Legends Of Dance Workshop Celebrates Popin’ Pete’s New Website And Training Platform
The inaugural Legends of Dance Workshop presented by award-winning Studio T Arts & Entertainment and sponsored by Red Bull North America paid tribute to dance legend Popin’ Pete in Sacramento’s McClatchy Park on Saturday. Kicked off by welcoming remarks from Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, the outdoor workshop featured instructional segments led by Popin’ Pete, Baltimore dance champion TSU Terry, and renowned dance prodigy Sarah “Lil’ Mini” Phoenix. Community members of all ages and ethnicities gathered in unity under the summer sun to honor the dance icon and celebrate the launch of his student-designed website, PopinPete.com, and his Patreon training platform. (Please scroll down for the highlight video.)
Inspired by Studio T Founder Tamaira “Miss Tee” Sandifer’s commitment to celebrating groundbreaking performing artists, the event was conceived to protect and support legends of dance history. Popin’ Pete is the epitome of a dance legend, having revolutionized hip hop culture in his work during the 80s and 90s with megastars such as Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Chris Brown, Justin Timberlake, Gwen Stefani, Mya, and The Black Eyed Peas. Pete was a regular on the worldwide hit show Soul Train, appeared in movies like the 1984 classic movie Breakin’, and is a second-generation member of the famous Electric Boogaloos, joining the group in 1978.
Popin’ Pete reflected on the celebration by saying, “the legends workshop was a great experience for me, making me feel great about who I am in this dance world. The kids and young adults on the staff are all professionals; these kids not only do production but they are great dancers well on the path to greatness, learning skills that can help them function greatly in this world. Teaching my class was super fun, all the students did a great job, and I enjoyed meeting Mayor Steinberg! Miss Tee and her wonderful staff put on an important event, this is just the beginning of making new history…. let’s do it again!”
“This event started as a dance workshop and quickly became more,” shared Studio T Arts Founder Miss Tee. “It’s a celebration of each other, our culture of creative expression, and our hip hop dance heritage. Having our Mayor welcome us, support us, and dance with us not only brings more excitement to the day, but it also emphasizes how important the arts are to uplifting our communities.”
Having spent more than 30 years immersed in the world of dance, Miss Tee has dedicated her life to being a champion for the development and confidence of every child. Through her tireless advocacy, she has mentored over 5,000 youth in school districts and underserved communities throughout Northern California and virtually across the globe. Centered around dance, this work has included fostering educational partnerships and enrichment programs related to physical, as well as mental and emotional health. In 2021, these efforts were expanded to include the Studio T Arts Production Studio, featuring several training rooms to teach participants how to capture and edit video, website development, graphic design, branding, podcasting, and social media marketing.
Celebrating the official launch of PopinPete.com and his ‘Dance With Legend Popin Pete’ Patreon course membership built by the students, Studio T Arts brought dance lovers up close and personal with the icon for a high-energy day of dance that culminated in an exhilarating freestyle cypher. The event was produced in partnership with Sonya Marchand and Deborah Byrd of P413 Productions, Inc. and Johnathan “JR” Reid of 7th Tribe Productions, Inc.
For more information on the program, volunteering, or to provide support, please visit StudioTArts.org or follow on IG, Tik Tok, YouTube, and Facebook @studiotdance, @studiotarts, @sweetteetime