DSM Breakerz Inc (5013c)
This handbook has been designed to help you understand the commitment and expectations for students, coaches, and crew members.
We are excited to share our passion for Breaking and Hip Hop!
Breaking: teaching the foundations of Breaking, which includes top rock, footwork, transitions, and freezes.
Hip Hop: teaching the urban street style, popping, locking, and freestyle movements.
Chinese Lion Dance/Kung Fu: ancient art which blends martial arts, self-defense, and mindfulness.
Website: www.DSMBREAKERZ.ORG
Facebook: @dsmbreakerz
Instagram: Des Moines Breakerz
TikTok: @desmoinesbreakerz
YouTube: @Des Moines Breakerz
Email: desmoinesbreakerz@gmail.com
Tami Swartwood-Executive Director/Founder
Tel. 515-250-6331
We take pride in building strength, confidence and performance skills for dancers of all ages!
Mission Statement:
DSM Breakerz is an organization whose purpose is to share/teach recreational and competitive break and hip-hop dancing to the Des Moines area/surrounding community. We are dedicated to maintaining a safe environment for kids and adults regardless of race or financial status to expand the reach of art and culture. We believe in creating a trusted dance community that nurtures youth and supports young adults interested in community engagement through dance and other artistic avenues.
Guidelines
Dress code: We encourage dancers to wear tennis shoes and long pants. As dancers advance in our program, beanies and knee pads are a requirement.
Inclement Weather: We will email students and parents with class cancellation notifications. If classes are closed, we will post on our Facebook page. We will follow DMPS guidelines for cancellations.
Medical: Dancers, Parents, and Guardians must notify the instructor if they have medical conditions, learning disabilities, or other important information. Please do not attend classes if you are sick or have a temperature over 100.5.
Attendance: If you know ahead of time you will be absent from classes, please let your instructor know.
Safety: All youth dancers/students are not allowed to exit the building without an instructor present.
Trash: Clean up after yourself, don’t leave messes, and be respectful. Report any issues right away if items need to be addressed.
Food: No food, gum, or drinks are allowed during class sessions. Food only during breaks.
Class withdrawal: We understand issues arise that may require a dancer/student to withdraw from a class. No refunds.
Personal items: DSM Breakerz takes no responsibility for missing or misplaced items.
Classroom: We reserve the right to change Instructors or classes when necessary, at any time throughout the year. All dancers/students must show respect toward other dancers, Instructors, and dancers’ family/friend members.
Newsletter: Monthly, we send out a Newsletter showcasing events, highlighting dancers and Community involvement. Website posted newsletter.
Code of Conduct: We have zero tolerance for anyone who is being disrespectful to instructors, students, and owners.
Consent
We require all dancers/students to read and sign the following forms.
Video/Photo Consent Release
Release and Waiver of Liability, and Assumption of Risk Acknowledgement
Class Description
Breaking: Is a dynamic dance that teaches the following elements: top rock, go downs, footwork, freezes, transitions, power moves, tricks, and flips.
Hip Hop: Is a modern style that blends technique styles to express movement and innovation. Creating your own unique style and cutting-edge art form.
Freestyle: A creative dance style that is based on improvisation, not choreographed.
Dancers include house, street, and movement, taking into account modern trends and music.
Kung Fu: An Ancient Chinese method of practicing self-defense and exercise. The martial arts consist of hand strikes, blocks, and kicks.
Open Session: Means no scheduled Instructor and dancers/students can practice on their own. We encourage dancers/students to work together!
Competition Team
Identified dancers will have the opportunity to travel to regional, national, and local events. Extra practice, drills, and choreography are a requirement for dancers/students to prepare for events.
AAU Breaking & AAU Hip Hop Des Moines, IA (August 2026).
2024 Olympics in Paris, breaking debut for the first time!
We travel to breaking, freestyle, and all-style battles/competitions for the opportunity to win trophies, awards, and money.
Entry cost for students will be paid for competitions.
Travel and lodge expenses will be fundraised or at guardian cost.
Performance Team
We provide year-round opportunities to showcase dancers at community events, festivals, and concerts. Some performances will require uniforms and t-shirts selected by owners to showcase.
Below is a list of some of our past performances:
Dew Tour
Illumifest
Ingersoll Live
Valley Junction Farmer’s Market
Iowa Wolves Halftime
Celebration
80/35 Music Festival
March Madness
Harlem Globetrotters
Lutheran Church of Hope
Iowa PBS
Iowa Wild
World Food & Music Festival
Dillard’s
Salvation Army
Sherman on the Hill
Membership registration
Hope+Elim (Lutheran Church of Hope) to offer our Youth Membership Classes every week.
Location: 2500 University Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311 for weekly scheduled classes.
Coach Skyler
Coach Curran
Coach Ree
Coach Ninja Tom
Coach Jordan G
Ages 5 to 17
Weekly classes scheduled including Hip Hop, Breaking, Kung Fu, and Open Session
Access to the building is allowed 15 minutes before scheduled times
www.DSMBREAKERZ.ORG for class registration.
West Des Moines Park & Rec to offer our Youth Outreach classes weekly.
Location: 217 5th St, West Des Moines, IA 50265
Coach Skyler
Ages 5 to 15
Weekly Sunday afternoon classes
Registration www.wdm.iowa.gov
Urbandale Park & Rec to offer our Youth Outreach classes weekly.
Location: Urbandale Lions Park, 72nd Street and Aurora Ave. Urbandale, IA
Coach Skyler
Ages 5+
Weekly Wednesday afternoon classes 3:30 pm (90 min
Registration www.Urbandale.org
Creative Visions to offer our Youth Outreach classes monthly.
Location: Creative Visions, 1343 13th St, DSM, IA
Coach Skyler
Rotating schedule, 1 Friday monthly
Ages 5+
Free/Snacks provided
Des Moines Public School District to offer our Afterschool programming weekly.
Location: Greenwood Elementary, 316 37th St, Des Moines, IA
Tuesday afternoons
Students of Greenwood Elementary
Des Moines Park & Rec
Location: Reichardt Community Recreation Center, 915 College Ave, Des Moines, IA
Coach Skyler
Thursday nights
Ages 6-12
6-week classes
Registration available www.DSM.city
Thank you!
DSM BREAKERZ