Groov3 Celebrates 'Groovement' and Gives Back

Feeling like I missed the dance party on Saturday night, I joined the new West Hollywood “Groovement” on Sunday afternoon to dance, sweat and live with hip-hop beat boy, performer and master teacher Benjamin Allen in his one-hour class, Groov3.  

Half hung over, with apple juice and water in hand, sauntering into on Santa Monica Boulevard, I was greeted by every dancer's delight—a gorgeous, mirrored, giant open space. While I quickly found my spot on the floor, I eyed tons of wires and equipment being hauled in for set-up by the baseball-capped DJ Renz, who was ready to get the groove on. And the class was jammed!

Never to be intimidated by street choreography again, my body fluidly and surprisingly, with total ease, strutted, stepped, percussed and punched to live-spun club music and non-stop movement and rhythm (the class is ongoing with no breaks at all), resulting in head-to-toe body sweat (I kissed my scale the next morning) for a full hour in sync with fans, celebs on the QT, photographers on the sidelines and a crowd outside the windows. Fun? Oh yeah!

Turns out, Sunday also happened to be Groove3’s near 2-year anniversary. In November 2009, Benjamin decided to take his love for dance to the masses. He realized that most of the people he taught in professional studios loved the style and the benefits, which made them want to come two, three, even four times a week. With that, Benjamin started up GROOV3 – a one hour, unintimidating, high energy, dance-your-butt-off class with a live DJ every time. It is infectious!

Benjamin also has had it in his mind to give back to the community with Groov3.  About every quarter, Groov3 runs a free class with all donations going to charity. The last one raised funds for AIDS Walk LA. Determined to support and sustain the arts in his own way, he has brought awareness to other organizations like the American Heart Association, The Actors Fund, and Dancing Through Rhythms, which he described as a truly amazing and powerful experience.

Hot and vibrant with a very pop vibe, Groov3 has literally flooded itself into West Hollywood and elsewhere else with five classes a week, Sunday through Thursday, and official G3 music on iTunes. 

This coming Sunday, Oct. 30, you may even want to warm up at the Halloween costume class. Balliamos will be turning into a Fright Fest, so arrive in your favorite costume and boogie with your fellow goblins and ghouls!

Find out more about Benjamin Allen and get the Groov3 schedule by clicking here. Don’t forget to sign up for the newsletter.