NYC

WE B*GIRLZ

Thursday, August 10, 2006, 5:30-7:10 p.m.
Josie Robertson Plaza, Lincoln Center
Free

Twenty-five years ago, the first breakin' battle for a large public audience was held at Lincoln Center Out of Doors. Henry Chalfant organized a battle between two New York break dancing groups to introduce breaking to the public. The original breakin' event, featuring all male dancers, held on August 15, 1981, was photographed by legendary hip-hop documentarian Martha Cooper who is now coordinating We B*Girlz: A 25th Anniversary Breakin' Event at Lincoln Center Out of Doors.

To honor the rise of the b-girlz, as well as pay homage to the b-boyz who paved the way, Lincoln Center Out of Doors and City Lore will present We B*Girlz: A 25th Anniversary Breakin' Event on Thursday, August 10th on the Josie Robertson Plaza at 6:00 p.m.

In the past 25 years, women have become a strong, driving force in the hip-hop scene. As documented in We B*Girlz (Miss Rosen Editions/powerHouse Books, 2005), the first book to showcase the b-girl scene worldwide. Cooper partnered with text editor Nika Kramer to speak with old and new school b-girlz around the globe about their work to redefine the role of women in a traditionally male-dominated field.

The We B*Girlz Lincoln Center Out of Doors event will feature an all-star international line-up of female performers, participants and judges. Emceed by Toni Blackman, New York, and featuring music spun by DJ Sparkles, Philadelphia. It will feature a 3-on-3 battle between four crews: Fox Force Five, New York City; Natural Born Killahz, New Jersey; Style Comes First, Philadelphia; and Flowzaic, London. There will also be performances by popper/locker Rowdy of Flowzaic as well as a group show by members of Keep Risin' to the Tops, a dance troupe based in Spanish Harlem. The judges include Rokafella, New York; Asia One, Los Angeles; and Aruna, Rotterdam. The backdrop will be painted by graffiti legend Lady Pink along with Toofly and Muck.

Prior to announcing the winner of the battle, Henry Chalfant will pay tribute to the original b-boyz from the 1981 event with dancer, JoJo Torres. When the winner is announced, Toni Blackman will freestyle with two members of her Cipher Workshop, in a grand finale, with everyone on stage taking part in a jam that recognizes the achievements of both b-boyz and b-girlz, as well as old school and new school styles.

City Lore and Martha Cooper's We B*Girlz: A 25th Anniversary Breakin Event at Lincoln Center Out of Doors is funded by National Endowment for the Arts and co-sponsored by City Lore, Inc. in collaboration with The Point, C.D.C.

For more information, please visit www.bgirlz.com .