Mardi Gras is Tuesday, but tonight is the Krewe of Zulu Coronation Ball. Patti LaBelle is supposed to headline. Unfortunately, I'm not going this year because I'm spending enough to see Prince at Essence Fest in July, but I wish I were going.
Thinking about it, I checked the views on my video of the 2011 Zulu Ball (What to Wear). That's how I came across the video above. It shows people on the dance floor at the 2013 ball. They are letting les bon ton roule definitement, having a good time. And since the video has the right amount of light in it, unlike my old video, you can see what people are wearing. As you can see, if you have a ticket for tonight's shindig, but didn't bother to get a tux or gown, you'll be out of place. And since it's already after 3:00 p.m. as I write this, you're out of luck, too.
The video makes me smile and laugh. I post it also for anyone out there who still believes the stereotype that all black people can sing. I assure you this video will disabuse you of such notions. The folks are drunk or buzzing and waaaayyyyy off key. Not "a little pitchy," as American Idol judges like to say, but far out of tune. Harry Connick, Jr., would be nearly apoplectic listening (I think the New Orleans jazz musician and actor has prefect pitch). But as I've said before, they're having fun.
I haven't posted anything about So You Think You Can Dance this season, which is unusual for me. I've enjoyed all the episodes, spending too much time wishing I had been born with Jasmine Harper's legs, looks, and gracefulness.
The first video, above, shows Fik-Shun with all-star Twitch dancing to "Hello, Good Morning." I chose this routine not because it was the best routine; it wasn't. I chose it because it made me smile. I'm all about smiling more these days.
And I'm posting the next one, Jasmine and Aaron's quickstep from earlier in the season because of the flair.
I like the final four. As for who may win, Amy, Fik-Shun, Jasmine, or Aaron, who knows? If it's based on general cuteness, then it's Fik-Shun for the win. Amy is talented, and she may win because of the voting pool. Jasmine and Aaron have been favorites all season, but you never know what the voters will do. It's really about who people like the most more than who's the best.
During Tuesday's finale, I was surprised to learn that the judges didn't want Jasmine in the competition. She only made the top 20 because Cat Deeley, the host, fought for her. It's true the girl has something special about her. To me she has a classic, silver screen or 50s and 60s recording star look, glamorous. She and Aaron Turner need to go off somewhere and make babies to pretty up the world.
Generally, I only care for Bonnie Raitt's version of "I Can't Make You Love Me," and I sort of have a blind spot when it comes to men singing this song. I never believe them when they sing it. But I do believe and love Tank's version.
If you watched So You Think You Can Dance last night, the Vegas auditions, then you heard this song twice. I think dancers get to cheat a bit when they use exceptionally moving music for auditions. It's hard to tell whether it's the music moving the audience or the dancers, but SYTYCD hopefuls didn't chose this song. They pulled it from a hat or something by the producers' command.
So cute and funny! Jimmy Fallon in drag with the FLOTUS in "The Evolution Of Mom Dancing." A friend shared it on Facebook, and I needed this healthy laugh.
And in this 1955 video of Bill Bailey tap dancing, you'll see the move associated with Janet's brother, the late, great Michael Jackson, "the Moonwalk."
As Michael fans know, the King of Pop watched a lot of musicals, as did many of us born around the same time as he, but unlike the rest of us, Michael was a gifted dancer and creative genius. In the dance moves of classic artists, he saw what he could re-purpose for his own musical productions and theatrical vision. I think he studied mime, as well.
I had a mime class as a teen and know that the Moonwalk is also part of that discipline. Furthermore, the great French mime Marcel Marceau was popular during the 70s when Michael Jackson and I were teens, and I recall that Michael was a fan of Marceau. So, Michael drew from multiple sources to create his masterpieces; he excelled at putting the old in context of the new.
Janet had similar visions. In her "Alright" video she pays homage to Cab Calloway, Cyd Charise, and the Nicholas Brothers in the same way that her brother, Michael, paid homage to Fred Astaire in his "Smooth Criminal" music video.
I guess one could say LMFAO, which is made up of two of Motown founder Berry Gordy's descendants (Redfoo is Berry Gordy's son and SkyBlu is Gordy's grandson) also have that same some sampling/mixtape creativity: the ability to cut, paste, and reshape multiple pieces into something appealing and new (the art of bricolage).
As all Michael Jackson and Jackson family followers know, Gordy signed the Jackson 5 when Michael was nine years old, drawing in as well Janet during their television show period. And if you saw Spike Lee's documentary on ABC last night, "Michael Jackson: Bad 25," you were reminded of how the Motown influence shaped Michael Jackson's artistic discipline. Likewise, Motown influenced Janet.
Of PSY and his "gangnam style" dance moves, as well as his pop music style, I see it as fun, yes, but also I see it as more evidence of this postmodern age's hyper-bricolage: the synthesis of multiple multicultural pieces (a good bit of it from HipHop culture these days). PSY draws on his own experience and culture, but also the cultures of others. So, I peg his work also as more evidence of humanity's attraction to simulacra and this era's mix-it-up, small-world aesthetics.
So far the only event I've seen for New Orleans for National Dance Day 2011 is this one, which was posted at NOCCA's (New Orleans Center for Creative Arts) website.
July 5, 2011 – To celebrate the 2nd Annual National Dance Day (July 30), Chard Gonzalez Dance Theatre is offering a free Zumba class at NOCCA. Launched by Nigel Lythgoe, executive producer and judge of “So You Think You Can Dance”, National Dance Day is “a grassroots initiative that encourages the nation, young and old, to move! Individuals, families, organizations and communities from across the nation come together through their creative expression in dance.” (http://dance.blogs.fox.com)
Zumba “is an exhilarating, effective, easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired, calorie-burning dance fitness-party™ that’s moving millions of people toward joy and health.” (http://www.zumba.com) The 1 ½ hour Zumba class will be taught by certified Zumba instructor, Jennifer Plauche. Following the class Jennifer and other members of Chard Gonzalez Dance Theatre will teach the National Dance Day routines created by “So You Think You Can Dance” choreographers. Anyone can join the class. All ages and levels are welcome. There is no need for membership, fancy sneakers or expensive dancewear. Just wear something comfortable and come dance with us!
Where: New Orleans Center for Creative Arts 2800 Chartres St. New Orleans, LA 70117
When: Saturday, July 30 @ 1pm-3pm
Cost: FREE
For more information please contact Chard at info@charddance.org or by calling (504) 939-2404.
If anyone's doing a flash mob here in NOLA, they're keeping it to themselves.
Here are Sasha and Alexander dancing to Aretha Franklin's "That's Life" during the Top 12 episode of So You Think You Can Danceon Fox. I agreed with the judges on their performance. Beautiful. Sasha nailed it and Alexander was fantastic. So, I was surprised to see the pair in the bottom three.
Unfortunately Alexander was voted off during results Thursday night and so was Ryan, who the judges said seemed depressed lately. She did seem to be putting that light that shone so brightly at the beginning of the season under a bushel. I could tell, during Wednesday night's competition, however, that the judges were gearing up to eliminate her from the show if she and Ricky ended up in the bottom three.
This year's top 10 is very talented, and the season has been brutal due to the number of gifted dancers. I'm rooting for Sasha and Melanie. I think they shine the most, but really, I like everyone in the Top 10. Dancers seem to have much better attitudes than singers, such as the ones who audition for American Idol, and that's probably a good reason to buy a "Dance 4 Your Life" T-shirts that Nigel Lythgoe had on last night. I guess it's the endorphins.
NATIONAL DANCE DAY (is) a grassroots initiative that encourages the nation, young and old, to move! Individuals, families, organizations and communities from across the nation come together through their creative expression in dance. Any style of dance is welcome and imagination is recommended in order to get the most out of this celebratory day.
It's often a flash mob experience, you can meet with people at any Six Flags or anyplace else you like. Read more at Fox or DizzyFeet.
Nigel Lythgoe said on tonight's results show of SYTYCD that this year they have three routines of varying difficulty. Tabitha and Napoleon choreographed the most difficult routine, which is below, and it's a pretty fast HipHop number.
Mary Murphy choreographed the easy routine, a salsa. See below.
And Robin Antin choreographed the one of middle intensity.
Set to Sara Bareilles "Gravity," Kayla Radomski and Kupono Aweau perform a So You Think You Can Dance Season 5 contemporary routine choreographed by Mia Michaels, who envisioned it as a story of a woman's addiction to drugs. I thought the routine was stunning and moving then and I still think it's stunning and moving. Sadly, sometimes romantic relationships with people run this course as well.
Anyway, I watched the first auditions for this year's So You Think You Can Dance, Season 8, and saw a pair auditioning to the same song. They did a decent job, but they did not top the Season 5 routine. However, like the Tyce D'Orio routine to Maxwell's "This Woman's Work," also of Season 5, half of the emotional connection to the piece comes from the song itself.
I don't remember the names of the pair who auditioned last night. Only the woman wanted to compete on the show. Nevertheless, when I heard their song choice, it reminded me of the Season 5 performance to "Gravity," and so, I decided to post it. I also remembered that I never bought the song itself, and decided to buy it last night. I played it so many times my son came in to ask me this morning the name of the song. He liked enough to not complain that I had looped it for hours.
I am surprised that Bristol Palin's beaten Brandy, who I thought was quite good even on the first show of this season's Dancing With the Stars. However, I've only seen DWTS that one time this year. (I prefer So You Think You Can Dance) Nevertheless, I can't escape DWTS news. Everywhere I turn, it seems, I'm hearing about possible Tea Party influence on Bristol Palin getting this far.
Really, who cares? If Bristol Palin winning a reality TV dance show is proof that America loves her mama, Sarah Palin, enough to vote the former governor into the White House, then we've have bigger problems. The zombie apocalypse is near.
And if it's near, then it's starting in Wisconsin. ABC reports that a man there was so enraged after Monday night's show that he shot his TV and had an "all-night stand-off" with SWAT? Steve Cowan's wife told police that he was drinking Monday night and that "he has bipolar disorder," reports a Chicago TV station, but he also has strong opinions about dance, apparently:
Cowan's wife says her husband felt that Palin was on the show because of her mother's political pull - and had no talent as a dancer.
Ellen DeGeneres danced a Napoleon and Tabitha Hip Hop routine on the So You Think You Can Dance finale Thursday night with Twitch. It was the one previously performed by Twitch with Alex Wong to "Outta Your Mind" by Lil Jon. Seriously, Ellen stole the show. Here's the video. I laughed my behind off because the big build up was a special "dancing superstar" would join Twitch on stage.
Lauren Froderman, 18, the only girl left in the competition, won the title of America's Favorite Dancer, 2010.
And below is Janelle Monae's "Tight Rope" performance from last week's results show in which AdéChiké was voted off. Some of you only know this as the song from the Target commercial with the little girls sliding in their socks.
I'm sure some viewers were surprised that Mia Michaels chose an AdéChiké performance as one of her favorites to be repeated during the finale, and I'm equally sure her selection was a calculated public relations choice after the fallout over her criticism of him earlier in the season. Mia chose his Hip Hop routine with Comfort, danced to Alicia Keys's "Fallin'."
For those who called Mia Michaels comments "racist" when AdéChiké performed Bollywood, I still disagree with you there. However, I will say that while he and Comfort danced this HipHop routine particularly well, I suspect that all the ooing and ahhing from the judges over the great "connection" the pair made is due as much to the couple's dancing as it is to the assumption of the judges that black people readily identify with lovers in violent relationships, perhaps some assumptions about AdéChiké & Comfort's backgrounds that were made based on race and not on the facts of their individual upbringings the same way some whites assume all black people know where to buy illegal drugs.
I said, "I supsect." There's a big difference between suspecting an opinion is influenced by paternalistic racism and saying that it is unequivocally so.
This just in from Dizzy Feet. WOW! Looks like National Dance Day is a success. The photo below was tweeted by Nigel Lythgoe of So You Think You Can Dance and the Dizzy Feet Foundation. He says it comes from today's festivities on the mall in Washington D.C.
Waiting on video. See more pictures, perhaps, here. You can also follow the hash tag on Twitter, #nationaldanceday, and as I've said before, here's the Facebook page.
Did anyone else notice that Bollywood choreographer Nakul Dev Mahajan of So You Think You Can Dance stressed during last night's episode that Bollywood draws from many world dance styles? I think that was Mahajan's chance to correct what Mia Michaels said three weeks ago when she criticized AdéChiké for adding an African flavor to his Bollywood moves. As I hoped to convey in my post after that episode when I said Mahajan has trained in African tribal dance is that it's highly probable AdéChiké didn't give the routine an African flavor; Mahajan did.
Tonight during the clip of Robert and Billy learning the steps to a new Mahajan Bollywood routine, the choreographer shouted out a dance style during part of the training in a comical way, "Hip Hop/Hip Hop/Hip Hop!" I guess he didn't want a repeat of the judges showing their ignorance about Bollywood, especially Mia's ignorance, which was quite insulting. And the judges complied by praising the performance.
I thought I had heard that before that Bollywood incorporates multiple dance styles, but I couldn't find any documentation online three weeks ago or I would have linked to it in the post back then.
When I wrote about that incident with AdéChiké and Mia, however, I commented that Mahajan stood up when Cat Deeley questioned that the judges seemed to be criticizing the black dancer for doing exactly what they'd praised José for doing during his Bollywood number early in the season, which was to add his own flavor. I suspected then that Mahajan disagreed with Mia's critique. I perceived that there was an "African" feel to some of AdéChiké's movement as well, but unlike Mia, I didn't think it was wrong to have a taste of Africa in a Bollywood number.
I still don't think Mia's comment was racist. She's simply rude, and sometimes she's not even rude. She just neglects to put the sugar on her comments that Adam Shankman and Nigel Lythgoe do. Someone should remind her to always find something encouraging to say because her fellow Americans are easily offended on behalf of their favorite dancers.
Nevertheless, I have been watching her more since people have been claiming she exhibits racist attitudes, trying to gauge if her rudeness is disproportionately directed to dancers of color. She was abrupt with José tonight following his Hip Hop routine with Comfort, but I guess that doesn't count because in the past she's been overly enamored of him. So, jury's still out.
You can share your plans for National Dance Day, July 31, at the So You Think You Can Dance Facebook page, and there's also a form at the Fox website. However, make sure you share those plans before midnight tonight, July 16, if you hope they are shared on the show next week.
I posted the Tabitha and Napoleon routine weeks ago at this link and said back then I thought the hope was for flash mob dances.
I also mentioned plans for Washington D.C. at the end of the post about Mia Michaels's apology to AdéChiké here, after Nigel Lithgoe said the Washington D.C. Flash mob dance would be at Meridian Hill. However, on Thursday night's results show, July 15, he said the Mall. I found this from Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on her website:
Norton Introduces Resolution to Launch Annual National Dance Day
July 13, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today introduced a resolution to recognize July 31, as National Dance Day. Norton will also host a National Dance Day Flash Mob on July 31, 2010 on the National Mall featuring Nigel Lythgoe, celebrity judge and producer of the popular national television show "So You Think You Can Dance." Norton, an avid proponent of healthy lifestyles and a lover of popular and other dance forms, is using National Dance Day and her resolution to promote physical fitness across the United States and the First Lady's Let's Move campaign.
"Astonishingly, more than 31 percent of U.S. children under the age of 19, and an estimated 68 percent of American adults are overweight or obese," said Norton. "National Dance Day and my resolution encourage Americans to live a physically active lifestyle and to have fun doing it. Organizing an annual National Dance Day in the nation's capital and throughout the country is a terrific way to promote fitness, and to emphasize the First Lady's Let's Move initiative to combat childhood obesity."
The Congresswoman's resolution received special recognition last week on So You Think You Can Dance when Nigel Lythgoe announced her resolution to recognize July 31, as National Dance Day.
In January, Norton introduced the Lifelong Improvements in Food and Exercise (LIFE) Act to promote exercise and diet changes. Norton's LIFE bill directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to be a lead agency in combating obesity and sedentary lifestyles.
I haven't yet heard what's happening in New Orleans, if anything.
Here is a flash mob dance performance in a Canadian mall. It was staged April 29, 2010.
On tonight's So You Think You Can Dance results show, judge Mia Michaels, who was recently nominated for an Emmy again for choreography, apologized to contestant AdéChiké Tolbert. While the 23-year-old, Brooklyn dancer escaped being in the bottom three, he looked a little fragile with host Cat Deeley's arm around him as Michaels tried to make amends and explain herself. She said:
I feel looking back last night, I came across a little harsh and insensitive, and I'm very sorry if I hurt you in anyway. As a teacher I get very passionate and frustrated when I saw such a breakthrough last week, and then this week I feel like, I don't know if it was the stress of the show, but your light dimmed and I got very passionate and frustrated about it, you know. There's such a greatness in you and I want to see that soar. You have gift and I want to see it soar. And you have to know that I believe in you and that I love you, and I will always be tough love Mama Mia.
The vote could have gone either way for the contemporary dancer. AdéChiké could have been safe due to not only votes from people who like him but also additional sympathy votes from the at-home audience, or he could have been voted off because folks agreed with the judges, who were unenthusiastic about both his performances last night.
Following the Top 8 show, I saw far more people outraged at Michaels who felt sorry for th dancer than I saw people saying he should go home. One woman on Twitter last night said she voted for him repeatedly for 10 minutes straight in light of Mia's comments, which some people felt were "racist."
What's bad for AdéChiké is that some people will now assume he shouldn't have been safe and that if Mia Michaels had not chewed his bones, he would not have had so many votes. I hope he can overcome that perception and become an undeniable contender for the win.
Billy Bell and Ashley Galvan joined Alex Wong in the bottom three tonight. Wong was automatically placed in the bottom three due to injury. He could not perform a solo tonight, and with the doctors deciding he would be out for the rest of the season, elimination became moot for the other two contestants. Consequently, only Wong went home.
Wong suffered a lacerated Achilles tendon, which Nigel Lythgoe said means he will require surgery and can't dance for three months. His surgery has been scheduled for Tuesday. Understandably, Wong cried. He took a leave from the Miami City Ballet company as a principal soloist. Most of the dancers were in tears with him. I cried as well. I was rooting for him. Lythgoe said Wong will automatically return next season.
Lythgoe also announced that D.C. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton is introducing a bill to make the SYTYCD idea for National Dance Day on July 31st official. There may be a flash mob dance in D.C. that day at Malcolm X/Meridian Hill Park. I've already posted video of the dance routine and more about National Dance Day at this link. The show is also seeking videos, photos, and comments from viewers about their plans for the day.
Last night on So You Think You Can Dance, horror of horrors! We learned the amazing Alex Wong was injured rehearsing for a Bollywood routine with AdéChiké Torbert and may have to leave the show. I'm not being snarky. I really do like Alex.
Alex is amazing! So, is host Cat Deeley. I love SYTYCD in general, but I specifically hate how the judges handled AdéChiké last night.
Mia Michaels, who I tend to adore almost unconditionally, was the most brutal of all in judging AdéChiké. Actually, I agreed with her observation that something about his movement during the Bollywood routine, choreographed by Nakul Dev Mahajan, who has been trained in African tribal dance, had an African vibe. Before the judges spoke, I told my daughter, who's been trained in African dance as well, "Hmm. Are they making a connection here back to African in that number?" Nevertheless, Michaels was indisputably rude to AdéChiké, going so far as to say how much she missed Alex's presence in the routine. She made a similar remark to Melinda Sullivan last week, telling the tap dancer that the judges made a mistake when they sent ballroom dancer Cristina Santana home the week before and kept Sullivan.
In spite of her rudeness, I strongly disagree with people on Twitter calling Michaels a "racist" for saying the black dancer's movements were more African in style than Bollywood. Some people are so offended on behalf of AdéChiké that they are making broad statements such as Michaels is always harder on black male dancers. WTF! That's not true. Who can forget how Mia nearly worshiped African-American choreographer Desmond Richardson and fawned over contestant Will B. Wingfield in 2008?
One point to make is it may be that there's nothing wrong with Bollywood having a little African feel in parts, but would people be calling Michaels's comments racist if the dancer were not black? Is it Mia who can't separate dance critique from race or is it the audience that can't do so?
I think people are recalling how hard she was on Brandon Bryant in Season 5 and reading too much into that. (Michaels has known Bryant since he was a little boy.) However, she said she was hard on him because he was good. I've had a few teachers like that. I had a professor who kept slapping B+ on my papers because he said I had become lazy, used to getting an "A" easily, and he expected more. As a result, I wrote one of the best papers of my college career and he mailed a note to my house with the words, "Happy now?" and a smiley to tell me my grade for the semester was an "A." He was the professor pestering me to go to grad school while the ones who eagerly marked my papers with "A" never encouraged me to go beyond a B.A. degree.
Nigel Lythgoe criticized AdéChiké as well for bringing his own "funky" flavor to the number and thought adding his own twist to Bollywood was inappropriate. The drama intensified when host Cat Deeley stood up for the 23-year-old dancer and reminded the judges that only a few weeks ago they had praised B-boy Jose Ruiz, whom all the judges shamelessly cherish, by saying he added his own little twist of personality when he performed a Bollywood number. They thought Jose's little twist was charming. Why not AdéChiké's?
Basically Mia and Nigel seemed to say that Jose's added flavor is genuine and AdéChiké's is not. The implication was Jose is just naturally more lovable than AdéChiké. O.K., so Jose does seem quite sweet, but still, bad form, Mia and Nigel!
I think the Bollywood choreographer also felt the judges were too hard on AdéChiké because he stood up in support when Cat Deeley questioned the judges comments.
Judge Adam Shankman, perhaps after seeing how the crowd cheered for Deeley's defense of AdéChiké, softened his criticism a little in comparison to Nigel and Mia, but he still agreed the dancer's performance could have been better. He assured him that he would see what they meant when he watched the playback and told him his movements lacked the crispness and finish the routine required.
These harsh critiques came after judges had earlier pounded AdéChiké about his Mandy Moore routine with all-star Courtney Galliano and on the heels of all the judges lathering up Robert Roldan, another of their favorites. They feel the public is unfairly voting Robert into the bottom three. Nigel went on and on saying that people online are calling Robert "arrogant" and how Robert is absolutely not arrogant, but a hard worker. Adam and Mia followed up further in Robert's defense.
I got the strong impression that since Alex must be automatically placed in the bottom three, the judges fear having to choose between keeping him and sending another of their favorites home if the audience votes AdéChiké into the top seven. If the doctors say Alex can continue in the competition, and he's automatically in the bottom three but unable to dance a solo, the producers and judges probably want to make a preemptive strike on the fallout of not axing Alex when he can't dance for his life.
Fans were angry last year when Ashleigh Di Lello was injured but the audience voted for her anyway. People felt the votes stemmed from sympathy not merit. And that may be the reason that this year the rule is injury automatically places a dancer in the bottom three. So, now the judges are in a tough spot. The golden one, Alex, is in danger.
I think if the doctors say Alex can finish the season, the judges would prefer to see AdéChiké in the bottom three tonight so they can vote him off, justifying his dismissal by saying Alex's past work is far superior to anyone else's, which would be true but not go over well with fans without him performing a solo. In other words, AdéChiké is their least favorite dancer, male or female, and they can't afford to lose any more girls because they're down to only two. With the thrashing they gave him last night, if he lands in the bottom three, no matter how great his solo, they probably think they will sound fair if they release him instead someone else.
Who's tonight's real winner? Cat Deeley. Whatever points she may have scored for AdéChiké, he may have lost when he pounded his chest at her defense. But he's still not as boring as Robert.
The following screenshot from Twitter is only a small sampling of the kind of tweets applauding her for speaking up that I saw tonight. The shot begins with Ellenore Scott, a season 6 contestant from the show, saying "Cat Deeley is my hero."
Today marks the first anniversary of the death of Michael Jackson, the King of Pop. I won't write much because I wrote about him often last year. Here's the link to the MJ posts here at this blog. From Examiner and BlogHer.com, I have the following posts from last year:
I think almost every major network is running a Michael Jackson special either today or at some other time over the weekend. Check your local listings.
I've decided to run two Michael Jackson videos to commemorate his passing, "Remember the Time" and "Earth Song," and thre of the flash mob dances done his honor in other countries. There are a lot of those online.
As stated by Wikipedia, "Remember the Time" is "set in ancient Egypt and features appearances by Eddie Murphy, Iman, The Pharcyde and Magic Johnson. The video was generally well received."
And here are some of the flash mob dance tributes, one from Bucharest, another from HongKong, and a third from Amsterdam, all done after his death.
And this unique tribute which is medley by Sam Tsui - Vocals Kurt Schneider - Arrangement, Production. Yes, it's all the same guy, Tsui, except the one on the side, who I guess must be Scheider.
Extra: Michael and Jermaine accapella, Stop, the Love You Save May Be Your Own
Get your dancing shoes ready for July 31, National Dance Day, the vision of Nigel Lythgoe of So You Think You Can Dance. Tonight on the results show, in which Alexie Agdeppa went home, Lythgoe announced that Napoleon and Tabitha D'umo, two choreographers from the show, have choreographed a simple dance that they think anyone can do. I think it's going to take a lot of stretching and practice.
It would be cool if this took off in a string of flash mob dances across the nation. I love watching flash mob dances. They're the closest we come to having life be a musical, but I think the SYTYCD people intend it as something to get us up off our behinds and moving even if it's in our own living rooms, but they could up the ante later in the season. You can read more at the DizzyFeet Foundation, but I also have information posted below the dance routine video.
And if you haven't seen a flash mob dance before, please scroll to the end of this post, after the Dance Day video, where I've embedded the huge flash mob dance done for an Oprah kick-off event with the Black Eyed Peas last year.
If I heard about a flash mob dance coming to my area, I might join. However, dancing in the streets at the spur of the moment is not all that unusual in this town of the Second Line.
From the Fox website, here's more about National Dance Day.
So You Think You Can Dance executive producer and judge Nigel Lythgoe would like to declare July 31, NATIONAL DANCE DAY.
WHAT: NATIONAL DANCE DAY, a grassroots initiative that encourages the nation, young and old, to move! Individuals, families, organizations and communities from across the nation come together through their creative expression in dance. Any style of dance is welcome and imagination is recommended in order to get the most out of this celebratory day.
WHEN: Saturday, July 31
WHY: To continue to generate national awareness for dance, a medium of expression and storytelling which, through shows like So You Think You Can Dance, has proven its value in bringing individuals from all walks of life together through a positive platform that has no boundaries and cultivates imagination and passion. Most importantly, the day is intended to promote health and wellness nationwide.
Nigel has been tweeting up a storm about National Dance Day, a.k.a. D-Day. He said the goal is to “prove that the ‘Power of Dance’ can MOVE an entire Country!” So get up off the couch and put on your dancing shoes on July 31st. Share your D-Day ideas in the SYTYCD forums and stay tuned to this site for more information to come.
And here is the massive, 21,000 flash mob dance organized by Oprah last year. You can see other flash mob videos at YouTube. Just put "flash mob dance" in the search window.
I like the song, the visuals, dance, and storyline in the music video below. Thank you Martin Lindsey for posting this to Facebook. It's the Janelle Monáe "Tightrope" music video featuring Big Boi of OutKast. I'm always happy to learn of new music produced by young people that I can enjoy.
Part of the appeal for me, aside from the lyrics, beat, and dance, is the science fiction flavor. Her new album is called ArchAndroid. She told the Chicago Tribune that she "identifies with androids."
(The album is) a self-empowerment manifesto couched inside a futuristic “emotion-picture” about an android’s battle to overcome oppression. The notion of space travel and “new worlds” becomes a metaphor for breaking the chains that enslave minorities of all types – a theme that has a long tradition in African-American music, from Sun Ra and Parliament-Funkadelic to Cannibal Ox and OutKast.
She also visits the android theme in "Metropolis."
Go, girl, go! My novel includes a subculture of disenfranchised people who practice illegal magic.
Plus this girl, Janelle Monáe, is hot with some Michael Jackson/James Brown old school swagger and skills.
I saw Big Boi on the Martha Stewart Show a while back as I was flipping channels. Thought I was seeing things. Talk about your odd matches, Martha talking about bling and "B-O-I, BTW!" as she said to her audience. Comedy.
All the tuxedos in the video also reminded me of the Nicholas Brothers. Here they are dancing Stormy Weather, one of Lena Horne's old films.
Michael Jackson admired them as well. In the clip below he and other Jacksons dance with the tappers, reminding us of all the training that family had.
The video here is one of my favorite dance routines from So You Think You Can Dance, Season 6. It's Bianca and Victor performing a contemporary piece by Travis Wall to the song “Wasted Time” by Me’Shell Ndegeocello. Below the video is a list of links to some of my love poems from various places online, the sadder or more plaintive ones (o.k. sappy).
