Origins of Hip Hop Dance

Join the Versa-Style Dance Company as members of the company explore the ORIGINS and ROOTS of street vernacular dances such as Locking, Popping, Hip Hop, Krump, and more. The program will trace the history of Hip Hop and street dance culture through performance, workshops, and discussion with some of the pioneers and leaders of the hip hop dance community immersing audience members into the depth and beauty of a dance style that unites us all.

Panelists include Michele Byrd-Mcphee, who is the founder and Executive Director of Ladies of Hip-Hop, a non-profit organization empowering girls and women through Hip-Hop culture and arts, and Emilio "Buddha Stretch" Austin Jr., who was the first Hip-Hop dancer to teach Hip-Hop in a mainstream dance studio. Jackie Lopez (aka Miss Funk), Versa-Style’s co-founder and co-artistic director moderates. The programs follows the Los Angeles-based company's NYC debut with their latest work, Freemind Freestyle, at the Joyce Theater.

Attendees must show proof of vaccination. Masks are encouraged.

Founded in 2005 by Los Angeles natives and co-artistic directors Jackie "Miss Funk" Lopez and Leigh "Breeze-Lee" Foaad, Versa-Style Dance Company was created to promote, empower and celebrate the artistry of Hip Hop and street dance culture. Named “Los Angeles’ Best Dance Troupe for Hip Hop Empowerment” by LA Weekly, Versa-Style is recognized for its electrifying performances and inspiring engagement activities for schools and local communities. Consisting of committed, highly skilled street dance artists and educators representative of the diversity and beautiful complexity of Los Angeles, Versa-Style Dance Company harnesses the exhilarating energy of street dance onto the concert stage for an unforgettable evening of dance.

Michele Byrd-McPhee who is the founder and Executive Director of Ladies of Hip-Hop has been working for decades to re-contextualize spaces and conversations about Hip-Hop culture along gender, sex, cultural, socio-historical, and racial lines. She has also worked to situate Black dance forms, theories, dance techniques, and the value of the lived artistic experience, in spaces that honor and acknowledge cultural roots along with the many creative pioneers who have shaped them. This is especially important given the ways in which Black dance has been co-opted and appropriated without acknowledgement to its community cultural origins. Byrd-McPhee earned her B.S . from Temple University and an M.S. in Nonprofit Arts Management from Drexel University. She currently teaches Marketing for the Arts and Arts Advocacy at Texas Tech University and serves as a Bessie Award Committee Member along with her ongoing commitment as Executive Director for Ladies of Hip-Hop and artistic director of LDC (LOHH Dance Collective).

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Buddha Stretch heavily impacted the dance world by bridging the gap between what was termed, Ol’ Skool and New Skool. His dance style, known as Freestyle Hip-Hop, draws from all aspects of Hip-Hop culture, music, and dance. These moves during the early days of music videos helped to launch the popularity of dance in this medium, as well as live shows. His first video was with Eric B & Rakim, Eric B for President. His first choreography job was for Joeski Love (Pee Wee Dance) and he went on to work with the likes of Rosie Perez, Will Smith, Michael Jackson, and more. He was nominated for two MTV Awards for ‘Best Choreography’ for the Will Smith videos "Men In Black," "Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It," and "Miami." Recent credits include choreography for Virgin recording artist Thalia (on Good Morning America), Aida, Tony Award Winner, Heather Headley, Hot ’97 Air Personality, Angie Martinez, and rapper Rah Diggah. Stretch is also s a dancer and contributing choreographer for the Dance Theater crew Full Circle, and co-artistic director of the Dance Theatre Company MiddleGround.

Jackie Lopez, aka Miss Funk, is a first generation Latina Los Angeles native. She was the first in her family to graduate high school, continue her education at LA Valley College, transfer to a UC and graduate summa cum laude , all due to the impact of the arts and dance in her life. Her degree was from UCLA's Department of World Arts and Cultures, with a concentration in Dance. For the last 25 years, Lopez has been working as a professional dancer, choreographer, teaching artist and cultural educator who has worked with students and artists of all ages nationally and internationally. She is not only Versa-Style’s co-founder/co-artistic director, she is simultaneously a lecturer at UCLA’s Dept. of World Arts and Cultures/Dance teaching Hip Hop, developing the curriculum there for over 10 years.

Event Venue

The Great Hall at The Cooper Union, 7 East 7th Street, New York, United States