The Rennie Harris American Street Dance Archive (RHASDA) is an initiative of Rennie Harris Puremovement (RHPM), the oldest Street Dance theater company in the U.S. As a nonprofit organization, RHPM combines administrative and artistic efforts while leading the way in professional Street Dance theater. For over 30 years, RHPM has dedicated itself to sharing, preserving, and teaching Hip-hop and Street Dance through workshops, classes, lectures, residencies, mentorships, and performances. Their mission is to amplify powerful, personal stories and educate the public about the true essence of Street Dance, challenging the stereotypes often portrayed by media and mainstream culture. With origins in North Philadelphia, founder Rennie Harris has been at the forefront of Street Dance Theater and remains deeply connected to Hip-hop communities worldwide. RHASDA serves as the library and public institution of Rennie Harris Puremovement, featuring a distance learning platform and Rennie Harris University (RHU), which offers the first comprehensive Hip-hop and Street Dance teaching certification program. This archive creates opportunities for scholarships, study, and engagement for professors, students, scholars, and anyone interested in Hip-hop and Street Dance culture.
As the first diverse and inclusive digital archive focused on Hip-hop and Street Dance – essentially “community dance” – RHASDA is designed by, about, and for dancers, choreographers, educators, students, scholars, legends, activists, deejays, emcees, graffiti artists, and mentors. The mission of RHASDA is to explore the roots, expressions, and experiences of the African American diaspora while enhancing visibility for Black, Indigenous, people of color, and LGBTQIA+ histories. It aims to deepen communal, academic, and national records, counteract misconceptions and appropriation, celebrate the contributions of Dr. Harris and other pioneers, highlight unique stories and experiences, and uplift the enduring legacy and global impact of the Afrodiaspora through authentic partnerships and equitable relationships.
