Q&A: Vancouver Island dance duo Funkanometry has right moves for success
Duncan’s Carlow Rush, 19, and Nanaimo’s Jacksun Fryer, 18, make-up Vancouver Island dance duo Funkanometry .
Since coming together, the two have become social-media sensations with 400,000-plus followers on TikTok. Credit those impressive numbers to the humorous and complex duets the two dropped when they appeared on Season 3 of NBC’s World of Dance in 2019. Making it to the higher levels of the competition before being eliminated kicked off international interest in the crew.
They have ridden the buzz to the next level.
From shooting promotional videos for everything from the Mid-Island Co-op to a local ice cream joint and surprise appearances everywhere from a wedding to an Island hospital, they leave smiles everywhere they dance. A Sept. 10, 2021, routine set to Grease’s You’re the One That I Want shot on the sidewalk by Victoria’s Fan Tan Cafe on Fisgard Street is at 1.9 million views and counting.
At the time of World of Dance, Rush was almost 10-inches taller than Fryer and the two took advantage of this difference to play off moves that could only be managed due to the height difference. It was both creative and frequently funny. But there is no question that these two are serious technicians.
A breakdown video the duo posted explaining the Grease routine shows two talented and astute artists gelling creatively to the point that they practically finish each other’s sentences. It’s funny to see, considering they first came to one another’s attention competing against one another.
They talked to Postmedia News about the pop, wiggle and boogie of being hyped dancers:
Q: So what does it feel like to be blowing up bigger than ever during COVID-19 when you don’t get much chance to perform?
Jacksun: It’s kind of crazy recently, with the numbers going so much bigger. I never would have thought that millions of people would still be really excited to watch us do what we do as a duo. But it just keeps blowing up online internationally and locally too.
Q: That local connection seems to have international draw as the video for your surprise performance at Paul and Cassidy’s wedding keeps topping your weekly views.
