BROCKTON – Three Brockton dance companies are seeking community support to make their international dance team dreams a reality.
When you think of dance, many movements come to mind, and hip-hop is one genre that is emerging into the mainstream, especially through avenues such as TikTok and YouTube.
Hip-hop dance in Brockton is becoming a way to say what your mouth can’t say “through your body.”
“Hip-hop just feels like freedom of speech and freedom of dance. The expression can be soft or hardcore. It’s a different flow compared to the other genres,” Dance Coach Kassandra Rateau said.
BSR Queen Dance Crew, a Brockton-based dance team, combined three dance companies to compete for the Hip Hop International title, which Rateau said is like the “hip-hop Olympics” for dance.
The teams combined created the ”BSR” acronym for BCity Reps Virtual Dance Studio, Stajez Cultural Arts Center, and Lil Romans Dance Crew. BSR Queens was established in September of 2023 and is coached by Rateau, Sophia Haynes-Cardwell, and LaRome Strobhart.
The girls, ranging in age from 7 to 12, battled for the USA crown in California a few weeks ago and won. BSR Queens joins TEAM USA to compete at the Worlds Hip Hop International Dance Competition in Phoenix, Arizona in August but the girls need help getting there.
What the team needs to accomplish their dreams
As a team, they need to raise $30,000 for the 10-day stay and food, clothing, and gear for the girls. In the last competition, families of the dancers paid out of pocket for most of their needs.
The team did fundraise, but ultimately, it wasn’t enough.
“We are so proud of our girls. They auditioned and showed the world what they had. You can see the hunger and want in their eyes as they danced, and they worked super hard to get to this point," Rateau said. "They demanded respect, and they earned their spot on the USA dance team."
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Rateau would love to have everything taken care of this time through fundraising for the August HHI in Arizona.
BSR Queen Dance Crew will represent the USA in their next competition. Some competitors include New Zealand, Japan, India, the Philippines, Australia, Ireland, and Canada, just to name a few.
“My experience at HHI was really one to remember. It was so fun to do this competition with my team members. Having this experience meant so much to me, and I’m glad we pushed through and made it to worlds,” Shelda Caddeus, a teen dancer, said.
The competition will be fierce, but Rataeu is confident that coaches Sophia-Haynes-Cardwell and LaRome Strobhart will provide award-winning choreography.
To help the girls, donate to their GoFundMe account and follow their Instagram pages to keep up with their dance journey.
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