THE Limerick Hip Hop Intervention Jam 2014 kicks off later this Wednesday at the UL Sport Arena from 4.30pm-6.30pm. This free event is open to all and will be the culmination of the celebration of Hip Hop which will be taking place around the Special Olympics, involving young people of mixed abilities from various communities in Limerick City who participate in the Limerick Hip Hop Intervention Project.
Over 250 participants are expected at this afternoon’s event.
The Limerick Hip Hop Intervention Jam 2014 is being supported by Limerick City of Culture and Enable Ireland and will feature many national and international hip hop stars, as well as local young people. Lead by local hip hop dancer Barry “BazzyB” Burke, the line up includes the internationally renowned BadTasteCru from the UK, plus San Francisco dance artists Michelle “Mystique” Lukmani and Chris “Fluid Girl” Young, all of whom will be in Limerick rehearsing for a hip hop theatre adaptation of “The Táin”, which opens at The Milk Market in July. Topping off this top class line-up will be the inspirational US dancer Tommy Gunns Ly, who has overcome adversity to set up Ill Abilities, an international hip hop crew made up of dancers with various physical limitations.
The Limerick Hip Hop Intervention Project was set up in September 2013 by Dr Elizabeth O’Mahony, Paediatric Neurology Consultant at University Hospital Limerick and Barry Burke, Dance Teacher, with the aim of reducing the segregation experienced by young people with disabilities as well as young people from marginalised areas of the city. Through hip hop, the Project provides a fun social activity that all young people – those with mixed abilities and their peers, siblings and friends – can enjoy together. Classes take place all around the city in schools, halls and youth centres, including Moyross, Ballinanty, West End and Southhill, as well as in Down Syndrome Limerick and UL Sport Arena.
In addition, with the support of the University of Limerick, Enable Ireland and St Gabriel’s, Dr Elizabeth O’Mahony and Áine O’Dea, Senior Occupational Therapist St Gabriel’s, have been researching the effects of dance intervention on children with mixed abilities including Autism, Developmental Co-ordination Disorder and ADHD. Reflecting on the research, Dr O’Mahony says “The positive effects of this type of dance that includes dance steps, gymnastics and acrobatics are evident even after a few sessions. The children are growing in confidence and self-esteem, while the added benefits of improved motor planning and co-ordination skills can be taken out of the dance hall and into every day activities of daily living”.
Limerick Hip Hop Intervention Project
The young people of the Limerick Hip Hop Intervention Project will also be performing at the Opening Ceremony of the Special Olympics 2014 on June 12th. In addition, many of these young people will also be providing dance entertainment for athletes, families and friends on Saturday June 14th at the Olympic Village at UL.
Tommy Gunns Ly
This is US professional dancer Tommy Gunns Ly’s second trip to Limerick, following a successful visit in 2013. Tommy Gunns Ly is the Director of Hip Hop dance crew “Ill Abilities”, which is made up of dancers with various physical limitations. Tommy is the inspirational leader of this group, having lost a leg to bone cancer in recent years. In spite of this challenge, Tommy enjoys great success internationally in his own right and with his Ill-Abilities Cru. See www.bboytommyguns.com for further details.
The Táin – Hip Hop dance theatre production in Limerick this summer
This summer, an exciting and innovative production of The Táin will be performed at The Milk Market from 20-25 July. Choreographed by Barry “BazzyB” Burke and professional hip hop theatre company BadTasteCru, this hip hop adaptation of the epic Irish tale will add a whole new dimension to theatre for Limerick audiences. Further details from www.limerickcityofculture.ie
