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Breakin' In: The Making of a Hip Hop Dancer
Description
The images are everywhere: young, Black women shaking their assets in music
videos featuring the biggest names in hip hop. The dancers appear to be pretty
props, gyrating to songs with misogynistic lyrics sung by mostly male rappers
- images that appear to be exploitative and stereotypical. Yet auditions are
highly sought after. What drives these women to risk everything - education,
jobs, relationships - for a chance at fame?
Breakin' In: The Making of a Hip Hop Dancer
goes behind the scenes to find the truth behind these highly sexualized
images. This edgy POV documentary follows Linda, Michelle and Tracy - three
young Black women as they compete for roles in hip hop music videos. Through
their eyes we see how this world has impacted their personal values, their
career ambitions and their concepts of beauty and self-image.
Breakin' In: The Making of a Hip Hop Dancer was
produced as part of the Reel Diversity Competition for emerging filmmakers of
colour. Reel Diversity is a National Film Board of Canada initiative in
partnership with CBC Newsworld.
2005, 55 min 16 s
Awards
Honorable Mention - Category: Social Issues
International Film and Video Festival
November 9 to 13 2005, Columbus - USA
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