Choreographers/Dancers: Laxmi Menon, HARRY, Carolin Mateus

Mentors: Queenie Seguban and Kelly Gammie

GROOVE: an infectious feeling of rightness in the rhythm, of being perfectly centered.

The Groove Collective is an initiative that aims to create, produce and provide opportunities for emerging dance artists to collaborate, create and present their work with support through their process to stage. We believe emerging artists thrive when they are empowered to present their art authentically and provided with safe spaces to take risks, ask questions and build relationships. 

With support from TOES FOR DANCE, The Groove Collective will be presenting “In My Groove”, a showcase for emerging artists with a practice rooted in street dance. “In My Groove” will feature the energetic and captivating work of Laxmi Menon, Haoyan “Harry” Zhang and Carolin Mateus. The showcase is a culmination of a two week residency where artists were able to explore and expand their artistic voice and work towards their personal goals with access to Groove Collective mentors, Queenie Seguban and Kelly Gammie. 

Acknowledgements:

A special thank you to TOES FOR DANCE for believing in and supporting this project. To the artists - thank you for inviting us into your process and into your lives with such openness and warmth. It has been an absolute privilege to share this experience with you and witness your ideas come to life. 

EPIPHANY

Dancer/Choreographer: Laxmi Menon

Music: Thrill is Gone - Raye

With her deep love for storytelling, Laxmi brings to life Epiphany—a dance that weaves together the grace and story telling of Bharatanatyam with the raw pulse of street styles like Hip-Hop, Krump and Locking.

This piece is a breath of realization, a quiet shift of the heart when something or someone once cherished no longer feels the same. It asks you to recall that passion you lost midway, the spark that dimmed before you could understand why you began at all. Yet within that fading lies discovery: the realization that letting go is not an ending, but growth. Epiphany is that hopeful breath—the one that carries you forward, stronger, toward the horizon of your own becoming.

A Fool's Groove

Dancer/Choreographer: Haoyan “Harry” Zhang

Music: Get On the Floor - Michael Jackson

 A Fool’s Groove is a playful dive into dance through comedy, exaggeration, and pure groove. Mixing sharp dance with over-the-top character, this solo flips between funk, foolishness, and flair. A reminder that sometimes the silliest moves hit the hardest.

COLOMBIA

Dancer/Choreographer: Carolin Mateus

Music: Totó la  Momposina - El pescador, Toto la Momposina - El pescador Latin House Remix by DJAM, Toto la Momposina El pescador Ethno Afro House by Vincent Rich, Dj Maphorisa & Tyler ICU - Bayana ft. Sir Trill Daliwonga & kabza de Small

A journey that begins in emptiness and uncertainty, moving through struggles and obstacles, until it blossoms into resilience. A path of starting anew, where hardship transforms into strength, and hope rises as inspiration for all who dream of a dignified future in a new land.

Click here to learn more about the artists!