teams do participate in select showcases and events.

### What styles of dance does Danzversity teach?
Hip Hop, breaking (breakdancing), and street dance styles. All instruction is rooted in Hip Hop culture and history.

## Social Media

- Instagram: https://instagram.com/danzversity
- TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@danzversity
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/danzversity
- YouTube: https://youtube.com/@danzversity