HIP HOP Breakdown
“I am Hip Hop” became a prevalent theme during the Hip Hop Congress this past weekend at Concordia. Through the congress workshops and concerts I was able to experience a new culture and embrace it as a new part of who I am.
I attended the break-dancing workshop on Saturday afternoon and expected, if nothing else, to receive a really great workout. However, it was so much more than a work out.
The workshop started with about seven people besides Brave Monk and his Five Element Warriors, and quickly escalated to numerous other people of several ages, races, genders, talents, goals, etc.
This pic is of one of our instructors (Daylight). Right from the beginning we were told by Brave Monk – our instructor – that if we weren’t sweating, then we weren’t working and we weren’t putting ourselves into the dance. Brave Monk took us through a warm-up, some stretching, and then proceeded to teach us some basic footwork.
Daylight and Inlight took over for Brave Monk and taught us some groundwork and a couple ways to connect it all. By the time we hit 6 p.m.,
I was exhausted, sore, and refreshed from putting my heart, emotions, frustrations, and joys into dancing. Before everyone departed to go their own ways, we joined together in a circle and shouted “Peace, love, respect…for everyone,” which was followed by telling the person to our right why we respected them. Through the workshop I was able to give every ounce of energy and heart that I had to a common goal, and throughout the whole thing I felt important as an individual, but connected to a larger whole. It is rare in our day to come across a group that is so welcoming and fun to be with. The Hip Hop Congress taught me this: it doesn’t matter who you are, where you’ve come from, what you’re doing with your life, or where you want to go in life. What matters is that you are unique and wonderful, you have your own talents and gifts to use in this world, that you give your best to whatever you’re doing, that you try to make a difference, and to show peace, love, and respect to everyone.