On January 31st, 2011, Dancing in the Streets became a Company in Residence at the Casita Maria Center for Arts and Education in the Hunts Point section of the South Bronx, and we have been thriving ever since! This strategic partnership has allowed us to deepen and expand our free public programs through the following collaborative programs:

HIP HOP GENERATION NEXT: FROM THE SOUTH BRONX TO EAST ASIA

2011: HIP HOP GENERATION NEXT HIP HOP KUNG FU Presented in partnership with Casita Maria and the Asia Society  Tue August 2 & Wed August 3, 2011 Exploring the reciprocal influences of Asian culture—and particularly martial arts—on hip hop, and of hip hop on Asian culture. Artistic Director: Adesola Osakalumi; Directed, Choreographed, and Conceived by: Emilio “Buddha Stretch” Austin Jr; Co-Director & Assistant Choreographer: Michele Byrd McPhee; Assistant Choreographer: Val “Ms Vee” Ho.

BLOCK PARTY Sat, August 6, 2011 A rousing community celebration of the cultural heritage of the South Bronx. “By almost all accounts, Bronx hip-hop is stagnating…. Well, the roster of performers at Saturday’s Simpson Street Block Party, featuring everything from Korean-influenced Hip-Hop Kung Fu to Ghanaian Hiplife and some good old-fashioned dance crews, made me wish I could stagnate so good….A torch was being passed, but everyone was too busy dancing to notice.”

ARTWORKS In partnership with Casita Maria Center for Arts and Education In this 4-week paid arts and professional training internship, we teach dance and video skills to economically disadvantaged neighborhood youth by guiding them to create and complete projects for the Hip Hop Generation Next Block Party. To help us meet the high level of community engagement and artistic excellence that Dancing in the Streets is known for, we ask you to please consider us as you make your tax-deductible year end contributions by clicking here.

All photos by Jose Soto