Join special guests as we combine education of social dance and movement fundamentals of social dance in this three part workshop series.
About
In the early days of Hip Hop, the ‘social’ aspect was at the centre of everything. Gathering as a community of like-minded people, as a neighbourhood or as early day innovators, gave birth to many dance styles that have developed and influenced today’s dance world.
These three workshops will combine two main aspects: education of social dance & movement fundamentals of social dance. Each workshop will feature a special guest instructor, fun warm up workouts, dance instruction and some Hip Hop knowledge! Styles include Old-school Hip Hop, Locking, Popping, Break-in, House, Krump as well as Voguing, Whacking, Litefeet, Chicago Footwork, and more!
Sign up for one workshop or all three! Join us to add some extra dance know-how to your repertoire or just enjoy a great work out set to an energizing playlist.
Workshops
Hip Hop Dance Foundations: The Early Days
Exploring the cultural fundamentals of Hip Hop dance, Dr. Francesca D'Amico Cuthbert will open up the first of our three-part series by discussing the birth of social dance and the role of the social and party scene as key foundations to its creation. Dancer's will have an opportunity to learn how Hip-Hop dance was crafted into the myriad of different styles we know today.
Participants will learn how to apply that history to the dance floor through a movement combo taught by Justine Coroza. This combo will include moves and styles from the early days such as the basics to locking and popping. Get ready to sweat!
Special Guest
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Dr. Francesca D’Amico-Cuthbert
Program Associate
Francesca D’Amico-Cuthbert is an award-winning historian of American and Canadian Hip Hop culture, the creative industries, and the music marketplace. She holds a Ph.D. in History from York University in Toronto, Canada (2019) and has served as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Toronto (2020-2022) and the University of Calgary (2022-2023). Her doctoral research traced how American emcees in the era of mass incarceration constructed complex ethnographies of urban spaces, transformed dispositions of power, and unmasked the modes and mechanisms of a persistent and haunting coloniality in the afterlives of American slavery. Her recent postdoctoral research explores Canadian Hip Hop’s relationship to national mythmaking, commerce, anti-Black market segmentation and the availability of state revenue streams and marketplace exposure. Her research has been published in: #HipHopEd: The Compilation on Hip Hop Education, The Journal of Canadian Historical Association, Canadian Journal of History, Musicworks, and The Dance Current.
As an Hip Hop educator Francesca has taught several courses on the histories of popular culture, including “Hip Hop and the City” – a course that explores Hip Hop’s evolution from a translocal urban art form to a global commodity. In addition to being a multi-disciplinary creative with training in vocal and instrumental music, dance, and the dramatic arts, Francesca also serves as the Chief Research Officer at the New York City based Hip Hop Hop Education Center where she works collaboratively to establish Hip Hop Education standards and the professionalization of the field.
Dance Instructor
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Justine Coroza
Justine Coroza is a 2nd year U of T student who has been immersed in the dance world as a student and fan from the young age of 5. She is passionate about many different dance genres but is well versed in contemporary urban dance styles and trained at Jades Hip Hop Academy. She has been the recipient of prestigious awards, performed on TV and at live shows and is already considered a seasoned performer and teacher in her craft. Justine is also a choreographer of FLUX, a U of T dance group a competitive choreography dance team from the University of Toronto St. George campus. They value community-building, family, well-being, and versatility while incorporating these in their dance approach.
Breaking Barriers on the dance floor
Under the mentorship of JRebel and building from his experience and leadership as the founder of Concrete Warriors, participants will learn and participate in Breaking foundations of top rocks, power moves, and floor moves. As an introductory workshop, participants of all levels will learn authentic street style moves while engaging in a call and response experience between music and movement. The social aspects of Breaking and Hip Hop will be central to this high-octane dance session where an inclusive dance cypher is welcoming to all.
Special Guest
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J-Rebel
Hip Hop Artist, Dancer, Teacher and Innovator
Joseph Hersco, more commonly known as J-Rebel within the Hip-Hop Community has been B-Boying (breakdancing) since the age of fourteen. He is a member of the Top Canadian breakdancing crew known as the Supernaturalz . His complex approach to B-Boying and natural flow has set him apart from many other dancers. His footwork is a true testament to the legacy of the Supernaturalz Crew, whose members have been known for having unique styles. His skills have opened doors to travel the globe and compete in world-class B-Boy Competitions.
Some of his many accomplishes include, R-16 2007 and 2010 (Korea), "Warsaw Challenge" 2007 (Poland) Battle of the Year 2004 (Germany), UK Championships (England) 2004 and 2005, Semi Finalist in City vs. City 2006 (1 on 1 battle in Chicago), Out for Fame Finals 2002 (New York) and currently holds the Guinness world record for world's longest B-boy cipher. Along with being a dancer, teacher and innovator.
He's currently working with Right To Play Canada, and runs a Hip-Hop leadership, and mentorship program for urban first nations, Inuit and metis youth within the Toronto District School Board as a community mentor. His program is called "Concrete Warriors" witch engages youth in critical thinking, using Hip-Hop as a culturally relevant pedagogy by addressing complex social issues through the art and culture of Hip-Hop.
J-Rebel has worked in partnership with many individuals and organizations across Canada to promote the preservation of Hip-Hop culture and making positive change within community and institutional spaces. In 2011 he went to Brazil as part of a delegation from Toronto in an international cultural exchange between arts educators under the 'Schools without Borders' emerge initiative.
J-Rebel grew up in the Jane-Finch and Lawrence Heights areas in Toronto, two of the city's northwest neighborhoods known for their high levels of violence, drugs and poverty due to the socio-economic and political realities that have created many systemic barriers for him to overcome in his life. Like many disfranchised youth he found a strong affinity for Hip-Hop culture. Now dedicated to being an active mentor and positive role model for other marginalized and oppressed youth. He hopes of making a difference in the future by creating ripples of positive change in his communities and society as a whole.
Warm Up Instructor
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Justine Coroza
Justine Coroza is a 2nd year U of T student who has been immersed in the dance world as a student and fan from the young age of 5. She is passionate about many different dance genres but is well versed in contemporary urban dance styles and trained at Jades Hip Hop Academy. She has been the recipient of prestigious awards, performed on TV and at live shows and is already considered a seasoned performer and teacher in her craft. Justine is also a choreographer of FLUX, a U of T dance group a competitive choreography dance team from the University of Toronto St. George campus. They value community-building, family, well-being, and versatility while incorporating these in their dance approach.
Runway/Vogue: Walk that Walk!
The Toronto Kiki Ballroom Alliance have been in the Ballroom Arts dance scene since 2010. This workshop will be a high energy, uplifting and fun-filled session for dancers of all backgrounds focusing on the dance style of voguing where participants will be encouraged to put their best foot forward and strut their stuff!
Special Guest
Warm Up Instructor
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Justine Coroza
Justine Coroza is a 2nd year U of T student who has been immersed in the dance world as a student and fan from the young age of 5. She is passionate about many different dance genres but is well versed in contemporary urban dance styles and trained at Jades Hip Hop Academy. She has been the recipient of prestigious awards, performed on TV and at live shows and is already considered a seasoned performer and teacher in her craft. Justine is also a choreographer of FLUX, a U of T dance group a competitive choreography dance team from the University of Toronto St. George campus. They value community-building, family, well-being, and versatility while incorporating these in their dance approach.
