The moves: Flavor'd Flow Studio puts spotlight on break dancing and cultural history
Once a recreation center turned furniture store on Columbus' South Side, the formerly desolate building was robbed of its essence until James Alexander, owner of Flavor'd Flow Studio, stepped in to establish the city's first hip-hop dance studio.
Alexander, who learned to break dance at age 18 under the name "Bboy Osuga," saw the worn gymnasium as a place of solace for youth in need of a creative outlet and those engraved in hip-hop dance culture.
From there, Flavor'd Flow Studio was born and the business has grown just as Alexander, 41, envisioned when he first opened the studio's doors in 2016. After working at five other dance spaces, including BalletMet, the North Columbus resident was finally able to open his own at 379 E. Barthman Ave.
"It's been a good process of fun and a challenging experience, but worthwhile," Alexander said. "I've learned a lot. When I first started dancing, this was my plan A. And I knew if I focused on plan B, then I wouldn't have done this."
After Alexander purchased the studio, Leon Lozinskiy, who has learned from the instructor since he was 6, said it was a long-fought pursuit that came after years of dedication.
"That was really dope," said Lozinskiy, 19. "(Alexander) wanted to get to his own studio for a long time. He used to work at other dance studios, and it was mostly ballet they did, and he had his own room there, and eventually, he had enough money to buy his own. And this place is pretty cool."
With the studio's establishment, Lozinskiy said it's magnified an art form that's become more of a niche in the decades since the height of its popularity in the 1980s. And, on some level, the Clintonville resident said it's broadened Columbus' culture.
"I feel like it's a pillar for the city," he said.
Teaching students values that stick with them outside the dance studio
Along with teaching both adults and children as young as 5 the different variations of break dancing and popping, Alexander said it's important to pass along his knowledge and love for hip-hop culture to each of his students.
When new students first walk in, Alexander teaches them the history of the genre and the origins of breaking and popping, a street dance adapted from the earlier Boogaloo cultural movement in Oakland, California. And as they continue to grasp the art form's principles, each lesson, both about respect and discipline, carries on with his students outside the studio space.
"There's a lot of main focus, but I just want them to become young professionals and help them become amazing human beings," Alexander said.
For Thai Leftwich, 15, who's been breaking for nearly a year, learning about the art form's history is vital, especially with it being an essential part of her heritage.
"It's important to me as an African American because we got scrambled in a bunch of places, so we don't have some of our original heritage," the Linden resident said. "With break dancing helping us through those struggles, I feel like it's very important to be doing this stuff and take pride in something we built here when we couldn't have anything."
Having learned under Alexander for years, Kaz Woodworth-Kunimoto, 9, and Brynn Christy, 9, said Alexander's diligence as an instructor has led to their development as performers as well as their personal growth. And over time, they have grown to love breaking and the freedom that comes with every aspect of it.
"I get to dance a lot," said Christy of Worthington. "And I feel happy that I did it."
Woodworth-Kunimoto, of Clintonville, added, "I love break dancing because it's a big part of my life and I think it's just super-fun and I like doing it a lot. It just feels nice and I think I'm good at musicality and I'm super-competitive, too."
Parent Desmon Martin, 50, who was once a b-boy himself in the 1980s, said he's proud of the strides his daughter, Aaliyah Martin, has made the past four years under Alexander's tutelage.
The Far East Side resident said his 9-year-old daughter has begun to spread her wings as a dancer and broaden her personality.
"I feel like every kid who comes in there is shy about dancing in front of the group, but once that music comes on, my daughter is one of the first people to jump out there," he said. "It's done wonders for her. She believes in herself and she's confident in her skills to the point she wants to show them off to the world."
Enduring struggles that have come with the effects of COVID-19
Alexander said the success of the studio is rooted in his passion for hip-hop and teaching, with both elements keeping him level-headed when faced with challenges.
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced Alexander to close the studio and take on virtual classes last year, he continued to press forward and remained in contact with his students.
Since its reopening in May 2020, Alexander has remained cautious, even turning away potential students to ensure he keeps his classes tight-knit, about seven to 11 kids. And although he's lost nearly 20% of the students he had pre-pandemic, ensuring their health and safety is a top priority.
"Nothing is more important than the safety of the kids and the students; my business isn't more important than that," he said.
Despite the drop in enrollment, Flavor'd Flow Studio has been operating as it was pre-pandemic.
And in light of the sacrifices and accommodations that were made, Alexander and his students have been graciously rewarded with opportunities to perform this summer, with many of them being first-time events.
Upcoming performances include Urban Scrawl on Aug. 28-29 in Franklinton, 400 W. Rich St., and performance on Sept. 4 during Art on Broadway at Art 43023 in Granville.
As Alexander looks ahead, he's not certain what's to come, but like he's done the past year, he said he's keeping his students' safety and development in mind.