Dance: Hip Hop Encounters, April 5, 2025, thrilling dance programme

There is tremendous anticipation for Hip Hop Encounters on Saturday, April 5, 2025 at 2pm at Artscape. Hip Hop Encounters is a vital programme for social change which has brought joy and skills development in dance crews across the greater Cape Town area. Read on for the updated programme for Saturday, April 5. Please note new start time – 2pm. Info as supplied:

Hip Hop Encounters – A dance programme developing young talent 

Hip Hop Encounters builds on the vibrant history of street dance and Hip Hop culture in Cape Town, to develop constructive networks and professionalism in Dance. It was programme of events that included workshops and master classes in Atlantis with internationally acclaimed mentors like Lyrical Deezy and DJ Ready D and the Concrete Apostles. 

 A showcase performance of the outcomes will be presented at Artscape Theatre in Cape Town on April 5 from 14:00.

The first Hip Hop Encounters workshop was held on February 16 and it was hosted by DJ Ready D.  The second workshop was on Sunday February 23 hosted by Concrete Apostles at Saxonsea Primary Hall in Atlantis.

The focus was on:

• Move exchanges & routines – Learning and refining dance techniques.
• Industry Insights – How to turn dance into a career.
• Global Experience – Sharing knowledge from international competitions and coaching.
* Award-winning and multi-title champion break dancers joining the programme:
• Brandon – Multiple Red Bull BC One champion.
• Shorty (BVK, formerly Prophets of the City) – Renowned competitor and dance judge.
• Ramone – Two-time SA Dance Champion, member of Prophets of Da City & BVK.

Other workshops were hosted by Lyrical Deezy. He has done industry work as a choreographer for brands like Pepsi, KFC, Red Bull and GStar Raw. He is proficient in the styles of Hip Hop, Popping and locking, House Dance and Amapiano and in 2022 won Choreographer of the year at the South African Dance Awards. 

Lyrical Deezy  (Densley Carolissen) is the founder of the Elite Movement Dance Studio and a dance teacher with extensive international experience including Greece, USA, Italy and Germany. 

Very Real Time South Africa believes unequivocally in the Performing Arts as a powerful tool for bringing about social change. Working together on creative projects is a proven way of breaking down barriers and fostering understanding. The focus is on collaboration and creative work as a means to build skills and a family of dancer crews across the greater Cape Town area.

Hip Hop Encounters: In partnership with the National Arts Council, Artscape and Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport of Western Cape Government.

❇ Featured image – the group Concrete Apostles are presenting a work at  Hip Hop Encounters in Cape Town at Artscape on April 5, 2025. The performers are Mika-Eel Schroeder, Moegamat Safodien and Brandwon Petersen. Sponsored content. Images supplied.