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Local Organization Promotes Education Through Dance

By Justin Udo

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Crowds gathered at Clark Park in West Philadelphia on Sunday to watch break dancers from the organization Hip Hop Fundamentals give a history lesson about civil rights in America through dance.

The dancers performed over samples of Martin Luther King Jr.'s speeches. They read from a variety of civil rights documents and they encouraged the audience to participate in scenarios that showed the negative effects of discrimination.

"We are also using today's performance as a way to inspire others to help us out," said Aaron Troisi, Education Director at Hip Hop Fundamentals, "because we're actually trying to raise money to tour this show to ten under-resourced public schools at no cost to the schools."

Troisi says educational art programs are needed more than ever in Philadelphia public schools.

They've actually decided to cut a number of arts programs all across the city," he said. "I know in a number of elementary schools they're entirely losing their music programs.

The organization is looking to raise $10,000 to tour their show throughout the city.

 

 

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