JOBURG is gearing up to take hip-hop from the street to the stage and formalise the genre into a form of cultural expression.
Mixing It Up is an initiative set to change the perceptions of the hip-hop sector, generally seen to be an informal street-based activity, and intergrate it into the local theatre sector. This initiative forms part of the British Council SA's Arts programme.
Emile Jansen, founder and mentor of the Heal the Hood Project, a nonprofit organisation based in Cape Town, says the project uses various hip-hop elements to encourage youth to break away from gang culture on the street and hopes this initiative will break the barriers.
"The showcase will provide a platform for selected artists to portray genuine South African stories through dance styles, music and words," Jansen says.
Various hip-hop crews and individuals who form part of the showcase include Soweto's Finest, Philly, Lee-Che Janecke and Tarryn Alberts, who were all selected from a preliminary Sweat Week workshop in November 2011.
Hip-hop lovers can expect a spectacle of a performance from international artists from UK and Zim Ethnic from Zimbabwe.
This platform will provide artists with expertise from award-winning hip hop dance curator Mamela Nyamza. There will also be master classes facilitated by Kwesi Johnson of Kompany Malakhi and a mentorship programme by hip-hop practitioner DJ Switch.
Jansen hopes the showcase will attract theatre managers, local and international dance festival curators, booking agents, press and the public in the sector to make a positive contribution.
There is already a collaboration of interest from Artscape Theatre, Bush Radio, Heal the Hood Project, Goethe Institute, Matchboxology Creative Incubator and the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs making the showcase possible.
The showcase takes place in Johannesburg on 7 and 8 March at the University of Johannesburg and tickets are available from Computicket
Hip-hop takes to the stage
JOBURG is gearing up to take hip-hop from the street to the stage and formalise the genre into a form of cultural expression.
Mixing It Up is an initiative set to change the perceptions of the hip-hop sector, generally seen to be an informal street-based activity, and intergrate it into the local theatre sector. This initiative forms part of the British Council SA's Arts programme.
Emile Jansen, founder and mentor of the Heal the Hood Project, a nonprofit organisation based in Cape Town, says the project uses various hip-hop elements to encourage youth to break away from gang culture on the street and hopes this initiative will break the barriers.
"The showcase will provide a platform for selected artists to portray genuine South African stories through dance styles, music and words," Jansen says.
Various hip-hop crews and individuals who form part of the showcase include Soweto's Finest, Philly, Lee-Che Janecke and Tarryn Alberts, who were all selected from a preliminary Sweat Week workshop in November 2011.
Hip-hop lovers can expect a spectacle of a performance from international artists from UK and Zim Ethnic from Zimbabwe.
This platform will provide artists with expertise from award-winning hip hop dance curator Mamela Nyamza. There will also be master classes facilitated by Kwesi Johnson of Kompany Malakhi and a mentorship programme by hip-hop practitioner DJ Switch.
Jansen hopes the showcase will attract theatre managers, local and international dance festival curators, booking agents, press and the public in the sector to make a positive contribution.
There is already a collaboration of interest from Artscape Theatre, Bush Radio, Heal the Hood Project, Goethe Institute, Matchboxology Creative Incubator and the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs making the showcase possible.
The showcase takes place in Johannesburg on 7 and 8 March at the University of Johannesburg and tickets are available from Computicket