FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESeptember 10, 2013

ContactAshley Bright: 928 274 0722 ashley.bright@americanvoices.org

New York City, New York – First Step Iraq, comprised of dancers and rappers from Baghdad, Basra, Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, will train and make performance stops in New York, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Detroit and Boston as part of a “Hiplomacy” tour this October.

First Step will receive training in New York from world-renowned choreographers, breakdancers and recording artists, and will go on to perform at several high-profile events on their East Coast Tour. The Iraqi artists will present a show that reflects their daily struggle to practice their craft and showcase their talent in the often hostile environment of their home country.

The group of six that comprise First Step Iraq was chosen from more than 50 performers who auditioned over the summer as part of the YES Academy Iraq, a program of American Voices in partnership with the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

“The Hiplomacy tour grows out of seven years of hard work by these young breakdancers and rappers and the American Voices faculty of YES Academy Iraq. Since 2007 American Voices has been the only organization offering training in this unique American art form. First Step Iraq, representing the breadth and width of Iraqi geography, cultures, languages and confessional groups, gives U.S. audiences an opportunity to get to know Iraq’s new generation of Hip Hop activists: hopeful and dynamic, they have a compelling story to tell of perseverance, determination and the belief that Hip Hop can stimulate dialog and peaceful co-existence among the Iraq’s youth.”

- John Ferguson, Executive Director, American Voices

Members of the press are invited to visit the program daily by appointment from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. between October 5th and 14th at the Brooklyn Beast Studio in New York, where First Step will be available for interviews and photos. Press passes for tour performances are also available; please see schedule below for performance dates.

IRAQI HIP HOP GROUP TO TRAIN AND TOUR U.S.

From Iraq With Hip Hop#HIPLOMACY

For performance information and to follow the tour:americanvoices.org/hiplomacyFacebook.com/amvoicesTwitter.com/americanvoices

About YES Academy: The Academy is a comprehensive performing arts program for aspiring young musicians, actors and dancers, ages 8 - young adult, in Iraq, Lebanon, Sudan, Malaysia and Thailand. Every summer, each program accepts more than 200 youth to work with professional faculty from the U.S. Specific courses of study include rap, breakdance, theater, Broadway musical theater, orchestra, piano,guitar, composition and conducting. Learn more at yesacademy.info.

About American Voices: American Voices has been conducting cross-cultural engagement with audiences in more than 110 nations worldwide since 1993. In addition to the YES Academy, American Voices was also chosen to administer the American Voices Abroad Program by the U.S. Department of State. Learn more at americanvoices.org.

New York City October 8: I REMINISCE [SO YOU NEVER FORGET THIS], 6 p.m.First Step Iraq will perform and particpate in a panel exploring the global influences of Hip-Hop. Part of The South Bronx Culture Trail Festival: Birth of Hip Hop, presented by Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education and Dancing in the Streets. Pregones Theater, 571 Walton Avenue, Bronx, NY.

October 28: First Step Iraq and Hunter Symphony, 8 p.m.Music by Bach and Grieg, danced by First Step Crew.Hunter College Assembly Hall, E 69th St between Park & Lexington Avenues. Learn more: hunter.cuny.edu/music/concerts-events. PhiladelphiaOctober 17: Community Education Center Meeting House, 7:30 p.m. First Step will perform in collaboration with local Philadelphia breakdancers.

Washington, DC American University, School of International Service Atrium, 7 p.m.American University will host the group for an evening performance and panel discussion.

October 19: Edgewood Arts Building, 5:30 p.m. Meet & Greet- Urban Artistry and First Step Iraq, followed by an Artist Dialogue with First Step and Urban Artistry- “What is it like to be an artist in the U.S. and in Iraq?”3415 8th Street NE, Washington, DC.

DetroitOctober 20: Arab-American National Museum, 3 p.m. Performance and panel discussion, 13624 Michigan Ave, Dearborn, MI.

October 21: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 7 p.m.University of Michigan will host the group for a performance and panel discussion.

October 22: Michigan State University, Time TBD (evening) Michigan State will host the group for a performance and panel discussion.

October 22: Open Mic Night at The Foundation at 5E Gallery, 9 p.m.First Step puts on an open performance.

BostonOctober 23: Emmanuel College, 6 p.m.Emanuel College hosts the group for a performance.

October 24: United Teen Equality Center, 6 p.m.First Step wraps up the tour with an open performance.

James “Cricket” Colter

Charyse Bailey, “Mahogany Jones”

Michael Parks Masterson

James “Cricket” Colter is well known around the world as a respected choreographer and street dancer. He is a founding member of Rennie Har-ris Pure Movement (RHPM) and worked with the company for more than 16 years. His own work includes the successful Disney movie Step Up 2 the Streets and music videos for recording artists Boys II Men, KRS-1, Will Smith, Eve, Avril Lavigne and Fall Out-Boy. Cricket was also host of MTV Japan’s Dreamers television show.

Mahogany Jones is an international recording and perfor-mance artist, coming to American Voices by way of New York and Detroit. She is a newly appointed U.S. Hip-Hop Musical Ambassador, four time BET 106 & Park Freestyle Friday Champion, Kingdom Choice Award recipient and feminine lyrical phenomenon. Jones continues to be an avid advocate of the arts, a community activist, and edu-cator, who goes by the motto “It’s Bigger than Hip-Hop.”

Triple threat international music theatre performer, director and choreographer Michael Parks Masterson has been in high demand for more than two decades in 25 countries around the world. His directing credits include Grease, Bee-hive, Annie, Cotton Patch Gospel, Forever Plaid, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Songs for a New World, Seussical the Musical, Godspell, Once on This Island, Hairspray, The Foreigner, Noises Off and West Side Story. For seven seasons, his association with American Voices has taken him to nations such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sudan, Nepal, Sri Lan-ka and Tajikistan.

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