The Curitiba University Theater (TUC) hosts, from March 12 to 14, the project “Hip Hop: Diving into the Flow,” a three-day immersion in the pillars of hip hop culture, such as rap, DJing, breaking, and graffiti, with an emphasis on the local scene and on women’s leadership. The program is free and is part of the first season of hip hop-oriented projects supported by Curitiba’s Program for Support, Promotion, and Incentive to Culture, from the Curitiba Cultural Foundation (FCC) and the City Hall.
Conceived by Curitiba singer and songwriter Janine Mathias, the project brings together national rap artists and names from the Curitiba scene in gatherings at the TUC and on the venue’s steps. “There are still not enough public policies that truly support hip hop artists, especially women. When I started out, there wasn’t a call like this. My motivation is to open a smoother path so that these artists can shine and have real support,” says Janine. For MC Handal, an artist mentored by Janine, “to break down barriers it will be necessary for both bookers and the general public to seek to recognize local artists who also deserve opportunities and appreciation, as well as artists from outside.”
The opening, on Tuesday (12) at 5:00 p.m., will feature a DJ set with DJ Mitay and São Paulo DJ Vivian Marques, followed by a workshop on the history of national rap focusing on female leadership and women songwriters. On the 13th, starting at 1:30 p.m., the TUC hosts the show “RAP – An Immersion,” in which Janine invites MCs Serena, A-KA, Cicca, and Lilith, while the artist DePaula carries out a graffiti intervention on the venue’s steps.
The closing on March 14 begins at 3:00 p.m. with a talk on the history and importance of hip hop culture, with the participation of Afroragga and Janine. After that, there will be a pocket show with Afroragga, MC Handal, and DJ Mitay, as well as breaking performances with Cicca and Kaw Black. For dancer Kaw Black, the massive presence of women in the line-up is a milestone: “We still see few girls in breaking battles, and [the event] can energize the scene even more, especially for women.”
Paradigm shift
Janine emphasizes that the project is born from a community perspective. According to her, “Hip Hop: Diving into the Flow” is a spin-off from a previous tour and seeks to be a meeting point, a reference venue for exchanges, and “a celebration of our culture.” Although for the organizer the event represents a paradigm shift for the Curitiba public that insists on not recognizing peripheral culture, she points out that the capital has been becoming a fertile space for the arts, as with the extension course on Hip Hop at UFPR: “Curitiba is already the city of beatmakers and has great women at the forefront of our hip hop. The idea is that this year will be one of spin-offs, with many projects like this. Hip hop is still in the streets and remains a movement of transformation.”
The project opens a circuit that also includes actions such as Hip Hop em Ação, Retomada Margina, Sarau HipHop: Expressões da Rua, Academia do Hip Hop, Travessias no Hip-Hop – 3 Dias de Hip Hop no TUC, and Liturgia das Ruas, composing a monthly calendar dedicated to hip hop culture in Curitiba.
Schedule:
12/03 — Opening & DJ Culture (5:00 p.m.)
DJ Mitay • DJ Vivian Marques
Workshop: History of RAP and female leadership
13/03 — Shows & Graffiti (1:30 p.m.)
Show “RAP – An Immersion” – Janine Mathias
MCs: Serena • A-KA • Cicca • Lilit
Graffiti: DePaula
14/03 — Hip Hop & Reflection (3:00 p.m.)
Talk with Afroragga
Pocket show: Afroragga • MC Handal • DJ Mitay
Breaking: Cicca • Kaw Black
Details:
Hip Hop: Diving into the Flow
Location: Curitiba University Theater (TUC) — Júlio Moreira Gallery, Tv. Nestor de Castro, s/nº - Centro, Curitiba - PR
Dates: March 12, 13, and 14
Free
