Blank Canvas gets ready to paint the hip-hop world

It’s tap, boom, zerr to the wob-wob, waah-waah.

The Blank Canvas crew is going over the b-boy and krumping choreography — two styles of street dance — set to a hardened remix of the club favorite "Holy Ghost." There’s a cas­ual precision to the crew’s intricate movements, a well-practiced confidence.

It’s a weeknight at the group’s Aiea rehearsal space, one of many that have stretched into the wee hours of the morning as Blank Canvas prepares to go into "battle" at this year’s World Hip-Hop Dance Championship in Las Vegas, which starts Monday with 250 crews from 40 countries.

The crew should be a respected first-time contender after being crowned overall winner of the 2012 Kia Dubstep Contest in Warsaw, Poland. Earlier in the year the crew auditioned for this season’s "America’s Best Dance Crew" on MTV but didn’t make the cut. The all-girl Hawaii/Los Angeles group 8 Flavahz finished second on the show to Elektrolytes, the U.S. adult champions at last year’s World Hip-Hop Dance Championship.

Blank Canvas is now going after that crown. The crew is 11 strong, and eight were at the recent weeknight rehearsal: Marc Duey, Ian Nabasca, Chase Lihilihi, Brandon Ron, Ken Applebaum, Brittnie Aguilar, Bronson Chinen and Gabriel DeCastro; missing were Evan Balmilero and Matthew Sunajo, with Crisanto Redoble having relocated to work in L.A.

"It’s been pretty much dance, eat, sleep," said Ron.

"Each of us bring something different. We have backgrounds and strengths in popping, b-boy-ing, krumping, jazz, contemporary and R&B."

Some of the dancers came out of the Hypersquad dance company in Wai­pahu but "branched out about a year ago to … promote a different style," Ron said. That style appears to be more of a hybrid of urban street and contemporary dance.

Blank Canvas has been hired to perform at weddings, fashion shows, the 50th State Fair, the Cherry Blossom Festival, and a memorable appearance during the Dalai Lama’s youth program at the Stan Sheriff Center in April.

At the world championship, the crew will be doing multiple routines during the weeklong competition at the Red Rock Resort & Orleans Arena. A friend and former dancer, Matt Soulare, has put together what he considers an edgy look for the group, with black canvas vests, white V-neck shirts and tapered pants.

"They’re paint brushes," Soulare said, close by his sewing machine in an adjoining room of the Aiea rehearsal space. "They’re going to be like ink onstage."

It’s a concept consistent with the crew’s credo: "Our bodies are the brushes, the music is our paint, the dance floor is our canvas and the light is our faith."

"Winning the Kia contest has definitely motivated us that anything’s possible," Nabasca said.

The crew is awaiting delivery of the grand prize of a new Kia Picanto they plan to sell, divvying up the cash.

"We’re not a studio; we’re just a crew," Aguilar said.

"We’re like family," added Lihilihi. "We’re just running our own little thing. Those that we’ve met elsewhere are surprised that Hawaii has an active dance scene. There’s more going on here than grass huts, you know."

Lihilihi attends Moanalua High School, and the rest of Blank Canvas — recent graduates of Campbell, Kapolei, Pearl City, Wai­pahu and Mililani high schools — are holding down day jobs.

The crew plays up the interpersonal chemistry shared among its members. "We all see eye to eye," said Duey. "We’re all on the same page."

"We know what it takes as a group to make it happen," Nabasca said. "I think we’re the best of the best on the scene right now. We have the skill set that can help create an all-star urban dance scene in Hawaii."

Everyone in the crew helps with the choreography. "We just inspire and motivate each other," said Applebaum.

"We’re showing that dance is more than just small boxes of hip-hop here and contemporary dance there."

On the Net:
YouTube: Blank Canvas