Full Name: TK
Artist Name: Poppin TK
Art Form: Poppin
Interesting Fact: Passionate for Inspiring and Raising up the Youth of today to become Leaders of the future
Biography:
2008 Funk Fo Yo Feet 1vs1 Poppin Battle Winner
So You Think You Can Dance Canada Season 1 Top 100
Winner of WeFree Competition in Italy
Unity Kickoff 2010 Guest Performer
YTV “The Zone” Commercial
Full Name: Andrew Chung
Artist Name: Pyro
Art Form: Street Dancer (all styles, popping, locking, bboying)
Biography: Andrew “Pyro” Chung started showing interest in dancing at the age of 12, learning how to do hiphop choreography from his older sister. From there Pyro discovered the art of street dancing and took on the art of popping at the age of 14, which he continusously strives to perfect this very day. One year later, while still growing as a dancer, Pyro had found a natural skill in the art of bboying which then became one of his other main art forms. As time past Pyro then began to train for competitions and performances in cities like, Toronto, Montreal, and New York, etc. He continously trained with his childhood dance crew “Illamentz Crew”. In 2007, Pyro realized that he wanted to take his dance career to the next level. Not excatly sure what he had to do inorder to do this, he selected the strongest members of the “Illamentz Crew” (Latchy, Migz, Goose, Deejay), and with a few other new recruits (Sonic, Daniel, Freezy), he than became the manager and choreographer of the group “Twisted Ankles Dance Crew, 2nd Gen.” While training with the “Twisted Ankles Dance Crew”, Pyro had the opportunity to learn and branch off to other style such as, locking, krumping, and get back into doing choreography. While still being able to maintain original art forms popping and bboying. With the ability to train multipule dance styles and techniques, Pyro was able to win 3 first place titles as “Torontos All Styles Champion” (“The Market All Styles Battle, and Gadfly 2nd Annivarsary All Styles Battle, and Friends Till’ the End All Styles Battle) in the year 2010/2011. You would also be able to find him on television and commercials (OLG Lotto 647 “Happy Dance”, Walmart, Virgin Mobile, Footlocker Adidas, SYTYCD, Much Music, and MOD), music videos (Art Of Fresh, Slakah the Beatchild, Daytona), and movies (Beat the World, Score a Hockey Musical). After all of the great opportunities and challenges Pyro has taken on with this past year of 2011, Pyro has titled, Dancer of the Year 2011 at the Gadfly Award Ceremony. Growing up the way Pyro did, with many negative influcences in his life Pyro has never looked at dancing the same way again. Growing up using dance as his way to better himself as a person in the community Pyro started to volunteer his time to help out the community throughout the duration of his highschool career. Not by only dancing for chairties but also helping take care of special needs students in his school. Teachers seeing Pyros gift to be able to do more good then bad in the community, he was recommended to work as a youth worker in many out reach programs such as, A.F.C.Y (Arts For Children and Youth), holding assemblies with his own crew Twisted Ankles, and Unity Charity. Spreading a positive message to todays youth and being able to encourage youth to find their passion. Encouraging youths to find their passion is very important to Pyro because he believes that finding his passion in life (dance) is what kept him off the streets and living a better and a more positive lifestyle today.
I believe” i can”, but if you believe in me as well… “I WILL!” - Pyro
Full Name: Galyn Esmé
Artist Name: Nilla
Art Form: MCing
Biography: NiLLa (aka Galyn Esmé) is a Canadian Hip-Hop emcee, producer, and the 2010 recipient of the Hamilton Music Award, “Best Rap/Hip Hop Recording Of The Year”, for her debut album, “From The Ground UP”. Having spent her life living between Canada’s East and West Coast, NiLLa found a home within Hip Hop and started rapping at a young age. As a result of her creative drive and dedicated focus to pursue her goals, she has shared many of Canada’s top stages with a wide range of Hip Hop’s finest, including The Alkoholiks, Masta Ace, Jus Allah, Zaki Ibrahim, WildChild, MiC K!NG, DL Incognito, Grand Analog, D’Sisive, Munshine, Def3, Miles Jones, RaSouL, Noah23, Lee Reed, Magnum KI, and Mindbender Supreme. Her music has been featured on a number of international compilations, tv/radio shows, blogs, websites and magazines, that has the Bristol, UK, based artist collective, “Ruztic Records”, currently recording an album with this unique lyricist. NiLLa has also made her mark headlining music festivals and touring with Rhymesayers Ent., and L.A.’s own, Abstract Rude. When she isn’t performing, recording or event planning through her own promotions company, “NiLLa Productions”, she is actively and passionately involved within communities to empower, inspire and educate the younger generations to believe in their own power, dreams, and ultimately themselves, through their own creative strengths. By sharing her own art and life-journey to achieve her dreams, with our youth, NiLLa connects possibility with reality; dedication with success. Proudly an independent artist, NiLLa is a refreshing influence in a genre polluted with bling, misogyny, and superficiality. She is a voice for the underdog, and will continue to use her art to spread messages around the globe of her truth, honesty and genuine, positive spirit.
Full Name: Jessey Pacho
Artist Name: Phade
Art Form: Bboying and Graffiti
Biography:
With many titles to his name Jessey Pacho is first and foremost PHADE… a Bboy and Graffiti Artist. Jessey has had the chance to work with and inspire people from all walks of life. Jessey has been a professional artist since the age of 19. At age 14 he began graffiti writing and since has landed many gigs/commissions & job titles. Some of these include: Freelance Mural Artist/ Mural Artist (Harbourfront Community Centre)/ Mural project Facilitator (Harbourfront Community Centre), Mentor Artist (Flemingdon Neighborhood Services), Mentor Artist (Unity Charity). In addition Jessey has had the chance to work with and exhibit work for many different organizations such as: Luminatio, Amnesty International, Toronto Argo’s, Toronto Crime Stoppers, Durham Youth Gang Services, Flemingdon Neighborhood Sevices, Harbourfront Community Centre, Arcadia Art Gallery, Second Base Youth Shelter, Port Credit Hyatt Club, Clarkson Community Centre and Unity Charity. By doing what he loves and using his passion, Jessey has been able to reach out to youth from Toronto to Halifax to Calgary and educate them about the hip hop culture using Graffiti as the driving tool to do so. Furthermore Jessey Pacho has been recognized for his work with the community by media agencies such as Toronto Sun, Metro News, Toronto Star, 24hours news, CBC News radio, CBC News and Global National. In addition to these ventures Jessey was featured in a book… “Six String Nation” for the completion of the Six String Nation Guitar mural, during Toronto’s annual Luminato Festival. He has also received a lapel pin from the province of Ontario for his volunteer work with the community. Jessey was recognized by the House Of Commons and received a congratulatory certificate from Robert Oliphant, Member of Parliament. Currently Jessey is a Mentor Artist for UNITY Charity and is actively pursuing his career in the arts.
Full Name: Soupy
Artist Name: Soupy
Art Form: Bgirling
Biography:
Since the tender age of eleven, Soupy has built a strong foundation through hard work and dedication along with countless shows within local communities, schools, and cities, as well as instructing for several hip-hop dance groups. To date, Soupy’s accomplishments include playing a dance student in two major movies: Take the Lead, starring Antonio Banderas, and Honey, starring Jessica Alba. She also performs and instructs for Unity Charity. In addition, Soupy is co-owner of an urban dance company called Rhythm Source. With a background in gymnastics, hip hop dancing and break-dancing, Soupy is able to create an imaginative style of choreography that incorporates fluid and athletic movements. It is believed that the combination of her talent, commitment and enthusiasm will help others grow as a dancer, and ultimately lead to a fulfilling experience.
Full Name: Michael Prosserman
Artist Name: Piecez
Art Form: Bboying
Biography:
The idea behind UNITY was developed in 2003 by Michael Prosserman while still in high school. Michael had been a professional break dancer since the age of sixteen, traveling the world break dancing, and winning over twenty five dance competitions, as well as being featured in the major motion picture “Honey”, and being accepted into the Cirque Du Soleil pool of performers. Even though Michael was enjoying great success personally at this time he had made a startling realization while back at home in Toronto, that many of his friends who shared his passion for hip-hop, and break dancing in particular were from marginalized communities. However, Michael also noticed the positive effect that hip-hop and break-dancing had on his friends and their lives. It was out of this concern for his friends, as well as their communities, on the one hand and the potential positive impact of hip-hop on the other that Michael decided to establish UNITY Charity. Due to positive reviews from teachers and audience members, as well as health concerns (fused vertebras in his neck), which limited his own dancing career, Michael decided to combine his passion for dance with his desire to help others find their positive artistic outlets and teach leadership by making UNITY his new career in 2006. UNITY has enjoyed a meteoric growth since its inception three years ago, moving from a high school class project to a student club at York University to multiple student clubs in Ontario (York, U of T, UWO and Carleton universities) to a registered non-profit organization, and finally achieving charitable status in 2008. In 2010, Michael is still actively pursuing his break dancing career while concurrently running UNITY Charity, dancing, teaching and competing in places such as the Yukon, Nunavut, Amsterdam, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Miami, Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, and Italy.
Full Name: Marisa Hoicka
Artist Name: Wink
Art Form: Bgirling
Biography:
Marisa Hoicka also known as “Wink” has been b-girling since 2004 and battling since 2005. She has taught workshops and classes for individuals most often specifically designed for young women. In 2007-2008 she was president of the Concordia breakdance club. She was working to organize and facilitate breaking workshops, lectures and events with guests from the community with the aim to introduce and teach b-boy culture and history while integrating students with the Montreal b-boy community. As president, she organized, “Breaking it down for the love of art and hip-hop” an interdisciplinary arts event and four person mixed gender breaking battle specifically devised to integrate and promote b-boys and b-girls working together in the community. Hoicka has a BFA in Studio Arts from Concordia University, and works as a professional artist with painting, performance art, fibres and breakdancing. She has battled in Toronto, Montreal and San Diego and has sessioned and ciphered with b-boys and b-girls in Canada, the US and Europe. She is now based between Toronto and Montreal.
Full Name: Jerome Villa
Artist Name: Bboy Fresh Fx
Art Form: Bboying
Biography:
Jerome a.k.a Bboy FreshFX has been bboying for over 10 years and is one of the founders of the well known Ground Illusionz Crew. He has won countless bboy competitions including “Breakin New Ground” at McMaster University Champs, University of Waterloo Bboy Competition Champs, “Fit for Fame 2″ Bboy Champs and countless more. He is also a 9 time “Back to the Underground” Bboy Competition Champs. He has appeared on TV in various commercials for companies such as Virgin Mobile. He has performed for artists such as Kardinal Offishall, Choclair and Solitaire and at events Canada’s Walk of Fame, Toronto Raptors and shows on MTV Canada. A phenomenal bboy, Jerome is dedicated to passing on his knowledge of bboy foundations, history of hip hop and advanced technique to all of his students.
Full Name: Filip Matovina
Artist Name: Bboy Fil Fury
Art Form: Bboying
Biography:
Filip Matovina aka Fil Fury, Visual Artist, B-boy, and Designer was born in former Yugoslavia and immigrated to Canada in 1994. He has received training and influence from numerous Toronto b-boys, adapting the unique styles developed by some of the great innovators from the city. While being immersed in the Toronto Hip Hop scene Filip also pulls inspiration from his European roots expanding on his stylistic diversity. Both visual arts and dance are an important part of his artistic career as he is continuously finding ways to creatively manifest these two art forms as a combined expression. Filip has had been a formidable competitor in breaking events across Canada and on the international level by competing in events in the USA and Seoul South Korea.
Full Name: Michael Brobbey
Artist Name: Bboy Fate
Art Form: Bboying
Biography:
Now nineteen, Michael has a list of accomplishments through Ground Illusionz including instructing his own classes, several performances and battles throughout the Greater Toronto Area that list from Canada Day, Harbourfront, Sheridan Institute, Waterloo University, Black History Month, and even Earth Day. Performing for the Mayor of Mississauga, Hazel McCallion and Music artist Slakah the beatchild (even being featured in his music video “B-Boy Beef”); Michael has also won several awards including the “Youth Can Move the World” Award given to Ground Illusionz Crew. This list of accomplishments wouldn’t have been possible if he didn’t decide to take on the opportunity to follow his passion. Michael is still currently breaking and while in school, he continues to teach, compete and perform as much as he can. In 2010 Michael Prosserman of UNITY approached him to join his team of amazing artist and performers. He hopes to find UNITY as a greater outlet to use his passions as positive way to express and share to youth wherever he can.
