Louisville Magazine is Louisville's city magazine, covering Louisville people, lifestyles, politics, sports, restaurants, entertainment and homes. Includes a monthly calendar of events.
Issue link: https://loumag.epubxp.com/i/388156
LOUISVILLE MAGAZINE 10.14 15 Photo by Chris Witzke THE PORTRAIT U of L's mascot undressed Baby hippo pics In the year 2000 Haunted house audition The tailgates of hell With a high- school journo And More! The bus stop Big problems on the Big Four 21Qs 21 questions RELEASES PRESS THIS MONTH IN and other junk JUST SAYIN' thebit A Safiyyah Rasool Dancer WE LOVE FLASH BACK plaid button-up wraps Safyyah Rasool's waist in what she calls "true hip-hop fashion" — loose, imperfect. Sometimes she wears harem pants, baggy fabric that she grabs on beat for fair. Mismatched socks. At Safyyah Dance Company off Lyndon Lane, Rasool explains tonight's choreography to "I'm Not Afraid" by Jill Scott. In the song, Scott is strong, sassy, determined. Scared of nada. "I want you all to be that. Be confdent. Get sexy," Rasool says to the 15 ladies in class. "My heels girls know what I'm talking about." (In addition to this intermediate hip-hop class, Rasool also teaches "hip-hop heels" to gals in six-inch stilettos. The studio offers various other classes.) The minute-and-a-half routine includes hair whips and chest thumps. When the 34-year-old Rasool was 22, she moved from her hometown of Louisville to Atlanta, a "soul-searching" journey that led to a Gold's Gym for her frst dance class. She stayed in the back, struggling to pick up the choreography. "I knew how to groove," she says, "but I was insecure in class. My head was always down." After more classes (hip-hop, jazz, ballet) and practicing in front of mirrors she set up in her bedroom, her head lifted. Lifted high enough to open her own studio in Louisville two years ago. Class breaks at 9 p.m., but not without an assignment for next week. The homework? One: Practice. Two: Find the sexy. — Arielle Christian A bit CLOSER A bit DEEPER Abit DEEPER