Dancelife Episode 3: The full recap from me

The episode began with some of the cast members hanging around the Millennium Dance studio lounge, talking about the Gap commercial callbacks, that surprisingly, Blake didn't get. Or so he thought.

Later on in the episode we come to find that the Gap commercial artistic director decided to hire Blake on his first audition in LA, saying "he has character."

And my joke that Jersey is from New Jersey, was addressed at the beginning of the episode when Jersey herself commented on it after all the dancers mentioned something about it. "Yup, I'm Jersey from Jersey," she said in reply to Kenny saying that's why her parents named her that.

Another favorite moment for me at the beginning of the show (I'm telling you I really enjoyed this episode) was when they all decided to go back down to the dance class and Blake said "5,6,7,8, those are the words of our life."

As a dancer, his words couldn't have been more true. When getting ready to do a combination or start performing or getting ready to stretch, "5,6,7,8" is a term dance instructors and dancers use alike to give a warning as to when to start dancing. Because most music can be counted into "8 counts" with 8 beats (1-8), it is used almost always (except when music is in 6 counts).

So when I heard that, I laughed inside and thought of all the times I couldn't stop counting in my head, or said "5,6,7,8" when I taught a dance class.

So as I touched upon in last night' s blog, a personal perspective was given to Kenny.

Kenny, originally from Stoughton, MA went to NYC for the Gap commercial audition but didn't make it, luckily Nelly Furtado was performing on Saturday Night Live and had remembered him from dancing in her "Promiscuous" music video.

When he auditioned, Nelly called him "cute" and asked him over to her so she could talk to him. She also told her artistic director he had "classic, white boy hair" which was just a laugh moment that worked, making a hugely famous singer human for a minute, as if she were part of the cast too.

It seemed like a moment of hope, where one important person remembers something you gave her all to and you reap the benefits of that.

So he performed on SNL to the song "Maneater" which reminded me of my recent December performance with NUDANCO, where I choreographed a piece to "Maneater" good times. Kenny's supportive family watched his performance from Stoughton. And to Boston he came.

Living in Boston, and watching "Dancelife" which takes place in sunny sunny LA can make a person a little depressed. But once Kenny's car pulled into his parents driveway, and the Augustana song "Boston" played, it totally hit him.

A born and raised New Yorker, I have completely embraced living in Boston, and I truly love it.

But I had to laugh when Kenny found out in NYC that he got the SNL gig at a New York pizzeria, told the four or so men in the eatery that he was going to be on the show and that they should watch, said "go Red Sox" grabbed his pizza and bolted.

Laugh Out Loud kind of moment.

Back to Boston.

Kenny taught a hip hop class at his old dance school, Sherry Gold Dance Studios.

There were about 50 kids aged between 9 years old and 15 years old, and seeing a large group of kids dancing together is just something uplifting.

Honestly, I know I'm being cheesy but it is so true. That's why in the movie "Honey" loosely based on the life of Honey Rockwell, one of the original B-girls (break dance girls), has a super climactic and inspirational moment when all of the kids she teaches performs a choreographed dance.

As if that wasn't enough of a touching moment, I was pretty satisfied to hear Kenny's mom, Melanie ask if Kenny was "stahhhhhving" no R. Yup, that's how it is in Boston.


As for the other kids, Staci and Black got free clothes from the Gap commercial, watched Kenny's SNL performance and were truly happy for him from their New York hotel and Jersey cried as she tried to get in touch with her mom after finding out she didn't make the commercial.

I think a significant moment was when Staci and Blake were complimenting Kenny's performance as they watched it on television, making a camaraderie and respect for their equals apparent. Dancing in music videos and professionally is thought to be very very competitive and event catty. But I'm happy that the show is trying to manifest that these people love to dance, and are happy that others are living the same dream they are.

So as for next week's episode, make sure to check out the auditions for Ashlee Simpson and some up close and personal time with Celestina and her boyfriend problems.

I'm hooked

So I didn't think I would anticipate what happens on the next episode of "Dancelife" but this week's episode really shed some light onto the personalities, family life and dance career nuances I thought would've been left out.

I am extremely tired ... so I will write the full recap tomorrow.

But if you are bored and need a dance fix ... head to http://www.dancelife.mtv.com/ to learn choreography by Staci, to find out how Tone and Rich got into choreography and to watch some of the best dance music videos of all time (according to JLO, cast members and of course, MTV).

Also check out music videos that the cast have danced in, such as the Prince video "Black Sweat" which Celestina essentially starred in and Nelly Furtado's "Promiscuous" where Kenny danced with Nelly herself.

Until tomorrow.

My excitment turns to giddy!

So as annoyingly enthusiastic as I have been about my dance blog, with the discovery of dozens of events in and around Boston and dance performances that are within my geographic and financial reach (barely), I have turned into an irritating dance fanatic!

Which I was to begin with.

Boston.com and the Boston Globe and briefs written by my favorite Globe Correspondent, Bobby Hankinson, have combined to create a dance calendar page that has whet my dance appetite in a big way.

http://calendar.boston.com/search?cat=4

Disregarding the entry about Disney on Ice "Princess Wishes" (which I would probably go see anyway as it combines two of my favorite guilty pleasures; Disney princesses and figure skating) this list is informative and really interesting.

I have found several events that I am working at this moment to get tickets for such as the Flamenco Festival at the Cutler Majestic Theatre of Emerson College, www.maj.org, the Bebe Miller Company and other shows and companies travelling to the new ICA, www.icaboston.org, salsa lessons and dance nights, lounges and restaurants turned to semi-club scenes, Boston Ballet's infamous and much sought after performances and much much more.


And the real reason this calendar caught my eye is the listing for "Belly dancing snake lovers." For $25 I can head to the Roslindale Yoga Studio and learn to belly dance with a snake! YIKES!

I have a deathly fear of snakes, and a lifelong love of belly dancing, so I may just brave a reptilian encounter for a chance to experience something truly unique and exotic.

Saturday February 17, 2007 at 2 pm I will make sure to take off work and be at 4155 Washington Street in Roslindale, MA where hopefully Zehara (the snake belly dancing teacher) will help me face my fears and belly dance my way to new heights of experience. For more information head to zehara.com


As much as I've been posting in the past two weeks, I hope you are ready for a whole lot more.


Make sure to check in late tonight after Dancelife Episode 3 ... some of the dancers head to New York City for more auditions and an appearance by Nelly Furtado, who is not so much of a dancer herself but she sure can pick her dance extras!

Toe-shoe treasure hunt - dance gets some mass appeal

I received a newsletter from the Boston Ballet last night in my e-mail. I am a member and this newsletter was marked urgent. Apparently 20 "special" toe-shoes have been hidden around town as a sort of treasure hunt with clues given each week on the Web site, www.bostonballet.org/season/specialevent_ToeShoeTreasure.html .

Well interestingly enough, it seems that the Boston Ballet public relations office decided to take matters into their own hands to promote and increase interest in their spring season. The one downfall, it seems the news of the below freezing temperatures in Boston hasn't reached them yet.

Despite the bitter cold we are all facing in Beantown as we speak (except for me, I'm in a well-heated home right now) it seems to be like a fun event for dance-lovers and families with young children alike.

Hell, I want to go find one of these special toe-shoes and win prizes such as a spring subscription to the Boston Ballet for 2 (2 tickets to all of their shows in other words) and a "hidden treasure" from EB Horn.

Each Friday between January 19 and February 9, the Web site will show a different clue to help the treasure hunters find these elusive dance footwear.

If you are interested and think you can crack these clues, here's a taste from last week:

Last week's clue:Follow the brick path to the end of town where a Native American runs parallel with a President or two.

And as if that wasn't hint enough, the radio station 98.5 that is a co-sponsor will be hosting events at specific locations where the shoes "may" be hidden.


This week's LOCATIONS:WBMX Mix 98.5 will be hosting events at the following locations where a Toe Shoe can be found:
Friday, Jan. 26: Boston Home Show, Bayside Expo Center from 4 to 6pm
Saturday, Jan. 27: Frog Pond from 1 to 3pm
Sunday, Jan. 28: Bridal Event at Casa di Fior, Wilmington from 12 to 3pm
Tuesday, Jan. 30: New England Aquarium
Wednesday, Jan. 31: Mario Russo -9 Newbury St., 3rd Fl.
Thursday, Feb. 1: 28 Degrees - 1 Appleton St., South End
Thursday, Feb 1: Emerson Hospital Open House, 4 – 6pm in Concord, MA
Friday, Feb. 2: Sara Campbell Ltd - 44 Plympton St., South End
Saturday, Feb. 3: Mix 98.5 Passion Plunge at Natasket Beach in Hull from 1 to 3 pm
Sunday, Feb 4: Stowe Mountain from 1 to 3 pm


As for this week's clue:
Lamp posts, parks and restaurant galore, but none of these are exactly what you're looking for.


Have fun hunting!

Article links, as promised

Here is the best of Boston dance 2006 article from the Boston Globe:

http://www.boston.com/ae/theater_arts/articles/2006/12/31/anniversaries_birthdays_were_uplifting_events/?p1=email_to_a_friend


And the Matthew Bourne's "Swan Lake" Review from April:

http://www.boston.com/ae/theater_arts/articles/2006/04/14/bournes_beefed_up_swan_lake_comes_to_town


ENJOY!

Fowl-play in Boston's 2006 best of dance article

As I was reading the Boston Globe article on Boston.com about dance in Boston, a year in review, I realized my personal favorite dance event in Boston from 2006 was excluded.

The article by Karen Campbell, a Globe correspondent, titled "Anniversaries, birthdays were uplifting events" talked about major companies and choreographers who celebrated birthdays and company anniversaries with outstanding performances in and around Boston. But during April 2006, Matthew Bourne's "Swan Lake" (not Tchaivosky's vision exactly) came to town at the Colonial Theatre on Boylston Street. And the fact is, it was hands down PHENOMENAL.

It had been more than 10 years since his "male-centric" version of the classical Russian ballet emerged, but the gusto with which it was performed in Boston enhanced the experience greatly for me. And for the first time, this homo-erotic version of something that was strictly a tutu kind of show, was performed in Boston.

I took my boyfriend, not the biggest ballet fan to say the least (he's a Bruins-loving, football-watching, weight-lifting, hard-core exercising kind of guy) to see the ballet, his first. And I had forgotten to mention that this plot was slightly different from the original, as the frustrated prince was attracted to a flock of bare-chested men. But in a city like Boston with its liberal tendencies, universities and laws, this storyline could easily be appreciated if not lauded.

And while I leaned on the edge of chair, trying to memorize some choreography and and swing to the music, my boyfriend slept through the more classical ballet portions, he genuinely enjoyed the more modern-dance incorporated into the production. Set to Tchaikovsky's elegant and entrancing classical music, a car/club scene became vibrant, not just because of the bright fuchsia and orange flapper costumes. The dance was jazz, mixed with swing and other modern dances, which left the audience intrigued and happy.


For those of us who aren't into classical ballet, Bourne's version is a great alternate, which still has those technical elements and musical composition that makes the original "Swan Lake" a masterpiece, but with 90s, and now 2000s appeal.

I've digressed. Now after my brief description of a dance performance I could go on and on about, you can see why I was in disbelief when this wasn't mentioned in the Globe article. But I understand, they were merely focusing on how company anniversaries and choreographer birthday parties were a central theme throughout amazing dance performances in Boston in 2006.


I am going to post the links for the two articles discussed in my blog in a separate post, so stay tuned.

Dancelife Episode 2: The Drama Continues

So the second episode of the brand new show, Dancelife, fulfilled its requisite of drama, disappointment and dancing.

Blake released a dance DVD and had a release party for it. While this may seem like small fries compared to what musical recording artists do, in the dance world it is a huge step and a cornerstone of recognition. A dance DVD is revered, watched and choreography mimicked by a significant portion of the dance community.

A theme definately emerged, each episode will (hopefully) feature a lengthy solo in the studio by the protagonist of each episode. This time it was Blake's turn to unleash his frustrations as people cancelled dancing at his party, and the DVDs took forever to arrive.

I'm growing to like these "impromptu" (yeah right) pieces that express whatever emotion the person is going through because as a dancer it is completely relatable.

When sad or frustrated, I go to my room, as I know many other dancers to do, put on an emotinoally-fitting song and just let go. Dancing is really a release.

While some write poetry, write in a diary, sing, or even drink and do drugs (a big no-no in the dance world), some dance to let loose and express themselves.

But back to the show.

I hope that in the coming episodes, more will be divulged about the characters' personalities, because it seems the producers have typecast them into playing "stock" characters. Blake as the star, Kenny as the pretty-boy favorite, Nolan as the overlooked prodigy and so on and so forth.

But the show is bound to be doing well in the ratings departments, with each show featuring appearances from celebrities who are auditioning for tours and music videos.

In next week's episode, several of the dancers head to NYC for a GAP commercial audition, and a last-minute Nelly Furtado audition.

I only hope the dancing gets even better and the drama becomes less fake ...

Always looking leads to new ambition ...

Now my goal is to get tickets to the March 1-2 , 2007 Schubert Theatre event: Compania Nacional de Danza 2 ... classical Spanish dance.

Wang Center no more -- a partnership changes a Boston dance staple

As I clicked on my own link at the bottom of my blog page to head to the Wang Center Web site, I was jolted to realization when I was automatically redirected to www.citicenter.org. A 15-year partnership between Citigroup (a bank ... much like TD Banknorth and the old Fleet) and the Wang Center is going to focus on arts and community initiatives, according to the press release.

Apparently I haven't been keeping up, having joined the Boston Ballet as a member in September, but the press release was distributed in November 2006. The Citi Arts Center is calling itself "a guardian of the Wang Theatre and the Schubert Theatre" on the new Web site.

With regards to the Boston Ballet performances, and other quality dance, musical theatre and comedy shows put on in these locations, they seem to have had no change.

Just a new name ... but wouldn't the ballerinas dance just as well with any other name?


The following is the link to the press release.


http://www.citicenter.org/citi-press-release.html

Finding Sanctuary- dance therapy at Northeastern University

A friend, and fellow dancer with the Northeastern University Dance Company, wrote the following editorial piece which was published today in the Northeastern News. As a former editor and reporter for the Northeastern News, I couldn't be prouder of the following. Surprisingly enough, Elise isn't a journalism major.

It truly takes something you love to bring you back from a bad experience, help you recover, and fill your life with meaning and fun. Not only is dance an entertainment art form, it is a great way to exercise and a good outlet for anger, happiness, passion and any other emotion in between.


Commentary: NUDANCO wonderful experience - Editorial

Dance Life- fake drama or true-to-life portrayal?

The new MTV show Dancelife, premiered this past Monday. Jennifer Lopez is the executive producer of this show which is described on the MTV Web site as "a series about the real world of dancers working to make in Hollywood."
From what I saw, it is another guilty pleasure about good-looking (in the eyes of some), wealthy, Caucasian young adults. Sounds like every other show on television from The O.C. to Laguna Beach to One Tree Hill. The only difference between those shows and Dancelife, a first-person look into the "grueling" audition process.
The show follows six dancers who live in Hollywood and moved there for the sole purpose of trying to make it as a dancer. Jersey, an Italian brunette from New Jersey (the irony hurts right now) deals with car trouble and being homesick, but if she were that determined wouldn't she be having the time of her life and trying to dance at every opportunity?
I would think so, and after missing the J.Lo audition and a tearful call home to her mom, Jersey heads to the dance studio for a "release." It seems to work as she emerges happier and determined after improv-ing (freestyle dancing that is not choreographed ahead of time) at the local studio.
But in the real world, would she really have access to an empty studio when she is not employed and struggling to make it? Thanks to the help of MTV of course she has carte blanche to a massive and beautiful studio with perfect lighting, and a make-up crew to make her look picture perfect.
For a reality show, Dancelife tends to fall on the overly dramatic and fake side with unbelievable situations.
But don't get me wrong, not everything about the show is bad. The dancers are PHENOMENAL! And the commercials for future episodes show dancers dealing with more rejection, part-time jobs that pay the rent, and eviction notices (so much for those rent-paying jobs).

Plus, the sentiment of a true dancer is there: no matter the heartache, the rejection or injury, the love of dance will sustain you and fulfill a lot of joy in life. Thanks J.Lo.

Catch the show on Mondays at 10:30 pm EST on MTV.

Ready, Set, DANCE!

I haven't been this excited in a while, and that's because two of my favorite things are coming together: Dance and writing.
I am a junior journalism major and have been writing my entire undergraduate career, but my interests in both dance and writing started well before college.
I have been dancing my entire life and trained at the Albee Dance School in Brooklyn, N.Y. for five years in ballet, jazz, tap, theatre dance and gymnastics. I have taken ballroom dance, flamenco and salsa lessons. Luckily for me, I began bellydancing at the ripe old age of two, and haven't stopped since.
In Irvington, N.Y. I co-founded and co-captained the Irvington High School Dance Team, and choreographed in many various styles and performed at my school as well as through other local forums, including in musical theatre.
Currently I am the Co-president of the Northeastern University Dance Company (NUDANCO) and was a member of the Northeastern Dance Team for one semester my freshman year.
That's more than enough of information about me.
My goals for this blog are simple ... to review performances (I have tickets already to the Boston Ballet's February 8 performance and March 1 performance), to discuss all different styles of dance from modern to ballet and from Irish Step dancing to Bhangra, and to follow dance in the news, on television and in movies.
I already have plenty of topics to start discussing, especially at a time in American pop media when dance is beginning to take a larger role thanks to television shows such as Dance Life, So You Think You Can Dance?, and Dancing with the Stars along with movies such as Center Stage and Step Up.
So ... let's stretch and get to dancing!