Hip-Hop Dance Conservatory
Encyclopedia
The Hip-Hop Dance Conservatory (HDC) is a not-for-profit organization and the only conservatory for hip-hop dance in the world. HDC trains students year-round in the different styles of hip-hop dance (popping
, locking
, and breaking
, etc.) as well as in academics related to both hip-hop culture and dance
, such as Anatomy and Physiology, Dance Kinesiology, and Hip-Hop History. In addition to the curriculum, HDC students also comprise the conservatory's performing repertory
troupe.
HDC was founded in 2002 in New York City
by Safi A. Thomas who currently serves as the school's Artistic Director. Baya Voce from The Real World: Brooklyn
auditioned for the conservatory during the filming of the show in 2008. Her audition and acceptance call from Thomas was later shown on television when the series aired in 2009. She declined the offer, stating the strict military-style teaching style of Thomas was the reason.
Popping
Popping is a street dance and one of the original funk styles that came from California during the 1960s-70s. It is based on the technique of quickly contracting and relaxing muscles to cause a jerk in the dancer's body, referred to as a pop or a hit...
, locking
Locking (dance)
Locking is a style of funk dance, which is today also associated with hip hop. The name is based on the concept of locking movements, which basically means freezing from a fast movement and "locking" in a certain position, holding that position for a short while and then continuing in the same...
, and breaking
B-boying
B-boying, often called "breakdancing", is a popular style of street dance that was created and developed as part of hip-hop culture among African Americans and Latino youths in New York City. The dance consists of four primary elements: toprock, downrock, power moves and freezes...
, etc.) as well as in academics related to both hip-hop culture and dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
, such as Anatomy and Physiology, Dance Kinesiology, and Hip-Hop History. In addition to the curriculum, HDC students also comprise the conservatory's performing repertory
Repertory
Repertory or rep, also called stock in the United States, is a term used in Western theatre and opera.A repertory theatre can be a theatre in which a resident company presents works from a specified repertoire, usually in alternation or rotation...
troupe.
HDC was founded in 2002 in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
by Safi A. Thomas who currently serves as the school's Artistic Director. Baya Voce from The Real World: Brooklyn
The Real World: Brooklyn
The Real World: Brooklyn is the twenty-first season of MTV's reality television series The Real World, which focuses on a group of diverse strangers living together for several months in a different city each season, as cameras document their lives and interpersonal relationships...
auditioned for the conservatory during the filming of the show in 2008. Her audition and acceptance call from Thomas was later shown on television when the series aired in 2009. She declined the offer, stating the strict military-style teaching style of Thomas was the reason.