Intersections Artist: Urban Artistry

An Interview

Jacqueline Lawton: What type of artist are you?
Urban Artistry: Our core group consists of an international collective of artists, dancers, orators, designers, vocalists, musicians, photographers and educators, who remain focused on the authentic and complete representation of urban dance genres. They include (but are not limited to): B-Boying / B-Girling , Popping, Locking, Hip –Hop, House Dance, Waacking, and Vogue.

JL: How do you feel your performance fits into the festival?
UA: Coyaba Dance Theater, Tappers With Attitude and Urban Artistry’s collaboration provides a multi-cultural, multi-generational performance that intersects various genres of dance, art, and music culture.

JL: Who are your heroes?
UA: Paying tribute to those that came before has been a mission for Urban Artistry since the beginning, those nameless, faceless people who spent their time on earth keeping our culture alive through movement and music, will always be remembered as our heroes.

JL: If you could be an animal, what would you be and why?
UA: The American Bald Eagle, because it is symbolizes Freedom.

JL: If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?
UA: Our individual members would all respond differently to this question based on the cultural dances that they represent. Some would choose to be studying in Asia, Africa or South America, while others would prefer to join the energy of a 1930’s era Speak Easy learning original Happy Feet and Lindy Hop techniques. Some would choose to be on a street corner or in a nightclub on the West Coast with the pioneers of the funkstyles movement, while some would chose to be in the South Bronx with the first break boys who ever got down.

JL: What is your favorite quote?
UA: And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music. -Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, philosopher (1844-1900)

JL: List 5 words that describe your personality?
UA: Authentic. Professional. Focused. Students, Educators.

JL: I am an intersection of…
UA: Cultural, Percussive and Urban dance forms.
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Urban Artistry, Coyaba Dance Theater and Tappers With Attitude
Origins, a joyful collaboration among three top DC dance companies celebrating the heritage and soul of African American dance.

Saturday, Feb 20 at 2:00 PM
Sunday, Feb 21 at 7:00 PM
Lang Theater
Tickets: $15 student / $20 adult
For Audiences of All Ages
http://www.urbanartistry.org/