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| ROKAFELLA AND KWIKSTEP
Rokafella and Kwikstep are co-founders and co-artistic directors of Full Circle Productions, a Hip-Hop dance theater company that offers an equal balance of men and women in presentations of authentic Hip-Hop dance technique from NYC Hip-Hop street culture. Founded in 1996 (inc. 1998) by veteran hip-hop performers Rokafella (A. Garcia) and Kwikstep (G.Dionisio), Full Circle offers 360 degrees of NYC hip-hop culture informed by the urban artistic experience, reaching musically from percussion to turn-table to beat-box; from hip-hop, latin, garage and house to spoken word and the visual world of graffiti artists. Their hip-hop dancing references breaking, uprocking, poppin' and lockin', plus Latin, African and house styles. Kwikstep and Rokafella bring the fullness of an urban artistic world through their multi-ethnic 12-member dance company including 4 core musicians, their choreography and interdisciplinary collaborations. Their latest project Soular Power'd was presented at P.S. 122, New World Theater and the New Victory Theater. They bring a standard of hip-hop steeped in street history and authentic dance technique to connect soul energy and help keep the light lit for the next generation. Rokafella (Anita Garcia) began dancing at the age of sixteen and loves every style of Hip-Hop dance as well as Salsa, House and African dance. She has been featured in videos and a number of shows in the New York area. With her husband Kwikstep, she co-founded Full Circle Productions and co-directed a Hip-Hop dance theater show based around city living entitled Soular Power'd in which she shared her dance, poetry and singing talents. She believes in the positive energy found in the struggle of everyday life. Kwikstep (Gabriel Dionisio) - internationally known dancer/ instructor/ choreographer/ poet/ actor /drummer began dancing at the age of 8 and worked his way up from the parties to clubs and later to touring and then to theater where for the last ten years he has contributed to pushing the standards of a new genre called Hip-Hop theater. He co-founded a dance theater company Full Circle with his wife Rokafella. Their first directorial debut, Soular Power'd, was enthusiastically received for fusing elements of urban arts on stage. This production is starting to make its rounds inspiring diverse audiences. He has appeared in many music videos, commercials and film. He hopes to one day have a space where urban arts can be taught and provide studio space for artists to create. He has taught many students how to go from amateur to professional and keeping it real on both underground and commercial realms. "do what you feelSfeel what you do" is his mantra. Angel Rodriguez - master percussionist has played with the greats such as Tito Puente Totico y sus Rumberos, among others. Currently, he teaches/mentors teen-age drummers in high schools around the city. Angel is also a songwriter, poet and actor. In the Hunt's Point section of the South Bronx, he keeps the Bronx's music history alive by offering Mambo to Hip-Hop tours. He has worked with Rokafella and Kwikstep since 1999.
ARTISTIC STATEMENT Inspired from the street and brought into theaters, Full Circle offers a full spectrum of hip-hop that is approachable and straight-from-the-heart generous; they want to educate the rest of the country that hip-hop is not only what the popular media offers. It's about real people, striving to change and grow; it's about survival and moving past any limitations through the power of creativity in the body, the beat and the song.
REPERTORY THE DUEL (2002) Rokafella's comedic solo exploring the duality and the duel of dance between her Salsa and Hip-Hop roots. The everyday dilemma about which impression to make with which shoes, both are appealing but portray different images. First debuted at Pepatian's Bronx Artist Spotlight in 2003. 1 dancer. RT: 7-10 minutes INTERSECTION (2001) duet with Rokafella and Kiwkstep of a street scene. RT: 10 minutes. BRIDGIN' THE GAP (2000) duet with Kwikstep and percussionist Angel Rodriguez as father and son conversation about Latino identity that travels from Hip-Hop to Salsa/Mambo to Africa. Excerpt from Soular Power'd (2002) performance at P.S. 122. RT:10-15 minutes KWIK 2 ROK (2000) Hip-Hop dance duet with Kwikstep and Rokafella. RT: 7-10 minutes HISTORY & DEVELOPMENT OF HIP-HOP DANCE (2000) an informative lec/dem on the historical development of Hip-Hop dance.
RESIDENCY ACTIVITIES Kwikstep and Rokafella have taught throughout New York State, Massachusetts and overseas in Japan. Outreach projects include dance (poppin', lockin' and breakin'), spoken word, song and percussion workshops, Q&A audience discussions, and lec/dems. Angel Rodriguez offers percussion workshops.
Copyright © 2003 Pepatián. All rights reserved.
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