Bienvenue Kamikaz Crew (Algerie)

This week, Urban Artistry has the honor of helping the State Department welcome Kamikaz Crew, a hip hop-inspired performance group that frequently uses their talent to uplift Algerian youth, including orphans, children who are ill, and children living with disabilities. The Kamikaz Crew was recently voted the most talented group after participating in a competition sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Algeria. They also recently won the Algerian National Dance Championship and the 2011 Algerian Talent Competition.

Kamikaz Crew is participating in a 3-week study program coordinated by Global Connections, titled "Youth Empowerment through Hip-Hop" for the State Department's International Visitor Leadership Program.  They will be touring D.C., Mississippi, L.A., and New York, and we hope to expose them to the many sides of cultural dance that D.C. has to offer during their short time with us. 

On Sunday, they were invited to our company rehearsal.  Their passion and charisma amazed both our Artistic Directors and the youth in our company. Diyanna, an Artistic Director with Urban Artistry and first year student at Trinity University, said, "They were dope!" We'll have many more opportunities this week to bond and break bread with Kamikaz. 

Tuesday, December 4th @ 6pm

Explore one of the U Street Corridor's newest artsy and casual additions- Satellite Room.  Kamikaz and Urban Artistry will dine in the diner-inspired setting tucked back behind the 9:30 Club. It's a perfect spot for a pre- or post-show burger thanks to its late-night hours.  Then we'll head over to Bus Boys and Poets for Open Mic Night. 

Wednesday, December 5th @ 9pm

Along with @OKAYAFRICA, Tropicalia DC and DJ Underdog, we welcome you to be apart of the essence of progressive African rythmes and house music at "Okayafrica DC". House Dance, Azonto, Zouk and stretch out with dj's Underdog, Native Sun, DrewCool, Kimozaki and Nykoskiie.

Thursday, December 6th @ 6pm

Kamikaz will join Urban Artistry students and family for our weekly classes in Bethesda, MD. Arts education is a key component of our mission, so to learn from and with Kamikaz is an honor.

Friday, December 7th @ 11am 

Kamikaz will be guests on our weekly live radio show, The Urban Artistry Show, which airs live on WLVS: http://listenvision.com/listen_live.  This will be an opportunity to share Algerian hip-hop culture and dance traditions to American and international audiences.   While dance itself is a language, and a way of communicating, one can gain different understandings of the movements through discussion about where and when they came from. Urban Artistry has begun having more conversations about dance on our new live radio show. It is a chance to interact with DJs, musicians, visual artists, historians, dancers, and educators who continue to shape the culture that is dance. 

@11pm: Finally, to celebrate the end of Kamikaz's week in Washington, DC, and to wish them well on the continuation of their journey across the United States, we have invited Kamikaz to join us for a night of dancing at U Street Music Hall.


As excited as we are to show Kamikaz how we experience urban dance styles in Washington, D.C., members of Urban Artistry are even more interested in seeing, hearing, feeling, and being inspired by the similarities and differences of the experiences of Kamikaz.

Bienvenue aux Etats-Unis, Kamikaz!

Simon Maxwell Eason and his new-found Family

Throughout my whole life I have done so many things. I have played almost every sport, Soccer, Football, Basketball, Baseball, Lacrosse, Track & Field, Tennis, I used to Film all the time, write poetry all the time, play video games very heavily, want to be a Chef, and many other things that I used to always do, or want to do. All of these things have ended the same way; I either quit, or just stopped doing them. But I feel like finally I have found two passions that I don’t think I’ll let go of until the day I pass, Dancing and Djing.

I honestly don’t think I’ve ever felt so much drive in the two activities, though like everyone we have our moments of laziness and disinterest. I try all the time to think of the reason why I love these things so very much, and just haven’t really been able to come up with an answer. It could be because within these two art forms, I have found something more than just “something to do” I have found a whole entire culture I never knew existed while I was sitting on my butt in Frederick. I also have found a love for music, a loving friend and mentor, and best of all a group of friends and family I can honestly say I love, and I don’t say I love very many things. CAB Crew and Urban Artistry have helped me not just within dance but also within life, because so many people within these groups have so much wisdom at their disposal. I feel so grateful that these people share this information with me because like I said, it has helped me so much in life.

While being a part of UA and CAB I have met dancers nationally and internationally and I have only been coming around for a year. I have traveled to many different states, California, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York, and we always go together just like a family does, and it provides me with such a sense of belonging and happiness. I had the good fortune of being a part of last year’s Soul Society and saw so many things that just made me smile and enjoy myself so much. I can see why so many wonderful members have gravitated towards this group and stayed around for as long as they have.

I ask one thing of everyone, to never let me quit! Because if I did, there wouldn’t be a day that goes by that I wouldn’t think about Dancing or Djing. I feel that with all these supportive and loving people around me I will never even think of quitting, because I don’t have much else that I have a passion for. I look forward to many more accomplishments and opportunities I have to come with my Crew and Company. Thanks to everyone for EVERYTHING! And I mean that with every ounce of my being. Michael McClain I’m very grateful that your introduced me to UA because you put these wheels in motion.

Megan Keefe, Director of Digital Media on Global Projects in bboy culture

As of today Invisible Children's "Kony 2012" viral video has been viewed more than 41 million times on Youtube. It has been talked about over social media, major tv networks, NPR and probably a few beers at your local watering hole. Whether you watch the Kony 2012 video or not it is important to learn about the history of Ugandan youth. Why? Because they are our brothers and sisters and their history is our history. Their pain is our pain.

In 2011 Junious and Hannah and I went to a screening of Bouncing Cats at the National Geographic Society. Junious and I recently returned from a trip to South Africa where Junious taught South African youth about the history, culture, and movement of House Dance. This film about Uganda brought tears to my eyes because I suddenly saw the positive impact of urban dance culture in South Africa and Uganda. It's something that's happening in Africa without thousands of dollars of investment or the visibility of the western world. It is stronger than money or political power. Dance will always bind us together. When greed, racism, violence and fear work to tear us apart, dance will bind us together. It's always been this way.

http://vimeo.com/12234800

Find out more about the film and how to make donations to Breakdance Project Uganda by visiting the Bouncing Cats website: http://www.bouncingcats.com/synopsis/

Watch John Legend talk about the film: http://vimeo.com/20751293

Other links:

https://www.facebook.com/bouncingcats

https://twitter.com/#!/bouncingcats

http://www.bpuevents.org/

-Megan Keefe-

Inside the Headphones w/ DJ Mate Masie

Join us for this week's blog featuring a video from Artistic Director, Russell Campbell aka DJ Mate Masie. In today's blog Russ gives us a look and a listen as to how it sounds to be:

INSIDE THE HEADPHONES...

http://youtu.be/cT5sDVVWE64

'1 mo round' aka Giovanni Galleno of CAB CRU

When it comes to writing a blog I must admit it feels like the very first cypher experience. Itching to run in, cautious to not stumble and ruin your entire decade. a glimpse of your favorite dancer doing your favorite run from your favorite battle....you say to yourself...."I wanna do that!" Then you imagine the most sloppy looking run from the most annoying dancer from the battle you always fast forward on the tape....and you say "I hope I don't ever do that".

With that being said I would like to share my most favorite experience in an open cypher. As this is my first blog for Urban Artistry and I hope it will be memorable to others and not just me. Back in May of 2000 I attended 99.1 HFStival. This was a concert held at RFK Stadium. Throughout the entire day I was just groovin on my own and head banging and moshing and having a ball. There was a surprise guest this year...Run DMC. They came on after 311 and had a great set....I was on the side where it was clear and began to try to TopRock and do footworks... haha I was off beat like a mug. Anyway, after that Jimmy's Chicken Shack came on and it was game time! After the first track I managed to break into the mosh pit and decided to establish myself.... napoleon complex lol. I managed to stay on my feet and when the dust cleared and the hook of the song played...I decided to let these dudes know what else I could do. I started to do some tops and hit like 10 swipes and a quick backspin to a basic chair freeze... After that another bboy from Baltimore started to dance... we battled... can't remember who won, but it was hyped up by the innocent bystanders. The other bboy was bboy Avy, at the time he was a founder of Phusun Force Crew, now in Deadly Venoms Crew.

That moment was more memorable than any other in dance I have ever had, maybe ever will

Do you have a similar story?

Do you have similar interests in music?

Did you meet a dancer somewhere you never thought you would?

My name is Giovanni "1MoRound" Galleno of the Counter Attack Breakers Crew (CAB Crew) DC Chapter established 1997 and Artistic Director in Urban Artistry established 2005. I challenge you to share your thoughts on unexpected events and happenings in your chosen art form.

Roosee from the SLEEPWALKINGZ Crew visits Urban Artistry in Washington DC

Urban Artistry was pleased to welcome Bulgarian Bboy, Dancer and DJ; Roosee (Rusi) Yusifov of the famous SLEEPWALKINGZ CREW, http://www.kination.com/Welcome.html to the United States for the past three months. The folks at Urban Artistry met Roosee and some other members of his crew at one of the local events held by UA called THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, during their visit to the States in 2008.

The jam made history that night as members of the Sleepwalkingz Crew decided to call out the judges for battle. This particular night the judges chosen happened to be some of DC's BBOY Legends including, Brent "VORTEX" Talley of Natural Elements Crew; Sonny "GHOST" Tran of Lionz of Zion and Joe "FATRAWK" Nguyen of Arrive to Defy. This battle would be one of the first and only times Sonny and Brent had battled together since they were both in Natural Elements over 10 years ago! For those of us who have been around the scene for awhile or have simply been fans of the bboy scene in DC, this night will be remembered for a long time!

(Judges Call Out Battle Part 1)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuIeQ2BElYE

(Judges Call Out Battle Part 2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaiADLhrEoo

In September 2009 the Sleepwalkingz got together with the United States Embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria to bring Urban Artistry to their Annual Hip Hop Festival JAM ON IT.

http://www.jamonit.bg/

During the festival Urban Artistry members:

Junious, Rashaad, Russell and Rizqi all gave workshops in various urban dance styles.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FbbYp6OuEg

Russell and Gabe judged the bboy footwork battles.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmvs1hIyMnI

Rashaad won the 1 vs. 1 popping battle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvLo8zZBIGI

The group performed of their popular piece "ONE DREAM."
http://www.youtube.com/user/SofiaPAO

Attending this event allowed the two groups to continue growing the urban artist exchange program they have been developing between Bulgaria and the United States over the past few years. Bringing Roosee here to the States was part of a series of exchanges we hope to get funding for in the future.

Next, Urban Artistry Founder/ Executive Director Junious "House" Brickhouse will visit Sofia again in February 2010 to give a series of workshops on urban dance and culture in collaboration with the United States Embassy in Bulgaria and their efforts to educate the Bulgarian community on the importance of Black History Month in American Culture.

The two crews hope to find funding to bring the Sleepwalkingz Crew out for Urban Artistry and Rogue Squirrel's Annual Urban Dance Festival www.hiphopsoulsociety.com which takes place throughout the DC Metro Area the weekend of April 15th-18th in 2010.


In October 2009, Roosee obtained a work VISA to visit the States and work with Urban Artistry as a fellow, dancer, performer and musician (DJ). During his stay he participated in several shows and performances with the members of UA. He also served as a International Guest Judge alongside, DC's own Ironman (CAB CRU) and PAULSKEE (Rock Force Crew, MIGHTY 4, OUT FOR FAME) from the San Francisco Bay Area at THE ILLEST INGREDIENT, a local 2 vs. 2, Odd Couple bboy/bgirl battle held in Dupont Circle on December 12, 2009.

(Illest INGREDIENT GROUP PAGE)
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=342309905332

(JUDGES SHOWCASE- BBOY)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ekfcxw0YK4


During his visit to DC, Roosee also collaborated with:

DJ Obeyah, http://twitter.com/obeyah
DJ Mate Masie, http://www.myspace.com/ironmancabcru
Halfstep http://www.myspace.com/bboyhalfstep
DJ Baronhawk Poitier http://twitter.com/DJBaronhawk


on several music projects, including an International Guest DJ spot presented by YEAH CLASS at GAZUZA, a well-known Hooka Bar and Lounge in Dupont Circle. He also helped as a DJ at the Artist in Residency Preview Celebration for Urban Artistry's Open House at their new home in Columbia Heights, The Dance Institute of Washington. http://www.danceinstitute.org/

Throughout the month of Janaury 2010, Roosee taught often during the Urban Artistry Open Practice Session which takes place every Sunday at The Dance Institute of Washington. This free open practice is funded in part by a Hip Hop Initiative grant from the DC Commission for the Arts and Humanities. http://dcarts.dc.gov/dcarts/cwp/view,a,3,q,638459,dcartsNav,%7C31624%7C.asp

In December 2009 he taught a beginners workshop in the Urban Artistry Education Program presented by Emily "Incognito" Wessel and Russell "Ironman" Campbell at their past home in Tenleytown, The DC Dance Collective. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2mwsjlHICE

Roosee also placed in the TOP 8 at the 3 vs. 3 battle at the Breakers Delight Jam, "WHO'S HUNGRY 2010" along side Russell "Ironman" Campbell and Emily "Incognito" Wessel, which took place at The hearts in Motion Dance Studios in Springfield, Virginia.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kw_d6YJQX4 (PRELIMS)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtY9CRwEQWE (TOP 8)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stYyq3gu_J0 (HD Version TOP 8)

For his last weekend here in DC, Roosee will enter Schoolin' Sessions II, a local 3 vs. 3 battle with friends Russell "Ironman" Campbell and Carlendra "Shyrock" Frank both members of the Maryland Chapter of CAB CRU before heading up to NYC on his way back to Sofia, Bulgaria, 2/10/2010.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=239568581895&index=1 (Facebook Event Page)

From all of us at Urban Artistry, we want to take a moment to thank Roosee for visiting us to share his gift of art, dance, music and culture. We will see you in the cypher again very soon my friend...

- The Urban Artistry Family-

Urban Artistry new show premier presented at The Performing Arts Center at Montgomery College on 11/17/09 at 7:00pm

Last night at the open house for the brand new, beautiful Performing Arts Center at Mongtomery College in Silver Spring, arts in schools agent Class Acts Arts presented the latest new work by the Urban Dance Company, Urban Artistry entitled "DIGITAL FUNK 5002."

The concept and stage direction for this piece was created by internationally recognized Artistic Director, Rashaad Pearson (Urban Artistry, Assassins Crew International). The piece was performed by LaTasha Barnes, Ryan Webb, Emily Wessel, Giovanni Galleno, Gabe Galbraith, Phillip Chang and Rashaad Pearson.

You can see Urban Artistry again at The Performing Arts Center at Montgomery College on Saturday, March 6th, 2010 at 11:00am for the centers 2009-2010 Saturday Morning Childrens Performing Arts Series. See the link below for more information!

http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/pac/tp_childrens_events/urban_artistry.htm

If you would like to see Urban Artistry at your school please contact:

http://www.classactsarts.org/

Class Acts Arts

8100 Georgia Avenue

Silver Spring, MD 20910

Phone: 301-588-7525

Toll-Free: 866-458-8966

Fax: 301-588-7270

Email: Info@classactsarts.org