Class is in Media Kit[1]

8/8/2019 Class is in Media Kit[1]

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Concrete Roots Productions Presents

Class Is In


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Concrete Roots: Biography

Im 17 and have ADD, and since i started learning from the guysfrom Concrete Roots, Ive found that Im a much happier person

and have a lot more condence. Denitely check them out even ifADD or ADHD is not an issue, you wont regret it. - Connor, Halifax

Concrete Roots was founded in 2008 by Drew

Moore, Tony Ingram, Chris Beck, Igor Geshelin and

Michael Richard. Concrete Roots is made up of

motivated, like-minded bboys who are striving to in-crease the growth of Nova Scotias bboy community.

It is our goal to develop the Nova Scotian bboy

scene by offering workshops in schools and com-

munities, so youth will have an outlet for creative

expression through physical activity. This creativity

will be further enhanced through organized events

where Nova Scotian bboys may showcase their

talents.

We strive to promote a positive and inclusive hip hopculture to a generation that has been inundated with

negative media images of hip hop in music videos.

We believe that true hip hop is about celebration and

self-creation. We will also work to nd employment

for bboys and bgirls to give them more opportunity

to practice their craft and to help them promote our

culture to the general public.


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Class Is In

Last year, in cooperation with the Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage, Youthscape, HRM

and Dance Nova Scotia, Concrete Roots launched Class is In. The Class is In initiative started as a project to

offer free instruction to schools across HRM. From February to August of 2009, talented local instructors workedat various schools around HRM to establish sustainable bboy/bgirl crews.

In addition to offering free dance instruction, the project grew to incorporate assisting the participants from Class

is In, in nding jobs within the dance world. Many of last years participants have gone on to take part in a wide

variety of performances throughout the province, and some have gone on to teach their own classes. Most

importantly, many of these teens have formed lasting friendships with other participants and have found a positive

creative outlet with which to express themselves.

This year, Concrete Roots is looking to not only continue the Class is In program, but expand it as well. Our

immediate goal is to provide youth with a means to express creativity through physical activity. Our long term

goal is to establish bboy/bgirl crews across NS where youth can learn the importance of dedication to a craft, selfexpression through a positive medium and teamwork, create awareness about Breaking and Hip Hop culture, and

to nd or create occupation for our instructors and participants in Nova Scotia and across the Atlantic Provinces

Finally, the program will provide participating youth with the opportunity to showcase their newfound talents in

company-organized battles and events.

Class is In will be held in ten schools across HRM. Our eventual goal is to expand the program so that all youth

in Nova Scotia have the opportunity to participate in our program.


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Company Mandates

To develop the Nova Scotian bboy scene by offering workshops in schools and communities so

youths will have an outlet for creative expression through physical activity.

To promote positive hip hop culture to a generation that has been inundated with negative media

images of hip hop in music videos.

To nd and/or create employment for bboys and bgirls to give them more opportunity to practice their

craft and to help them promote our culture to the general public.

To organize events in which youth will have the opportunity to showcase their talents.


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The kids all loved it! I am going to see what the interest is

to offer another one in April (if we can ll it they will come!!)

but I am denitly going to book a June workshop.

-Kelly Debouver Pearl, Cold Brook.


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I caught Professor Moore and the RECN crew on the news

this morning. Nice moves everyone and that is so awesome

that you got funding for six more schools to have hip hop

dance programs! I wish they had programs like yours when Iwas in school . - Leslie Briggs, Halifax.


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Class is In Report 2009

In February, 2009, in partnership with the Department of Tourism, Culture & Heritage, Concrete Rootsbegan its Class is In program to provide free bboy instruction to students at various schools around HRM.

The Class is In program reached its peak in May, when eight crews with a total of 40 youth aged 9-19

participated in the Floor Wars competition at the Mic Mac Mall. This was their rst opportunity to show thei

newly-acquired skills to the general public. Along with the event they were given workshops, presentations and

training sessions with three of Canadas most highly respected dancers/instructors, Arnold Gizmo Vidad of Bag

of Trix, Karl Dyzee Alba of Supernaturalz and Yvon Crazy Smooth Soglo of Canadian Floor Masters.

Thanks to the support from Youthscape, we were also able to provide some of our participants with crew-

building activities to help the crews bond more closely as friends. Perhaps most importantly, we have been able to

provide training in crew leadership, teaching selected members of the Class is In program how to run their crews

themselves, including how to promote themselves, set up training schedules, dene mission statements and set

personal and crew goals.

Overall, we are very pleased with the success of our program. Through the Class is In program, we have

been able to reach approximately 70 youth. Four distinct crews, with their own identities, have been formed from

our program, including FLASH Crew, Eastern Bloc, Tectonick Playtes and Battle Kingz. Members of these crews

as well as other individuals from our program, have performed at the IWK Telethon, the Atlantic Jazz Festival,

the IWK Centennial, for the Minister of Justice and all the police chiefs of Nova Scotia and at various school

assemblies and talent shows. Many have also competed at the IWK 2on2, HRMs Canada Day Next Generation

1on1, Toast & Jam 2 in Moncton, Eastern Front Theatres Last One Standing 1on1 and our Atlantic Canadian

crew competiton, Warfare. Several also attended Dance Nova Scotias Bboy Bootcamp at the Ross Creek Centre

for the Arts. Memebrs of both Eastern Bloc and FLASH crew have been mentoring younger children interested

in bboying in their community around the St. Andrews Community Centre and Alex Huszagh of FLASH Crew

is now teaching beginner bboying at the Citadel High Community Centre.

We have received feedback from schools, community centres, parents and other youth organizations

talking about the growth in many of the participants of our program. Many of them have much more condence

and a sense of self-worth, and are enjoying being recognized members of their communities. They have learned

much of what it means to be part of Hip Hop culture, to be condent in who you are and something from very

little.


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Company Contacts

Drew Moore

Executive Director/Instructor

(902) 497 [email protected]

General Inquiries

[email protected]

Class is in Media Kit[1]

Documents

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