A THREE-DAY ONLINE FESTIVAL
By: Angela Redding
Los Angeles, CA, (The Hollywood Times) 8/12/2020 “We are proud to bring forth this incredible effort of deep love for Hip Hop culture rooted in social justice and social change! With footage shot live and safely during this COVID season, we unveil pieces of truth, resistance, empowerment, and self-determination through the skills of Hip Hop culture, activating communities and artists towards action, healing, and progress. We are a culture of action, through our art forms and community interaction, knowledge, and sharing,” said Asia Yu, founder, B-Boy Summit, and No Easy Props.
Streamed Online, the Multi-Faceted Experience will Feature Local and National Artists and Social Justice Organizations Including Medea Sirkus, LA Boppin Crew, No Easy Props, Shabba-Doo, Myka9, Spie, Persue1, and Hip Hop For Change Inc., among Others, and Include Performances, DJ and Breaking Exhibitions, Workshops, and Classes
Grand Park Presents B-Boy Summit 2020. It will be hosting the globally celebrated event in a virtual format following the success of the 2019 live B-Boy Summit held in the park.
The B-Boy Summit was created by B-Girl icon Asia Yu and produced by No Simple Props, and has been exhibiting in Los Angeles for over 20 years.
With the theme “Hip Hop 4 Social Change” this year, the multifaceted festival will not only celebrate Hip Hop culture with street dance, art and music performances but will also provide a vibrant platform for educational panels and discussions rooted in the social justice activism foundation of the genre with the aim of promoting social change and equity.
When and where will the event take place?
The family-friendly summit will be held online through Grand Park’s digital streaming channels, B-Boy Summit, and The Music Center Offstage.
Friday, August 14, 2020, at 7:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 15, 2020, at 3:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 16, 2020, at 3:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.
Through the powerful art of social participation, Grand Park Presents B-Boy Summit 2020 will showcase the talents and efforts of local and national Hip Hop artists as well as social justice groups in various cities around the country, from Los Angeles to The Bronx.
The online conference, developed to build skills, knowledge, and community relationships, will feature the current culture of Hip Hop and showcase its history and foundation through archival footage.
Viewers may also “attend” informative, educational panels; artist-talk-ins; street dance and emcee workshops; DJ and Breaking exhibition battles; health and financial empowerment classes; and performances.
Saturday’s events will include a post-party DJ cypher, beginning at 6 p.m. so that audiences can musically jam at home while listening to DJ Timber’s beats.
“The Summit focuses on the artistic, educational, and social justice roots of Hip Hop to help unify communities and generations. By transitioning a live event into a virtual one, we can continue to lift each other up, share our gifts and learn from one another as we stand in solidarity with B-Boys and B-Girls while spreading the peace, unity, and camaraderie of Hip Hop culture,” said Julia Diamond, director, Grand Park.
This is Grand Park’s first digital partnership and the online festival is intended to preserve the integrity of the B-Boy Summit while also following sound public health practices to help slow the community transmission of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County.
Grand Park Presents B-Boy Summit Highlights:*
Artists
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Social Justice Organizations
Join social justice partners such as Hip Hop for Change, Inc., Child of this Culture, Hip Hop Congress, Hip Hop Education Center and Detroit Motor City Street Dance Academy to
- help bring awareness and empower local communities to move toward equity and equality.
Community Betterment Classes
- Improve your health and wellbeing as Hip Hop artist and vegan chef Ietef Vita (aka DJ Cavem) discusses plant-based living and food justice for a healthier lifestyle.
- Build financial and personal security with B-Boy Mike Wird who empowers viewers with financial literacy exercises for self-determination.
Workshops
- Gain knowledge about freestyle and performance tips in an emcee workshop with Myka9.
- Get moving with popping, locking, and rocking street dance sessions led by Asia One, Zulu Gremlin, Charlie Woo Washington with Skeeter Rabbit Higgins, and Vixx Vapor.
- Learn basic scratch and deejaying techniques in a demo hosted by DJs Celskiii and Deandroid.
Summit Excursions
Experience Hip Hop’s grassroots culture and its message of self-expression and social engagement with featured excursions based out of Denver, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. Local artists including, Fienz, Marz, Asia One, Pheud, Sake, Brisk, Persue, Spie, Agana, Crayone, Cre8, Ladie One, Teal and Trixter will discuss their art and the social justice movements in their respective cities.
DJ and Breaking Exhibition Battles
- Learn how the dance form style of Breaking is unique to each locale with epic battle exhibitions featuring B-Boys and B-Girls from The Bronx, Jersey City, Brooklyn, Los Angeles, and Phoenix.
Artist Talk-ins
- Get behind-the-scenes with interviews and discussions with rapper Opio and emcee Artson, and dance legends and pioneers PapoLuv and Shabba-Doo (“The Godfather of Street Dance”).
Performances
- Enjoy dance crew performances from Medea Sirkus, LA Boppin Crew and No Easy Props.
*Artists and performances are subject to change. For updated information and event schedule, visit grandparkla.org and bboysummit.com.
