As an instructor at Pulse Studios, Sho-Tyme brings a deeply rooted knowledge of hip-hop culture to the Calgary dance community. Born and raised in Queens, N.Y., Sho-Tyme started dancing for fun, but also used hip-hop as an outlet to deal with adversities he faced growing up. As a dancer and choreographer, he has worked with an impressive list of artists, including Mary J. Blige, Jay-Z and Gwen Stefani. He also worked on the films You Got Served: Beat the World and Stomp the Yard, among others, and was a choreographer and judge on four seasons of So You Think You Can Dance Canada.
Sho-Tyme was recruited to Calgary in 2019 by Pulse director Tara Wilson. The studio’s focus as a “progressive hip-hop and streetdance community,” and its mandate to provide opportunities for those who can’t otherwise afford to train there, resonated with him. He teaches house, hip-hop and choreography classes, and also mentors several dance groups. “I want to give the Calgary dance community an opportunity where they can hear what the culture is about, how it came to be, and also see the elements of the culture,” he says. “My message to all dancers out here, no matter what type of dance style you do, is love it, and do it with your heart.”
