PULSE provides many adult drop-in and youth recreational classes. But did you know we also host various performance and training groups throughout the year? Whether you're part of our junior group, Evolution, or our performance groups, Beast Machine and LV8, PULSE offers a vibrant dance community for everyone.
One dance group that is making a revival within PULSE’s hallowed halls is Flomatk, an all women’s training group that’s bringing fun and pressure-free vibes to dance. But that wasn't always the case. Flomatk started with Tara and has changed a lot over the years. It began as a co-ed group, then became all-female, and now it focuses on training in Hip Hop. Now led by ex-Beast Machine and Gateway dancers Danaya Tello and Veronika Strutt, Flomatk brings a new purpose to the name while continuing to honour the Hip Hop culture.
We sat down with Danaya and Veronika to discuss Flomatk and women in Hip Hop. So sit back with your favourite beverage in hand, and let’s hear from these amazing dance directors!
For those unfamiliar with the group, who is Flomatk?
Flomatk is an adult women’s dance collective that trains at PULSE. While we do performances here and there, the purpose of the group is to train in a pressure-free environment.
We mainly focus on Hip Hop and Streetdance styles, such as Breaking. We have also explored more feminine styles, like Heels. We take pride in training in a variety of styles as opposed to one main focus. We both trained and danced in Beast Machine and Gateway, which offered us a broad approach. As directors of Flomatk, we want to inspire our dancers to have that same mindset. They are each exploring their unique dance journeys. Some of us train for fun while others are developing a professional repertoire.
At the end of the day, we’re a group of women trying to empower and inspire each other through dance.
How does Flomatk represent women in Hip Hop?
We share PULSE's goals of representing true Hip Hop. We emphasize training with people who respect and honour the culture. We don’t just learn the dances but make a point of understanding their history and origins.
We feel lucky to dance under PULSE, especially with Tara. She has brought Hip Hop legends and innovators to Calgary, which enriches our training experience. When it comes to women in Hip Hop, Tara embodies a leader and culture setter who has led a great path of dancers in Calgary (youth, men, and women).
Flomatk rehearsing at PULSE Studios in Calgary
How has the representation of women in dance evolved over the years?
As a women-owned dance studio, we have always been surrounded by strong female role models. We never felt a lack of female leaders or dancers in our journey.
In our Beast Machine days, Tara often invited well-known female dancers like Alex 'Spicey' Lande from Ebnfloh and Rhapsody James. They came to teach us and provide more intensive training at PULSE.
Again, much credit and praise to Tara for cultivating an environment for dancers of all genders and age groups to grow.
How do you see dance as a tool for advocating gender equality and women's empowerment?
Anybody can dance, regardless of age, gender, or skin colour, and that’s a beautiful thing. We have welcomed many different people at PULSE. This includes 60-year-olds taking a class for the first time and three-year-olds in our kids’ dance camp.
Veronika: I remember my dad dropping me off at PULSE for the first time. He was so excited to point out that everyone at the studio was of different shapes and sizes. There are no required uniforms here, and you can express your clothes and hair however you like. It was refreshing for him to see because my sister had a hard time trying to fit in with the ballet community.
Last question: What does the future look like for Flomatk?
We want to keep finding ourselves through Hip Hop while respecting what came before. We've had a lot of fun this year trying different styles and rediscovering the fun back into dance. We’re having fun in the moment and taking small, intentional strides without the added pressure of deciding to make it a career or keep it as a hobby.
I really hope Flomatk brings this vibe into our future work. This relaxed group makes dancing enjoyable and exciting!
Flomatk directors, Danaya Tello and Veronika Strutt, at PULSE Studios
We are so inspired by Danaya and Veronika. Originally, their interview was meant for the article, Women's History Month: Honouring History, Celebrating Progress (which is why their questions leaned toward women and Hip Hop). After talking with them, they pointed out PULSE’s supportive space for all ages, genders, and ethnicities to thrive and we had to give them their own article.
Shout outs to Flomatk's original members: Tara, Travis and Crystal (current teachers at PULSE), Gill (PULSE co-founder), legendary Calgary B-Boy, Gomo, and C-Child (now living in Campbell River). Your dance legacy lives on to this day through name and spirit.
With Flomatk’s revival as a pressure-free, authentic Hip Hop group for women, you might want to learn more about PULSE’s training and performance groups.
We look forward to seeing Flomatk at the PULSE Show and in future shows around the Calgary community. To inquire about Flomatk and PULSE’s other training groups, please email tara@pulsestudios.ca.
written by @marcgeneroso
