HIP Hop International’s (HHIGuyana) educational brand World Moves Dance Workshop will be held again, for the second time, on August 17 and this time, social media icon Gladdess from Trinidad has been invited to host this leg of the dance workshop.

“The Glad brand is popular with the younger generation with a large fan base on Instagram and Tik Tok. Her positive brand helps to create an optimistic view that dancing and music no matter which genre can develop a positive outcome and any individual,” National Director for HHI in Guyana William ‘Sonic’ Thijs told this week’s Buzz.

HHIGuyana has also decided to start the first arts fair where many would be able to attend and see what the dance, arts and music schools have to offer and even sign up their children for various arts programmes.

“August 17 will be a historical moment as World Battles Guyana kicks off its first ever five To Smoke Open Breakdance Championships,” Thijs shared.

Breakers from Guyana, Suriname, French Guyana and Holland would be competing for a one-year bragging rights as Open Breakdance Champion and a cash prize of US$500. It is intended to be an entire day of activities and networking amongst the dance community.

“Our continued efforts to enhance, educate, and host quality high level dance championship events and workshops remains our passion and vision to build our industry,” Thijs expressed.

The event is being sponsored by KFC Guyana and WestCorp Group of Companies.

Thijs loved dancing as a child growing up in Canada with his grandparents. So when he came to Guyana in the year 2000, he brought much love and passion with him. Always on a move to improve his dancing skills, he got in touch with HHI, known around the globe for its street dancing championships.
Eventually becoming the National Director, he was able to bring the prestigious dance platform to these shores, adding to over 55 affiliated countries worldwide.
“I know what benefits [music] brought to me. I know what dancing does for me; it’s a really deep connection and I really want to bring that to the Guyanese society,” he shared in a previous interview.
So he couldn’t be happier that he found HHI in 2006. Ever since then, he has been in talks with them and has been selling the brand locally, promoting HHI at various events.

Commenting on the quality of talent he has observed locally, he shared: “I have been around for a long time and I see amazing talent; the potential we have. It needs nourishment, guidance.”
And having held the World Battles successfully on March 23 and seen the talent emanating from that, he is convinced that Guyanese dancers have what it takes to win in the international competitions.
Under his directorship, Guyana seeks to transcend its local dance industry and improve the standards of how all dancers are valued in society. Throughout the year, a series of dance battles will be held in open and national categories.