24-26th of November | 2 vs 2 battles | Dance festival URBAN ESSENTIALS
Lukiškės Prison 2.0

Forward in time.

Bow our heads, kneel in the freez – the HIP-HOP culture that raised us celebrates 50 this year!
2013-2023 – Urban Essentials, the international festival of HIP-HOP culture, returns after a 10-year break.

A FEW IMPORTANT NAMES AND INTERESTING FACTS:
– In the summer of 1973, 16-year-old Jamaican immigrant Clive Campbell, later known as Kool Herc, changed pop culture forever. At 1520 Sedgwick Avenue, Kool Herc threw a birthday party for his little sister, which he called the “Back to School Jam”. It is said to have been the first Hip-Hop party.
“The first party was epic. After that, everyone was trying to recreate the energy of that night” (Grandmaster Caz, leader of The Cold Crush Brothers).

– In the autumn of 1974, Kevin Donovan, later known as Africa Bambaataa, began to unite the gangs in an effort to reduce the rampant gang violence. Bambaataa began to incorporate the most creative graffiti artists and breakdancers into the gangs. “The Universal Zulu Nation”, the first Hip-Hop subculture community, was born, with the slogan “Peace, Unity, Love and Having Fun” as its guiding principles.

– 2023 Lukiškės Prison 2.0, a place undergoing transformation in the centre of Vilnius. From imprisonment to a cultural space cultivating creativity. Lukiškės Prison 2.0 represents a conversion that is sorely lacking today. It is a new approach to culture, creativity, heritage, regeneration, sustainability, synergy and vibrant infrastructure.

– In 2012 and 2013 the HIP-HOP culture festival Urban Essentials was organised. After a 10-year break, it returns to give all urban dancers and urban dance lovers a date in their calendar to meet and celebrate the diversity of HIP-HOP culture.

IT IS TIME TO MEET. 

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FESTIVAL GUESTS:
DJ Renegade (U.K)
DJ Tomche (LT)
DJ Très Sticky (LT)
MC Svaras (LT)
MC Beep (LT)
MC GREAT (LT)

JUDGES (2vs2):
B-Boy Jurskee / Breaking (NL)
Jimmy Yudat / Hip-Hop (FR)
Kashmir / House (U.K)
Doma / Waacking (PL)
The 5th judge will be an active Lithuanian public figure from outside the dance field.

PRIZES AND PRIZE FUND:
Cash prizes and sponsors’ gifts.

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PROGRAM. 24-26 NOVEMBER:
Dance battles, open discussions, guests performances, dance performance and Hip-Hop, House, Breaking and Waacking dance workshops with guests from France, Great Britain, Poland, and Netherlands.

24 NOVEMBER:
A day dedicated to the preselections for all dance styles and a party.

2vs2 Breaking / Hip-Hop
Time: 17:00-21:00/22:00 (Doors open at 16:00)
Venue: Lukiškės Prison 2.0 (Lukiškių skg. 6, Vilnius) – The dome/Kupolas

2vs2 House / Funk styles* (popping, waacking, locking)
Time: 19:00-22:00
Venue: Lukiškės Prison (Lukiškių skg. 6, Vilnius), What A Jazz dance studio.

> 22:00 Social Party

*Funk styles – one categorie, for all Funk styles (popping, waacking, locking). Different Funk styles dancers can team up and participate together (for example: two dancers, one representing popping, other locking dance style).

25 NOVEMBER:
A day dedicated to the quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals of all dance styles.

TOP 8 / TOP 4 / FINALS

GUEST PERFORMANCES.

2vs2 Breaking / Hip-Hop / House / Funk styles
Time: 16:00-21:00 (Doors open at 16:00)
Venue: Lukiškės Prison 2.0 (Lukiškių skg. 6, Vilnius) – The Church/Cerkvė

> 22:00 Social Party

TICKETS FOR PARTICIPANTS AND SPECTATORS: https://bit.ly/urban-essentials
REGISTRATION FOR THE 2VS2 BATTLES: https://lowair.lt/en/veiklos/renginiai/urban-essentials/

*all 2vs2 battles participants have to fill in the registration form and have a participant ticket.
*please note that preselections will take place simultaneously in two spaces, so if you want to participate in more than one category, you can only register for the Breaking+Hip-Hop or House+Funk styles categories.

26 NOVEMBER :
A day dedicated to workshops and a performance.

WORKSHOPS:
11:00-12:30 BREAKING Jurskee (NL)
13:00-14:30 HIP-HOP Jimmy Yudat (FR)
15:00-16:30 WAACKING Doma (PL)
17:00-18:30 HOUSE Kashmir (U.K)

REGISTRATION: to be announced soon
Venue: Low Air Dance School (Gedimino Ave. 2A, 3rd floor, Vilnius)

WORKSHOP PRICES:
1 workshop – 20 Eur
2 workshops – 40 Eur
3 workshops – 50 Eur
4 workshops – 60 Eur
Payment for the workshops at Low Air Dance School by card or cash before the workshop.

Street dance performance TRANSFORMAN
Time: 20:00
Venue: Lukiškės Prison (Lukiškių skg. 6, Vilnius) – The dome/Kupolas
TICKETS: https://www.bilietai.lt/eng/tickets/teatras/gatves-sokio-spektaklis-vyrsmas-407821/

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The festival is a part of Vilnius 700 program.

We say: “Peace, love, unity and having fun!”
See you soon!