Fifth Annual RHAPSODY Hip-Hop Summer Arts Camp to be Held July 31-August 11, 2006

Dynamic camp for students age 12-19 includes internationally renowned dancer and Hip-Hop Historian Pop Master Fabel of Rock Steady Crew.

Cleveland, OH (PRWEB) July 12, 2006 -- Progressive Arts Alliance (PAA) in cooperation with Hathaway Brown School will present the RHAPSODY Hip-Hop Summer Arts Camp on July 31-August 11 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays at Hathaway Brown School, 19600 North Park Boulevard in Shaker Heights, Ohio.

This year’s special guest artist/camp faculty member is Pop Master Fabel from New York City. Jorge “Pop Master Fabel” Pabon was born and raised in Spanish Harlem in New York City where, at an early age, he developed his dance and choreography career at Hip Hop jams and clubs throughout the city. His pioneering individuality has been showcased internationally since 1982. Fabel is Senior Vice President of the legendary hip-hop dance group the Rock Steady Crew and also co-founder of GhettOriginal Productions, Inc. With GhettOriginal, Fabel co-authored, co-directed, and co-choreographed the first two Hip Hop musicals ever, "So! What Happens Now?" and "Jam on the Groove" (first official Off-Broadway Hip Hop musical). Fabel also gained world-renowned fame as a featured dancer in the hip-hop cult classic movie, "Beat Street." Fabel gives lectures, demonstrations, master classes, and participates in outreach programs and conferences internationally. He is a historian of and activist within hip-hop culture. He will join Cleveland-based artist-educators of Progressive Arts Alliance as staff members who will facilitate this year’s camp activities.

During the RHAPSODY Hip-Hop Summer Arts Camp, participants will develop an appreciation for hip-hop culture and history as they experience first hand hip-hop as a dynamic contemporary art form; explore self expression through the various elements of hip-hop; and grow in a fun environment that enhances teamwork, respect, self esteem and presentation skills. PAA artists/educators will facilitate workshops, demonstrations, and hands-on activities. Camp participants will explore the four artistic expressions of hip-hop that include DJing, using two turntables and a mixer to create music; MCing or rapping, speaking in rhyme with rhythm; dance; and aerosol art, or graffiti.

Through the guidance of the instructors, campers will create a final project/performance to be featured during a 3 p.m. presentation on the last day of camp, August 11th at the Idea Center at Playhouse Square in Downtown Cleveland. The public is invited to attend this free performance. Support for this program has been provided by the George Gund Foundation and Rane.

The camp is open to students age 12 to 19; registration is $275 for the two-week program . Checks or money orders made payable to Progressive Arts Alliance should be mailed, along with the name of the camper(s), address, phone, and e-mail, to: Hip-Hop Summer Arts Camp, Progressive Arts Alliance, P.O. Box 6333, Cleveland, OH 44101-1333. Financial assistance is available, including a 10 percent discount for families enrolling multiple campers. For more information, visit http://www.paalive.org or call (216) 556-0337.

Individuals or companies interested in sponsoring a student in need to attend the RHAPSODY Hip-Hop Summer Arts Camp by underwriting a scholarship are invited to make a tax-deductible contribution to Progressive Arts Alliance. The cost to underwrite a scholarship is $200; however smaller contributions to the scholarship campaign will be appreciated and will allow more students to attend the dynamic program. Contributions can be made securely on-line at http://www.paalive.org or can be mailed to Progressive Arts Alliance, PO Box 6333, Cleveland, OH 44101.

Now in its fifth year, the annual Hip-Hop Summer Arts Camp is an installment of the RHAPSODY Hip-Hop Education Program: Recognizing Hip-Hop as a Powerful Source of Development for Youth. RHAPSODY is a program of the Progressive Arts Alliance, a non-profit arts-in-education organization. The mission of PAA is to provide experiences in the contemporary arts that stimulate critical thinking and promote progressive thought. Much of PAA’s educational mission centers around the utilization of the contemporary arts as a compelling educational tool. For more information, visit http://www.paalive.org or call (216) 556-0337.

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