Get ready to groove and feel the vibes with Melbourne’s
best dance crews at Block Party!
L2R Dance returns this spring with a fresh edition of their iconic Block Party, unifying Melbourne’s dance community with the best local crews taking to the stage on Saturday 28th October at Footscray Community Arts.
From Breaking to Krump, House to Hip Hop, Dancehall to Popping and Locking, Block Party will showcase the full spectrum of Street, Club and Hip Hop dance art forms with performances from Burn City Krump’s Oprhanz, Melbourne Afro Dancehall Community, Jam on Toast along with 50 incredible L2R program participants aged 6 to 25-years-old.
Block Party is presented by L2R Dance, a not-for-profit organisation based in Melbourne’s West dedicated to providing free dance programs, arts leadership opportunities and employment pathways for children and young people traditionally underrepresented or absent from mainstream arts and culture. Fostering belonging, wellbeing and cultural leadership, L2R nurtures creativity and transforms young people through the power of dance. L2R moves physically, socially and culturally.
“The creative chaos and community connections that ooze from the L2R Block Party are extraordinarily contagious. Bring the whole fam, this is one event where the kids can yell, scream, get up and most importantly get down. OH, and pack your (t)issues – well I always do as the talent is beyond and the hype is real!” said Jacinda Richards, L2R Dance founder, CEO, and Artistic Director.
This year, Block Party is taking the battle to a whole new level! Led by talented L2R artists and judged by esteemed artists; MaggZ, Demi Sorono and Trip, crews are competing for epic glory and a $1,000 cash prize.
Judge MaggZ is a Chinese movement artist, who trained in ballet and now specializes in waacking – a freestyle dance originated in 1970s LA from the Latinx and African-American queer communities whilst Demi Sorono, who hails from the Philippines, is a self-taught B-girl and Hip Hop dancer who made her mark as one of Australia’s favourite dancers on So You Think You Can Dance. Rounding out the judging trio is Trip – a member of one of Melbourne’s most prestigious dance crews, ‘Rewind’, and co-director of Mute Crew – 3peat winners of the national and long-running ‘Step Off’ Dance Competition.
In addition to the dance battle, nine dance collectives and individuals spanning street dance forms and cultural backgrounds will perform throughout the afternoon. Afrofusion outfits JC Collective, Kwabo and AMA as well as Jamaican dancehall specialists Out N Bad are among the line-up.
“As a member of Melbourne’s Afro-Dancehall community I’m super honoured to be joining our L2R family for this year’s Block Party. It’s nothing but love when we all get to jam together and the whole crew have something special planned for this year’s event, so you won’t want to miss out on these unforgettable vibez!” said Cat Sweeney, founding member of Jungle City and Melbourne Afro Dancehall Community.
Set on the lush green lawns of Footscray Community Arts, Block Party goers are invited to take in the breathtaking views of the Maribyrnong River and a soundtrack designed to make you move. Block Party beckons the entire crew, even the little ones, with free face painting, mouth-watering burgers from Beatbox Kitchen and the sweet delight of Rainbow Fairy Floss at this family friendly event!
L2R Dance – Block Party
Date: Saturday, 28th October 2023
Times: 12:00pm – 3:00pm
Location: Footscray Community Arts
Address: Riverside Lawn, 45 Moreland Street, Footscray
Tickets: FREE for under 18-year-olds, $20 Adult
Bookings: l2r.org.au/block-party
L2R Dance
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L2R is grateful for the generous funding support from Victorian State Government ‘s Multicultural Festival & Events Program & West Gate Tunnel Project’s West Gate Neighbourhood Fund
JUDGES:
MaggZ:
MaggZ is a Naarm-based queer Chinese movement artist, creative director and producer, trained in ballet and now specialised in waacking – a freestyle dance originated in 1970s LA from the Latinx and African-American queer community, predominantly involving arm movements. Traversing street dance battles, performances, installations, creative direction and producing, MaggZ’s practice centres aliveness, stillness, persistence and agency and aspires to honour the authentic self and lived experience through transdisciplinary explorations in both physical and digital landscapes. MaggZ is appointed as Producer in Residence at Next Wave (Naarm), and producer / performance art consultant at Collide24 (Berlin).
Demi Sorono:
Hailing proudly from the Philippines, Demi Sorono a self-taught B-girl and Hip Hop dancer, Demi has made her mark as one of Australia’s favourite dancers on “So You Think You Can Dance” in 2008. When it comes to performing on stage, she is a force to be reckoned with. A devoted mum to her 10-year-old son, she still manages to teach, perform, barber and massage. Demi is a pocket rocket who exudes an energy that is infectious and a commitment to her craft that can only be described as utterly fearless!
Vlad Akhchin:
Born in Russia, Vlad aka Trip started dancing from a very young age. Beginning his dance journey with Breakdancing, he ventured out into other styles such as Hip-Hop, Krump and Urban choreography. Not only is Vlad a member of one of Melbourne’s most prestigious dance crews, ‘Rewind’, he is also a co-director of Mute Crew – 3peat winners of the national and long-running ‘Step Off’ Dance Competition.
With a plethora of experience in winning and participating in both choreographed/freestyle dance competitions and performances respectively, some of Vlad’s achievements include Australia’s Got Talent, Everybody Dance Now, Masters of Choreography, Australian Hiphop Championships, Get Krumped, VHHC (Victorian Hip Hop Championships), Step Off and being the Australian Krump Champion for 2017. His more recent works include: “Up” presented by Mute Crews at DanceHouse, and the Burn City Krump showcase at City Sessions which was adapted for the Sydney Myer Music Bowl, supported by City of Melbourne, Arts Centre Melbourne and SIGNAL.
PERFORMERS:
Melbourne Afro Dancehall:
A collaboration between JC Collective (Jungle City Projects), AMA, Out N Bad, Kwabo Events, and Melbourne Afro Dance.
JC Collective is a diverse crew od dance performers, choreographers and creators based in Naarm who have come together to share their collective knowledge of street dance cultures including; Jamaican dancehall, Afrofusion and hip hop, to build stronger creative outcomes and opportunities for dancers in this space. They promote the importance of always respecting and practising dance with acknowledgement of the roots, culture and its creators.
AMA (Afro Movement Academy) showcases the culture of the modern Afrocentric movement and entertainment through Afrobeats. AMA welcomes anyone to join the Afrocentric urban dance community in Australia regardless of cultural background and heritage, not restricting the name Afro to one nation.
Out N Bad Performance Team, founded in 2021 by Rasta Huxx & DHQ GizzMery, specialise in Jamaican dancehall dance & culture. Empowering others to go after what brings them joy through dance and movement. A multidisciplinary creative bunch, each member has something special to contribute. Involving themselves in various dance activities such as performing for numerous community events, high profile Dancehall artists and the first Official Reggae Fest 2022, appearing in music videos (locally/abroad), and teaching masterclasses. Wherever they go, Out N Bad creates an energy that is infectious and makes you want to get up and dance, it’s all about the vybe and energy.
Kwabo means welcome in Fon (dialect from Benin).
Thus, Kwabo Events invites movers from all backgrounds and walks of life to dance in harmony on one rhythm and become part of this family. Led by the award-winning choreographer Gracieuse Amah aka Kwabo Grace, Kwabo Events combines traditional and modern African dances from West and Central, and empowers its members beyond dance, through cultural exchange and self-development. Kwabo Events runs weekly dance classes, intensive dance programs and international festivals.
Burn City Krump’s Orphanz:
A group of Melbourne’s most active Krumpers from different crews that are looking to spread the movement and educate people on what the true meaning of Krump is – which is to uplift, empower, create a supportive environment and most of all express oneself positively.
Jam on Toast:
In 2017 Jam on Toast (JOT) was hot out the toaster, lathered in jam and served in Melbourne’s dance community by Oliver Le and David Prakash. It acts as an open styles dance jam that occurs every Wednesday in Melbourne’s CBD and now Monday’s at Dancehouse – catering for all levels, styles, ages through the lens of empowerment and celebrating uniqueness.
Antagonize:
Gian aka Antagonize is a multidisciplinary artist born and raised in the Philippines, now based in Melbourne/Naarm when he migrated to Australia at the age of 14. He is respected as one of the leaders of the “Burn City Krump” community, which he has been a part of since 2008. Antagonize has taken some extensive training from some of the leaders and creators of Krump in Los Angeles, California, the birthplace of Krump (SLX – Street Legend Xperience private training with Tight Eyez, Building Block, Movement Lifestyle and Summer Jam Dance Camp, Singapore)
He has also performed at Asia TOPA (Asia-Pacific Triennial of Performing Arts), Masters of Choreography under the supervision of Arna Singleton. Competed in the world renowned dance competition, World Of Dance LA (2015) with Raw & Rugged Dance Crews directed by Jnr Afu’ie. Danced under the direction of Lowell Demetita in his winning piece at Grounded: Battle of the Arts 2015 & 2017. A former member of Mute Crew, a 3 Time Step Off Champion, dance crew from Melbourne, Australia under the supervision of Nak Assa.
