PROFILEN

With the right groove

Mikael Ståhl has devoted most of his life to breaking. As a dance teacher in Skellefteå, he runs courses for children and young people, and under the name mikeofsteel he shares the movements on Instagram.

Now he wants to build a dance scene where the next generation can take their place.

- Dance is magical. I can still feel the same kick as when I saw the first cool moves in Bomfunk MC's song Freestyler, he says.

Growing up in Gamla Falmark, he found his passion early on. When his friends went to soccer practice, his parents drove him to dance classes in town, and he started teaching himself at the age of 16. Since then, he has helped build Skellefteå's breaking culture, step by step.

Or breakdance as it is also called.

Today, Mikael leads training sessions two evenings a week, with children's groups, youth groups and extra training for those who want to go further. In total, he gathers 30-40 young dancers.

- "It's among the biggest we have in Skellefteå in dance right now. Some have been hanging in since 2017-2018, and one student is soon better than me. It is a joy to see the development, he says.

In each class, the students are introduced to the cypher - the circle where you take turns dancing and the rest of the gang stands in a circle.

- "The first time it's always a bit scary. But after a few weeks, they ask themselves: when is it time for the circle? That's when you dare to step forward and find your own expression.

Creating meeting places for young people is something that drives Mikael and that's why he started Skellgrooves, a breaking event and jam in Skellefteå.

- "At first it was mostly for my students, but the idea is to attract dancers from all over Norrland. To meet, battle and be inspired by each other, just as the culture grew from the beginning.

One of his strongest memories is from the association's spring performance, where they organized a block party in Nordanås courtyard. The kids danced on cardboard in front of their parents, and after a few minutes the line to the cypher was long.

- At first, no one dared to enter, but suddenly they were "fighting" to show what they could do. It warmed my heart more than anything else in my dancing career.

Mikael is clear that he does not want to be in the center forever. His dream is for the young people to take the initiative, organize their own jams and continue the training.

- "The dream is open dance training sessions, where you just play music and train together one or two evenings a week. It exists in larger cities, but we can build it here in Skellefteå too, I'm convinced of that.

The fact that breaking is emerging in a city where most things are otherwise about team sports is important, so there is a breadth and something for everyone.

- Skellefteå Dance and Ballet is the best association I know, and I say that without any bias. Here, children and young people get the chance to develop both as a group and as individuals. It is a privilege to be part of building this culture.

And the background to the name Skellgrooves is exactly what it sounds like.

- We dance breaking. But we mainly build a groove that belongs here in Skellefteå.

Text: Daniel Bergeman

Photo: Tilda Olofsgård