DubH is Iowa State’s hip-hop dance club that caters to dancers of all skill levels, from complete beginners to experienced dancers. Despite their differences, the members all share a passion for dance and the community they have built within the club.
“It’s a no-experience-required club, which I really appreciate since I didn’t grow up as a dancer,” said Grace Hartzler, risk manager for DubH and a senior majoring in chemical engineering. “You get a wide variety of dancers, so there’s people like me who are there for fun, and there’s girls that have been doing it for years.”
Kylee Valencia, a junior in athletic training and a choreographer for DubH, has been dancing for 16 years and echoed the same sentiment.
“A lot of people who go into it are scared because they might not have as much dance experience as the person next to them,” Valencia said. “However, it’s for fun, and it’s a way to continue to grow as a person as well as a dancer.”
The club’s name, “DubH,” comes from combining the first two H’s in “hip-op” into a short abbreviation.
“Just join,” said Tatum Englund, the event coordinator for DubH and a senior in industrial engineering. “It’s so much fun, and you meet so many amazing people. It’s not intimidating and the choreographers are very understanding.”
Englund was previously a choreographer for two semesters and describes the experience as challenging but rewarding.
“I found this club and I felt inclined to join and to share my love of dance with everyone else,” said Isabella Herdliska, secretary for DubH and a senior in communications.. “I’ve been able to meet a lot of people and have fun with everyone else who loves to dance!”
DubH was founded in 2001. The club is open to all majors and levels of experience and aims to promote diversity and encourage students to explore hip-hop in a supportive environment. Students can join at the start of each semester.
“Anyone and everyone, no matter what your dance background or experience is, can come join,” Valencia said.
For more information about DubH, visit their Instagram page.
