Saturday, December 1, 2018

RACE PRESENTS 
hiphop nutcracker
DECEMBER 8 & 9
AT OCCC


RACE Dance Company mentors over 100 students from dance programs in eight Oklahoma City Public Schools for the seventh annual production of the Hip Hop Nutcracker (HHN). Show performances are set for 2:00 & 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 8th and 2:00 and 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 9th at Oklahoma City Community College Visual and Performing Arts Center located at 7777 S May Ave. in Oklahoma City.

Students involved in dance programs at Southeast High School, Douglass High School, John Marshall High School, Northwest Classen High School, Capitol Hill High School, Oklahoma Centennial Mid-High School, Classen SAS, and U.S. Grant High School will perform in the show. RACE Dance members mentor the kids once-to-twice a week leading up to the show from September.

“We go to teach them the choreography and fundamentals of hip-hop, but we leave knowing we’ve impacted these kids way beyond the dance floor,” Hui Cha Poos, Artistic Director for RACE Dance Company. “For many of these kids, this is life changing – being able to perform in a professional setting is something they never dreamt would be possible.”

Poos says HHN also advances RACE's mission to bring social awareness and change through dance performances and education.

“We bring kids together from different schools and different backgrounds in a non-competitive environment where it’s all about collaboration and inclusion. The result is truly magical – not just for the kids, the audience can see and feel it throughout the performance,” said Poos.

Set to high-energy music, and contemporary, hip hop and jazz moves, HHN tells the story of a young man, who searches for something missing from his life, only to discover that "it”, exists within himself. The take away for the audience is a message of perseverance, family and holiday spirit.

Individual tickets can be purchased for $20 online at or $25 at the door.

For more information about HHN, visit: racedance.com.

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ABOUT RACE DANCE COMPANY:
RACE Dance Company is a 501(c)3 organization that serves as an acronym for Radical Application of Creative Energy. RACE was founded and is directed by Hui Cha Poos, a faculty member at University of Central Oklahoma and world- renowned dancer and choreographer. Hui (pronounced “he”) recognized the lack of opportunity for professional dancers in Oklahoma City and similar sized cities in the US and sought to change this disparity in the hopes of cultivating professional dancers in her hometown. Now RACE is entering its 11th season and is still committed to bringing about social change and awareness through dance performances and dance education.
Each year, RACE presents 3-4 full length performances in Oklahoma. RACEy is a club-inspired show performed each fall that is meant to celebrate body confidence through hip hop and burlesque movement. Each December, the crowd favorite The Hip Hop Nutcracker gives students from more than 8 Oklahoma City Public Schools an opportunity to perform alongside the company in a fun, magical reimagining of the ballet classic with a message of self-acceptance and community. In July, RACE will offer a full-length concert work featuring hip hop, contemporary, and jazz dance. Last year, the 10th Anniversary Performance showcased over 20 of their favorite works from the past 10 years. This included pieces from many world-renowned choreographers including Jeremy Duvall, Eric Harleston, Adam Parson, Malaya, Christina Woodard, Missy Dray and more as well as a special appearance by RACE alumni dancers.
For more information visit racedance.com or follow RACE on Instagram (@RaceDanceCompany) and Facebook (@RaceDanceOKC).

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