Self-confidence, self-expression, team work, creative writing, movement and most of all fun, were all part of a recent workshop by award-winning hip-hop artist, performer, director and community worker Morganics.
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Students from Eden’s Youth Centre joined kids from Wallaga Lake and Bega on Friday, January 20 for day two of the workshop at Bega’s Funhouse Studio.
Morganics shared the three elements of hip-hop, which include music, dance and art, with the students who choreographed a dance to a song produced during the workshop.
“In Eden there’s no hip-hop dance classes so I’m hoping we can bring the kids up to Bega more often when school gets back.”
- Eden youth worker Timika Michelin
A Morganics workshop in Wilcannia in 2002 lead to the recording of the Deadly award winning song, Down River, by the The Wilcannia Mob.
The song was later reworked by Sri Lankan-British artist M.I.A. for her track, Mango Pickle Down River, for her 2007 album, Kala, receiving international acclaim.
Campbell Page youth workers Timika Michelin and Nathan Lygon drove 10 students aged 10 to 16-years-old along for the rare opportunity for them to delve into the world of hip-hop culture.
“They all had a ball,” Ms Michelin said this week.
“We had a lot of good feedback from the kids, they all had a great time.
“I would’ve liked to bring more but we could only have 10 seats in the bus.”
For many of the students it was their first music workshop experience.
“It’s something good for them because for some of them they hadn’t experienced something like that before,” she said.
“It’s also good that they all the kids from the different towns got to meet each other, because they don’t get to mingle with the Bega crew.
“In Eden there’s no hip-hop dance classes so I’m hoping we can bring the kids up to Bega more often.”
The workshop was organised by Funhouse Studio’s director Cayce Hill.
”The reason someone like Morganics coming down here is so important, is that it exposes kids to another world they wouldn't have access to otherwise,” Ms Hill said.
“It’s a world that is easy for a lot of young people to connect with, and gives them an alternative way to communicate and express themselves.
“Workshops like this are especially important in rural communities, where usually the television, or the radio, or pop culture, are their only reference.
“Someone like Morganics brings an authentic lesson to our community, so it is really special.”
Ms Michelin said the workshop when combined with Fling Physical Theatre’s organised performance by visiting dancer Ngioka Bunda-Heath made for an exciting and unique week for the students.
