Vancouver's Amber Funk Barton and Shay Keubler (photo by Wendy D)
Story by Sanita Fejzic
It’s a matter of fact now: Ottawa is a festival town. More than 40 festivals will hit the capital by summer’s end, and the Canadian Dance Festival (June 4 to 12) stands out as my absolute favorite. I am a big fan of dance and don’t mind admitting that while some of contemporary dance’s vocabulary surpasses me completely, most of what I see and feel leaves me utterly speechless.
Like a cultural mosaic or quilt, contemporary dance comes with an endless variety of styles, choreographies, techniques, schools, and musical forms—all coming together in a way that’s at once beautiful and powerful.
I was especially looking forward to Hip Hop 360, which began at the festival three years ago with an attitude but regretfully is not offered as its own entity this year. Instead, this June’s programming includes three free performances (June 8, 9, and 10 at the World Exchange Plaza, noon) and two ticketed events in the National Art Centre Studio: STREET/STAGE on June 7, and STATUS QUO on June 11, both at 7 p.m.
Two b-boying crews are to feature in STREET/STAGE: Ottawa’s BBOYIZM and Toronto’s F.A.M. Each will perform a half-hour world premier dance that promises outrageously good moves and rhythm—and of course great hip hop music.
According to BBOYZM’s creator and leader Yvon Soglo (a.k.a Crazy Smooth), “b-boying is a raw art.” Arising from New York streets in the ‘70s and, like many creative storms, born of youth for youth, b-boying remains fresh today and an essential part of hip hop culture. “It is one of the strongest, purest way of physically expressing yourself,” explained Soglo.
Apart from pushing the creative envelope in street dance, BBOYZM aims to preserve the legitimacy of the art form. “If an artist is pure in his intentions, whatever he does is going to be impressive,” said Soglo. “Rather than trying to impress the crowd, he will choreograph according to his artistic vision.”
Expect to see this philosophy come to life on June 7 while the dancers bust out their moves to “IZM,” the title of the performance coined by Soglo. “As a choreographer I am saying something: I am examining what fuels us to do what we do,” Soglo explains. “We’re alternating between rocking and b-boying—two early street dances—as a conversation between arts and entertainment.”
But Soglo is not interested in passing judgment. This isn’t your usual discourse aiming to declare art superior to entertainment or vice versa. Instead, the performance will examine the differences between the two, their relationship, and how they feed off each other.
While Soglo admits, “It’s not easy to be an artist in Ottawa, period,” he remains optimistic that hip hop can gain a wider audience.
“Some people have preconceived notions about hip hop and that’s not to say they’re to blame entirely; if what people stop at is a cliché version of hip hop culture based on what they see on TV, obviously it can lead to some misunderstandings.”
To move beyond cliché, Soglo offers an insight that still resonates: “You’re not doing hip hop, you are hip hop.” We know from our history books that the art form started as a powerful movement for social change and grew to become a culture carried forward by youth through not only dance, but also music, peace, unity, love and plain old having fun.
If you can’t catch Soglo in STREET/STAGE, dancer/choreographers Amber Funk Barton and Shay Kuebler will provide another authentic taste of hip hop in STATUS QUO. Each counted among Vancouver’s hottest emerging talents, Barton and Kuebler will perform material never seen anywhere else.
I’m no connoisseur when it comes to b-boy culture, but my love for contemporary dance, urban and street art, and hip hop music is enough to make me want to be there in June, enjoying the moment. And spreading the word.
Yvon Soglo (a.k.a Crazy Smooth) of BBOYIZM
