Shore Cultural Centre to Hip Hop with Funk

A Hip-Hop dancer begins his turn in the cypher circle.

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“Contract and release your muscles creating explosives pulses to the beat of a song. Create amazing shapes with techniques that make your body turn into liquid.”—10k

This is all part of “Popping”—a Funkstyle dance genre of Hip Hop culture.  Popping will be the topic of the day in a workshop entitled “The Cypher: An Intro to Popping” presented by Shore Cultural Centre’s Theatre Program and being held on the Shore auditorium stage Saturday, August 19 from 11:00am to 2:00pm.  Participants will learn the basics, foundation, groove and history and origins of Popping.  They will be challenged by Popping techniques including The Pop, Boogaloo, Footwork, Waving, Puppeting and Strutting and a variety of other skills.  The workshop encourages participants to integrate these learned skills into their own dancing to create a personalized and unique style while grooving to 80’s Funk and Soul classics to today’s beats played by DJ San. 

Terrence Spivey, Artistic Associate for Shore’s Theatre Program, said about Popping, “This innovative dance style was a sound track of my college days.  I was part of a group of theatre students pop locking to Cameo and Lakeside."

The workshop is being led by 10K (Samuel McIntosh) and Atlas (Austin Wilson), two members of the Cleveland based Hip-Hop collaborative group AYYEDEESMM (80’s Meets Modern).  The group is built around the foundations and major styles of the Hip-Hop culture.  They have been dancing together for over eight years, experimenting with different styles of Hip-Hop and modern dance while focusing mainly on “Popping”.  They have danced and competed in events in New York City and Chicago and internationally.  This workshop will be the perfect prelude to the group’s performance at the Euclid Art Walk September 22. 

Participants in the workshop should wear comfortable athletic shoes and clothing in which they can easily move around.  No flip-flops or tight clothing should be worn.  Water will be provided, but attendees may bring other hydration such as Gatorade or juice. 

10K said about the workshop that “people should come to sweat and have fun!”   And if you do not know what a “cypher” is, come to the workshop and be rewarded by being in one at the end of the session.

Registration is $15 and open to those 13 years of age and above.  Those under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult when checking in at the workshop location.  You can register on line at www.shoreculturalcentre.com and with cash or check at the Shore office, Room 143, at 291 East 222nd Street in Euclid.  Pre-Registration is required.  For further information call 216-289-8578.