15 Minutes with Patrick Loo

I had the chance to interview Patrick from Danz people. He can be considered the Godfather of Hip Hop in Singapore being one of the pioneers that did Hip Hop way back in the 1980s. Advocating a local style for the hip hop in Singapore, he has charted the path for the growing scene in Singapore.

1. So when did you start dancing?

It was way back in 1986 where I started at Neptune theatre restaurant. I then joined the then Singapore Broadcasting Corporation as a full time dancer in ’88.

2. So its been like 20 over years you’ve been dancing… What got you started and what kept you going on with it?

Believe it or not it was because of the dance movies back then. It was John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever, Fame and of course Break dance movie. I started with popping back then but with SBC, I was required to do Jazz and Ballet as well. My hip hop influences came from Michael Jackson and Bobby Brown. The important thing is that you wake up in the morning knowing that you’ll be doing something that you love.

3. Could you tell us about the changes that had happened in the dance scene since back then?

There was no materials back then for Hip Hop. Everything was quite DIY. Only later when we had the VCR and video cassettes tapes that we started to have a bit more to work with. It was more of sharing among peers.It’s the better days now for hip hop then ever before. As long as artistes continue with hip hop songs the dance will stay.

4. Could you tell us more about your recent trip to LA? What is the difference between us and them?

LIGHT YEARS!!! It’s a totally different scene. Its all about the attitude. People over there are generally very much “in your face”. Singaporeans are so shy in comparison. And the people there are more open to criticism, they just move on despite the bad stuff they encounter. Like how you see it on American idol, everyone who auditions thinks they can sing and will not be put down so easily.

They also have a very mixed genre of dancers with examples of Tucker, Kenny and Misha which are trained classically but are as competent in street styles as well. Its all about versatility.
As for the standard of dance in Singapore, I believe we can go very far with the exposure in recent years we’ve seen Singapore dancers going to places like Australia to compete. It’ll be just a matter of time before we get on par with the international scene.

5. Any advice for the younger dancers out there?

Its all about hard work. Talent is 10 percent, hard work is 90 percent. A person who goes crazy working on dance whenever he/she goes would definitely be better than one who has talent but doesn’t practice at all. What I can say is practice, practice, practice.

You can see some videos of his classes @ http://www.youtube.com/user/yippy43

Jack and his box.

Hi all!

Anyway, for all you dancers out there. Instead of "chiongin" non-stop 24/7.
I'm taking this time to talk about HEALTH.

Of course, our knees. The ones that hold up to 30kg and beyond. ;P
So remember to check this out. Gulcosamine.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glucosamine

There are quite a few brands out there, currently I'm taking the brand "Ocean Health".
Mustafa got sale. LOL.

And get those milk mustaches as well. Not ice cream.

Last but not least, I do have some posts, do check them out to. :P

And keep on dancing.

straight from the oven!

sup everyone. i just got back from one amazing round of K.O. Night.
it was super tough judging it but anyways i want to put an update of the battle results...

Battle 1: (Popping)
Sunset Alleycats vs Flip Art
winner:
Sunset Alleycats

Battle 2: (Popping)
Bone & Jelly vs Freqance
Winner:
Freqance

Battle 3: (Hip Hop)
Red Line vs Sopeez
Winner:
Red Line

Battle 4: (Hip Hop)
Blackjack vs Ekzident
Winner:
Ekzident

Battle 5: (Popping)
Gosh vs Funk Faction
Winner:
Gosh

Battle 6: (Popping)
Groovie Boogie vs WAH!
Winner:
Groovie Boogie

Battle 7: (Hip Hop)
White-T vs HE-EY
Winner:
White-T

Battle 8: (Hip Hop)
Rated PG vs DUOS
Winner:
Rated PG

i just want to say...
DID YOU GUYS SEE ZAIHAR'S HAT TRICK?

i almost stood up and shouted!

so remember, the point system is:
Win = 3 points
Draw = 1 point for each team
Lose = 0 points

i'm working on the videos, i'm working on them, i'll try to get them up asap i promise!

the silence is over.

Spotlight : KO Night 08

Well, having seen snippets of the past few rounds of KO Night, Im pretty sure this event is gonna be one of the most happenin ones this year! Lots of dancers are coming out and showing their stuff on the freestyle grounds! :) Alot of teams look good! Way to go Singapore...our progress is getting pumped up haha... Enjoy some snippets






-^_^arC

Shoutout by Gigi Torres

For those who miss Gigi from Project Element Singapore last year, here is something for you all the way from the US.
Credits from Candy Mak who was there just 2 weeks back.

~Caleb

Fbodz In Taiwan - Part 8 - "Look mom! im on DVD!"

FB's Representitives : Joey, Ah Hei, Lesner, Wee Kiat, Ryuta, Huang Peng & Ahbentoh

Seeing our routines in homeland and seeing it here is a really different feeling man. If i didn't know these guys and had a look at this for this first time i probably will think they are some kinda Taiwanese Yandaokiahs. Right now, im still looking at this over and over again thinking, 'dayyymmnn...we were actually there.' 

Singapore Boleh!!

Honestly, i have seen Trademarks (the team that represented Fbodz) done alot better during their 1st till 4th or maybe 5th time using this routine for a performance. However, this might have been the 3214876213th time they would be dancing this routine after Funkamania. Hence that might maybe explain their lownessless in some point. But who cares man. They are going to be in the super hip-ultra-cool DVD that be selling across Taiwan. Check out the cool cover on the link below
Click here to view super-hip-ultra-cool Max Party 08 event DVD

For those who are interested to get a copy of the DVD please let me know! I will tell the Taiwan Langs to DHL here or something.

By the way for all those who have been following the Fbodz In Taiwan clips, you would have noticed that the post for our Sunset Alleycats performance was trimmed. For those who were curious to know what the centre bit was, i tell you now la. Since i cannot escape anyway. I secretly didn't want to show you guys how my fat backside knocked skinny David over too many times in a routine. And also i was afraid to show the world how i couldn't pop. As much as many of you love laughing the world out of me, i hereby post up the full thing for time killing purposes. I feel bad for David. And sorry for the mistakes here and there. But 'daymnnnn..we were actually there!'

Anyway, let me sidetrack abit. Candy is in the US of A now. And i last heard from Caleb that she met many many big names. (like Buddha Stretch of Elite Force Crew). Please keep checking to see updates from halfway around the world!

Singapore Boleh x 10000,

Chunky.