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…
TodaysiPhone.com: Tips and news for those that love their JesusPhones
My friend Adriana sends me news about a new tech blog she's writing for called TodaysiPhone.com. For those of you who are addicted to your JesusPhone, it's a wealth of resources to get the most out of your device, from reviews of new apps, to video tutorials, to rumors about what's up Apple's sleeves for…
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…
Seven reasons why my hackintoshed Dell Mini kicks the iPad’s butt
Like other Mac fanboys, I am pretty impressed by what Apple has come out with: the iPad. It's got all the sleekness and interface-y goodness that Apple is so bloody amazing at. That said, under the shiny hood, the iPad can't hold a candle to my hackintoshed Dell Mini 10v. Here's why: An integrated camera:…
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…