C.P. Blakely School, Ecole Our Lady of the Rosary School and Ecole Mother Teresa School recently learned about hip hop culture for a good cause.
Hip Hop for MD is a program run by organizer Kim Reinhart, which raises funds and awareness for muscular dystrophy - a hereditary disease marked by the progressive weakening and wasting of the muscles.
“My friend Kim Reinhart invited us to teach hip hop dance with DJ Sabotage at the schools for Muscles in Motion, which raises money for muscular dystrophy,” Pound It Hip Hop Instructor Rico Martinez said. “We are teaching them the foundations and culture of hip hop, and we are teaching them the original style of hip hop - which is breaking.”
According to Martinez, the students’ response has been really positive.
“Really great - the kids like it; they are having a lot of fun and it is a lot of exercise for them,” Martinez said. “Some of them have said they want to come and join our studio in Red Deer.”
Hip Hop for MD is in its second year, after being re-branded from Hop for MD.
“It was originally called hop for MD but with some hip hop stars in the area - we thought we would make it a little more fun,” Reinhart said. “The whole school participates and what they have done is take pledge forms home to get sponsors and donations for muscular dystrophy.
Reinhart was pleased that Pound It Hip Hop Studio was able to donate their time to this project.
“Today we have Rico from Pound It Hip Hop Studio in Red Deer, and he is instructing along with local B-boy Sabotage,” she said, during the session at C.P. Blakely. “They are going over basics with each class. They have about a half hour with each class. They learn a variety of hip hop styles to get them moving and grooving.”
“It is really important for us to get kids out doing something positive, which also helps keep them out of trouble. We also want them to learn the culture,” Martinez added.
The event also raises awareness about Muscles In Motion, which is a fun run and fitness challenge taking place in Sylvan Lake on May 27, 2017. If you would like to register for this event, you can log on to muscle.akaraisin.com and search for Sylvan Lake. There are other options to support this cause as well.
“They can go online to Muscular Dystrophy Canada, where they can donate there,” Reinhart said, adding “thank you, Sylvan Lake schools, for coming out and supporting us again.”
todd.vaughan@sylvanlakenews.com