I'm unfortunately travelling this week, so I'll be missing the celebrations of two great swing institutions in New York: Jelly Roll Productions and the New York Swing Dance Society. But you should go if you can! First up, on Friday, February 19, Jelly Roll Productions will be celebrating their seventh year of operations with a…
Category: Dancing / Music
Breaking Practice Today (video)
Link to original video.
“Autorretrato”: Compania Maria Pages Breathtaking Flamenco Show at City Center
I and a friend had the pleasure of seeing Compania Maria Pages perform their ensemble flamenco show "Autorretrato" ("Self Portrait") last night at the New York City Center. The show was breathtaking, a fine example of how this ancient artform still has new life and power. Despite being staged at the enormous City Center, "Autorretrato"…
Flamenco photos and performance at Aperture Gallery
This week, I got an invite from my friend Leslie to the Aperture Gallery for the opening of flamenco photo exhibit called "No Singing Allowed." It's a really impressive retrospective of photography of the Spanish artform, told from both the outsider's eye and by Spaniards themselves. I found it very telling how this vernacular dance…
How to Learn to Lindy Hop
The other night, I was helping my friend Akemi teach a basic lesson to some older people, and was observing the many things that were tripping people up — how to dance on the beat, how to listen to your partner, how to move from your center, etc. It reminded me that for people who…
B-boy 187 Meen talks about musicality, his influences & hip-hop culture
I love this interview from Breakernyc.com with b-boy 187 Meen. He talks about how he developed his own style, where he draws his influences from, and the relationship between b-boying, the music and the larger hip-hop culture. I thought it was interesting what he had to say about why b-boy competitions can no longer be…
Kappa Alpha Psi: Winners of NYC Sprite Stepup Competition (video)
Because my friend Michelle asked for it, here's my clips of the winning fraternity of the New York City Sprite Step Up competition last night: Kappa Alpha Psi of Howard University. Yes, those boys are tight. Amazing.
“Hop for Haiti” this Tuesday with George Gee at Swing46
My friend George Gee sends out word about a cool fundraiser for Haiti relief and recovery called "Hop for Haiti." George Gee and his band will be performing this Tuesday, February 2, at Swing 46 in Times Square with all proceeds going to international humanitarian group Doctors without Borders. Lots of cool ways you can…
Phi Beta Sigmas tear it up at Sprite Step Off at Roseland last night (video)
Last night I joined a thousand or so people crammed into Roseland Ballroom to catch the Sprite Step Off, a nationwide stepping competition. Step teams from various Black fraternities and sororities are competing for $1.5 million dollars in scholarships, as well as the honor of being the nation's best step crew. For those not in…
Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop: B-boys with “Disabilities” (video)
I'm going through a personal dance funk, which happens to every dancer periodically. In order to bolster my spirits, I've been trying to connect with the reason why I dance. No "big revelations" yet, but here's some inspiring videos of hip-hop dancers who have clearly had to overcome difficulties way beyond what I've ever had…