March 8th, 2010 by soullldiva

I read a couple of reviews of the Oscars performance last night, and I don’t agree with all of them. There are a bit of naysayers about the hosting, the dancing, the choice to honor John Hughes (as opposed to other Honorary awards recipients), having “NPH” sing for the opening, etc. etc.

I thought it was a good show. For gawd’s sake, people, it’s nearly four hours of awards and presentations! How is Mr. Adam Shankman (director of the Oscars show) going to please everybody, all the time? He’s not, so there.

I thought two hosts, especially such as Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin was a super idea. Hey guys, I loved Chris Rock even more and I’m sure they paid Shankman NOT to hire him again. His first choice was actually Sacha Baron Cohen–a revelation even beyond Chris Rock. But they pulled back on the idea, thinking that it would just be too much for most of the people in the room (much less the rest of the US, who are quite more conservative than us here in Hollywood) to handle. Darn.

But Steve and Alec did a great job. Steve’s quip about both himself and “Gabby” Sidibe’s first starring movie roles were as a “poor black child” made me roll. Too young to know what he’s talking about? Check out Steve Martin in The Jerk,it’s a comedy classic. This was still when Steve was a “wild and crazy guy.”

Now, I do get the protests about honoring John Hughes instead of one or more of the Honorary Awards recipients (lovely Lauren Bacall, bigger than life Roger Corman and outstanding cinematographer Gordon Willis). But, as a child of the 80’s, it was really great to look back at all his films and really know that he knew who I was as a teenager. He knew and was able to display it, with charm, humor, grace and humility, for those of us suffering from teenage-itis to share. He was a great filmmaker and I’m so sad that he had to depart too soon.

And then there’s Adam’s choice to have the John M. Chu’s Legion of Extraordinary Dancers perform to each of the movie score nominees. Popping and locking to the theme from a war movie??–was the protest I heard.

Look. I get it that it was a bit different than your usual fare. But doncha get it? Music–any and all music–inspires movement. And that can be any movement of any kind. So yes, music from a movie about the war in the middle east can inspire LXD to move. And that they did amazingly well. And actually, the piece to “The Hurt Locker” score was my favorite of all of them (and the stunts done for the “Avatar” score were crazy good). Face it, naysayers. Popping, locking, b-boying, breakdancing, hip-hop, krumping, freestyle. It’s all here to stay and they are ALL legitimate art forms.

Yea for Dance! And Yea for a great Oscars night!

February 11th, 2010 by soullldiva

MOMO, a writer colleague of mine on the So You Think You Can Dance Social found this gem and I couldn’t help but pass it on.

Soul Train used to be some strange show to me that used to come on after all the cartoons were over on Saturday morning/early afternoon. Strange and…intriguing…as the intro started with that psychedelic cartoon of a train running on the tracks (and turning into the “Soul Train” logo), and the voice calling out “It’s the Sooooooooooul Train!”

I would watch young people in outrageous clothing shake their hips and wave their arms. It was odd to me and not odd. I can’t explain it. All I know is that years later I would learn to sing by attempting to imitate Aretha Franklin (not truly succeeding but not unsuccessful either, as I am from Kansas and severely Caucasian), I would be fronting my own 8 piece soul/R&B/Blues band and singing the very song in this video (Aretha Franklin’s “Rock Steady” is one of the best soul songs out there). Oh, and also shaking my hips (pretty nicely, I might add). If I ever scan in the pictures and convert the VHS tape to DVD I’ll show it to you sometime. Me, in leopard skin pants!

Soul Train is a jewel of American culture, created in 1965 on a UHF channel in Chicago, and Don Cornelius (and his fab hexagon spectacles) pretty much invented the line dance–and I don’t mean country dancing. I mean everyone lines up in two lines facing each other, then take turns in twos going down the row and struttin’ your stuff. Plus they had amazing soul acts on the show: The O Jays, Al Green, Marvin Gaye, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, Tower of Power and Gladys Knight and the Pips.

Anyway, enough nostalgic-ness, enjoy the video!

February 5th, 2010 by soullldiva

The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers’ director Jon M. Chu, along with choreographers Harry Shum Jr. and Chris Scott made a video announcement today on their YouTube page that they have officially been invited to perform on the telecast of the 82nd Academy Awards March 7th on ABC. Sa-weeeeeeeet!

Thank gawd for Mr. Adam Shankman, director of the presentation this year. Seeing as he has a vested interest in dance, he is certainly making it way more interesting for those who love dance. Can’t wait to see what he’s concocted for the viewers.

Meanwhile, Jon also said the LXD had been invited to perform on Ted Talks (ted.com) next week. Tune in for that online!

Here’s to a fantastic Oscars 2010!

February 5th, 2010 by soullldiva

I found this video while cruising one of the great SYTYCD sites out there (thanks SYTYCDism!).  Breakdancer Jonathan “Legacy” Perez, fabulous finalist from season 6 of SYTYCD has been busy busy busy exploring, dancing, and making videos of himself. If you find his page on YouTube there’s plenty of them to enjoy. But this one stood out to me, because of the opposite choices he makes. He’s a fast-paced B-Boy who is amazing at tricks, yet the video is mostly still shots of him in action, and closeups of his face (with those big eyes just looking). His usual music fare is of course quick and booming, that would lend itself to his moves. Yet the music he chooses is “Better Man” by James Morrison, a beautiful, soft and flowy lyrical song. Just check it out and see what I mean:

I wasn’t misled when I singled him out as a special dancer with a special heart. He had a revelation during his SYTYCD run, and it’s sticking with him. Keep going, Legacy!

January 27th, 2010 by soullldiva

…where there is some pretty darn great crew dancing going on. Now, I admit it, I’m not usually a stand up and cheer fan of this type of group dancing, I tend to prefer more contemporary-style dancing where more communication of emotion is involved. But that absolutely does not discount this type of high-energy, super complicated, tricky-tricks, high rhythm and syncopated dancing. It’s pretty amazing at times to watch, you just go “wow, how did they do that?” In addition, there’s the necessity for everyone to be completely in-synch with each other and look exactly the same. Also not something I’m a huge fan of (I like it when people dance and look like individuals). But then, that would defeat the idea of a “crew” right??? Of course. I’ve learned to love the synchronicity. ;o)

When the show first debuted on MTV, I loved the commercial for it, which showed a kind of a “melting pot” of dance: cloggers, ballerinas in toe shoes, break dancers, hip hoppers, etc. etc. I looked and looked for this video online and had no luck >o(. Oh well, onward!

Of course the most famous of the crews to come out of America’s Best Dance Crew is the Jabbawokees. You can’t turn on a dance show without seeing them. And rightly so, they are super skilled and really fun to watch.

The are so recognizable as a unit, as a team, the masks really contribute to that so all you are aware of is the movement, sometimes as one. They’re style is just really interesting, very almost laid-back, relaxed, easy going. But still full of energy. I also like this commercial for ABDC season 2 (right after they won). This is Jabbawokeez cranked up, dramatic and full of force:

I love the camera work on that bit as well, really added to their dance.

Another crew that’s made their name from ABDC is Quest Crew, they are super. Here’s their commercial for ABDC after they won:

Pretty snazzy, huh? Ok, that move where the guy flips in the air while two other guys pass above and below him? C-R-A-Z-Y. Nuts. Slammin! And I really dig the whole church theme. Didja see the pictures of the other crews in the stained glass?

OK and finally, a bunch o Girrrrlz won the competition last season, We are Heroes. And they give it as good as the guys do:

Was that enough hoppin’ videos for ya? Hope you had fun. Do you have any other ABDC faves? Let me know!