Artists

Artist Bio

Haleem Ar-Rasheed discovered his passion to dance at an early age. Growing up in Detroit came with its own unique challenges that served as motivators and helped to manifest his creative and business ventures. His motto is “hardcore,” which represents success after struggle and overcoming hardships to achieve victory. Haleem established Hardcore Detroit® in 2001. Since then, he has instructed dance workshops internationally, judged and participated in dance tournaments throughout the nation, organized dance-related events in his hometown and produced relevant merchandising materials. Hardcore Detroit was voted “Best Dance Company” in the 2010 Real Detroit reader’s poll. www.HardcoreDetroit.com

ArtX Project Description

Title: The Jitterbugs: “Pioneers of the Jit
Medium: DVD Premiere & Performance
Year Created: 2011
Description: Special performance by Stringz of Hardcore Detroit and collaborators. Premiering the long awaited and exclusive documentary of the Jitterbugs, the group who innovated the beginning steps of Detroit’s own renowned dance form, the Jit. A Q&A will follow after the viewing. The audience will be able to interact with Stringz, Jitterbugs and other collaborators. There will be a special performance with Stringz and collaborators in a celebration of urban dance movements: Breakin', Jittin', Poppin', Housin', Lockin' and more Dance Workshop “The Jit” Prepare to sweat in this workshop, as Stringz will be instructing classic and modern Jit fundamentals. For Stringz, the stage is his canvas and his body moves like a brush within a balanced composition of technique and artistry. From the foundation of b-boying, the original hip-hop dance, he uses design elements of line, contrast, shape, pattern, juxtaposition, and repetition to create a smooth display that interprets the rhythms he encounters. Stringz discovered his creative instincts as a dancer almost sixteen years ago. As he matured, he learned discipline through the trials of everyday life and the intense ridicule of b-boying’s only teacher: "the cypher". Unlike modern jazz or ballet institutions, b-boying had no formal methods of instruction. Therefore, originality and perseverance became paramount and laid the groundwork for his personal brand: Hardcore Detroit®, honoring success after the struggle and overcoming hardships to achieve victory. B-boying is a boundless expression, a melting pot of dance. Stringz draws inspiration from nature, using the elements of fire, water, wind and earth to focus his mood and approach in execution. For example, during a performance, the embodiment of wind maintains his fluidity of movement, while in competition, fire generates his tenacity. Having reached a certain confidence in b-boying and exploring dance in other communities, he gained more appreciation for Detroit’s own innovations. Jit, a Detroit style of footwork dating back to the early 1970s, fuses rapid shuffles, floor work, and arm motions, creating complex patterns. After immersing himself in the culture and training with Jit’s pioneers and innovators, it was inevitable that he blur his b-boy identity with this new knowledge, coining the term “break-jitter”. Dance is a process of cracking codes. Through his research, observation, experimentation and vision, he uncovers new variations. His practice includes not only physical expressions in the studio but also the cataloging of ideas in his mental notebook. Moreover, he continues to explore how simple steps can be modified in new ways, allowing the development of intricate sequences. Stringz believes his interests in other creative fields, such as poetry and visual art, supplement his repertoire as a dancer. However, he finds dance to be a true path to the inner-self, not always possible in other disciplines. With his inner-self now revealed, he can confidently share his talents on a prominent platform. www.HardcoreDetroit.com