Carol Mirowski of Greenfield started a new hip hop dance class, at 6 p.m. each Tuesday at the Hancock County FOP.
Tom Russo | Daily Reporter
GREENFIELD – Jen Huffman and Rachel Duncan say there’s a simple explanation for dancing hip hop once a week with a new group of friends.
Stress relief.
“It’s cheap therapy,” Huffman said, just before dancing to the lyrics “I get knocked down, but I get up again.”
The women are part of a small but growing group of classic hip hop lovers that gather at the Hancock County Fraternal Order of Police once a week to work out.
It started back in March and teacher Carol Mirowski said she’s happy with the bond the women have formed as they break loose and get away from the cares of motherhood and work for one hour a week.
“It’s a great time – get out, exercise, get sweaty and have fun,” she said.
Mirowski, a school food service manager, teaches Zumba fitness classes on the side. But her best friend Tammy Christian told her Latin music isn’t really her vibe. Christian suggested starting an adult hip hop class – the nearest one she could find was New Castle, so why not Greenfield?
The best friends eagerly made their new idea reality, sending each other YouTube tutorial videos for inspiration and coming up with ways to make it simple enough for beginners.
The pair are both members of the FOP and decided to start up a new group every Tuesday at 6 p.m. The $10 weekly class is a fundraiser for the lodge, as proceeds will help the building’s kitchen renovation fund.
Mirowski spread the word to her friends and on social media; it was a slow start, but it’s grown to an average of 10 women a week.
Mirowski said participants were a little shy at first, but they cut it up with each other these days.
With TLC, Usher, Ice Cube and more on the play list, the music has a 1990s-2000s vibe, perfect for the age group they’re attracting.
“The music is from when we were in high school,” Mirowski said.
“It takes you back to the good days, when you could just let loose,” Christian added. “We laugh with each other, we don’t care.”
Mirowski, who says her motivation to keep moving is for her own health, plans to continue the group indefinitely. Anyone who wants to try out a class simply needs to stop by on a Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the lodge, 400 E. Davis Road, Greenfield.
