Freeman Foundation brings hip hop presentation to Sussex County students
The Joshua M. Freeman Foundation recently provided a hip hop presentation for Sussex County high school and elementary school students. The arts nonprofit partnered with Illstyle and Peace Productions, a multicultural dance company based in Philadelphia, to present two different hip hop performances to students at Woodbridge High School and Woodbridge Early Childhood Education Center, Milford Central Academy, Milford High School and Benjamin Banneker, Mispillion and Lulu Ross elementary schools.
The high school presentation was called "Become Your Dreams: The History of Hip Hop," which was a high-energy program that brought the history of hip hop to life. The dance company shared this history through interactive lecture and dance. Students learned about the positive aspects of hip hop art and culture, the technical elements of this dance form and how the dance has evolved over time. DJing, the Human Beat-Box and the MC are a few elements covered. At the end of the demonstration, the group also invited a few audience members - students and teachers - on stage to perform some moves with them.
The elementary school presentation, for kindergarten through second-grade students, was called "No Bullying, Stop Bullying ... And Let's Be Friends!" During this dance assembly, students learned contemporary and old school hip hop moves as well as valuable lessons about positivity, fairness, working together, acceptance and communication. Illstyle acted out scenarios that placed two school groups against each other in day-to-day life situations. With the help of a dedicated teacher, the students soon come together to discover they are more alike than they are different.
For Woodbridge High School Principal Kent Chase, the presentation was an effective arts in education program that brought cultural awareness to students, because many believe they know the history, but may actually have misconceptions of the facts. "If the facts aren't presented, the misconceptions live on," he said, adding the presentation was well-received by his students. "In the 14 years that I have been here at Woodbridge High School, there has never been an assembly like this one. All of our students were highly engaged."
Chase said, "We as a school district can't always bring quality professional productions to our students. Economically, many of our students would never have the opportunity to be exposed to professional programming. The foundation is a needed resource for the western Sussex community."
Other arts in education programming from the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation have included a poetry program and the legacy mural project. “Adding this new initiative to the programming stays true to the mission of the foundation, which is ‘partnering to present memorable performances and provide inspired arts education for all,’" said Denise DiSabatino Allen, community outreach, education and volunteer coordinator.
"The hip hop program gave students the opportunity to see the connection the arts have in their everyday lives," she said. "They were able to connect personally, but were also able to actively participate in various ways, which made the performances more meaningful." Exposure to the arts for students opens up a world of creativity, which is an important part of child development. Chase said, “It allows them to dream dreams."
