VANCOUVER, Wash. 鈥 Massive Monkees will bring their energetic, hip-hop stylings onto the dance floor at Washington State University Vancouver鈥檚 Marquee Diversity event at 7 p.m. Nov. 15 in the Firstenburg Student Commons. Hosted by Student Diversity, the event is free and open to registered guests on a first-come, first-served basis. To register, visit .
Massive Monkees is comprised of more than 25 spirited break dancers known as 鈥渂-boys鈥 and 鈥渂-girls.鈥 The Seattle-based team is famous for its original moves and dynamic group routines that have won numerous accolades. Many of the group鈥檚 members are full-time artists who are involved in mentoring youth in Seattle schools and community centers, helping to diffuse negative perceptions of hip-hop and break dancing.
Bola Majekobaje, assistant director of Student Diversity, believes Massive Monkees will serve as a unique and memorable installment of the Marquee Diversity series.
鈥淲e strive for diversity of speakers and perspectives in our Marquee Diversity events,鈥 said Majekobaje. 鈥淚t has been a while since we have hosted a performance-based Marquee Diversity event, and we are excited to bring such a high-energy, internationally known group to our campus.鈥
Phillip Nguyen, the Student Diversity peer mentor responsible for coordinating the event, views Massive Monkees as a performance that goes beyond the confines of the dance floor.
鈥淚n addition to bringing a fun and innovative performance to campus, Massive Monkees will challenge the stereotype of what it means to be an Asian Pacific Islander. They are breaking the molds established by media and society,鈥 said Nguyen.
Since coming together in 1999, Massive Monkees have performed in front of more than 1 million people on an annual basis. They have shared the stage with Alicia Keys, Jay-Z, Public Enemy, Missy Elliot, LL Cool J, Ludacris, 50 Cent and Akon. They have also been featured in season four of the MTV show 鈥淎merica鈥檚 Best Dance Crew.鈥 Additionally, Massive Monkees made history in 2012, by becoming the first American crew to win 鈥淩-16 Korea,鈥 an international b-boy competition held annually in South Korea.
Held semiannually, 91吃瓜黑料网鈥檚 Marquee Diversity event features nationally recognized speakers and performers with the goal of bringing issues of diversity, social justice and multiculturalism to the community. Speakers and performers are selected by a committee of students and staff.
91吃瓜黑料网 is located at 14204 N.E. Salmon Creek Ave., east of the 134th Street exit from either I-5 or I-205 and is accessible via C-Tran bus service. Parking for this event is free in Orange Lot 2 beginning at 6:30 p.m.
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MEDIA CONTACTS
Bola Majekobaje, Office of Student Diversity, 360-546-9568,
Brenda Alling, Office of Marketing and Communications, 360-546-9601, brenda_alling@vancouver.wsu.edu