HARLEM — "Empire" actor Malik Yoba will judge about a dozen teams of teenagers performing anti-violence-themed pieces on Saturday at The Apollo Theater for the finale of Step It Up 2015, a citywide dance competition.
“It creates leaders out of these young adults,” said Darryl Rattray, associate commissioner at the Youth Services Division of Department of Youth and Community Development and at the initiative of the program.
The 10- to 21-year-old participants picked anti-violence themes relevant to their communities and have been promoting messages of change through social media campaigns.
The members of The Bronx-based group “The Classic Steppers” decided to dedicate their dancing to fighting against gang violence. They worked to spread their message on various social media platforms, using the hashtag #SteppingAgainstGangViolence.
“Empress” is a group from Queens. Its cause is to end gun violence. Its social media campaign and performance revolves around the theme of “hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil.”
The Brooklyn team “Color of Peace” is fighting against teen dating violence. On top of its performance and social media campaign, the team members held an expo to inform its community about the issue.
On June 20, each team will introduce its cause through a short 30-second video and then perform for the last time before the judges decide on a winner.
More than 1,000 teenagers auditioned to be a part of this showcase and only 110 are left in the competition after two audition sessions and one semi-finale.
For this year’s finale, in addition to Yoba judging, the show will also feature a special performance by "The Voice" season eight artist India Carney.
