“Unity Festival is a FREE, youth-focused Hip Hop festival happening July 13-15, 2017 featuring some of the city’s top current and upcoming talent in beatboxing, spoken word, MCing, graffiti art, break dancing, all styles dance and more!

Day 1: The Unity MC/Spoken Word & Graffiti Exhibition

Tangerine presents Unity MC / Spoken Word & Graffiti Exhibition 2017 in partnership with R.I.S.E.
Thursday July 13th – 3-11pm • Free entry

The Unity MC /Spoken Word & Graffiti Exhibition is back for 2017 and we are celebrating 10 years of Hip-Hop, Dance, Spoken Word, MC’ing and Beatbox with special guests.

Unity Fetsival 2017 kicks off on Thursday, July 13th at Geary Lane with our annual MC / SPOKEN WORD & GRAFFITI EXHIBITION in partnership with R.I.S.E., SKETCH & VIBE ARTS. The night showcases som eof Toronto’s most prolific music and visual artists alongside the most promising youth performers selected form UNITY, VIBE ARTS, and SKETCH’S city-wide after school and drop-in programs.

This year we are very proud to host two of Canada’s leading artist educators who will lead the exhibition with presentations on how they empower and effect change in individuals and communities. STEPHEN “BUDDHA” LEAFLOOR is an internationally recognized and awarded social worker, celebrated dancer, and founder of BLUPRINTFORLIFE, which has brought empowerment, hope and real social change in Canada’s north and urban centers.

DR. AUDREY HUDSON, is an assistant professor at OCAD University where she has developed two courses on teh influence of Hip-Hop art and design practices who views teh arts as a tool to begin decolonizing education because of teh creative platform it provides for historically marginalized communities.

Day 2: Dance Exhibition & Beatbox Competition

Tangerine presents Unity Dance Exhibition & Beatbox Competition 2017.
Friday July 14th – 5-11pm • Free Entry

On Friday July 14th we are very excited to host our UNITY DANCE EXHIBITION & BEATBOX BATTLE at UNDERPASS PARK, under the Eastern Avenue, Richmond and Adelaide Overpasses. The DANCE EXHIBITION features Toronto’s top youth nand professional street dancers in a number of different battles highlighting hip-hop, breaking, popping, and house, Our first round will focus on the community youth and alumni who have developed their skills alongside the guidance of Unity’s program faciliatators.

For the second round, selected mentors from various established dance crews will battle alongside their top students against other mentor/student crews. And for our last round, a number of the most well-respected crews including CASINO BOYS, TENSE IMAGE, ALIBINO ZEBRAZ, WAREHOUSE JACKS, and many more will face off against each other for the first time on Unity’s dancefloor.

Once again, BEATBOX CANADA, the most respected champion of the beatbox community will showcase the underrated art of vocal percussion with an epic battle between Toronto’s top beatboxers in a 1 vs 1 musical battle for 20 years and under. Battle judges are Unity Alumni PARALLEL (Sparx & Psyriene) and WORDOFMOUF (Killabeatz & Subconcious) will represent this art as a part of the human narrative and beatboxers as true musicians while inspiring young talent to pursue new ways of artistic expression through their performances.

RULES/HOW TO ENTER FOR BEATBOX BATTLE
– Must be a Canadian Citizen 20 years of age or under
– Email beatboxcanada@gmail.com with your name, age and city to register by June 1st, 2017
– Capped at 16 entries, first come first serve so email and contact ASAP!
– Open elimination at event, all participants will have 90 seconds to showcase their skills
– TOP 4 beatboxers will be chosen to battle for prizes
– Battles are 2 x 90 seconds rounds, 3rd place battle will happen as well

LOCATION:
UNDERPASS PARK
29 Lower River St.
Toronto, Ontario
FREE ENTRY

Day 3: Unity Concert
Tangerine presents Unity Concert 2017
Saturday July 15th – 3-11pm • Free Entry

TORONTO!!!!! The Unity Festival is back for 2017 and we are celebrating 10 years of Hip-Hop, Dance, Spoken Word, MC’ing and Beatbox with a line up that includes the return of …

MAIN SOURCE celebrating the 25th Anniversary of their classic album “Breaking Atoms” with an all star line up that includes LARGE PROFESSOR, K-CUT, MIKEY D, NEEK THE EXOTIC & JOE FATAL.

Joining this legendary rap group are TOBi, LOS POETAS, THE SORORITY, RED SLAM fest. MAHLIKAH AWE:RI, JAYD INK, LOLA BUNZ, EBHONI, SAMBA SQUAD YOUTH TROUPE, ZAKISHA BROWN, MOBI MAWLA, YANNICK GREEN, DJ MENSA & ICED MISTO

Hosted by none other than:
R.CHUNG, DIAMOND OSOTEO, & BRITTA B.
_______________________

LOCATION:
DAVID PECAUT SQUARE
215 King St. West @ John ST.
Toronto, Ontario
FREE ENTRY

unitycharity.com | #unitycharityTO”

-posted with permission from UNITY Charity
Read UNITY Charity’s profile on ArtBridges’ Community-Engaged Arts Directory & Map