Dope Girl Movement’s MISSION, under the visionary leadership of Kisha Vaughan as Creative Director, is to elevate and redefine perceptions of hip hop dance within Seattle’s cultural landscape. We create platforms to showcase the artistic aspects of hip hop dance, celebrate its uniqueness, and provide visibility and professional opportunities for local hip hop dancers. We also provide mentorship and advocate for fair wages to enable hip hop dancers to live, work and thrive in our community. Dope Girl Movement’s VISION is to challenge stereotypes of where hip hop dance belongs. We honor hip hop dance’s street level culture of being a creative outlet for self-expression and identity for marginalized urban populations. But we also feel hip hop dancers deserve the same level of professional opportunities as other forms of dance in our community. As the perception of hip hop dance expands, so does the range of performance spaces, recognition and funding possibilities. This shift reflects a broader understanding of the art form and a desire to make hip hop dance accessible to a more diverse audience. Dope Girl Movement’s GOALS are to provide Seattle's hip hop dance community access to paid professional opportunities by producing shows and fostering connections with other industry professionals, artistic mentorship, industry specific business services (contract negotiation, dance instructor’s insurance options, tax help, videographers, etc.), and studio space sponsorship for rehearsals and classes.
