Jar of Hearts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8v_4O44sfjM

This music video has an example of modern dance that is not usually shown in modern music videos. Its very emotional and tries to tell a story through dance. Very seldom do you see a music video for a genre outside of pop or hip hop that has an element of dance. It is also specifically interesting that this video has a more classical modern type of dance.

jerking

i was out in LA this past spring break and went to universal studios to watch a movie and saw a group of kids jerking to the musicians playing rock n roll music! they just jerked wherever and i just thought how crazy it was to just see these group of kids jerking and just chillin on a friday night at universal!

is dancing something we're born with?

i'm sorry but i cant dance my life. i've never been good at it! like i could never physically do what brazilian's do when they dance capoeira or stand on my tippy toes like ballerinas do. is dance really teachable? can i break it down like some of the krumpers if i practiced every day or is it something your just born with?

chris brown

ok i know every women on this earth hates chris brown after what he did to rihanna but he is truly an incredible talent and is incredibly skilled at dancing. he can do all type of dances check em out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlVEmG4j2fI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP1zHJKpV2s

http://worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshh56w942j78b8kFpwK

http://worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshh56w942j78b8kFpwK

the dougie

teach me how to dougie might have been the most influential dance song in America this past year with famous celebrities from john wall the #1 pick overall in the 2009-2010 draft to chris brown a famous r&b singer. justin bieber also does the dougie and so does drake! i feel like the dougie really shook america like soulja boy did a few years back with "crank that". the song teach me how to dougie just makes you wana dance and move your whole body! anyone disagree?

Tap Dogs

While in London this past fall, I was going down the escalators at one of the tube stops and saw an ad for a show called "Tap Dogs." While I'm not entirely sure what the show is about, it showcased Adam Garcia, from Coyote Ugly fame.

Adam Garcia is actually a very talented tap dancer from Australia. He and his dance troupe performed in the opening ceremonies of the Sydney Olympics back in 2000.

It always surprises me how many actors and actresses are actually dancers as well. Are there any that you can think of?

Here is the video of the opening ceremonies:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrK1DgRmuLM

dubstep

ok so does anyone else think that dubstep sounds like the speakers are about to explode? i can't really comprehend that dubstep wahwahwahwahwahwah sound and it doesn't really process in my head! how do you dance to this music? i've really tried to give it a chance but i don't think our little relationship is gonna work! any suggestions on my relationship with dubstep? hahah i need help!

Black Swan

so i watched the movie Black Swan the other day and had no idea what i was getting myself into. The movie was really dark and twisted and i almost had nightmares that night! I never knew ballet could be sooo dark but the movie was brilliant. the concept of her giving everything for the PERFECT performance was so crazy because this mindset could really relate to anyone trying to accomplish anything. she gave everything for this performance that she dreamed of. The opportunity came and she seized it! I'm not saying go to those extremes but if you want something or want to accomplish anything there's nothing stopping you but yourself! just work hard and make the right decisions and last but not least give it your best!

Break DAncing Video

I realized I never put up the break dancing video I found for my reading report. I put a lot of time into finding really fun and cute videos because there is no many different types of break dancing.

Enjoy them like I did, some are to cute for words.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey8Ui63VgHs&feature=feedwll&list=WL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zafEJ_IfrMg&feature=feedwll&list=WL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNRR9rdIcag&feature=feedwll&list=WL

How young is too young?

Alyson Stoner is a dancer/singer/actress, she was first known in hollywood as the girl who would dance in Missy Elliot videos when she was 12 then went on to become an actress Cheaper by the Dozen, Camp Rock and other movies, but she always comes back to her dancing background.

Everytime i see her dance, I'm amazed at her ability, but the funny part is, she's younger then me. In 2006, she became the youngest choreographer to teach a masterclass at hollywood's fame dance studio, and there's a video. In the video, she's no older then 14.

Many people commented that the only reason she was allowed to teach a class at that age is because she's famous and she isn't actually a great dancer, but i disagree. If she's that great at age 14, I can't image how much further she's going to go.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Mg_-mUtN9Y

New Dance Movie

I was browsing online the other day and saw this trailer for a new dance movie. It was interesting because its a story about how a girl from the wrong side of the tracks tried out for an upscale dance school. I love how dance movies not only focus on the dancing, but how dancing lifts people up from impossible situations.

Here's the trailer, tell me what you think
http://www.youtube.com/user/PantelionFilms?v=irnnOeeUlf4&feature=pyv&ad=11018892089&kw=go%20for%20it

Michelle Obama and her Let's Move Campaign

I know something regarding Michelle Obama's Let's Move campaign has already been posted but it's great to see that she's following through with her program. Click here to see the First Lady dancing at a DC-area school for her cause. It's funny to see that MObama can do the Dougie.

The iPod Dance Commercials

So a friend of mine and I were talking about Apple and their products and the subject of the iPod adverts came up with the anonymous dancers silhouetted in all black with the iPod being all white.

Click here for one of them.

I remember hearing the musicality of the commercials, and I remember the good dancers and it made me wonder: Do you believe the dancing and music were effective in selling the product? I mean iPods were pretty popular on their own, but do you think these commercials contributed to their popularity directly? And what about dancing in commercials and adverts in general, do you think it's effective?

Dance and Costumes

Here is a video I found that takes a look at the designers of the costumes for Black Swan. I thought it would spark an interesting discussion on the role of costume and attire in a dance performance. Do you think you are more attracted to a performance with clothes that you like? Do you think that if a costume was distracting or unappealing would you be more likely to dislike the performance?

http://video.nytimes.com/video/2011/01/27/movies/awardsseason/1248069592076/the-costumes-of-black-swan.html?ref=dancing

Is Ballet Dying?

Dance Magazine recently ran an article that lists the seven reasons why Ballet isn't dying. I thought it was an interesting article and it caught my eye because I had never really thought that the possibility of ballet dying was mainstream. Also, one of the reasons that really stood out to be was social media as a force that will save ballet because it attracts younger audience members and allows for more direct communication with the dancers. What are you guys thoughts? Do you think ballet is dying? How do you think social media affects ballet and other dance?

http://www.dancemagazine.com/blogs/admin-admin/3825

Music Videos I Love!

So, as my last post, I wanted to feature some miscellaneous music videos I never got to share in other posts. There's no major similarities between any of them, except they all feature dance as an integral part of their story and I love ALL OF THEM!

Also, I tried to showcase videos that not everyone might know about. So, as much as I love Michael Jackson's audio-visual extravaganzas, you won't find them here. What you will find is some great music and killer moves everyone should be exposed to. So, without further ado, let's get started!

"Around the World"--Daft Punk

Everyone knows Daft Punk, but perhaps not everyone has seen this video featuring their debut-album single, "Around the World". We always talk about how music dictates dance (especially in a club context), and, in this case, the dancing directly embodies the music! Each group of dancers here represents a musical element of the song, and dance off of each other accordingly. I think it's pretty cute. And I usually don't describe house as "cute."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9MszVE7aR4

"Virtual Insanity"--Jamiroquai

I am totally convinced this would've been a viral video had it been released in the age of Youtube. Alas, this tune hails from 1997, but that doesn't make its camera trickery look any less state of the art. Lead singer Jay Kay seems to glide across the floor as he dances, along with some magical black sofas, but he isn't really moving at all. Instead, the ROOM is moving around him, and the camera (fixed to one of the moving walls) moves along with it. Pretty clever huh? It's like OK Go's treadmill exercise on steroids, except this video came FIRST!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JkIs37a2JE

"Tightrope"--Janelle Monae

I already posted this one in previous thread, but I love it so much that I had to post it again! (Also, no one commented on that post, so how do I know anyone's even SEEN it yet?). If you want a more detailed description, see the "I Love Janelle Monae" post, but I think the role dance plays here is pretty evident.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwnefUaKCbc

"Going On'-- Gnarls Barkley

Everyone knows Gnarls Barkley for their song "Crazy", which was one of many great tunes off their first album, St. Elsewhere. Their second, more overlooked album had some great tracks too, though, and this is one of them. Gnarls Barkley is known for their original videos, and this one features neither Cee-Lo or Danger Mouse on screen. Instead, the video, shot in Jamaica, follows a group of dancers celebrating their discovery of a "portal to another dimension". Hmm. It looks like fun to me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_R9fId_Rqo

Signature Dance Moves

There are some performers out there who are well known for a certain dance move or are also known for their dancing in particular.

I don't remember speaking about belly dancing in class, but Shakira is known for incorporating it into her performances. She likes to show off her skills within her music videos such as, "Hips Don't Lie", and many more.

Hips Don't Lie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUT5rEU6pqM

Here's a video of a bunch of live performances: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhlc8gNklsc&feature=related

Are there any other artists known to bust a move in all their work? Are there performers who don't dance, who you wish did?

The Milky Way v The Jerk

We have spoken in class about how edm has no specific way to dance to it. However it has come to my attention that there are electro dances that are rapidly increasing in popularity, specifically in Europe. The milky way is a form of electro dance. It has quick sharp movements that mimic the 42thafloor beat. I was looking at electro dance videos on YouTube and I came across this video that compares it with The Jerk. Both dance styles have similar moves but use very different music. Check out the similarities in this dance off:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bN6XYa9oegc&feature=related

EDC + Dance music festivals

As dance festivals are becoming more and more popular, it seems EDC may be rising to the top. We should this trailer in class, I will post it here again because it is the best one I have seen that embodies EDM culture. Last year it was banned from california because a teenage girl over dosed on mdma. So this year they have moved the festival to Las Vegas and are increases the restrictions for getting in. This year is anticipated to be the best one yet.

http://www.electricdaisycarnival.com/LasVegas/

Why I'm a Dancer

Since this is my final blog post, I thought a good way to end my blogging would be to tell the story of how I ended up becoming a dancer, and how I ended up taking Dance in American Culture. Afterall, everyone has their start. It would be interesting to find out how everyone ended up becoming dancers and/or what persuaded people to take Dance in American Culture.

Something I've noticed through the years is that in every area people are interested in, whether it be sports, movies, plays, politics...anything, there is usually one prominent person within that area that stands out from the rest. The one person is favorited, idolized and becomes an inspiration. People like Michael Jordan, Angelina Jolie, Idina Menzel and John F. Kennedy have become role models and inspirations to thousands of people. We all have someone in our lives who inspires us. For me, my inspiration is not some big name celebrity hot-shot or public figure, she's just your average twenty-something with a big heart and incredible talent. Her name is Angie, and she has been my role model since I first saw her dance fourteen years ago.

I was five when I first met Angie. We were both backstage and waiting to perform at our annual dance recital. It was my first recital, so I was nervous. Angie talked to me and told me how fun it was to perform and since her dance was before mine, she showed me that being on stage in front of a massive amount of dance moms, bored brothers, and dads behind cameras wasn't so bad. So, I watched her dance, and not only was she right, but in those few minutes, she became my role model. She made me want to dance, even though I really hadn't liked it up to that point (my mother made me dance because other sports were "too dangerous").After seeing her dance, I wanted to dance like her, to be like her. In the following years, Angie became more of a sister to me than a friend. She is the reason why I danced for fourteen years.

Angie is the most talented dancer I've ever known. She is the daughter of the owner and instructor of my former dance studio, so she grew up with dancing in her life. She started ballet dancing at the age of two and though lyrical and ballet are her strong suits, she is experienced in most dance styles ranging from hip hop to pointe. In 2005, she moved to New York City to train with the Radio City Rockettes and hopes to one day be a Rockette, like her mom. Her ambitions, her motivation and her perseverance are truly inspirational. She's just an incredible person and role model. I've always considered myself lucky to have her and her mom in my life. I wouldn't be the same without them.

Had I not met Angie, I would have quit dancing a long time ago. She's the one who made me truly passionate about dance and every year, when I watched her perform at our recitals and competitions, there was always some sort of movement or technique that I wanted to learn from her. My dancing improved immensely because of her. She sparked my interest in dance, and that interest caused me to take this class. That's why I'm here.

Here's a video of Angie dancing during the Christmas recital my studio had in December. Her dance was dedicated to her husband, who is overseas serving in the Army right now. On an added note, one of Angie's specialties is improvising, many of the moves Angie does in most of her performances are made up on the spot, she doesn't put much choreography into her routines prior to performing them. Just a fun fact. Here's the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPhQpGM54SM

What about the rest of you? Do you have any role models or inspirations in the areas that you enjoy? Any inspirational dancers, for instance?

Pop Ballet?

This article I found discusses the recent trend of creating ballets that are inspired by popular culture. It seems so odd but I would be really curious to see what the ballets were like. I also wonder if proponents of classic ballet are outraged by this. The article mentions something interesting- are ballet creators doing this out of creativity or for the money (an economic decision?) What are your thoughts?

http://www.canada.com/entertainment/With+music+Sarah+McLachlan+Alberta+Ballet+takes+another+giant+leap/4679620/story.html

Electro Wars Trailer

This is the trailer we meant to show in our PP presentation. If you like house music, def watch..

http://vimeo.com/9854142

Arab Contemporary Dance

I have never heard of Arab contemporary but I think its awesome that it is a new and upcoming dance style. Yet another example of a culture in the dance world. It sounds like there a lot of styles of Arab contemporary dance. Here is the article talking about it and also a youtube video of one the variations. Its very beautiful.


http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/contemporary-dance-blooms-in-beirut-arab-spring-2278125.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s8K7X-McSI

WestFest Dance Festival

The WestFest Dance Festival just happened in New York City on a rooftop. The festival was hosted by Westbeth Center for the Arts. I thought it was really interesting how the performance happened. There were many groups that did their own dances focused on one thing or concept. Here is an article describing the festival. It would be a really cool thing to attend.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/03/arts/dance/westfest-dance-festival-animates-westbeth-review.html?ref=dance

New York CIty Ballet

I watched Black Swan for the movie on dance and since have been more interested in ballet. I found an article in the New York Times about the famous ballet director George Balanchine. The article goes in to detail about certain aspects of his ballet and what he is known for. I think it does a good job at what we all have discussed is a really hard thing to do- describe dancing:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/05/arts/dance/new-york-city-ballet-opens-with-balanchine-review.html?_r=1&ref=dance

Double Dream Feet

I thought everyone would be happy to know that there is now double dream feet performed by the one and only double dream hands man. He is just as enthusiastic his first video but is definitely concentrating a lot more on his leg movements. Also another example of the fame you can get off of a youtube video. Hes even featured in a commercial for a major cellphone company!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L1tr0PIx20

Finding New Dance Music

I personally do not have the patience to just search through youtube and find music. I usually rely on other people to send me music or tell me about it. I also find a lot of music from looking on peoples facebook pages. I realized though this leaves me listening to the same songs until someone gives me another one or I stumble across one on a friends page. I decided in the summer to start looking at some sites that list new music that comes out or the top tracks across the world. Its great because now I constantly have new music and at a party I can suggest a song no one has hears and get them to start dancing. Here is an example of the type of site I am talking about:

http://tophousemusicblog.com/

Cowboys and Square Dance

In the paper we just completed I used the Colin Quigley article on square dancing and the proposed legislation in 19888. I thought the article was really interesting and I agreed with the opponents of the legislation because square dancing is definitely not representative of a lot of cultures. The article talks about the cowboy image of the square dance so I wanted to see if this was true by looking up different youtube videos of square dance. Here are a few videos and the cowboy influence is incredibly obvious:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iput_r2mmQ0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czdYZS6FzeM

History of House Music

As I was working on my final paper, I stumbled upon this documentary on Youtube about the history of house music. Titled "Pump Up the Volume," it traces house's roots back to the disco era and begins with the Warehouse movement in Chicago during the early 80's. It subsequently moves on to UK rave and the development of techno, jungle (eventually drum n' bass), and garage. The movie was made a few years ago before the latest boom in electro house, dubstep, and four-to-the-floor pop music. But I think that makes a case for how powerful and important this music is by demonstrating how popular EDM already was before this latest development. Furthermore, it gives people a chance to see where the underground EDM movement really developed from--a context that is often eclipsed by mainstream media's obsession with drug culture within the dance scene.

Here's part 1 below. The rest are listed in the youtube suggestions bar on the right side. In the words of oldschool Chitown house: Ch-Ch-Check this out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX7w5Cjo3IU

Dance Dubstep

Our recent class discussion about how todays popular music styles, particularly edm, doesn't have any routine dance led me to this example of how to dance to dubstep music. Dubstep is slow, bass heavy electronic music. There is a large emphasis on the beat, but no right or wrong way to dance to it. This video is a cool interpretation of dubstep dance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoAlWDVe2hw

Instructional Dance Videos

Hey Everyone,

Just thought I would post all of the videos we researched for our project here, in case anyone was brave enough to try them out:

“Learn the Dance to Lip Gloss by Lil Mama”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KjdbAN8PqA

“How to Dance: 1, 2 Step Ciara Missy Elliot (Goodies Oh Never Promise Like Boy Love Sex Work Ride)”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtZi7zlnDeA

“How to Do Hip Hop Dance Moves : How to Do the Scuba Hop Hip Hop Dance Movehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ukgQePDmWQ&feature=related

BEST dance TUTORIAL lesson: BODY WAVEhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLSZT6pN8qk

How To: Waltz for Beginners by Michael Thomas http://youtu.be/l1wPywALl5U

Basic Waltz http://youtu.be/LEqg4PxkyYE

Learn to Waltz http://youtu.be/TFAGFyRYyHY

Dance in Film

The second TCM Classic Film festival honored our dance film favorite such as West Side Story and Fame. Dance has been a part of the entertainment circuit for a long time and it's nice to see that some classics are still appreciated.

What's your favorite classic movie that incorporates dance?

Article: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2011/05/dance-film-tcm-classic-film-fesitval.html

West Side Story "Prologue": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8R9GiLImSw

The Royal Wedding

I know the big Royal Wedding has already been mentioned as William and Kate kicked off their first dance to "Your Song" by Elton John, but what was the dance scene like for everyone else? At such a formal and high profile event I think that most people would assume the dancing was mellow and proper, however this was not entirely the case. Family and friends of the newlyweds had a great time dancing and partying into the early hours of the morning to bands such as the Jay Z, Alicia Keys, and the Beatles. Someone reported "There was a chicken dance with lots of arm-flapping. Everyone was on the dance floor. The guests were really up for partying." I think it's so funning to picture this royal couple really "partying". Check out the rest of the article, which goes into depth about the reception!

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/05/02/prince-harry-s-tears-for-prince-william-and-kate-middleton-as-evening-royal-wedding-reception-party-comes-to-an-end-115875-23101343/

Dancing for a Cause

I was looking through all the posts today and noticed that there are at least 3 or 4 posts with the title "Dancing for a Cause". That just goes to show how many events there really are out there that use dance as a way to pull people in especially when charity is needed. I did some research and found this article actually called "Dancing for a Good Cause", which is about how $800. was raised for the Red Cross New Zealand Earthquake Appeal when Zumba hit Denman in March. Two Zumba classes were run at $10. per class and all the money raised went to Red Cross. Below is the article:

http://www.muswellbrookchronicle.com.au/news/local/news/general/dancing-for-a-good-cause/2150316.aspx

This got me to thinking about how dance could be used to raise money down south after the awful storm. What do you guys think? Do you think that could be one of the more effective ways to raise money?

SASA Show

I had the opportunity yesterday to go to see the SASA (South Asian Students Association) show on campus. While there were a few numbers, the two I enjoyed the most were a Bollywood type number and Bhangra. It's amazing to watch the dancers because so many of the movements require precision of the feet and wrists. The Bollywood dancers had bells on their feet, so it's important the dancers are together when making noise.

I went to see the show because one of my friends is part of the Bhangra group. She is White, but obsessed with Indian culture, so loves participating in Indian dancing. This dance was very entertaining-there was a large group with men and women, and they also used props. She was the only White dancer in this group. This goes to show that it is possible for anyone to participate in any style of dance.

Currently, Indian dancing isn't that popular in the United States. Do you think it will become more accessible? Would people actually participate?

Vanessa Carlton "White Houses"

I know the song "White Houses" is old, but I really love this music video. It showcases Vanessa Carlton's main talents, which is dancing and piano playing. She was accepted to the American School of Ballet, but chose a career in music instead.

The movements throughout the piece make the video fun. Even though I quit dance at age 9, this video makes me want to learn some of the choreography, but don't worry, I won't even attempt to try.

Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SM3fEJyPrrg

Are there any other music videos with dance sequences that you admire?

Famous Lame Dances and Fads.

http://www.shoutmouth.com/index.php/news/A_History_of_Lame_Popular_Dances_(early_1900s_-_present)

This article was pretty interesting to read. All of these dances are listed in the history of lame popular dances, yet I know how to do all of them! What is even funnier is that I know most of you do too! What makes a dance lame? What makes a dance "cool"? It will be interesting to see what songs are still remembered from our generation.

Decline of Dance & Theater Programs

http://www.rgj.com/article/20110307/NEWS/110307041/University-Nevada-Reno-announces-26M-proposed-budget-cuts?odyssey=nav%7Chead

The article above caught my eye because of the excerpt that mentioned that the University of Nevada-Reno, will be closing down the academic programs having to do with theater and dance. After reading this article, I thought about the academic programs offered at Syracuse. Maybe they still have dance and theater programs because Syracuse is a private school? It just goes to show that more needs to be done in order to preserve these programs. I feel like more people focus on preserving music programs in schools. But why not theater and dance?

YouTube

I know I use the website, YouTube, at least once a day. Whether it be to watch a video or to stream music, YouTube is one of the more visited sites on my computer. It's even bookmarked. In terms of this class, I've looked on YouTube for instructional dance, flash mob, electronic dance music, and movie clip videos. I never actually noticed though how many results come up when I put in a search. I usually just look at the results on the first or second page. So today I looked. When searching the word "dance" on YouTube, 4,190,000 results show up. That is just insane. That means that there are about 4,190,000 people that uploaded videos having something to do with dance. We are the generation of social media.

The First Dance.

It has always been a pretty big deal to choose which song a couple was going to have their first dance to at their wedding. Not going to lie, throughout the years, I've personally had a few in mind. I admit, I have also been a bit interested in the Royal Wedding obsession. Prince William and bride Kate danced their first dance to Elton John's "Your Song." This got me to thinking, why is there this obsession about the perfect song for the perfect first dance? You're going to be with that person for the rest of your lives, a song should not be able to define your relationship, unless you or your significant other actually wrote it. Also, you and your new hubby are going to dance an uncountable amount of times throughout your lives together, why does this particular one get so much attention?

Are Cirque Performers Dancers?

I have been reading a lot lately on different Cirque du Soleil shows. For example, the Michael Jackson one that is currently being put together, and the "Cirque Dreams" show that has a jungle-circus hybrid fantasy feel to it. This got me to thinking, are the performers that are hired to be in these Cirque du Soleil shows dancers? Or are they just flexible, acrobatic geniuses. Where is the line that separates a dancer from something else? Is there a line? Let me know your thoughts...

MJ is Back.

Michael Jackson's legacy continues to live on. Specifically, at the Mandalay Bay resort in Las Vegas. The famous casino and resort will have a lounge, a museum, and a Cirque du Soleil show solely based on the music and dances of the King of Pop. MJ is extremely well known by his killer dance moves and his originality and innovativeness that he displayed when performing on stage. The fact that a Cirque Du Soleil show based off this is in the midst of being produced, says quite a lot about MJ's dance skill and style.

Looks like i'm going to Vegas in 2013. Class reunion?

http://www.rttnews.com/Content/EntertainmentNews.aspx?Section=2&Id=1609973&SM=1

Dancing with No Vision

The New York Times recently published a video about a NYC dance ensemble, called the No-See-Ums, who perform for people who are either blind or wearing a blindfold. Instead of body movements they are incorporating our senses and translating them into dance moves. It is a really interesting take on dancing. Check it out and let me know what you guys think about it? Do you think it should be considered a dance?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je76o02fe7c

Brukup in Brooklyn

I think I may have posted something about the emergence of Brukup earlier on the blog but I just found a photo slideshow that highlights the up and coming dance movement that has taken over the streets of Brooklyn. The photos are really interesting and show the appearance and costume aspect of this dance movement. Take a look!

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2011/03/08/fashion/0309brukup.html

B-Boys in Vegas.

I recently found an article talking about a B-Boy dancer who was performing in Las Vegas at the Extreme Thing Sports and Music Festival. C-Lev, the b-boy dancer, explains to the reporter the different styles of b-boy dancing and how he came to be a champion b-boy dancer. C-Lev also talks about his life growing up and dancing for his friends at their bat-mitzvahs. One important thing that he spoke about was the influence this type of dance has on the younger generation. In class, we watched several movies in which dance was a way to keep kids out of gangs and violence. A guy by the name of Tunay Ink has been a B-boy since 1980. In the article he stated, "Break dancing allows kids to express themselves in a positive way, as opposed to them taking it onto the streets. It will always have appeal." Dancing has always been a great way to influence others, not just in the studio or on stage, but in the community as well.

http://www.lvrj.com/living/broke-dancer-120995499.html

Do The Twist

Yesterday, at the South Carolina Beach Music Festival, there was an attempt to break the World Record for the most people to do the "Twist" simultaneously for more than 5 minutes. The current record is 1,692 people. However, they were unable to beat the record. Still though, this great number just exemplifies how one dance can become famous enough that people will try and make a world record out of it. Dances like the Twist, YMCA, and Thriller are world known examples of this. Below is the link to the article about the attempt to break the world record.

http://www.carolinalive.com/entertainment/story.aspx?id=612242

Who ever said the Royals were stuck up?

Check out this video and watch the Royal family break it down at the wedding: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kav0FEhtLug

After watching it, you may have noticed that it isn't actually the real Royal Wedding. But it is the actors from the movie that was filmed based on the wedding. T-mobile does many commercials like this involving dancing and flash mobs. It is a great marketing concept. The proof is in the numbers. At the time of this post, that video has been viewed on YouTube 17,662,689 times.

Glowsticking

So I found the following blog on "Glowsticking:" www.glowsticking.com
It is often performed/danced at raves along to electronic music (and of course, with glowsticks in hand). The first post discusses the importance of not promoting glowsticking in high school(s), and the second is just a video showing what glowsticking may look like. The first story in particular is quite interesting because it talks about how spreading the idea of glowsticking in high school(s) will hurt the culture and meaning behind glowsticking. The post also talks about how glowsticking has evolved as an underground dance form (similar to b-boying) and discusses the importance of preserving the "beloved dance and its culture." I'll post the two links below...what do you guys think of glowsticking? Would you consider it to be dance?

http://glowsticking.com/component/content/article/71-glowsticking-culture/106-should-we-spread-glowsticking-in-high-school.html

http://www.glowsticking.com/component/content/article/79-misc/326-new-video-from-east-coast-vets.html

Happy International Dance Day!

International Dance Day Message

Belgian choreographer and dancer, Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker:


"I think dance celebrates what makes us human.

When we dance we use, in a very natural way, the mechanics of our body and all our senses to express joy, sadness, the things we care about.

People have always danced to celebrate the crucial moments of life and our bodies carry the memory of all the possible human experiences.

We can dance alone and we can dance together. We can share what makes us the same, what makes us different from each other.

For me dancing is a way of thinking. Through dance we can embody the most abstract ideas and thus reveal what we cannot see, what we cannot name.

Dance is a link between people, connecting heaven and earth.

We carry the world in our bodies.

I think that ultimately each dance is part of a larger whole, a dance that has no beginning, and no end. "



******************

The celebration of International Dance Day started out as an initiative of the International Dance Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) International Theater Institute. It is celebrated every 29th of April around the world by teachers, choreographers, group leaders, journalists, researchers, associations, and other organizations. The date marks the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727-1810), the creator of modern ballet.

Every year a message from an outstanding choreographer or dancer is circulated throughout the world. This year, the message was written by Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, a Belgian choreographer and dancer and an icon of contemporary dance who views dancing as “a way of thinking” that embodies “the most abstract ideas and thus reveal what we cannot see… Dance is a link between people… we carry the world in our bodies.”

The celebration seeks to draw public attention to the art of dance. Emphasis is given to addressing the “new” public – people who do not follow dance events during the year. Among the usual activities held to mark the observance are special performances, open door classes, public rehearsals, lectures, exhibits, publication of relevant articles in newspapers and magazines, dance evenings, radio and TV programs, street shows, parades, reading a message from a prominent personality in the field of dance, poetry reading or reading a passage from some famous author, and setting up show window displays.

International Dance Day or World Dance Day was created in 1982 to campaign for greater appreciation for dance as an art. Dance companies, dance schools, organizations, and individuals were urged to organize activities addressing an audience larger than their usual ones. They were urged to include general information on the art of dance, its history, its importance to society, and its universal character.

Dance as a form of artistic expression is at the core of every society and culture, along with music and songs. Dance has the power to bring together people of diverse social and cultural backgrounds. It transcends geographical borders, with international performances; dancers and teachers who perform and teach in countries other than their own become valuable mediums for achieving better socio-cultural understanding and tolerance for diversity. The digital age has made it even easier for dance as an art to serve as a vehicle for achieving and preserving unity and peace and providing “a humanist response” to the various problems confronting our global community

Just in Time for the Royal Wedding...

So I found a small gem hidden deep within the sea that is the internet. Prince Charles was filmed attempting to breakdance in a club back in January of this year. You can click here to watch him break it down.

It's only about a minute, but I found it entertaining to know that the Royal Family is into 'staying hip' or something like that.

Also!~

The other day, we studied Flash Mobs and improvisational flash mobbing. We watched the T-Mobile London airport video, well they decided to follow up with a spoof of the Royal Wedding happening tomorrow. Much like the famous JK Wedding with its musical dance introduction, T-Mobile has decided to find some look alike actors to portray William and Kate's wedding if they had done the same. It's really a lot of fun to watch. You can click here to watch that one as well.

Arguably, this technically isn't American culture, but a lot of Americans are paying attention to the Royal Wedding and it's interesting to see how many news platforms are concentrating on the Royal Family right now - calling the wedding the "Wedding of the Century." It's also interesting to see how companies are taking viral videos (I notice particularly with dancing in them) and making their own commercials based off of these as a form of advertising.

ICU World Championship - Team USA Videos

We were talking about cheerleading today and class and the ICU World Championship came up. Thought these videos might be of some interest to you guys after we sparked interest with our awesome videos. Tonight was the opening ceremonies and partner stunt competition, which means, each country can enter under two categories for an individual aspect of competition: coed partner stunt and all-girl partner stunt. Coed is what we watched today- just a guy and a girl. Here is the Team USA coed partner stunt video:

http://varsity.com/event/1436/2011_team_usa_cheer.aspx

All-girl partner stunts consist of 4 girls (2 bases, backspot, flier). Here is the USA all-girl group:

http://varsity.com/event/1436/2011_team_usa_cheer.aspx

Coed won 2nd and all-girl won 1st. The other countries are a lot of fun to watch too!

Beyonce "Move Your Body"

For Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" campaign, Beyonce created a workout video where she teaches dances like how to dougie, the running man and the salsa. The video is set in an extremely casual setting making it seem more approachable for kids to do at home. Take a look and see for yourselves! http://923now.radio.com/2011/04/28/video-beyonce-gets-kids-to-move-their-body-breaks-down-different-dance-styles/

Grease

I re-watched the move Grease this weekend, and it got me thinking how a soundtrack can truly narrate a persons life story. I think it's great how each song within the production truly encapsulates characters and their mood. Do you think that newer musical movies have a similar feel? I don't know that there has been anything quite like Grease in quite some time. What do you think?

Lets Move! Falsh mob

The lets move campaign i gave my presentation in in class, did a flash mob at an elementary school. It was cool to see both concepts combined. Here people were brought together organically through a flash mob

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYP4MgxDV2U&feature=player_embedded

Interview with Cat Deeley from SYTYCD

On May 26, Season 8 of So You Think You Can Dance will premiere on FOX! I couldn't be more excited to start watching the eighth season. Every season pumps out amazing dancers and I can't wait to see who else they will find in the different cities.

I found this interview with Cat Deeley from Buddytv.com: http://www.buddytv.com/articles/so-you-think-you-can-dance/cat-deeley-talks-about-so-you-40103.aspx Take a look! It gives a great preview and lets you into the hosts opinion of the show.

I liked reading her take on the show! I was excited to find out that Mary Murphy will return to the judges table. She's always a great addition to the judge's panel and gives great insight on ballroom dancing.

Do you guys watch So You Think You Can Dance? What do you think of it?

Improv Everywhere

I don't know how many of you have heard of Improv Everywhere, but it is a group that choreographs improv routines (that is somewhat of a paradox, but they plan outings and then people can do whatever they want). Some of the things they have done are really cool and really funny-their website is very entertaining!

One thing they did is an MP3 experiment-they have a large group of people download an MP3 file to any device but they are not allowed to listen to it. At a specific date and time, they are supposed to go to a certain place and press play. It's really cool watching these people interact and dance, especially since not everyone at that place is part of the Improv group!!

What do you think of these kinds of experiments? Is this dance? Is this a type of flash mob?

Here is some information about the event:
http://improveverywhere.com/missions/the-mp3-experiments/

And here is a recent experiment they did:
http://youtu.be/kVuVhcdQs0k

Middle School Dance Club

I went on a job interview this past week for a teaching position in a middle school. Eventually I would also like to coach cheerleading in addition to teaching, but currently in this district they already have a coach, so the principal asked if I would be interested in advising a middle school dance club. Of course I said yes (have to sell yourself!), so I got to thinking what I could do with the kids and possibly talk about if I get the job or in future job interviews. I decided it would be a good idea to ask you guys! What aspects of class did you like or think middle school students would like? Are there any particular forms of dances you think they might enjoying trying out? (Of course dances that are appropriate haha aka probably not Single Ladies for 6th graders) Also, different ways we could perhaps make it a little bit competitive for the kids since it would only be for their school.

Let me know what you guys think!

The Voice

Tonight I watched the premiere of The Voice on NBC. You should all tune into it next week! It was truly amazing. So much talent on one stage. The premise of The Voice is that contestants are selected based on their talent not their looks so every judge is turned around so they can only hear but not see the contestants. As the contestants sing for the judges, if the judges like it they can hit a button and turn around signaling a vote for that singer. I thought this was a wonderful contest! Instead of focusing on if the singer fit the overall look of their style of music or just the fit for a singer, they only listened to their talent and singing ability.

This forced me to think about dancing. Do dance shows on television only look at a dancer's talent? Or are judges forced to take into consider their overall look and body too? I think this could sway a judge's opinion. While it would be impossible for a judge to not look at a dancer while they're dancing, I wonder if dancers who were overweight or not deemed the right look or body should've made a dance show and didn't because of their appearance.

I really like the concept of this show. You should all definitely tune into it next week! While its not a dance show, it's about performance and I think it is wonderful!!!

Check out this clip.... I am obsessed with Jeff who sang God Bless The Broken Road... AMAZING!!

Thanks! http://southomer.com/entertainment/amazing-guy-jeff-sings-god-bless-the-broken-road-the-voice-blind-audition-video-preview-april-26-nbc-1972tv

Happy Feet

I don't know if any of you remember the animated movie that came out a few years ago called, Happy Feet. It's about a waddle of penguins that have a special gift of singing. The main character, Mumble, is unable to sing, but can certainly dance! Mumble is seen as a freak and is ousted by his family, which leads to an adventure of self-discovery. Although the plot line is relatively serious, there are some lighthearted jokes accompanied with song and dance numbers to make the movie enjoyable to people of all ages.

Here's a trailer I found: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAIpBSKJWXM

13th Annual ASIA Night

My friends are on the eboard of the club ASIA, Asian Students in America. They are having their end of the year celebration this Saturday, April 30th at 7PM.

The night will be filled with performances by club members, a dance company, and featured guest artist, the Blue Scholars.

For more details: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/event.php?eid=166490296740739&index=1

Dancing in Malaysia

A dance in Malaysia, called the poco-poco line dance, has just been officially not banned from the country. It is controversial in the mainly Muslim country because it can be associated with cult-like behavior and Christianity. However, the people who dance the poco-poco love it and do it for health reasons such as physical activity. One teacher of the poco-poco said "her students were mainly women who just "love to sweat with poco-poco movements and music." Although, just in case women were reminded to not dress sexy or intermingle with men when dancing.

It was said that the dance was not banned for health reasons, so people can get in their physical activity. I think it's great that the dance was not banned but there are many other ways people can get physical activity. Do you think there was something else at play here?

Here's the whole article.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g1d3jbncUSz2gFqHhxWrUi3LqZkQ?docId=CNG.6f8ae8207a61195cb5fb877a33b5e457.121

Yo Yo Ma and Lil Buck

There is a video going around the Internet of a performance of Yo Yo Ma, the famous cellist, accompanied by a performer dancing what the article calls jookin. Apparently its a hybrid between ballet and hip-hop. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/yo-yo-ma-and-lil-buck-create-a-new-ballet/2011/04/15/AFvmh1jD_blog.html) I found this video amazing. The music and the dance go more hand in hand than anything I've seen in awhile. His dance moves are all about continuous fluidity which goes in tune to the cello. It also raises the question about putting a modern twist on classical dance and music. What do you guys think about the video? Do you forsee more blends between classical and modern movements in the future?

Glee & Britney

Recently there was a post about Britney Spears being well known for her dancing in her younger years. I thought this was cool, Glee recently did a Britney Spears tribute episode and covered many of her classic hits. One song they obviously could not leave out was "Hit Me Baby One More Time" the song that started it all and made her famous. Lea Michele did a solid rendition of the video attempting to incorporate some of the classic dance moments from the video and even having Britney herself make an appearance as the teacher. While Britney may not be as young as she was in her initial video she has solidified herself as not only a pop icon but creator of some amazingly memorable dance moments in music video history. Her videos always had amazing dance numbers and she in her hay day had the best dance moves on MTV.

Here is Lea Michele's version that I found on YouTube matched up next to Britney Spears' original video- how did she do?!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5ki5MBtRkA&feature=grec_index

Todays Michael Jackson

During the research I did for my presentation last week about dance in music videos, I began to see the influence that artists in the 70's and 80's have had on todays pop stars such as Chris Brown, Usher, Justin Bieber, etc. The closest connection I came across what between Michael Jackson and Chris Brown. Their dance styles are extremely similar with quick explosive movements that mimic the beat of the song while always keeping their balance and staying in control. Brown often speaks about the influence MJ has had on his career and has been quoted saying " michael jackson is the reason I do music and why I am an entertainer". Brown has taken notes on more then just MJ's dance style. His costuming for his life performances and music videos draw from many themes from MJ's shows and videos. One of my favorite Chris Brown videos is "Gimme That". I didn't realize how similar it was to many of MJ's videos until I did research for this project. Check out how clearly MJ has influenced this video:

Smooth Criminal:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWucYbAp8Lk

Gimme That:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yl-5FOZcr0

So You Think You Can Dance: Props

My friend from high school was a competitive dancer and participated in multiple ranges of dance from jazz, to hip hop, to lyrical. She loved So You Think You Can Dance. This was one of her favorite dances, she said it was so amazing they could use a table or even think to and attempt to incorporate it into their dance. It led me to think many of the dances we have learned about had props you hold, clothes you wear, or places where the dances are appropriate. But using the table was very cool and a really unique way to attempt to express their dance. Dancing and then also finding ways to do moves they could never normally do by using and playing with the table was really interesting. Can you think of any other types of props like the table that could be interesting to try and use? I thought about the Britney Spears "Stronger" video with her chair she danced with, the 90's had lots of chair dancing- table dancing never really took off the way dancing with chairs did!

here's the link to the dance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFH1moy62VQ&feature=related

Great Football Commercial.

Now I am sure you saw the title for the blog post and were wondering how possibly this fit into the criteria for a Dance in American Culture blog. However, What is more American than football? For years many NFL players have taken ballet to improve their coordination, smoothness of movement, and to practice the general discipline that ballet requires. This commercial for the NFL entitled "ballet" speaks to this idea. The commercial itself is a super slowed down version of a catch in during an NFL game. It shows the actual grace and athleticism behind the athletes playing this sport as well as obvious places where ballet could truly help their game. Instead of the usual fans screaming, commentary banter, and loud beer commercials this play is set to a slow classical tune and thus perpetuates the ballet image more. Enjoy, I thought it was very interesting and proof dance can help in you all areas of life and sport.

http://www.funnycommercialsworld.com/nfl-commercial-ballet-2455.html

Syracuse Air Guitar champion announced

The standing-room-only crowd at the Red House last night was rocked to its core by electrifying and at times dangerous moves in the First Annual Syracuse Air Guitar Competition. In case you can't wait any longer to hear what happened, let me end your suspense.
http://syracuseairguitar.blogspot.com/

Rowdy Flashmobs...?

Here's an interesting CBS story on Flashmobs: how people utilize technology (such as social media) to organize flash mobs & how they are gradually becoming more dangerous.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPaWx2YbRqc&feature=fvst

Oprah Flashmob

As I mentioned at the end of our presentation today, Oprah did a flashmob on her show to promote her 24th season. The Black Eyed Peas performed a special version of "I Gotta Feeling" and they created the largest flashmob so far. While this is a promotional video for both the Black Eyed Peas and Oprah, it also is for pure entertainment and very entertaining to watch.

Here is the link to video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrvvTVIHYyA

The video is somewhat long because it also includes a documentary that goes behind the scenes into how they choreographed and produced the flash mob!

Enjoy :-)

X Factor

While abroad last semester in London, I became obsessed with the television show the X Factor. The X Factor is a lot like American Idol (it even has Simon Cowell as a judge) but the difference is that a wide range of ages can compete.

There are four judges and each becomes a mentor for a specific group throughout the competition, girls, guys, groups, and over 28. They work with them throughout the week and create a performance to try to win the audience's vote.

The difference between the X Factor and American Idol is that it does not necessarily showcase the people with the most talent, but rather the people who draw the audience in the most. They even have a choreographer on the show that works with the competitors and extras to create a performance.

This goes along with the dicussion we had the other day in class about whether dance is needed. I think that sometimes, having other abilities can trump the fact that you are not the best singer. As long as you have that "X Factor" you can go far.

Simon Cowell is bringing the X Factor to America this fall. It will be interesting to see the difference in talent from the US in comparison to the UK version.
Here are a few examples of the competitors from this past season.

Matt Cardle was the one who won the competition.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uR6iwgTmvys

Wagner... I have no words for him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fq49Gv3wFB0

Cher Lloyd
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiusSaqmapU

Britney Spears

Britney Spears just released the music video for her newest single Till the World Ends. It was very typical of her usual music videos with scandelous outfits and lots of extras dancing. The difference was that Britney barely did any dancing throughout the entire music video. For someone who was known for her dance moves, I think it is strange that she has lost the energy that she used to have. You may get older, but you do not lose your dancing abilties.

A couple days ago, I noticed that she released a second video for Till the World Ends called "Dance Till the World Ends." This second video was supposed to showcase Britney and her dancing abilities. I honestly did not notice much of a difference between the two.

Were you able to see a noticable difference? Do you think Britney still has "it"?

Original: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzU9OrZlKb8
Dance Version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3Lqg-46mDo

1989 Article on Music Videos/MTV!

Speaking of trends in music videos and how they have transformed over time, I just found an article on music videos in the NY Times from 1989! Its pretty funny the way the article discusses MTV:

IDEAS & TRENDS; After Music Videos, All the World Has Become a Screen

By JON PARELES
Published: December 10, 1989

MTV probably didn't know its own strength when the cable channel started broadcasting music video clips day and night on Aug. 1, 1981. But as the end of the decade draws near, the fast pace and kaleidoscopic style of music video has ricocheted across popular culture, changing the way people listen to music and leaving its frenetic mark on movies, television, fashion, advertising and even television news.

By packaging unruly rock music for television, music video has brought rock and some of its energy to a wider, mainstream audience. Some musicians, their presence amplified by television, have marshalled listeners to support causes like saving the rain forests or fighting world hunger. At the same time, rock's new visibility has brought attacks from people who hadn't paid attention when the music was just noise on the radio.

MTV, or Music Television, didn't invent music video. The song-length juxtaposition of music and pictures has roots in Walt Disney's ''Fantasia'' and song-and-dance numbers in movie musicals. Rock's visual side was fitfully exploited in movies, from Elvis Presley in ''Jailhouse Rock'' to the Beatles in ''A Hard Day's Night.'' By the late 1970's record companies regularly produced promotional films or videotapes to give musicians exposure beyond their usual touring circuit.

http://www.nytimes.com/1989/12/10/weekinreview/ideas-trends-after-music-videos-all-the-world-has-become-a-screen.html

Clownville Website!

I know it has been a while since we have discussed Krumping and Clowning but I found an entire website dedicated to articles written about both styles of dance. A lot of the articles are dedicated to the movie Rize which is clearly respected in the community of Krumpers and Clowners. Also Tommy the Clown is mentioned in a few article titles. If you're ever interested in looking up articles on these dances this is a good database!

http://clownvillenews.com/clowns-krumping-in-the-news.shtml

Reason for Music Festivals (not in Bangkok)

I thought this article was interesting about the legal action the gov. in Bangkok is taking against women who danced topless during a celebration. Even though it is also illegal in the U.S., it made me think about why we have music festivals here. It is a chance for people to dance however they want (naked, fully clothed, in costume, etc.) and not have anyone say anything about it. Every music festival I've been to, the dancing has been so free and not judged by any member of the crowd. I can't imagine how the gov. in Bangkok would feel about it after reading this.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/19/world/asia/19thai.html?_r=1&ref=dancing

Music Videos, is dancing necessary?

Paula Abdul, 1990s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xweiQukBM_k

Alicia Keys 2001

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Urdlvw0SSEc

Cassie 2010

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uU46S55d8HE

so we talked about when it is necessary for performers to dance, how music videos have changed and how women are sexuality. I was sitting with my friend listening to pandora and thought i'd look up some of the videos and compare them.

First was Paula abdul, the performer who cares more about showing off which is seen in her video, especially since it is with a cartoon rabbit. Then we have Alicia Keys whose video focuses on her and her ability to belt out a song. The video does relate to the song, but dancing isn't a part of it. Finally we have a new video by a relatively new artists, Cassie. Though her video does have sexualized dancing. I think it's more informative to look at the low budget of the video. It has only one set, no commercial props or people. It focus on her.

Dance for Fame

since our projects are due this week, i was thinking about my project on America's Best DAnce Crew and the Jabbawockeez so I decided to look at youtube videos of them and found this one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuonbvrbGtg

its from the a World Dance competition. Jabbawockeez did not compete, but they were the celebrity guest. It's crazy that they could go from a competition background and because of one show, they went from competing to getting paid to perform at the competitions they tried to win the year before. It just goes to show you the worldwide appeal of MTV and dance in general.

I Love Janelle Monae!

So yesterday in class we discussed the importance of challenging gender roles in music videos, and my mind immediately jumped to Janelle Monae. Granted, I've had an obsession with the R&B/nu-soul/hip hop/rock/classical/pop singer for a good year now, so I was going to post her music videos on here anyway. Because, all feminist criticism aside, this girl can dance!

But, as refreshing as her voice, talent, and moves are, it's even more refreshing to see an artist who focuses on the music as her main selling point--not her body. Instead of the typical sexualized clothing seen in pop, Monae's signature look is a full tuxedo and gravity-defying hairdo. She considers it her "uniform", but also stresses its importance as a message. As Monae says herself, "I feel like I have a responsibility to my community and other young girls to help redefine what it looks like to be a woman. I don't believe in men's wear or women's wear. I just like what I like."

You can see the look in her video for "Tightrope", a kickin' upbeat soul jammer. Since this is a dance class, LOOK AT THAT DANCING! Monae demonstrates what "tipping on the tightrope" is all about, and while it's not necessarily a dance everyone can follow (somewhere between a moonwalk-esque glide and the stanky leg), I dare you not to move to this. I also love how the video itself is about the power of dance as a form of rebellion:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwnefUaKCbc

Next is her video for "Cold War." We were talking in class about low budget music videos, and this would be one of them: it's all a single shot of Monae looking straight at the camera, lip synching the tune. What I love here is that Monae demonstrates the difference between intimacy and sexuality: before the song starts, we see her take off her cape and face the camera bare-shouldered, which she remains for the rest of the song. But the move isn't seductive; it's vulnerable. In fact, I found it somewhat uncomfortable to watch the video the first time because of the way she relentlessly LOOKS at you as she sings. Over the course of three minutes, she messes up her lip synching, laughs, grimaces, and ultimately ends up crying to the camera, all of which adds to the vulnerability that the opening undressing suggests. Such a simple visual forces you to listen to the lyrics, which are powerful enough. Who here hasn't at one time been able to relate to the declaration, "I was made to believe there's something wrong with me"?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqmORiHNtN4&feature=relmfu

Have I plugged this artist enough?! Listen to her album "The Archandroid." You'll be sold.

Music Videos

I mentioned this video in class today; it is called "Less is More" by C-Mon & Kypski. It's a really creative idea and a low-budget project. Like I said today, fans sent in clips of them doing various movements, and the band tied together all of the fan clips (with some footage of the band members) in order to produce the video. Here's the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkWUPRwT6YI

Also, since we were on the topic of dance & camera techniques in music videos, it reminded me of one of my personal favorite videos of all time: "Reptilia" by The Strokes. It is definitely not a dance video, but I think it's really neat and interesting simply because of the way it was shot. Check it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8-tXG8KrWs

Do you think videos such as this ("Reptilia") have the same effect/are as intriguing as a lot of the "typical" dance videos that we see today (i.e. Lady Gaga, Britney Spears)?

No Body Segments

After today's speaker in class, I went back to watch some music videos of the artists I'm listening to at the moment.

I want to focus on the artist Dev and her video for the song "Booty Bounce." Ironically, there's no booty bouncing in the video. I did notice that her full body is seen throughout the video and it's quickly cut with fast shots of her head/face, which humanizes her. There is no focus on her other body parts. Even the guys in the video are shown as a full body shot. All of the outfits Dev wears aren't suggestive. They just show off her eclectic style. She's doing her own thing and only talks to the camera in her close-up shots, but I don't think she's seducing the viewers by any means.

Here's the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDfUjM-vygI Warning: Your eyes may get dizzy.

With Dance, Anybody is a Rock Star!

My friend showed me this clip a while back, and I thought it was appropriate to bring up in light of Syracuse's Air Guitar Week! Now, granted, this clip isn't strictly air guitar, but tell me this isn't what the tradition of jamming to nonexistent musical instruments is all about! Captured on the jumbotron at a Celtics game, this fan ROCKS OUT to Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer," traversing stadium aisles and engaging fans with a determined rock star swagger. Most spectators are only too happy to respond with some enthusiastic movements of their own.

So, yeah, it's an impromptu performance at a basketball game, but it's a performance nonetheless. Much like our in-class air guitar heroes, this guy has to do a lot more than just dance to Bon Jovi for the crowd's attention. He has to put his own personality into it, and nothing says personality like hugging a random spectator and then passionately pumping a fist or two in the air for emphasis. Forget playing the air guitar; this guy's going straight for the rock star persona! He's got it in my book.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmiS0RNNp28

DWTS Nicole Scherzinger fair or not?

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20420920,00.html

This link I found after researching how people felt about her competing on the show to begin with. A previous blog post discussed if keeping mediocre dancers on for laughs or public appeal was somehow jeopardizing the quality or integrity of the competition. Which, I actually do think is unfair and the best dancer should win and stay on over dancers who are not as talented. However, I also think allowing professional and trained dancers to compete makes it an unfair playing field. Nicole's career in the music industry for the Pussycat Dolls involved days and hours of dance rehearsal, while most of the people competing have zero dance experience. Their rehearsals focus primarily on teaching them how to follow steps, take direction, and learn these new dances. One of her fellow competitors says in the article, they "there were moments you couldn't tell her apart from the professional dancers." Is this kind of contestant fair? Does it also diminish the integrity of the competition for the competitors who are genuinely attempting to try something new and learn and foreign form of expression?

Flash Mob

Another post discussed a flash mob they had seen on youtube, it reminded me of the recent flash mob on Modern Family. I think its a great representation of the kind of people who could benefit from this type of dance in their every day lives! Mitchell doesn't normally let loose or express himself as much as most people, and this was an outlet for him to express himself and indirectly express his love for Cam through dance! Here is a link for the clip from the show:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77O6IrDYBBI

Air Guitar Week!

An excellent opportunity to practice your dance and improvisation skills is coming to you this week.

Thursday, April 21: come to a free screening of the film Air Guitar Nation with the star, Björn Türöque, who will be on hand to answer your questions. Critics raved about this 2007 film, calling it "hilarious" (Variety), "a riff-roaring experience" (BBC), " a sort of Buddhist singularity" (Salon.com), and "tough to resist" (New York Times). Watch the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ea32R_2jSxg
Time: 7:30 PM
Location: SU Campus, HBC building, Gifford Auditorium

Friday, April 22: Syracuse's first annual Air Guitar Competition! Winners will take home fabulous prizes (provided by the makers of Air Guitar Nation and Syracuse's own Sound Garden) and the top finisher gains a spot on the US Air Guitar Regional Championship in Boston. Björn Türöque, also known as author and musician Dan Crane, will host and celebrity judges will officiate. Competitors will have to throw all their creativity and love for music into a one-minute performance judged on technique, stage presence, and airness to win the coveted first place title.
Entrance is free.
Time: 8 PM (doors at 7:30)
Competitors: arrive at 7 PM
Location: The Red House

Competitors: Space is limited!! Pre-register by email to salsasydney AT gmail DOT com and bring your 1-minute songs on CD.
Rules and more information on competitive air guitar: http://www.usairguitar.com/rules/

Dan Crane/Björn Türöque is known as "The Ryan Seacrest of Air Guitar" for his hosting of air guitar competitions around the country as well as the world championships held annually in Oulu, Finland. He also writes for the New York Times and is the author of To Air is Human (Riverhead, 2006). Get to know Dan here: http://www.dancrane.com/Site/Who.html

Dance for Good

I read an article on CNN recently about a UK organization that is spreading ballet to young children in one of Kenya's worst slums. I thought this was a great way to show how dance can be used for a good cause. Have you heard about any other organizations like Anno's Africa that are using arts education to help disadvantaged individuals?

Check out the article and video here: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/04/13/kenya.ballet.mathare/

The Ugly Dance

This past weekend, I "stumbled upon" this website where you can upload your picture and then choose what you want you legs and arms to do. It's actually very fun trying to make up a dance to the music playing. You can also use people already created if you do not want to upload your picture.

I think the most amusing part of this website is that most people dance like this at parties, obviously not to the same extent. But there rarely is an organized style of dancing.

http://theuglydance.com/

Enjoy!

Kirstie Alley Falls On 'Dancing With the Stars' During Rumba

I'm sure most of you have heard about the Kirstie Alley fall on Dancing with the Stars, but if you haven't, here is a link where you can read more about it and watch the actual video from the episode:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/05/kirstie-alley-falls-dancing-with-the-stars-_n_844916.html

We have talked in class about whether or not watchers vote to keep people on the show because of their dancing abilities or because of their star status, and this one instance shows me that in a lot of cases it's for the crowd appeal. Kirstie is still on the show, and although the fall was said not to be her fault, many show watchers report they like the added comedy people like Alley and Wendy Williams bring. Do you think this hurts the credibility of the ballroom dancer they are matched with? i.e. do you think it makes them look bad?

Starting a Flashmob

I came across this video from a music festival-everyone was hanging around and one guy gets up and starts dancing. All of sudden, another person joins him, and by the end everyone is jumping up and down in a huge group! This reminded me of an informal flash mob. Typically, flash mobs are choreographed for a specific attention/purpose. This video seemed to be everyone dancing purely for fun.

At what point do we consider this dance? Do you think it is a type of flash mob? In the beginning, it seems the guy is different because he is jumping up and down by himself. At what point does it become "cool" to join in and dance with everyone else? How does this work?!

Actors and their Dance Doubles

So I watched Footloose as my dance movie for class, and it sure brought back some fond memories--I was in a theatrical production of it for high school and own the soundtrack on vinyl! And I would imagine that most people are familiar with the movie in some way, if not with the actual plot at least the chart-topping music and, of course that much-spoofed dance scene of Kevin Bacon in the warehouse.

(Speaking of which, here's the original, coupled with two favorite parodies of mine):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CutniaAW8XI&feature=fvsr

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMjgSkfQPSY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RalDsFionzU&feature=related

Alright, so after that distraction, I looked up the making of that dance scene and realized Bacon had four individual dancers performing specific parts of it for him. I'm not necessarily surprised, as most actors cannot pull of the more complicated dance moves with the short amount of training they get. But it got me curious and I started searching for other "feigned" dance sequences in movies. The famous Jennifer Beals sequence in Flashdance comes to mind, and, even recently, Nathalie Portman's double in Black Swan has been contesting she did more shots in the film than she got credit for.

Which leads me to ask, does it bug you if you know an actor does not do all of his/her dance moves? Conversely, are you more impressed by a dance movie when the actor featured in it does 100% of the moves? Does this create a stronger perception of authenticity, and should it? (After all, just about anything can be accomplished with clever film editing--double or no double). Do you think dance doubles should get more of the spotlight than they do--especially when they're the ones performing these classic dance scenes? Or are they simply delegated to the status of a stunt double behind the scenes--a demanding, yet pretty thankless, job?

Dancing Animals?!

So we've talked a lot about viral dance clips on the web, but so far they all seem to feature humans! We know how popular dance videos are. And we know how popular clips of cute animals are. And that got me thinking: are there any neat videos out there featuring dancing animals? Or are we only attracted to dance when we're the ones doing it?

Somebody out there has got have some videos for me. I've got one to start off with: the dubstep bird. This parakeet gets down more than most humans I know; I guess grimy bass is dug by man and beast alike.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXNFSCMgMhM

Project

I know that Sami already posted the link to our YouTube video but I just wanted to reiterate how much we would appreciate everyone watching the clip and commenting. We are researching how viral videos spread and we're hoping that this one will go viral.




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWfhXfdPR5Q

The Conqueror of the Dance Floor

Ever since I was 5 years old, I've been a huge fan of John Travolta. If I didn't feel like watching a Disney movie when I was litte, then I would usually choose either Grease or Look Who's Talking? to watch. I just love John Travolta. He's probably my second favorite male actor+dancer combo, Patrick Swayze being #1.

So last night, while I was watching Wild Hogs, a scene inspired me to write about him.

For those who don't know, John Travolta is quite a dancer. He's probably most famous for his dancing in Saturday Night Fever and Grease. However, I noticed that in most of the movies he has starred in, he has had at least one dance scene.

In Grease, the big moment was "You're the One that I Want" at the end of the movie when Travolta and Olivia Newton-John performed however; I think Travolta's biggest dance scene would be during the school dance, when he dances with Cha Cha, gaining the whole schools attention. Here's a link to it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQWGxA54AoE&feature=related

I've already discussed the line dancing disco Travolta does in Saturday Night Fever but here's a link to that too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-m9ZP_tTtLc

In Look Who's Talking Too? Travolta does an Elvis Presley impersonation through his dancing. It's a really fun scene to watch. It's cool to see how Travolta interprets Elvis' moves and mimics them. That scene can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYHCW8RMu_g&feature=related

In Michael, Travolta's dancing turns him into a ladies man. The dancing in this scene kind of reminds me of the dancing you'd see in one of those Coyote Ugly bars, but that's irrelevant. It seems like a in-the-moment kind of dance when Travolta is alone, very improvised. Anyways, here's that scene: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SivKzsZOf_o

Pulp Fiction is a rather random movie for there to be a dance scene in. I wouldn't have expected it and give kudos to the writers for finding a place to put a dance scene in. In this scene, Travolta and Uma Thurman perform in a dance competition, doing their own rendition of the Twist and adding some of their own fun moves to it. Here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLZl6R7JGCc

Finally, the scene that started it all for this blog post. In class, we talked about how it isn't uncommon for people of the same gender to dance together. I don't think it's strange at all. I dance with my friends all the time. John Travolta has taught me that dancing with someone of the same gender can make a dance easier to learn. There's less tension and awkwardness that way, or at least that's how it is with me. In Wild Hogs, Travolta's character "teaches" William Macy's character how to dance so he can impress a girl. The dance being taught is the Lindy. It can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvkpFeLlhX4

I just thought that it was interesting how John Travolta alway seems to have a dance in many of his movies. It's kind of like his trademark. I also think it's cool how many of his dances seem kind of old-fashioned, with the Twist, the Lindy, disco...It was an entertaining subject to do research on.

Estonian Complextro

I fall in love with anew EDM artist every month. Currently i'm obssessed with this 20 year old estonian kid who is reshaping the electro dance genre with his "complextro" style. He goes by the name Mord Fustang, seriously. His style takes typical electro house rhythms and beats and replaces them with 20 different synthetic sounds that make an extremely complex drop. A few other artists, like skrillex and wolfgang gartner have done similar type styles, but Mords style is by far the funkiest and absolutely moves the listener. I find Mord an interesting case in terms of dance for two reasons: First off, his perspective on what makes people move is extremely progressive. The sounds that he builds for his drops get at the core elements of typical dance music instruments - low basses, a pulsating kick, and unforgettable melodies. Also, I think it is incredible that a kid of his age, from such an obscure part of the world can think up a style this complex that still connects with mainstream electro listeners. I feel like it totally redefines the concept of unity behind dance when someone from a completely different part of the world can create something that my friends fall in love with. Anyway, if this interests you, please take listen:

http://soundcloud.com/mordfustang/lick-the-rainbow

Make It or Break It

Brittany and I recently watched an episode of Make it or Break it, and while the show is actually about gymnastics, I found the recent subject matter of eating disorders to be quite relevant. It is an issue that plagues both the gymnastic and dance world, as appearance seems to be such an essential or is thought to be an essentail aspect of the sport. The episode did a great job at explaining the severity of a truly serious issue, and I think it is something that all people involved in these kinds of activities should be aware of.

If you haven't seen it the show is on ABC Family, and you can check out clips on their website.

Disco

In my article for the reading report, it discussed how some studios implement "discos" during international ballroom dancing classes. This was to pull away from the rules and regulations of ballroom dancing and to allow people not who may not be as comfortable dancing the opportunity to loosen up and dance. The author explained a "blurring of lines between dance and exercise" during these 30 minute periods where people would sometimes just run in place to the music. That pushed an image into my head of people at house parties who when a song comes on and they don't really know how to dance to it, they just kind of flail to the music. I'll admit, I've fallen victim to running in place and moving my arms while casually dancing. Why do you think people resort back to random movements when they do not know how to dance to the music? Instead of trying to legitimately dance, people just flail and constitute that as a form of dance.

Help with Research

Hi guys! For our internet research project, Lauren, Amanda, and I are all doing songs that teach you how to dance. We already have a list put together of songs that we could think of like the Cha Cha Slide, the Ketchup Song, the Twist, etc. We also have a list of songs that people know the dance to like Single Ladies and Soulja Boy. We were told to ask the masses on their ideas of songs that teach you how to dance and were wondering if you guys had any other songs that we could add to our list! Thanks for your help!

Relay For Life and Dance

So last night, I attended Relay for Life and my friend and I were in charge of DJing the music in between showcased events. We were asked to play popular, upbeat tunes that everyone could recognize, which led to a lot of Black Eyed Peas, Lady Gaga, and Katy Perry mix sets. But, I found the biggest responses we got from the relay crowd (who were in no way obligated to dance or even acknowledge the stuff we were playing) were from those tunes that already had a dance built into it: the obligatory "Cha Cha Slide", the popular "Teach Me How to Dougie" (which I had somehow avoided until last night) and the irresistible "Cupid's Shuffle" (which got the biggest response of them all!).

I found it to be a great example of how dance unifies; more people were inclined to dance to a song that had a common and relatable set of instructions to it. In this way, dancers were participating in a culture that was widely understood by the people around them. More dancers were willing to "get low" when Flo Rida commanded them to than when Fergie boasted about her "boom boom pow."

Also, there was an hour long Zumba session that was one of the most widely-participated activities of the night (though, I might add, it was mostly girls. Kudos to the guys out there who weren't afraid to get a work out!). One of the sound guys remarked to me how the activity just looked like one giant line dance to him. This reminded me of how broad (and potentially vague) Zumba can be. Obviously, in this case, the movements were not as intricate so more people could partake in dancing. Do you think this is what makes a dance like "Cupid's Shuffle" popular? Can you think of any "complicated" dances that have been taken up by the general public?

Dance Scene Premieres Tonight

Tune into the Dance Scene tonight at 10:30 PM. Laurieann Gibson, celebrity choreographer, has her own television show where she mentors aspiring dancers looking to gain careers in dance. I am sure this will be extremely entertaining. Gibson has been a choreographer on So You Think You Can Dance and currently runs Lady Gagas productions. I am really excited to see the show tonight!

Read this little preview: http://www.examiner.com/tv-in-national/laurieann-gibson-talks-new-show-the-dance-scene-lady-gaga-video and try and watch the show tonight! I bet it will be a hit!

See you all next week!