The massive crowd at the Sprite Step Off last night got an unexpected treat at the end of the show: hip-hop superstar Ludacris rolled up and did a mini-set that got the ballroom jumping. Here's a brief video of his opening number. I've never seen Ludacris live. He's a consummate performer and knows how to…
Category: New York
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…
Amira & Rik introduce Global Kids to youth jails project (video)
My colleague Amira and I created this quick video to welcome a special group of young adults to "uCreate," a digital storytelling project working with two groups of teens in two different youth jails. Amira gave a bit of background about Global Kids, I talk about uCreate, and then we do a quick walk-through of…
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,…
Become a “1stFan” of Brooklyn Museum for $20: Get a Free Print!
I'm a big fan of the Brooklyn Museum, and I've been really impressed with how they have been using social media to create a richer experience for museum attendees. Will Cary and Shelley Bernstein of the Brooklyn Museum around this time last year launched the "1stFans" group, a way for people to be a part…
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…
Hip-hop Class for Haiti Relief on Saturday January 30
Just got this from my friend Pavan of PMT Dance Studios on how you can learn how to dance and help Haiti on Saturday January 30: With the current disaster in Haiti, we are holding a special class to help raise money to help the disaster victims. 100% of the proceeds will go towards the…
Shopsin’s whole wheat french toast with coconut curd!
I took a bit of comp time this morning and decided to visit again the amazing Shopsin's General Store in the Lower Eastside. Fortunately, there was a seat waiting for me when I arrived in the tiny diner, nestled in an unobtrusive corner on the south side of the Essex Market. Chef Kenny Shopsin was…