NAME Debbie Hatumale

AKA dH, Choo choo

DANCING SINCE 2007

CREWS

•    KMA Untouchable Dance Crew

•   Macquarie Dance Academy Crew

BIO

Debbie's style of hip hop is heavily influenced by LA style hip hop, popping, street jazz and girls hip hop. Even though she has only 2 years of Hip hop dance training, she is the current winner of University of NSW's D2MG Level 6 All Style Freestyle Battle. She is also the current leader of hip hop dance crew KMA and the head choreographer for Macquarie University’s Dance Academy. Debbie is an all round hip hop dancer - being a freestyle hip hop dancer as well as a choreographer her skills see her entering  freestyle battles as well as choreographing stage performances. Her aim as a teacher is to EDUCATE dancers in the art of hip hop; and to share her passion for the dance.

INTERVIEW

How would you describe your dance style?
My style is a fusion of a few styles. I am influenced by popping, LA style hip hop, house and girls hip hop. It sort of depends – most of my chorey is very lyrical and LA styled – but my freestyle is a bit of everything. Yeah.. I’m weird like that. :P

What continues to inspire you to dance?
Improvement.

As a dancer, what are your goals?
To be an international choreographer and teacher, as well as good enough to compete in higher level dance battles.

What would you say to anyone aspiring to be a dancer?
Learn to freestyle. You can take as many classes as you want – but you would still only be dancing someone else’s style. Learn to freestyle so you can show us who you are.

How often do u dance?
If I could dance 24 hours a day, I would. At the moment I teach 4 days a week, but time do dance for myself is scarce.

Any shout outs u wanna give?
Mum, Dad, Helena & Trish – I love you even though I don’t always say it. My best friend Dewi – Thank you for being you. I love you. And to everyone that has helped me when it didn’t benefit themselves in anyway – Su, Bernard, Victor, Iain, Wei Wei and Mervin... Thank you.

CREDITS

- University of NSW – D2MG – Level 6 Refresh’d 2 on 2 - Winner

- Winner of Utopian Dream 2009 Dance Festival Scholarship

- Dancekool Volume 23 - Semi Finalist 2009

- Synergy Inter-Uni 2 on 2 Hip Hop Battles - Semi Finalist 2008, 2009

- Kick Up the Dust Dance Competition - 1st Runner up 2008

INFLUENCES

- Kenky Feng is my sensei for freestyle, battles and choreography.

- For choreography I watch Ash Ali & Kazuki, though I try not to watch many choreographers because I don’t want to bite their style.

VIDEO CLIPS

http://www.youtube.com/user/d3bz22

CONTACT

Email: Debbie.hatumale@gmail.com
Facebook – Debbie Hatumale or Debbie.hatumale