Dance: Hip Hop Encounters embracing vibrant history of street dance and Hip Hop culture in Western Cape

What: Hip Hop Encounters presented by Very Real Time South Africa
When: April 5, 2025 at 2.30pm
Where: Artscape Theatre, Cape Town
Duration: 80min; 30min interval
Tickets: R60 – R100
Bookings: Webtickets www.webtickets.co.za    

Exciting news is that Hip Hop Encounters is taking place on April 5, 2025 at Artscape. The festival is produced and facilitated by Very Real Time South Africa, a vital non-profit organisation which “has been supporting community dance crews and youth activists in Atlantis since 2019. Youth dance initiatives play a vital role in the community. They provide kids with healthy afterschool activities where they can develop their talents and stay out of trouble on the streets in a town plagued by gang violence.”  Read on for more. Info as supplied:

Hip Hop Encounters: A development of young talent 

Hip Hop Encounters is a festival that focuses on the vibrant history of street dance and Hip Hop culture in the Western Cape.  The programme to be presented at Artscape Theatre on April 5, 2025 from 14:30 is the outcome of a series of workshops and master classes that were hosted to develop the constructive creation of a new work and professionalism in Atlantis.

Internationally acclaimed mentors, DJ Ready D, Concrete Apostles and Lyrical Deezy have facilitated the programme.

Concrete Apostles are from Cape Town and were formed to unite the South African ‘Breaking’ community to pursue growth and development. They will present a new work at Hip Hop Encounters.

Densley Carolissen AKA Lyrical Deezy  will premiere a new piece at the festival.  He is a founder member of the Elite Movement Dance Studio and his focus is Hip Hop, Popping and Locking House. In 2022 he won Choreographer of the year at the South African Dance Awards. 

The Hip Hop Programme on April 5 will showcase the results of the master classes held in Atlantis with new work by the following crews:

 MoveMakers, will premiere the piece In the Multiverse. The group run weekly classes to develop Hip Hop in their community. Leaders of the team are Nikita Hare and Peter John Reid who focus on developing young talent and have participated in various programmes and competitions for over ten years.

Atlantis All Stars will present Heal the World Through Dance. Atlantis All Stars’ team leader is Cineeq Goliath and the main goals of the company include “to remain dedicated and disciplined throughout their dance journey, to innovate within the dance industry, to be fully goal-driven, to seize every opportunity with enthusiasm, to take initiative in all our endeavours”.

Dynamite Dance Crew is led by Cady Trussell and Joshwin Debruin who will present a work called Passion Explosion.    The Dynamite dance crew is a passionate team based in Atlantis with a focus to motivate and strengthen the youth and children’s talent and to embrace their gifts to the best of their abilities. They show case love and positive energy through dance: Dynamite passion

Dynamic Dance Crew

The team leader for this group is Aneeqa Gelant who is a highly optimistic individual and a go-getter who loves dancing. She was chosen as the team leader due to her exemplary leadership qualities and her dedication to her duties. Aneeqa is an amazing leader who is fully disciplined in her leadership role. Dynamic Dance Crew will present a new work called In the Jungle.

Ingrid Beets School of Dance will present a work called The Power Within and a new solo work by Gervano Grainger will complete the programme.

Hip Hop Encounters is the new chapter of a long-term engagement by non-profit, Very Real Time which has been supporting community dance crews and youth activists in Atlantis since 2019. Youth dance initiatives play a vital role in the community. They provide kids with healthy afterschool activities where they can develop their talents and stay out of trouble on the streets in a town plagued by gang violence.  

The workshops that took place over three weekends, introduced the participants to new ways of creating work. The facilitators introduced the participants to Hip Hop DJing and exploration of how different dance styles connect with the music. They also discussed the evolution of both Hip-hop music and dance and the intertwinement of the two disciplines. They also focused on the styles of Hip Hop, Popping and locking, House Dance and Amapiano.

In partnership with the National Arts Council, Artscape and Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport of Western Cape Government.

About Very Real Time South Africa  

Very Real Time South Africa believes unequivocally in the Performing Arts as a powerful tool for bringing about social change. Working together on creative projects is a proven way of breaking down barriers and fostering understanding. The focus is on collaboration and creative work as a means to build skills and a family of dancer crews across the greater Cape Town area.

Website: https://veryrealtime.co.za/far-out
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/far_out_atlantis/      

✳ Featured image – the group Concrete Apostles are presenting a work at  Hip Hop Encounters in Cape Town at Artscape on April 5, 2025. The performers are Mika-Eel Schroeder, Moegamat Safodien and Brandwon Petersen. Pic: Supplied. Sponsored content.

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