It's me Ben! Just like Marzipan said, HAPPY 2010! 2009 was a pretty tough year, wasn't it? I remember how much fun 2008 had.
BUT... in with the new, out with the old, 2010 is here!
Speaking about "new"... Bobby aka Mileage from Elite Force Crew has just opened his webstore, so for all you people who have been wanting to get your hands on that "Mileage High Club" or "Bobby Mileage Air" tee, here's your chance!
www.bobbymileageclothing.com
Also, he's gonna be dropping some new designs in 2010, and be on the lookout for hoodies coming your way.
Don't get me wrong, this isn't an advertisement for Bobby, I'm just sharing with you guys because I know many of us out there will be interested to cop a tee or two... I've ordered 3 myself! hahahaha...
PS: Robin's in one of the pictures under the gallery section, can you spot him? haha...
Merry Christmas Singapore!!!!!! Hope your festive season was great :) Just wished it snowed here only on christmas...heheh... And Happy 2010!!!! 2009 was great, lets make 2010 even more awesome! Keep dancin Singapore!
jingle bells, jingle bells...........auld lang syne.........2010!!!
Hey guys...haven't been appearing here for a very long time...
Was busy with my common tests earlier on in November and now I'm late for my article submission... *Marc pointing fingers at me* But that's not the point. So let's carry on.
So yea from the title as stated above, we're going to talk about ME. Reason being: I'm not good at analysing people, neither do I know much background information about internationally-reknowned dancers, nor have the ability to comment much about them.
Okay? Cool.
So...I started dancing during 2006, and I started with Hip Hop. (Yea I think most people started from hip hop too) Then attempted a little bit of jazz here and there and failed. Then I started taking popping classes because my friend showed me a video of U-Min's performance in 2006 (the one where they used beatronic and the musical box song) Then I took locking classes also because Michael was teaching locking too.
I believe that nobody at the age of 15 would have thought that he/she would be able to achieve any accomplishment in the Singapore dance scene. At that time, I was just wanting to be able to dance better, train techniques so that I will be a stronger dancer, and be able to do better choreographies. But a state of circumstances has changed me into a very different person from before. And I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who have watched me grown from a young boy to a not-so-young boy, forcing me to do all the shit and stuff so that what-dosen't-kill-me-makes-me-stronger. Thank you for your help. HAHAHA.
Ok back to the topic. Here's two videos of me that I have:
The Locking video was 1 year ago, before Floor The Love 2008. I was training with Jin then. I remember that day I took Yuu's class (Hilty and Bosch) because they came down to judge for KO Night 08.
The Popping video was earlier on this year, right before I went for Taiwan to join MAx Party 6. It should be around late March this year.
Locking: Moves in general is quite sloppy. Form is not very strong. Techniques could have been better. Transition from moves to moves were quite okay. Direction orientation could be clearer. Intensity is constant throughout the freestyle. Actually, it's quite a torture to watch my own video again D:
Popping: Flow was pretty good, transition of moves was executed quite well Form was not very stable. Pops were okay, not too bad. Intensity of pops could have been variated to create a different presentation. Moves was quite constant and repetitive, and sloppy at some parts. Levels was okay, but most of the time facing the front; lack of dimensions.
This was 40% of what I was able to do at that period of time. Personally I felt that my Popping was affected because I had been training 3 months for the locking item performance for Taiwan's Max Party 6 without touching popping.
But then again, when you improve in one genre, chances are that your other genres are going to be affected. When I started locking, people were commenting that my locking had some popping angles. Maybe that was really the truth, maybe it awas partially because they were used to seeing me do popping so naturally they'd see it from a popping point of view. But thankfully I think I've managed to balance these two genres quite well for now. I think.
To me, advising people how to dance is akin to teaching your newborn baby how to walk, talk, ride a bike and stuff like that. In the past, I would always ask my mentors and seniors how to exactly improve in dance, techniques-wise, flow, and rhythm. But slowly and gradually, as I learn more about dance, I understand that asking for advice may not necessarily be the best method to help you grow as a stronger dancer. The best way in my opinion, is to learn how to see and comment on your own freestyle. It's the same logic as you spending hours reading your exam notes trying to figure out the concept, but when you get the concept, it really goes into your brain. It's better than just asking your friends for help, and trying to smoke through the exam papers. At the end of the day, you will forget all these important knowledge that you did not make an effort to read, understand and apply.
Not gonna talk too much here. Remember, realise it yourself.
Hello everybody! My name is Terence and I am freaking new to this, Firstly, thank you marc marzipan for asking me to try this out and write for Singaporegotdance.com. Its really an honor to write for such a website and also writing beside amazing people/dancers such as cheeBen psyk who is so sick he makes me pang sai on my pants everytime I watch him dance, Marzipan who is such a sick and creative popper, KS who is a freaking young talent and jasmine whose groove is beyond insanity! I was scared at first but hell with it im going to try at least haha, Like I said im new to this and one thing for sure, I’m not good at writing. But ill try my best! So bear with me if you don’t understand the heck of what the heck I’m writing the heck about ok?
Ok firstly, let me introduce myself since it is the first time I’m writing a post. My name is Terence and my surname is Then. Since primary school, when I was short, fat and had a bowl shaped hairstyle, people have been making fun of my surname like example, “Terence.. THEN HOW?!” or “Terence.. arbber then???” . I used to be very affected by the jokes but ever since I found dance, I’ve became much more confident and able to face the hurtful jokes. Ok im kidding, but im serious about being short fat and having a bowl shaped hairstyle. Anyway, I’m 22 this year, I love dancing and have been dancing for about 4 and a half years. I am currently in NRA and I love my second family and second home :). So yea, now you know me a little better, lets talk about the actual point of the post, Style talk for hiphop choreography.
Well, firstly, in my humble opinion, hiphop is a very very LARGE genre and to me Hiphop is kinda like nonya rojak. Not Indian rojak, but the rojak that has taupok and sticky sweet sauce and pineapples and radishes that you mix it all around. By the way Indian rojak the fried bread is just too damn delicious. Anyway I feel the term hiphop is so free and so huge. To me hiphop is just self expression of how you feel towards the music. Hiphop just like all other styles is dance. Hiphop to me is just mixing up all the styles you do and expressing it. So to me I don’t really see the mega huge difference between la hiphop, lyrical hiphop, japan hiphop. Because to me its all just different styles of hiphop that ppl do and dance to express themselves, in the end its still all dance. First thing dancers should STOP doing is cutting the line in between the 2. like dissing on the other styles just because you prefer a style. We should respect all the “genres” of hiphop and learn from it and stay open :).But that is to me personally, its ok if you don’t agree :). For me personally I LOVE the flow of Japanese choreography and I LOVE the creativity and self expressions of U.S choreography, there’s so much to learn from both the east and the west so open up your minds and eyes and learn.
I don’t really know what style is it that I’m doing or what my style is, I’m just creating choreography the way I feel towards the music. Its hard but its good to keep trying. One thing I know for sure. It is VERY VERY hard to create a DANCE. It’s easy to create steps, its easy to create nice steps. It’s easy to create nice steps to fit to the song, but its extremely hard to create a dance. To me creating a dance is freaking advance stuff man.
Many of us including myself are just at the end of the day, creating a set of steps to fit it into the music. But its ok, just keep working hard and I’m sure one day we all would be able to create a dance instead of just steps. I am working very hard too, In the past, I used to choreograph to songs that I thought was dope, or songs that has beats that made me go crazy or like “WA LAU THE BEATS DAM CHIO!”. But nowadays I try to choreograph to songs that I like. Songs that I would never even thought of creating a dance to if I go back to when I just started dancing. Or ever back like 2 years back. Stereotypes mainly will go “wa lao this song can dance meh? Can choreo meh?”. I would answer yes. You should answer yes too. I believe that EVERY SINGLE song in the world can be made into a dance because dance is about self expression. Do not be afraid to just try to choreograph to songs that you feel its impossible to choreograph to. I feel when you like a song or when a song means something to you somehow, its easier to connect to the song and thus it is easier for a choreo to be created. You don’t have to force frames in it, you don’t have to rack your brains over the different layers, you don’t have to think hard on what step should be on what count, on what layer on what lyric. The whole choreo would just flow and come out the way you want to express it. So I feel choreographing to a song you love, a song that you can connect with would bring you up a higher notch somehow. It doesn’t matter what genre the song is , whether its vasamtham central theme song, or Beijing cultural er hu piece or Tibet folk music or backstreet boys or even your wake up sound from your alarm clock. MOST important is something that you are able to connect with, something you love, something you like!
Do not care about people’s comments or thoughts. Eleanor Roosevelt said to always do what is right in your heart, because at the end of the day, you’ll still be criticized anyway. Because that is you. And nobody can be you except you.. That is why dance is so damn amazing. Because we are able to use our body language to express the way we want to on how a piece of sound or music makes us feel.
I think that is roughly a few things I want to point out about choreography. I still have ALOT ALOT to say but I guess its super long already so till next time. :) Singapore is a small country, but it’s seriously filled with many many talented hardworking and inspiring people and dancers. Keep working hard together guys! I’m sure over time we will be able to be known to the world that Singapore is small in size, but BIG in dance :) Goodbye and keep practicing, keep dancing, but don’t forget to go back to your basics and foundations.
O School's 2009 Recital just ended last Sunday, and it really was a blast. I'm really thankful for the whole popping recital team, they're a nutty, crazy bunch!
Here's a vid I compiled with the outtakes from my cam!
I hope you guys enjoy the video... cos all of us had a really good time!
Yo people! Marzipan says eat chocolate coated marzipan daily for an euphoric experience. Sure to help in your dance. haha. Ok ignore the above if you are NOT a fan of almonds, of which i am dearly fond of. Go almonds! Go nuts on it!
Alright, enough about nuts. Lets leave them out of the spotlight; And speaking of spotlights, lets turn the attention out towards the streets...Or malls...or wherever la.
Just last week we had Spotlight Boogie over the Hari Raya weekend. It was a blast seeing all those people get down! THANKS again to all those who made Spotlight Boogie a success! Not forgetting you audiences too :)
For those of you who did not catch it, too bad! And for those who are wondering what in the world is spotlight boogie? Check out http://spotlightboogie.wordpress.com for more details including the winning team. Don't be lazy, go check the site. Anyway, it is Singapore's first 3 vs 3 popping battle! Shiok.
So here is my little review about the event. Before i start let me say again that i am reviewing purely as a third party perspective and please do not take offence to anything i say if i do, in any case, offend you. In short, i dont mean to upset anyone la!
First lets start with the hiccups, the not so good stuff. I felt that technical problems with the sound really made the event 30% less "happening". Not only wasnt there any sound technician to help, the speakers were rather crappy. Or the mics...or both...Cant really make out what people are saying even with no music in the background. In addition to the sound problem, there were some issues about song looping and music changing at the wrong time. Maybe it was a bad day for the ears. lol
The next thing that bugged me was that i didnt see enough TEAM ACTION!! Dont get me wrong, the dancers were great, but it felt more like 1v1v1v1v1v1 more than 3v3. I feel the thing that seperates a 2v2,3v3 or crew battle from a 1 vs 1, is the synergy and teamwork. If not, just join a 1v1. I feel its really important to show your teamwork by doing good tags, commando routines, and other interesting stuff that you cant do solo. So people! Go create some synergy!!!
Lastly my only other complain was that, there should be cyphers going on during such dance events!!! Thats what makes it part of the street culture !
Alright now on to the awesomeness things! Ok now i cant be let off if i dont say that the Poppers are crazy man, you guys are growing at such a sick rate. Everyone really leveled up, and some impressed me alot! Keep workin guys, and Singapore will be international soon yeah. WHOOT. Lets take South East Asia first..wahhaah
The other thing that i liked was that the crowd gave their support! At least people of all ages sat, or stood through the whole thing! Thats a start aint it ? :)
Also, thanks to the various sponsors for the awesomeness prizes...damn i wished i couldve taken part lol.. Doc Martens, Walux Caps, Heeren vouchers, ODM watches...what the hell!!
Lastly, thanks Studio Wu and Poppers Action Party for organizing ! Do keep a lookout for the next Spotlight Boogie, till then, its WTF every month for you funkateers.
