U.S. Mission brings hip-hop & breakdance culture to Kazakhstan

Aisha Fukushima will perform and lecture on the subject of American Hip-Hop Culture in Almaty, Astana, Pavlodar and Shymkent during September 10th through 22nd. "Planet B-Boy" will be broadcast on September 15th at 3:30pm in Kazakh and September 16th at 8.30am in Russian on Channel 31, the US Diplomatic Mission to Kazakhstan said.

Aisha Fukushima

With a unique blend of hip-hop performances and educational activism, Aisha Fukushima will teach the history and context of American hip-hop culture.  Her work has been featured in Oprah and HYPE magazines. She will perform alongside local breakdance troupes and hip hop performers in each city. Her specific dates are Shymkent: Sept. 11-13 (performance Sept. 12 at Mega Mall at 7pm) Almaty:  September 14-15 (performance Sept. 14 at Mega Mall at 6:30pm), Pavlodar: Sept. 15-16 (performance Sept. 15 at Palace of Culture at 6 pm) and Astana: September 18-20 (performance Sept. 19 at TBD at Z pm).  

Planet B-Boy

Planet B-Boy features extensive thrilling footage of international-level breakdancers -- also know as "B-Boy" dancing -- in competition, as well as amazing street performances by the different "crews " (breakdancing  teams) from around the world.  The film highlights crews representing France, Japan, South Korea, and the United States in their quest to win the "Battle of the Year," the annual B-Boy international championship.  This film was shown at numerous festivals around the world after originally making its debut on at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2007 and has won numerous awards. 

American Hip Hop Culture

Now an integral part of American mainstream culture, Hip Hop originated in the African-American  community in the 1970s in New York City , specifically within the Bronx neighborhood, during an influx of Jamaican immigrants. While "hip-hop" is often used to refer to just music , in its broader sense hip hop culture is characterized by the four elements of rapping , DJ-ing , breakdancing (or "b-boy") and graffiti . Since its emergence in the South Bronx , hip hop culture has spread to both urban and suburban communities internationally.

Hip hop is simultaneously a new and old phenomenon -- It follows in the footsteps of earlier American musical genres like blues , jazz , and rock and roll  and today is one of the most practiced genres of music in existence worldwide. It takes additional inspiration regularly from soul music , funk , and rhythm and blues .  At its best, hip hop has given a voice to the voiceless and poverty-stricken  worldwide, particularly youth in inner cities and showcases their artistic ingenuity and talent on a global scale.

Read more here http://kazakhstan.usembassy.gov/