Alvin Ailey Citygroup Theater
55th Street at Ninth Avenue, New York
Friday, May 26, 2006
Performances by Open Thought, Universes, KR3T's,
Salsa sensation Amadis, West African drum ensemble
Palms Down, and poetry collective Project 2050
We B*Girlz Book Signing
$75.00/$50.00 tickets include a VIP show starting at
7:30 pm
Featuring a fully catered reception, a meet and greet
with Full Circle, and a preview
performance/presentation of their new dance/theatre
piece
$ 25.00 tickets are for the general show and awards
presentation starting at 8:30 pm
To purchase tickets, please contact
cat@fullcirclesoul.com
For information, please contact Lady K-fever
ladykfever@ladykfever.com
Join the company and friends for the official after
party at
The China Club
268 West 47th Street Between Broadway and 8th Ave,
Doors open at 10pm Ladies free all night, Gents free
til 11:30pm with ticket.
"Full Circle, a company created in 1996 by Gabriel
(Kwikstep) Dionisio and Ana (Rokafella) Garcia, manage
both to educate and to raise the spirits sky-high in
song and dance
sequences choreographed by the founders." The New York
Times
"[Full Circles shows use] poetry, dance and music help
the audience understand who we are and to help them
understand Hip Hop." El Diario La Prensa
Founded by legendary breakers Kwikstep and Rokafella,
Full Circle Productions will celebrate their 10-year
anniversary on May 26th, 2006 at the Alvin Ailey
Citigroup Theatre in Manhattan. Performances planned
include Open Thought, Universes, KR3T's, Salsa
sensation Amadis, West African drum ensemble Palms
Down, and Project 2050 from Massachusetts New World
Theater's-Youth Hip-Hop collective of poets.
Full Circle Productions, established as a non-profit
organization in 1996, presents blazing cutting-edge
Hip-Hop on local and international stages, streets,
cyphas, and to the industry. Dance veterans B-Boy
Kwikstep and B-Girl Rokafella have proved the fearless
staying power of the 'hood by impacting the theater
realm with street aesthetics, commercial mediums by
urging a return to the elements and stepping to the
sometimes resistant educational forums by just doing
what comes natural. Full Circle proudly references its
roots and style to street performing in NYC.
The company began as a duo which then invited retired
Hip-Hop DJ & B boy royalty to relight their fire and
reclaim their crowns. Before long, the phone wouldn't
stop ringing and their cast grew to include Beatboxers
and MC's of all ethnic backgrounds -not to mention
enough love to spare for women to train and represent
equally. Performances were requested for local
memorials, festivals, and fundraising efforts. Members
have the freedom to belong to other area crews and/or
to create their own groups so there is a network of
interactive empowerment (or as we say "Fam") of elders
and youth.
In the span of its underground and independent
existence, Full Circle has gone from hosting
international contemporary companies for exchange to
representing Hip-Hop at places once intangible to the
street vibe such as The John F. Kennedy Center for the
Performing Arts and The Library of Congress, both in
Washington D.C., where they have the credit of being
the first Hip-Hop group to grace the stage. This
soulful resilience is what keeps this company in demand
-bringing true NYC struggle to the surface as a way of
survival.
Music videos, tours, commercials and films have
featured members and students of Full Circle Prod as a
testament to the idea that art can become your career
if you are disciplined and ready to take risks.
Recently, a short documentary Visiones: Latino Culture
in the U.S. aired on PBS highlighting the ups and downs
of running a company, maintaining street credibility
and holding on to your cultural background. Workshops,
outreach, and residencies is the other way Full Circle
gives back and replenishes the cycles of growth in the
community.
The saying dancers come a dime a dozen does not
apply to B-Girling because the women who enter this
realm are self-appointed warriors. To be a B-Girl you
have mastered (or are mastering cuz I havent finished
my journey) a dance style created in the urban setting.
This dance never brought me glamour or material
possessions or commercial fame. Rather it is a channel
thru which aggression, freedom, and confidence are
expressed. The movements are asexual and become
testament to the power of the individual holding the
floor. Just like the women who do Capoeira, I surrender
to the music and take my place on that long line of
souljahs who embrace the possibility of pain, scrapes,
bruises and the humiliation of a serious injurythe
risk of miscalculating a move of falling from grace on
your face. Breaking is how I deal with violence,
injustice and impact in my life. What I get in return
is personal triumph over my own weakness of character.?
Rokafella
We B*Girlz
Photographs by Martha Cooper, Text by Nika Kramer
Introduction by Rokafella
A Miss Rosen Edition
In 1985, B-Boys were all the rage but where were the
girls? Fast-forward twenty years for the answer: We
B*Girlz, a lively look at the hot and happenins world
of B-Girlz of the twenty-first century as documented by
photographer Martha Cooper and writer Nika Kramer.
Breaking is back with a new twist as todays fly girls
can battle the best of them. We B*Girlz, the first
handbook for accomplished or aspiring B-Girlz and the
boys who admire them, showcases the dynamic style and
nonstop energy of B-Girlz in action, in practice, and
on stage. Providing inspiring insight into a previously
little-known subculture that has swept the world, We
B*Girlz includes chapters on Getting Down, Herstory,
Lady Legendz, We B*Girlz, Crewz, Floor Warz, We
B*Stylin, Ride the Beat (other forms of urban dance),
Work It! (B-Girl careers), and We B-Family, and a list
of websites on breaking, Hip Hop, gear, events,
competitions, and classes. Featuring an introduction by
B-Girl pioneer Rokafella, We B*Girlz will introduce the
art of breakin to a new generation!
For more information on We B*Girlz, please contact Sara
Rosen, Publicity Director
powerHouse Books, 37 Main Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Tel: 212-604-9074 x105, Fax: 212-366-5247, email:
sara@powerHouseBooks.com