Like many, I've got my own opinions - my own way of writing (which people will get used to in time) and my own strengths and shortcomings when it comes to the world of dancers and hip hop... here's a *cheers* to finally saying something to all of ya out there
...BUT..
First things first...........
Whether you (the reader) rate me as a dancer or someone who simply dances is entirely up to you.
This post is a first for many things ...though it ain't going to be your typical rant about some bastard stuffing round dancers nor issit a critique about the many issues facing the hip hop scene/culture at this point in time, however, it's the first time I write an open analysis of myself -- of where I've come from and where my head is at with the whole dance thing. More importantly though it's a baseline to compare all my future endeavours, thoughts and discoveries on. For all the rest of you who don't know me.
Allow me to introduce that dancer side of yours truly ~
I am dancer and it's the passion - I don't physically dance to music 24/7 but like a vast number of dancers out there with "more brains in their feet than in their heads" - dancing happens in your head, in the groove of your walk down the street, in the beats created by the clicking sound of your pen, the constant clashing of construction equipment in the lot next door, and in my case (+ tyical filos) - having your body twitch awkwardly and randomly as you attempt to hold back your body from allowing that freestyle itch to manifest itself right then and there - when I am actually mean't to be attending to my many sick patients vital needs.
Before i proceed....
(Definition: "Typical" - verb - describing a filipino or filipina that by profression are either nurses/engineers/teachers and by night are dancers/basketball players or simply supastar wannabes)
Unlike many my inspiration to dance didn't come about listening to music, in fact I was pleasantly oblivious by the very thought of it until highschool rolled around the corner.
(Some background Hx)
As a young lad, I found it tough to express any feelings or emotions in such an overt way that people often see me doing nowadays. A lot of that is attributed to the fact I was raised in an old school style with extensive use of the "iron fist"... also commonly known as the tsinelas (see-neh-lahs), or sinturon (sin-too-ron). Killing that final boss, or catching that bastard Dratini were the only ways I felt I could freely be open and express anything unrelated to school. An introverted/shelled off kid with little ability to express interest and thoughts in anything other than videos games basically summed me up in comparison to who I am now.
Definition:
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It was in highschool where a PDHPE assignment to "choreograph" a routine with Lloyd(Enerjetix) and Princy(Enerjetix) was given to us (which we aced). That's when the first taste of that burning desire rose as we jammed and collaborated for the first 3 hours of our dancing days - it grabbed my values and habits by the balls/twisted/slammed and twisted it again. Finally, something made sense - it felt bloody "insaaanneeeee bruuuu!!"
The following few years that followed - "Enerjetix" - was a crew I was heavily involved with. We danced, we performed, we practiced 7 days a week and the result was MANY of my BEST memories of dancing. Even now. You can give me a gig that pays well, place me on a show that makes me think I dance or what ever - however NOTHING will ever top the feeling the boys and I went through that first night in 2004 when we became nervous wrecks/panicked/gathered/prayed/calmed - all moments before we performed for the first time onstage with an audience made up of 3000+ "Kathedral Kollaborationz" comes to mind. It's great to see a couple managed to keep on keeping on with their thing.
On that note - Dance Group vs Dance Crews - Think about what makes either/or and know the difference... or at least try to want to know. If you don't? Think some more.
In terms of issues in the scene, they are best posted in their own time - where it can be dealt with in as clear-a-detail as possible - a lot of this is covered in many other dancers posts online.
...which brings me to the next part...
shout to Chux (Doppelgangers), Katrina (Shady Ladies) - though I'm not involved with them much at this stage with their on goings they are a couple of people that come to mind whilst writing this post. You'll find much of what they have to impart here >> http://hiphop.org.au/ --I came across this site accidently.. can't even remember how that accidently happened... meh watevs - It's bookmarked now and I suggest you guys do the same and perhaps contribute to some of the discussions going on there, everything said and discussed there is exactly what the scene needs. Two mega strong personalities having a major hand in ensuring that the hip hop dance scene is being guided in the right direction - they receive countless praise and recognition for it and rightly so. Foundation and knowledge. Respect to both of you.
Another fellow - more like grandpa is Darrio Phillips - This dude has been a great mentor and supporter of what I have done/ what I do and what I plan to do. His words are priceless and every emo talk about dancing I've had with him has been for lack of a more manly word - 'enlightening' . If you ask around, many people will hate on this guy but I'm here to tell ya - don't. Just like any shit stirrer, he just talks a lot just like me... only he talks a lot more. Love ya man! (no homo). Keep doing ya thing and if you don't know who he is - google/youtube straight away.. theres bound to be some compilation clip when he was in his late 20s?...30s? hah!
Mr Mark Reyes and James Sonny Chiapoco aka Ruthless - these two guys may or may not know but they serve as a source of motivation and inspiration to further do what I do and have been for this whole time. My brother lol, Ruthless. Need I say more? He's a prime example to me as someone who represents as real as he could his own scene (KRUMP) - though I was one of his major motivations to start dancing - several times over the years I have looked at him and gained reasons to further my own dancing in all aspects. Mr Reyes aka my other brain is exactly who I needed to meet - cause of this guy what remained of my dancing values have been acted on. Night 2 Sunrise aka n[2]s happened and will remain!.
Jerome Valencia - Respect to this guy for showing so much passion and all the work he has put into supporting the hip hop scene. Criticalhype is what I should promo for ya! haha regardless. Your work doesn't go unappreciated. Not by me anyway.
Shouts done for now...
Even as a relatively unknown lad to the scene - I've always had a major focus to do my part by bringing new talent to light, to show and encourage would-be starters, to teach and impart all of what I know. Many people hold back from wanting to teach the "right" shiz for all sorts of reasons all the way to my Pikachu with bottle of alize in hand. Another major topic saved for later...
With that last paragraph - I'd like to expand on the idea of n[2]s aka Night 2 Sunrise (no this ain't suppose to be a self promo thing.. hmm reminds me of a post Chux made awhile back...hah)
Many of you will probably have received at some point in time a message regarding this monthly jam sessions happening. In a nutshell, once a month we gather in the city streets and dance early night till sunrise next morning, however let me tell you the reasons why:
1.) People do not jam enough. I am not talking about the jam sessions held by different schools and organisations. I am talking about jamming for the individual which includes myself. If you want to be a hip hop dancer, you gotta know how to freestyle. It's that simple. The concept of what is freestyle and what is biting or "plagiarizing" is extensively explained by non other than Chux. Hit up that website I linked earlier.
2.) Trend hoppers and fakes bastards - With the advent of SYTYCD on aussie TV. A massive boom in the dance industry bellowed, as a natural result I've seen many people jump onto the bandwagon and claim to be hip hop dancers when they don't even give a flying f*ck about what it really means. I am not talking about people who casually take class and enjoy it - those people are cool. I'm referring to those self-proclaimed out there who walk up to you and interrupt you in the middle of a cypher - do some weird azz hand shake - then walk away.. wtf I say. By having this jam session at the most inconvenient time as possible - that is on a Friday night - n[2]s natural aims at only attracting people who are there for the love... maybe a few drunks at 3am but primarily a concentration of like minded people. As a result a jam sesh for vet dancers opens up without all the political BS that accompany most things and also a safe haven for newbies who want to learn but yet have no where to start - what better area for them to find themselves in with a group people willing to pass on knowledge without feeling that pressure that massive jam sessions always bring? n[2]s is 1 year and 6 months old.
Didn't realise how much I actually wrote in this posting. Wrapping this up, there is one last thing I'm going to say. The title of this posting is "breakout"
.. to breakout of my comfort zone, to breakout of my current style and to further embrace other disciplines, to break out and to let myself be known but most important of all.. to breakout and get my battlemode on.
Let me leave you guys with an image..
I have a thing for female ninjas
peace and cheese.
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