I am well versed in family-reunion chitchat. I am thoroughly familiar with the probing gaze of the Aunt, Uncle or grandparent, accompanied by a swift, “What are your plans for the future?” I anticipate it, can sense it lurking between the folds of cloth napkins and the lids of condiment jars and yet can never quite muster a tidy response. The truth always surfaces idealistic and childish, victim to raised eyebrows and stifled guffaws, so sometimes I simply shrug aside all questioning with a swift “I don’t know.”
For class of 2007 Northwestern alum Austin Lim, these conversations are decidedly more complex. His status as a University of Chicago graduate student studying neuroscience delights even the most distant of relatives, but Austin isn’t all axons and circadian rhythms. He’s a man with two-fold passions, and his second one isn’t quite as academically practical as his scientific endeavors: Austin is a hip-hop dancer. A former Fusion member who only began his formal training two years ago, Austin dismissed his parents’ critical gripes of “Why are you wasting your time?” in pursuit of an exciting but tenuous career. Today he dances for the Chicago hip-hop company CODA, spearheads workshops all across the Midwest and has even returned to his alma mater to teach a Norris mini-course. This, all while studying at UChicago, one of the premier private universities in the country.
“Failure has been one of my biggest inspirations,” Austin admitted to me, grinning from beneath the orange-dyed glint of a skewed Mohawk. While some may recoil in the face of defeat, Austin’s disappointments fuel his drive. It was an unsuccessful audition for the Chicago company 2XS that inspired him to seriously commit to dance. One glimpse of rejection and Austin vowed to intensify his training, a decision that clearly paid off. Yet, while today he occasionally frequents jazz and modern classes, hip-hop remains his preferred style.
Going to high school in Kentucky, Austin’s exposure to dance was limited, and so it wasn’t until Northwestern and Fusion that he discovered how much he loved what he had formerly considered a casual hobby. The thrill of performing, especially, an aspect of dance that he considers “more than half the fun,” is perhaps what keeps him coming back to the studio even after hours of tiresome lab work and classes. However, teaching has been equally rewarding. Austin devotes a great deal of time to Skokie’s Urbanbeat Dance studio, an entirely hip hop-based school, where he teaches advanced and professional-level classes. The absolute beginner nature of the Norris mini-course, therefore, is definitely a shift, although not necessarily a negative one.
“It’s really empowering to be someone’s first influence,” Austin describes. And while he confesses that his class is challenging, he commends the patience and enthusiasm of his nine students. Regardless of level, Austin’s classes always abide by one crucial tenet: the establishment of a friendly, non-judgmental environment.
An amalgam of 70’s-redolent “popping”, intricate footwork, smooth articulations and even “some gangster stuff,” Austin’s approach to hip hop is eclectic and fierce. While he cites his fellow CODA members — including former director Teddy Chavez — as his primary choreographic influences, ultimately it is the fruits of his own free styling that provide the fodder for his pieces. Music, as well, serves as a critical tool for his creativity. However, having been so inundated with traditional hip-hop music, Austin claims it no longer appeals to him. His last two pieces, after all, were performed along to Sarah Bareilles’ “Bottle It Up” and The Flaming Lip’s album “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots,” unexpected musical accompaniments that only contribute to his unique edge. No matter what the song, Austin scrutinizes his musical selections to an almost obsessive degree. According to his iTunes, the last song that he choreographed to was played 437 times.
In an ideal world, Austin would work the neuroscience circuit by day and light up the hip-hop stage by night. But unlike many a nagging relative, Austin isn’t fixated on the future. Whatever tomorrow holds, Austin is content basking in the present — one chest pop and body roll at a time.
The original version of this article incorrectly linked CODA and incorrectly referred to 2XS Chicago as “2 x 5 Chicago.” Thank you to commenter eunice for corrections. North by Northwestern regrets the errors.