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…
Category: Dancing / Music
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…
Colin Huggins’ guerilla music video “Until It’s You” (video)
I love this new guerrilla-style, one take music video by Colin Huggins for his new single "Until It's You." Colin is not only a gifted independent musician, he also demonstrates his considerable popping, lindy hop, and moving sidewalk dancing abilities! I love how the dancing just gets wackier and more elaborate as the video goes…
Using Facebook and Twitter to Support Swing Flashmobs
Back before the meme of “flashmobs” starting sweeping the US, swing dancers had a practice we called “lindy bombing.” Which was to show up at a place that wasn’t a regular swing dance venue and start dancing. It might be swinging to muzak playing in a shopping mall, or to hip-hop music in a nightclub,…
Swing is Everywhere in New York City: from subway, to concert hall, to hidden dance club
Thursday was one of those days that make me so happy to live in Gotham. It sometimes seems like everywhere you go, there is great music, and people grooving to it. I started the evening of all places in the Union Square subway station, where the Tin Pan Blues band was playing their unique mix…
Youth-led Prospect Heights Fundraiser nets $6,000 for Haiti! (update)
We at Global Kids could not be more proud of the teens at the High School for Global Citizenship (which we are a partner with) for organizing and performing in the Haiti Solidarity Benefit last night at the Prospect Heights campus amphitheater. Many of the students at HSGC are of Haitian descent, so being able…