WEST ORANGE, NJ – Hazel Elementary School hosted “Principles of Hip Hop: Peace, Love, Unity, and Having Fun” on March 5, integrating lessons of creativity, cultural awareness, and critical thinking to expand students’ learning through the arts.
The Hazel PTA sponsored the assembly, which is part of the Young Audiences – Arts for Learning program. Founded in 1973, “All YA programs are child-centered, outcome-driven, and measurably effective. Programs are designed to meet our four core guiding principles:
- EXPERIENCE high quality art by professional artists
- UNDERSTAND the art form and its role and context in the world
- CREATE art and explore the creative process
- CONNECT the arts and creativity to life and learning
Our programs align with New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards in the Arts, NJDOE SEL Competencies, National Core Arts Standards, and 21st Century Skills.”
Four talented breakdance artists used an interactive approach to discuss and demonstrate hip hop culture. Students were surprisingly knowledgeable about Hip Hop history.
Hip Hop was born on Aug. 11, 1973 at a backyard party in the Bronx while DJ Kool Herc entertained. He began extending the instrumental beat on his turntable (breaking and scratching the LP) to lengthen the song and emcee it as he played. That became “rap.” Little did anyone know that Hip Hop would become a worldwide phenomenon that added credibility to Black History through its message.
YA has been presenting the program since 2010, which features the foundational elements of Hip Hop: music, dancing, culture, and art.
Students embraced the program, cheering for the artists and dancing along with them. A highlight of the assembly came at the end, when Hazel Principal Joel Castillo, School Counselor Flo Chirichiello, and several teachers went onstage with the artists and showed off some breakdancing moves of their own.
SEE PHOTOS FROM THE HIP HOP ASSEMBLY HERE.
School counselor Florence Chirichiello (left) and Principal Joel Castillo (right) with artists and students
SEE A VIDEO CLIP BELOW.
