Energetic Dance Blends with a Positive Message for Youth as the Gentlemen of Hip-Hop Perform Tuesday, Feb. 13, at 7:30 p.m. at Hill College

  Hill College
  Monday, January 29, 2018 3:03 PM
  Performing Arts

Hillsboro, TX

The first ever hip-hop happening in the history of the Hill College Performing Arts Series explodes onto the stage of the Vara Martin Daniel Performing Arts Center Tuesday, Feb. 13, 7:30 p.m. The Gentlemen of Hip-Hop, a part of the FLY Dance Company out of Houston, blends hip-hop dance styles with a variety of musical genres (including “classical”) to bring a message that is positive and life-affirming.

The FLY Dance Company was originally formed by Kathy Musick Wood, a retired public school dance teacher who had opened a dance studio in her Houston home. After seeing a street-dancing crew in Houston and being impressed with their raw talent and choreography, she conceived the vision of combining this exciting dance style with classical choreography, stage and acting skills, comedy and costumes to create a “theatrical hip-hop” for performing arts audiences. The original FLY Dance Company performed during the 2000s in venues throughout the United States and Europe.

In 2012, original dancers Jorge Casco and Chris Cortez joined with new partner Adam Quiroz to form the new FLY Dance Company with a fresh name, The Gentlemen of Hip-Hop. This new group incorporated high level breakdancing skills with new repertoire and brought back Kathy Musick Wood as Artistic Director. Like their predecessors, dancers in the new company began their dancing careers in street crews or public school dance programs. They continue to maintain an active touring schedule, including performances at schools and community centers. Educational shows, including residencies and workshops, incorporate comedy, acting and interactive programs to reinforce curriculum and positive messages for youth, such as anti-drug and anti-bullying themes. While at Hill College, they will be performing for several groups of intermediate and middle school students from area ISDs during the day on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Gentlemen of Hip-Hop performance will take place in the Governor Bill Daniel Auditorium of the Vara Martin Daniel Performing Arts Center, just behind the Texas Heritage Museum on the Hill County Campus. The concert is free and open to the public. A reception provided by the North Texas Airstream Community Women’s Club will be held immediately afterward.

If you would like to support the Hill College Performing Arts Series, you are invited to become a Benefactor ($100), a Sustainer ($50), a Patron ($25), or a Supporter ($10) of the Hill College Performing Arts Series. In addition, for a donation of $1,000 or more you can become a Lifetime Benefactor. Names of lifetime benefactors, benefactors, sustainers, patrons and supporters appear in each program. You may send your donation to Hill College Music Dept., Attention: Phillip Lowe, 112 Lamar Dr., Hillsboro, TX, 76645.

Whether or not you support the series with a monetary gift, we hope you will support the series with your presence, and invite others to these wonderful evenings of entertainment at Hill College. For more information on the performers and performances and to view promotional videos of each group, visit the Hill College homepage www.hillcollege.edu, hover over Campus Life and click on Performing Arts Series.

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