The Definition of Language
Language: noun – the system of communication used by a particular community of country (Oxford Dictionary Online – definition 2 under - Language)
Immerse Oneself: noun – involve oneself deeply in a particular activity or interest: she immersed herself in her work. (Oxford Dictionary Online – definition 2 under – Immerse)
Around 10:00 pm in a worn wooden dance studio, a group of seven breakers (break dancers) including a mentor and myself sat on the floor feeling the rhythm of the next track. The musky smell of the rotting wood filled the air and the New York traffic noise leaked through the cracked windows. I was sitting in class with the legendary pioneers of this dance, Rock Steady Crew, to experience the roots of this art. Would they accept me? Why wouldn’t they? All I brought was a bottle of water and two dollars for the entrance fee.
The rolling track had a heavy snare rhythm on the two and four beats. As I looked around the room at the other dancers, I saw bobbing heads, wiggling legs, and firm lips. They were connecting with the music, becoming their next movements. But when the song finished and started to repeat, our mentor, Nemisis, got up in front of the mirrors and instructed us to attempt a set of moves laid over with the music. We complied and attempted to replicate what he had just done, but from the looks on the others faces, and from my own gut feeling, I could tell that this was not what we really wanted to do. We were here to immerse ourselves. Not to learn some elementary vocabulary.
The class ended with an artificial cypher (dance circle) started by Nemisis. He clapped his hands to the heavy hip-hop beat and pushed us into the circle even if we weren’t necessarily feeling the music. Monika from Japan went first, then Archi from Mexico, Neguin from Brazil, Yasu from Japan, Paul from New York, and I was the last one in. After the quick rounds, Nemesis unplugged his ipod from the audio machine and left the room saying his “peace out”. We all dropped down to the floor in that circle exhausted. While I was taking a sip from my bottle, Neguin raised his voice.
“Whad da hell was that?”
At first, we were taken off guard by the sudden cursing, but after a moment, we all found ourselves nodding in agreement.
Monika chimed in, “I didn’t come aul za way from Japan tsu see tis.”
“But this is how Nemisis always runs his classes. What we’re you looking for?” Paul added softly.
Neguin glared at him and said with a firm voice, “Knowledge. I came here to learn something about dis culture! You know vat, I go outside with boombox. We do real cypher there.”
....
Immerse Oneself: noun – involve oneself deeply in a particular activity or interest: she immersed herself in her work. (Oxford Dictionary Online – definition 2 under – Immerse)
Around 10:00 pm in a worn wooden dance studio, a group of seven breakers (break dancers) including a mentor and myself sat on the floor feeling the rhythm of the next track. The musky smell of the rotting wood filled the air and the New York traffic noise leaked through the cracked windows. I was sitting in class with the legendary pioneers of this dance, Rock Steady Crew, to experience the roots of this art. Would they accept me? Why wouldn’t they? All I brought was a bottle of water and two dollars for the entrance fee.
The rolling track had a heavy snare rhythm on the two and four beats. As I looked around the room at the other dancers, I saw bobbing heads, wiggling legs, and firm lips. They were connecting with the music, becoming their next movements. But when the song finished and started to repeat, our mentor, Nemisis, got up in front of the mirrors and instructed us to attempt a set of moves laid over with the music. We complied and attempted to replicate what he had just done, but from the looks on the others faces, and from my own gut feeling, I could tell that this was not what we really wanted to do. We were here to immerse ourselves. Not to learn some elementary vocabulary.
The class ended with an artificial cypher (dance circle) started by Nemisis. He clapped his hands to the heavy hip-hop beat and pushed us into the circle even if we weren’t necessarily feeling the music. Monika from Japan went first, then Archi from Mexico, Neguin from Brazil, Yasu from Japan, Paul from New York, and I was the last one in. After the quick rounds, Nemesis unplugged his ipod from the audio machine and left the room saying his “peace out”. We all dropped down to the floor in that circle exhausted. While I was taking a sip from my bottle, Neguin raised his voice.
“Whad da hell was that?”
At first, we were taken off guard by the sudden cursing, but after a moment, we all found ourselves nodding in agreement.
Monika chimed in, “I didn’t come aul za way from Japan tsu see tis.”
“But this is how Nemisis always runs his classes. What we’re you looking for?” Paul added softly.
Neguin glared at him and said with a firm voice, “Knowledge. I came here to learn something about dis culture! You know vat, I go outside with boombox. We do real cypher there.”
....