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Study Guide For Teachers

ILLSTYLE AND PEACE In

BECOME YOUR DREAMS (A History of Hip-Hop)

presented by

Young Audiences (866) 500-9265 www.yanj.org www.yaep.org

ABOUT THE PROGRAM BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS

With incredible energy and personalities to match, the dancers of Illstyle & Peace demonstrate Hip-hop is a cultural and musical movement that by perseverance and paying attention, you can that was pioneered by African American and Latino reach your highest goals. Tracing hip-hop youth in in the late 1970’s. One of its styles form the late 60’s through today, this acclaimed main elements is . ensemble teaches positive messages, including Breakdancing is a dance style that is a “Think It—Do It—Become It.” Become Your Dreams combination of several techniques including celebrates the art and movement of hip-hop and breaking, dancing, and . The name includes a funky blend of locking, breaking, popping, breakdancing comes from the dancers ability to tap and house dancing, vocal percussions, DJing, improvise during pauses or instrumental breaks in a and modern and traditional dance forms. An . In the early days, breakdancing competitions emphasis is placed on hip-hop's similar steps to were sometimes used to settle disagreements. The those found in ballet, modern and traditional dance dancer who did more complex moves would win the forms. contest and win the argument.

Hip hop and breakdancing have been used

LEARNING GOALS to address political issues, and to give a voice to

people who felt their point of view wasn’t being

Students will: heard.

 Experience a positive themed dance There are some negative images associated

with hip-hop and breakdancing which promote program.

 Watch master dancers perform various violence, disrespect to women and materialism.

styles of hip-hop dance. The dancers of Illstyle & Peace have chosen

another path. They celebrate the positive aspects  See the difference between several of dance and of life through their performances. aspects of dance including locking, downrock, and popping. They use their skills, talents, and creativity to  Understand the value of hard work, spread positive messages about caring for each teamwork, cooperation and other, and developing a healthy lifestyle. collaboration.  Be inspired to dance. BEFORE THE PROGRAM VOCABULARY WORDS

Talk about hip hop and breakdancing and see if your : a way of making sounds with the class can define the following terms: beat-boxing, mouth to imitate percussion and create beats. It can locking, and popping. Ask students what they expect be a background for rapping or dancing. to see and learn in the performance. Breakdancing—a dance style that evolved as part Talk about the messages that we get from of the hip-hop movement. One of the four essential , movies, books and games we play. Discuss elements of hip hop. books you have read or are reading and what kind of messages you hear in them. For example, the Harry Locking—a dance style relying on perfect timing

Potter series gives a strong message about the and “locking” the limbs in time with the music. importance of friendship. Ask students to think about what messages they may get from their music. Ask Powerheads—those who focus on the intense, students how they choose their music, movies and gymnastic-type acrobatics of breakdancing. books—do they think about the message artists and writers are giving? Do they go for what’s the most —a repetition of identical or similar sounds popular? in two or more words. Rappers, poets and singers use rhyme. Use images of dancers from Google Images to discuss various dance styles including ballet, tap, Toprock—breakdance moves that are performed breakdancing, and ethnic . Look at the standing up. different ways the dancers hold their bodies and how the dance forms may be similar and different. Do a theatre technique called “tableau” where students ARTIST INFORMATION hold their bodies in frozen shapes to imitate the dancers they see. Illstyle & Peace was founded in 2002 by

Brandon Albright, also known as "Peace” and

Forrest Webb of the Illstyle Rockers. “Peace” is the AFTER THE PROGRAM former Assistant Artistic Director of

Puremovement. Their work is rooted in hip-hop and Have a discussion about the positive message in the blended with an eclectic mix of dance and performance. How did the dancers express themselves, not only with their words but with their performance disciplines including tap, ballet, DJing, dances? beatboxing, and . The company delivers positive messages of individual expression

What dance moves did you see that were similar to to audiences young and old and has toured the other kinds of dance you have seen in ballet, tap or United States and abroad. ? What dance moves were completely different than what you’ve seen in ballet, tap or jazz?

Go back to the tableau exercise. Have students tell a RESOURCES story with a positive message using tableau. Ask them to create a character that encounters a A history of American dance: and deals with it in a positive way. Then have them http://www.pbs.org/wnet/freetodance/behind/ choose specific moments to share in tableau. Use some of the body shapes and moves that the dancers A curriculum guide with lesson plans about teaching used in their tableau. Perform the tableaux for their the history of black dance. peers. http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1995/2/95 .02.03.x.html Write a class pact to make your classroom a 100% positive place. Write out all the ways you want your A commercial site to learn breakdancing, there are class to be welcoming, kind and fun. many video clips here: http://www.breakdanceclass.com/