The United States Embassy in Armenia in partnership with the Tumo Center for Creative Technologies, recently announced the start of the Unlimited Hip Hop competition held in the framework of the U.S. Department of State’s Sea2Sea regional street dance project.

More than 84 applications to take part in the competition were received from Armenian citizens between the ages of 16 and 26 who love hip hop dancing (breakin’, poppin’, lockin’, or any other style), the embassy's press service reported.

On May 23-28, the Soul Street Dance Company (SSDC), a group of four dancers from the United States, are visiting Armenia to judge dance competitions and hold master classes with the local hip hop dance community and Tumo students. During their visit to the region, SSDC will select the best street dancers from Armenia for participation in a regional street dance academy scheduled for July in Batumi, Georgia.

Auditions to participate in a May 28 gala performance took place on May 23 in Yerevan and on May 24 in Vayk and Charentsavan. The applicants competed with each other in hip hop style. The19 best dancersfrom the three cities were chosen by a jury and invited to Yerevan to participate in a number of master classes offered by SSDC and prepare for a gala performance at Tumo Plaza on May 28. The final event will feature SSDC performing with the best young Armenian hip hop dancers and include hip hop musiccreated by a group of Tumo students.

Following the final performance, SSDC will select a group of local dancers to travel to Batumi, Georgiain July as youth ambassadors to perform in a collaborative street dance academywith their regional counterparts.

The Tumo Center for Creative Technologies is a unique digital media learning center in Yerevan, Armenia. Since its opening in 2011, the center has provided thousands of students aged 12-18 an open environment where they can utilize the latest in digital communications, learn from media professionals, and explore the intersection of art and technology.