From Hart House hip-hop to the Toronto Tempo dance team

Justine Coroza pictured with Toronto Tempo's dance ensemble the Rhythm Section in April 2026. Photo by Amanda Lee Coffey.

Landing a spot on the Toronto Tempo’s official dance team is a dream come true for Justine Coroza (BA 2026 TRIN), who credits Hart House for helping her get there.

Coroza, who graduated from Trinity College in June, is a member of the Rhythm Section, an ensemble that performs high-energy dance routines at every home game. The Toronto Tempo, Canada’s first WNBA team, kicked off its inaugural season in May.

The new grad spoke to us about how Hart House’s Hip-Hop Education program gave her the skills and support to pursue a professional dance career.

How did you engage at U of T and what talent emerged from this?

In first year, I found a dance club called Flux, which instilled my dance passion. Then my creative writing instructor directed me to find an event to describe. I discovered Lyricists’ Lounge at Hart House and the Hip-Hop Education program where people could learn about rap music and speak with producers and rappers. I thought, this really is a thing? Hip-Hop education at U of T?

The Lyricists’ Lounge is such a cool concept. It gives artists a platform to share what they’ve been working on with like-minded people.

It was so amazing I thought, I need to be a part of this. I applied to the work study position and was accepted in September.

How does Hart House support and continue to connect with its work study students and why is that important?

Hart House always supported me, whether it’s in my dance career or as a person. Marco Adamović (program coordinator, Dialogue and Expression), Zoe Dille (BA 2003, MEd 2005) (manager, Dialogue and Expression), Francesca D'Amico-Cuthbert (program associate, Dialogue and Expression) and Nidhil Vohra (BA 2025), a fellow work study student, gave me a way to express myself. That's so difficult to find, especially in huge institutions like U of T.

More students should be involved in the House. It has been so formative for me. It provided me with a safe space.

What does the Hip-Hop Education program mean to you?

Hip-hop culture is often overlooked. But it’s so diverse and it brings people together. That’s why this program is so important. It brings community together and I think that's what's at the core of Hart House.

The program taught me about community and what it means to organize an event. I had no previous skills, but Zoe, Francesca and Marco believed in me. That’s all I needed to push myself to take risks. Now, I'm able to do so much more as a dancer and as a creative because they provided me with those skills.

How did the talent you developed through the Hart House program lead to the Toronto Tempo opportunity?

For the last three years, I've been invited to perform and lead a dance workshop at the annual Hip-Hop Block Party. When they first asked me, I was nervous. But now I remember feeling so much love in that room, feeling so welcomed by the community ... Hart House is such a family. That's why I kept coming back.

Hart House provided me with this opportunity to share my talent. It also taught me dancing could be an actual vocation. Society tells you the arts can't really land a job, right? I wouldn't be as dedicated and confident a dancer if it weren't for Hart House believing in me.

When I got the Tempo job, I remember thinking, "I can't wait to tell Marco!"

Originally published by Hart House