Rūts Community Highlight:

If you’re trying to emulate cool, my suggestion is you find Jaysu. She’ll probably go ahead and laugh at that intro, but anyone who has taken her class will agree that she radiates a cool factor that flows as naturally as her dance moves. Now, before you get to her intentional warm-up routine or smooth choreo, there’s a good chance you’ll catch a well-timed joke, quirky pun, or even a High School Musical reference. It’s all part of the Jaysu dance class experience.

Yin and yang. Life and death. Time and space. Peanut butter and jelly. That’s how OG Hip Hop dancer, choreographer, and instructor, Buddha Stretch, describes the dynamic of music and dance as he sits across the table from me in Studio B at Rūts Dance Studio. Stretch, also known as Emilio Austin Jr., rode up to the studio on a Lime scooter at the exact time he said he would — not a minute earlier, not a second later.

Calm, cool, collected… and let’s not forget fun! That’s a solid sum-up of what Crystal Jackson Singletary brings to her Grooves class at Rūts Dance Studio. Born and raised in Tampa, Florida, Crystal has been surrounded by the arts her entire life.

Jeffrey has used heels as a gateway to celebrate his femininity and authenticity, and says that especially as a queer person, this expression has been so important to his personal growth. He says that dance has “always been a canvas of self exploration”. “I think feminine movement and embracing your body and sensuality provides healing for anyone, regardless of your gender or background. In today’s society where sexuality is villanized, where femininity is looked down upon

Whether it’s dance, design, art history, colors, or coffee (the list goes on) you can pretty much talk to Eri about, well, anything. A forewarning to all wallflowers who may think they can fly under the radar — she only needs to see you twice to recognize your face, and maybe three times to go in for a hug. If one thing is true, it’s that nobody feels alone when they’re around Eri Chikusa.

Skateboard in hand, hamburger backpack on, Tee Kustin rolls up to Rūts Dance Studio ready to dance and connect. If you’ve taken his class, you know that Tee is an advocate for exchange of ideas and opening up a space for raw exploration and conversation. You’ve also probably seen him end class with a sit-down session in the Rūts parking lot chatting 1:1 with each student wishing to pick his brain. Just from a quick conversation or a class observation, it’s easy to see that T