House Dance

House dance is so widely practiced around the world and has lots of followers and devotees… Funny, but this dance style is pretty new for Georgian dancers and they only just beginning to discover how interesting this style is. Fortunately, I took the opportunity to invite great house dancer from London Aaron Shikamaru Charles (A.C) to teach at D-Star Dance School his class and introduce Georgian dancers to House Dance.

I asked Aaron to tell us a little bit about House Dance during his workshop at D-Star and here are some really good words from A.C.

“House dance was born in the clubs of New York City around the mid 1980's. This is a social dance with many different influences from hiphop, Lindy hop, tap, salsa, rocking, lofting and that's just to name a few. Important reason house dance has so many influences is because of the simple fact, when people (dancers & non-dancers) from different backgrounds of life were in the clubs they spoke to one another through exchanges of body language to communicate, which social dancing was and still is all about. Just like every other style under the street dance umbrella (house dance) has culture, this particular culture involves going to the house (music) nights, sharing the dance with people, making circles (cyphers), having fun and expressing yourself as a person while the music takes you to another place within your body and soul. Some places where house music was played during the 80's were, powerhouse, the loft, warehouse, paradise garage, the music box, power plant and studio 54. Plus major contributors (which are now known as pioneers) to the house dance scene in NYC include Ejoe Wilson, Brian "Footwork" Green, Tony McGregor, Marjory Smarth, Caleaf Sellers, "Brooklyn" Terry Wright, Shannon Mabra, Tony "Sekou" Williams, Shannon Selby (aka Shan S), Voodoo Ray, Chris Sawyer, and many others. I hope you enjoy the experience of the workshop and you can use this dance to help you grow as a dancer as person in and help to share this dance so it doesn't die out and continues to make the clubs full of love and happiness.

Before I forget I will be showing and teaching you foundation covering the footwork, groove, and understanding the movements of house dance so the level will be beginners so don't worry if you can't get a certain movement, mistakes are the greatest learning skill in my classes. AC konoha”

Thanks to Aaron for great workshop and his love to share knowledge and energy :) 

 

Special thanks to Oleg Skitishvili  "Olegito Photo Studio" for the pics.

Hip-Hop or Ballet? :)

I was asked by a fellow journalist to give an interview on what is better Hip-Hop or Ballet. The question is quite interesting considering that fact that I came from both worlds and love dancing  Hip-Hop as well as the Ballet :) I have several thoughts on this theme.

First of all, the decision to make a choice of what style is better for you depend on a personality. If you are one of those goofs around, have fun, expressive types - definitely dive into hip-hop. This style teaches you to dance relaxed but with the ability to control every part of your body from a head to toes. Hip-hop dance is the rhythm, bounce and you can express your emotions in a very free way… You don’t have limits or particular way of how to move on a bit (although, you need to learn the foundation which allows you to understand your body, it gives you a vocabulary on which you can put your own style)… It is your understanding of the music and your own emotional expression… This is called freestyle dance. So, Hip-hop will dance your body out!

But, if you are more of a serious, get work-done, professional type go for ballet. Unlike the spontaneous and freestyle movements of Hip hop, ballet requires precision, plenty of hours of practice, elegance, poise, and flexibility, with the latter being the utmost requirement. The movements in ballet are very precise and graceful, from the tips of the toes to the deliberate flick of a finger. Ballet is a very intelligent dance which requires full conscious at every move unlike Hip hop. Ballet develops body in a very specific way allowing extended, flexible and just unbelievable moves. This is the most technical dance and those who consider professional carrier in dancing or just want to improve the skills, whether you are a hip-hop or jazz-funk dancer, ballet is strictly recommended! :)

It seems that ballet and hip-hop are totally converse… Probably they are. But we can see so many good examples where these two styles fit together in such an interesting way like step up movie, red bull flying Bach, nike advertising in Russia.  So, to me these two styles are great and versatile. 

T-shirt: Bikkembergs, windbreaker: pull&bear, jeans: MiH, sneakers: Bikkembergs, bracelets: Hermes, A.M.A crew (handmade)

check this videos to see how classic matches hip-hop :) 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEjAybnRl0M 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GoZT3RI0iE

Olegito posters

I wanted some new posters to refresh a design at D-Star Dance School http://www.dstarstudio.ge/index.php     and asked "Olegito photo studio" (Oleg Tskitishvili) to make something original, dynamic and beautiful :) That was fun and interesting collaboration... Best poses which we picked were made unintentional in a natural way followed by my freestyle dance and after were smoothed and embellished with Oleg's professional hand  :) 

Which one do you like the most?

The Weeknd

My latest inspiration in music is young, fresh and deep artist whose name is "The Weeknd". His real name is Abel Tesfaye (born February 16, 1990). He is Canadian RnB recording artist and producer of Ethiopian descent from Toronto. The Weeknd released his first nine-songs album House of Balloons and it was met with universal critical acclaim. As Joe Colly wrote, "all the thematic and sonic pieces fit together - these weird, morning-after tales of lust, hurt, and over-indulgence ... are matched by this incredibly lush, downcast music. It's hard to think of a record since probably The xx's debut ... that so fully embodies such a specific nocturnal quality." 

His music is heartfelt, touching and sounds differently... can't stop listening to it... I often use The Weeknd's music on my Hip-Hop, L.A and even contemporary classes. On my opinion the best choreography made on The Weeknd's song "Next" (which is one of my fav) is that by Quick Crew. Ohhh.... these guys transfer emotions and feeling of this song in such a strong way! 

Enjoy!

Quick Crew at Street Dance Kemp Europe 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlOQEhvhrXI&playnext=1&list=PL60876D264E0045C4&feature=results_main

please watch from 1.41

Quick Crew choreography on "Next" by The Weeknd at Urban Dance Camp