Studio owner and educator Kea Tesseyman and the KEA Dance Center is hosting a weekend of hip-hop culture and dance in Camden Sept. 19 and 20, and is inviting the community to share in the experience. 

'Bringin Culture to Camden' begins Friday evening, Sept. 19, when the Slaughterhouse Crew, members of the hip-hop supergroup, arrive in Camden to work with dance students. They continue classes on Saturday morning, Sept. 20, and then Saturday evening, a big fundraiser event will be held from 5 to 9:30 p.m. with guest artists Chickey (Breakin and history), Megatron (Poppin), Illana (Poppin), Aaron (Lockin), Lissome (Breakin), Yyoyo (Waackin) and KiKi (Hip Hop).

The fundraiser is to help sponsor free dance classes at KEA Dance Center throughout the year for those who cannot afford to pay for classes, dance clothes and performance costs.

Tesseyman hopes to see a broad cross-section of the community at the weekend's events, to be held at the KEA Dance Studio, 6 Virginia Ave in Camden.

“In our Midcoast community, opportunities for events like this are limited, especially here in Maine," she said. "As both a studio owner and director, I take my role seriously, particularly as a representative of authentic hip-hop in the state. I extend a sincere invitation to all studio owners who offer their interpretation of hip-hop to attend this event. My goal is to share the knowledge and resources I’ve worked hard to gather and to include all studios, so we can begin bridging the gap in dance education across the region."

There is no place for competition or division between studios, she said.

"As educators, we have a responsibility to present the authentic roots and truths of the styles we teach, and to show our students that collaboration and unity are far more powerful than exclusivity and rivalry,” Tesseyman said.

All are welcome to attend the Saturday evening family-friendly fundraiser ($30 per person with preregistration; $35 at the door) for the KEA Dance Scholarship Fund.

The evening will include a panel discussion about hip hop culture and its history. Area dancers are encouraged to take their parents and friends and talk about the roots and culture of hip-hop, the importance of becoming educated on the lineage of styles, musicology and the legends that created the styles — especially if one is a hip-hop dancer.

"The hope that in offering this event to the public is to help educate the Midcoast community on the true roots and history of hip-hop culture (not the watered down, commercialized or over-sexualized version)," said Tesseyman, who began studying hip-hop in 2004.

A dance teacher from the age of 18, she started leading classes at the Penobscot Bay YMCA, in Rockport, in 2002. Then, she explored the underground dance scene in Boston, driving four hours each way on a regular schedule, "because I was so hungry for education," said Tesseyman. "The only hip-hop I knew was what was in movies or on TV."

"“Hip hop is more than just a genre," said Chickey, the evening's lead history and culture speaker. "It is a culture, a movement, and a voice for the youth. It's about self-expression, storytelling, and empowerment. For young people, getting educated in hip hop's history and elements (MCing, DJing, breakdancing, graffiti) can be super impactful. It can help them develop their creativity, confidence, and critical thinking skills."

The weekend promises energy, passion, and the immersion into the hip-hop community.

Hip-hop originated in the 1970s in the Bronx. It is, said Megatron, Crew Leader, "a culture that has been derived from the inner city and is for young people to have the opportunity to dance, sing and express themselves in many different facets of life. The reason young people need to be involved in hip-hop is because they have the opportunity to learn life lessons, those lessons give them self-expression, how to fail, and then bounce back in a positive form and last, but not least how to interact with other individuals."

The Slaughterhouse Crew arriving from Boston will mix with the students and community in dance, performance and conversation.

"What could be expected from this weekend is education, which is something that has been lost throughout our communities," said Megatron. "This weekend we plan to give a educational representation of what true hip-hop is all about and we ask kids, teenagers and adults to attend this weekend’s festivities. We look forward to seeing you there.”

The schedule includes Friday evening classes and on Saturday:

10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., classes (see schedule)

5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Panel Discussion about the Hip Hop Culture and History

6:45 to 7 p.m., Hip Hop with Kiki , a fun, party styles dance for parents, dancers and community members, (host and studio owner)

7:30 to 9:30 p.m., Dance Party & hip-hop battle with D.J. Thunder

All ages are welcome. Click here to register for individual classes or the entire weekend.

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