Brooklyn Park Area Drumline and Dance Team Gives Area Youth Positive Outlet
The rhythm is alive at TKO Drumline and Knockout Dance Team practice. There, dancers and drummers ages 5 to 18 are running through beats and choreography — routines that complement each other by design.
Coach Byron Hawkins has been ushering kids through TKO for 20 years — 10 of them in Brooklyn Park.
He said the magic in their routines comes from listening to each other.
“A lot of it is pretty much freestyle,” Hawkins explained. “We also do a lot of syncopation, we also do a lot of creative things where we build from within. We watch our dancers and build a lot of cadences off of that.”
He founded the club to give kids a positive space outside of school and sports.
It’s an added bonus that he’s passionate about drumming himself.
“It’s an outlet,” he said. “We just keep trying to keep pushing kids to do something great. And this is a great way for them to do it.”
Hawkins is a father of six, but jokes he’s a dad of 36, with the 30 current team members under his wing.
In the 20 years he’s ran the program, he expects he’s had about four cycles of kids who’ve aged out of the program and into adulthood. Some of them come back as mentors.
Right now, the Brooklyn Park program is young, with many of the kids still learning the basics.
“All of these kids are my kids,” Hawkins said. “Having new people means that I’m doing something right.”
Work and practice goes year-round.
The team practices at Zanewood Recreation Center twice a week. That adds up to just four hours of time, so Hawkins says it’s important the kids stay focused and work together.
“Our motto is ‘discipline is essential,'” Hawkins said.
The kids show off their hard work in a variety of formats. Sometimes, it’s at competitions across the region.
Others performances take place at parades, and sometimes they even get to perform at Timberwolves games.
TKO Drumline members, along with Coach Hawkins, practice some of their routines early on in class.
On Their Feet
The kids Hawkins recruits don’t mind the push to stay disciplined.
One student, 15-year-old dance captain named Myauna Devine, joined TKO four years ago.
“You know, if you want to be considered the best you just got to put in the work,” Myauna said. “You have to show people that you deserve the title to be the best. It builds your character, it builds you as a person.”
She said she joined because it aligns with her future goals to attend and dance at a historically Black college or university. This combination of drum line and majorette-style dance originated at those HBCUs.
Myauna also said dance makes her feel like she has a talent to offer the world.
“I put my heart, sweat and tears all into it, but I feel free when I do it. I don’t feel judged — I feel very confident when I do it,” Myauna said. “Anybody should try it, because it built me. I gained more confidence, I gained more opportunities.”
Her fellow Knockout Dance teammate , 13-year-old Emmarie Rulford, said there are kids of all ages on her team, and she sees everyone’s hard work pay off.
“They do a lot for us. They’re great people,” Emmarie said about her coaches. “I love the people I’m around, I love the humor. I love what I do.”
Knockout Dance Team Captain Myauna Davis helps lead her teammates in a run through their routine.
Keeping Time
The drummers have a similar drive.
There are kids on all kinds of drums, from the tenor to the bass drum.
Larry Parker, 13, joined and started on cymbals. Eventually, he worked his way up to the sextuplets.
“The coach helps us a lot to get better,” Larry said.
Meanwhile, 16-year-old Le’Mar Gatlin-Thompson plays the bass drum. He said he enjoys the competition and having fun with his teammates.
“It’s timing, the connection,” Le’Mar said. “The connection’s got to be there at all times.”
9-year-old Brycen O’Brien said his mom signed him up about a year ago, but it was probably because of clues he gave her.
“I used to just hit pans and stuff,” Brycen said. “My mom thought that I would like to do drumline. I would grab pencils and just start hitting the tables, and try to play drums.”
Now, he gets that energy out on the tenor drums. He works alongside a younger member of the group. Hawkins says those collaborations are essential to build the kids’ skills and bonds.
Hawkins practices part of the TKO routine with drummer Le’Mar Gatlin Thompson.
Built to Last
Hawkins said believes they’re set up to succeed largely because they teach each other, and because kids listen to their peers.
“I let them just get in line and learn by watching,” Hawkins said. “Once they catch on by watching, it’s easier to teach them.”
He said he’s just happy to be along for the ride.
“Someone did it for me, so someone has to be there for the new generation of kids. So I’m that person,” Hawkins said.
TKO Drumline and Knockout Dance Team is funded by the families involved and the club’s donors. Hawkins said funding is always needed, and if you’re in a position to help, you can contact him through the TKO Facebook page.
The group is still looking for new members. If you’re interested, you can sign up at Zanewood Recreation Center or contact the drumline at 612-715-2545.
