CULTURE SHOCK
Founded in 1993 by Angie Bunch, Culture Shock San Diego is the original Hip Hop troupe for professional dancers ages 18 and up. Under the direction of Jovann Quillope, Culture Shock is a troupe of individuals who, through the power of music and dance, cultivate self-worth, dignity and respect for all people.
Rehearsals:
Culture Shock San Diego rehearses every Wednesday 9:30pm-12:00am and Sunday 12:00pm – 3:00pm and as needed on Monday 9:00pm-12:00am. These rehearsals prepare the dancers for community performances, freestyle events and battles. Most importantly, these rehearsals educate our dancers about Hip Hop Culture and how to be a professional dancer. Dancers must participate in an audition to become a Troupe Member, auditions happen in January and August of each year.
Rehearsal hours are for team building and performance preparation. Dancers are expected to come into rehearsal with focus and a positive attitude. The goal is to create the best performance possible utilizing a Troupe mentality. Big picture mind set.
Dance Training should happen in classes. Troupe Members are expected to train in classes each week. We suggest taking Hip Hop Foundations/Grooves, and Art Form classes such as Whacking and Popping. Taking class is an opportunity for dancers to practice pick up and retention of choreography. Class is also an opportunity for dancers to challenge their range of motion, discover new ways to move their bodies, and study movement styles.
Culture Shock Dance Troupe Director: Jovann Quillope is a 30 year old dancer, choreographer, and artist born and raised in San Diego, California. He started his dance journey in 2014 at Grossmont College, finding hip hop and training in other technical art forms. Jovann was primarily drawn towards hip hop and learned as much as he could under the tutelage of Melissa Adao. There was a mock audition held at Grossmont College, where Anna Sarao and Sean Memije first scouted Jovann, that ultimately led him to Culture Shock. Around this same time, he also discovered his love for freestyle.
The first time he stepped foot into Culture Shock Dance Center was for CSSD’s 2016 Troupe Auditions, where he successfully joined the team under the direction of Anna Sarao. He has remained a loyal member of 10 years through the direction of Sean Memije, Julian Sena, and Darian Patterson. Now, as Culture Shock Troupe Director, and a Culture Shock Training Academy instructor, he hopes to reestablish the values of love and heart for Culture Shock, as well as the understanding and appreciation of its legacy and those who have paved it. He wants to provide a space and bridge the gap for those who want to train both freestyle and choreography, using hip hop foundation as the forefront. Under his direction, he wants to reiterate the responsibilities of what it means to be a CSSD Troupe member by building leaders and educators in the dance community. Instagram: @flyz.jovann