Treasure Valley dancers put Idaho on the map at upcoming Hip Hop International competition

Eagle, Idaho As a member of a three-person crew competing at Hip Hop International’s World Championship, Eagle resident Hailey Ventura, a dancer with AF Dance, will travel to Arizona.

“It has undoubtedly been the most amazing event of my life. I’ve wanted to do this my entire life, and it’s what I’m really enthusiastic about,” Ventura remarked.

Ventura’s departure from California to Eagle in 2020 marked the start of his trip to this global stage. She bonded with Austin Fernando, the founder of AF Dance, and soon found her place in the community.

“I started off with multiple different styles like jazz, contemporary, and hip-hop, but hip-hop definitely stuck with me because it’s it’s upbeat,” Ventura stated. It’s enjoyable. It’s not simply a single experience; it’s more of a community one.

See the backstage activities of Hailey and her squad as they get ready for the world championship.

Impact Dance Company and Fernando’s dance curriculum work together; the Ventura-led trio only formally formed last July. Dancers from Eagle, Boise, and Meridian are part of the group.

“I don’t think I necessarily found them, I think we kind of found each other,” Fernando stated. “We ended up kind of finding each other in different – at different times through the past couple years.”

After participating in Hip Hop International’s USA qualification in Los Angeles this April, the team earned a spot in the world tournament.

“When we went to Los Angeles and they qualified, I’ll be very honest, that was probably like such a huge highlight for the year,” Fernando stated. “Every single year, we wouldn’t qualify, we wouldn’t place, we wouldn’t move on, but each year we got closer and closer right.”

The trio shows their commitment to serving the state on the international front by practicing for 10 to 15 hours every week.

“We’re giving it everything we have. We are investing all of our time and energy. To be the best we can be before we travel to Arizona, we’re rehearsing at home and in the studio,” Ventura stated.

Since its founding in 2002, Hip Hop International has held competitions in more than 16 nations. In the mini-crew division alone, there will be almost 70 competitors in the next tournament.

“It’s really just like a coming together of a lot of like-minded individuals who appreciate the art of dance, from all around the world, all in one place,” Fernando stated.

The team has stepped up its preparation since qualifying.

“We made changes to our set. We changed a few things. We made things more difficult. “We added a little glitz,” Fernando remarked.

For Ventura, dancing serves as a means of self-expression in addition to competitiveness.

“I see dance as kind of like an outlet of where I can express myself and how I can kind of show who I am without using words,” Ventura stated.

The three-person team’s close-knit dynamic has strengthened the relationships amongst the dancers.

“You get more comfortable with the people and it’s definitely… they are your family, and you feel a lot closer than you may feel with more people,” Ventura stated.

Fernando believes that others in the Treasure Valley will be motivated by their accomplishment.

“The kids here in the Valley realize that they can do really cool things too,” Fernando stated. “And I think all it takes is people as special as them putting the effort forward to say that they want to do this and they want to accomplish it.”

Ventura has high hopes for her career in the dancing industry.

“The goal is eventually to maybe travel and meet different, like, communities of hip-hop, maybe to other countries, maybe other states, and just get to know how they dance and how they go about their things and maybe teaching classes to teach other people what I got to learn growing up,” Ventura stated.

As they get ready to represent Idaho and the US, the team is asking for community support.

“We will be documenting our travels, so any extra love or any words of encouragement are always really helpful,” Fernando stated. “They’re representing the state of Idaho on such a large stage and just knowing that their hometown and their home area here and in the Treasure Valley is rallying behind them… I think will mean a ton for them.”

They can be found on Instagram at @afdancefam for those who want to follow their adventure.