Hip Hop Fundamentals
Art Form(s):Artist Statement
Our mission is to inspire and educate. By using dance, music, theater, lectures, and audience participation, our work is to educate and entertain children of all ages. We explain and explore the original Hip Hop music and dance, which has a deep, rich, and diverse history that we use to highlight our message of positivity. Hip Hop Fundamentals firmly believes that studying the roots of Hip Hop and, in particular, of Hip Hop dance like Breaking (B-Boying/B-Girling), can be the key to unlocking the potential for positive change in youth.
Hip Hop is built upon young people: on positive energy, the need for youth to express themselves, release tension, and unite together for positive change in their worlds. At its core, Hip Hop is about young people getting together to have a good time!
The mainstream perspective of Hip Hop—that it's about money, possessions, the degradation of women, violence, and machismo bullying—is wrong. Hip Hop Fundamentals fights against this by passing on the knowledge of our truths. As practitioners of Hip Hop culture, we believe Hip Hop is based on four concepts:
Peace
Love
Unity
Having Fun
Through our dynamic assembly shows, we share our love for Hip Hop culture with our audiences. We stress character development, strong work ethic, personal health and fitness, and the unification of youth.
Artist Bio
Hip Hop Fundamentals are a diverse group of professional dancers dedicated to teaching youth empowerment, social issues, and academic content through Breaking/B-Boying, the world’s first Hip Hop dance. We firmly believe that youth learn best when they are having fun. Our dynamic and interactive performances and workshops are guaranteed to empower, engage, and educate youth of all ages.
Our shows range from hip hop history to basic physics, and from anti-bullying to the Civil Rights movement. Our educational programs stress respect, youth empowerment, health and fitness, cooperation, and active learning. In addition to assemblies, we run workshops as well as ongoing instruction for local schools and institutions.
Since 2004, the company has performed hundreds of shows across the United States for all school levels, community sites, and youth camps. We are featured in Columbia University’s collective 2014 book Advocating Creatively, as well as articles in Dance Studio Magazine. In October 2013 Hip Hop Fundamentals presented at the TEDx conference in Bermuda, lecturing on the power of creative education and Hip Hop as an educational tool.
Testimonials
The guys from Hip Hop Fundamentals have a unique spirit and energy that is able to engage people of all ages and backgrounds.
Arts Education & Community Arts Assistant, Rutgers-Camden Center for the Arts
We've had Hip Hop Fundamentals at our school in the past. They are excellent and we are going to think about getting funding for them to come and do some kind of residency/workshop program. They provide the perfect balance of instructional material, participation, authentic expertise, and fun.
Lower School Music Teacher and Assembly Coordinator, Penn Charter School
It was tremendous, enjoyed by all. There is nothing that could have made it better. Bravo!!!!!!
Principal, Immaculate Heart of Mary School
