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Learn about Origins of Hip Hop Dance at The Cooper Union

Company:
The Cooper Union

Learn about Origins of Hip Hop Dance at The Cooper Union on Tuesday, February 28

Program during 50th anniversary of Hip Hop features performances and discussion on the history of Hip Hop and street dance culture

WHAT: Join the Versa-Style Dance Company as members of the company explore the origins and roots of street vernacular dances such as Locking, Popping, Hip Hop, Krump, and more. The program will trace the history of Hip Hop and street dance culture through performance and panel discussions with some of the pioneers and leaders of the hip hop dance community immersing audience members into the depth and beauty of a dance style that unites us all.

Panelists include Michele Byrd-Mcphee, who is the founder and Executive Director of Ladies of Hip-Hop, a non-profit organization empowering girls and women through Hip-Hop culture and arts, Emilio "Buddha Stretch" Austin Jr., who was the first Hip-Hop dancer to teach Hip-Hop in a mainstream dance studio, and hip hop / theater artist Baba Israel. Jackie Lopez (aka Miss Funk), Versa-Style’s co-founder and co-artistic director, moderates. The program follows the Los Angeles-based company's NYC debut with their latest work, Freemind Freestyle, at the Joyce Theater.

WHEN: Tuesday, February 28 at 7pm

WHERE: Great Hall at The Cooper Union
7 East 7th Street
New York, NY 10003

(R/W to 8th Street, 6

WHO:  Founded in 2005 by Los Angeles natives and co-artistic directors Jackie "Miss Funk" Lopez and Leigh "Breeze-Lee" Foaad, Versa-Style Dance Company was created to promote, empower and celebrate the artistry of Hip Hop and street dance culture. Named “Los Angeles’ Best Dance Troupe for Hip Hop Empowerment” by LA Weekly, Versa-Style is recognized for its electrifying performances and inspiring engagement activities for schools and local communities. Consisting of committed, highly skilled street dance artists and educators representative of the diversity and beautiful complexity of Los Angeles, Versa-Style Dance Company harnesses the exhilarating energy of street dance onto the concert stage for an unforgettable evening of dance.

Michele Byrd-McPhee who is the founder and Executive Director of Ladies of Hip-Hop has been working for decades to re-contextualize spaces and conversations about Hip-Hop culture along gender, sex, cultural, socio-historical, and racial lines. She has also worked to situate Black dance forms, theories, dance techniques, and the value of the lived artistic experience, in spaces that honor and acknowledge cultural roots along with the many creative pioneers who have shaped them. This is especially important given the ways in which Black dance has been co-opted and appropriated without acknowledgement to its community cultural origins. She currently teaches Marketing for the Arts and Arts Advocacy at Texas Tech University and serves as a Bessie Award Committee Member along with her ongoing commitment as Executive Director for Ladies of Hip-Hop and artistic director of LDC (LOHH Dance Collective).

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Buddha Stretch heavily impacted the dance world by bridging the gap between what was termed, Ol’ Skool, and New Skool. His dance style, known as Freestyle Hip-Hop, draws from all aspects of Hip-Hop culture, music, and dance. These moves during the early days of music videos helped to launch the popularity of dance in this medium, as well as live shows. His first video was with Eric B & Rakim, Eric B for President. His first choreography job was for Joeski Love (Pee Wee Dance) and he went on to work with the likes of Rosie Perez, Will Smith, Michael Jackson, and more. He was nominated for two MTV Awards for ‘Best Choreography’. Recent credits include choreography for Virgin recording artist Thalia (on Good Morning America), Aida Tony Award Winner Heather Headley, Hot ’97 Air Personality, Angie Martinez, and rapper Rah Diggah. Stretch is also a dancer and contributing choreographer for the Dance Theater crew Full Circle, and co-artistic director of the Dance Theatre Company MiddleGround.

Baba Israel is a hip hop/theater artist, poet, educator, and consultant raised in New York by parents who were core members of the Living Theatre. Israel is part of Bronx Banda with Arturo O'Farrill and has shared the stage with artists such as KRS ONE, Lester Bowie, Outkast, Bahamadia, and Medusa. He is a teaching artist in the areas of Hip Hop, music production, spoken word, and theater. He works with City Lore and organizations such as BAM, Piano Slam, and Arts Horizons. He holds an M.F.A. in Interdisciplinary Arts from Goddard College and is the Artistic Director of the Performance Project based at the University Settlement. His newest production Cannabis! A Viper Vaudeville premiered in 2022 produced by HERE at the Ellen Stewart Theater at La Mama.  

Jackie Lopez, aka Miss Funk, is a first-generation Latina Los Angeles native. She was the first in her family to graduate high school, continue her education at LA Valley College, transfer to a UC and graduate summa cum laude, all due to the impact of the arts and dance in her life. Her degree was from UCLA's Department of World Arts and Cultures, with a concentration in Dance. For the last 25 years, Lopez has been working as a professional dancer, choreographer, teaching artist and cultural educator who has worked with students and artists of all ages nationally and internationally. She is also a lecturer at UCLA’s Dept. of World Arts and Cultures/Dance teaching Hip Hop, developing the curriculum there for over 10 years.

MORE: General public should register at https://bit.ly/3HDEVpP.

Attendees must show proof of vaccination. Masks are encouraged.