Dance Steps Blog

Many of the most popular mainstream dancers at the moment are music stars who also like to do their fair bit of dancing in their music videos. From Beyonce to Chris Brown to Usher and Britney Spears.

One of the most popular pop stars slash dancers at the moment is Justin Timberlake. Many of his songs with danceable beats like ‘Like I Love You’ and ‘Rock Your Body’ have featured his individual dance moves and also brilliant group dance routines.

One of the guys behind Justin’s dance steps is Marty Kudelka – one of the hottest dance choreographers around at the moment. Marty has choreographed some of Justin’s more recent work like his video ‘My Love’ and also Justin’s FutureSex/ LoveSounds tour.

Every popular dancer usually has some sort of mentor like dancers or teachers that inspired them, or great choreographers. Hiring top choreographers is becoming one of the more important tasks for those responsible for today’s pop stars.

Every dance choreographer has their own unique style and many work in particular preferred styles of dance. For example the choreographers of Beyonce’s ‘Crazy In Love’ are very different from those who choreographed the video for Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ for example.

It is important for those responsible for a music artist to find choreographers who will compliment the image of that star. For example very sexy and feminine choreography works very well for the Pussycat Dolls and Beyonce, whereas Missy Elliot is more suited to hip-hop and club dance inspired styles.

The importance of hiring the right choreographer has never been more important in today’s age where image is so important for music artists. And it’s no longer just boy bands and girl bands that use dance routines in their acts, all sorts of music bands and artists are making use of dancers.

Once you get used to an artist doing dancing in their videos you expect the moves and routines that they make famous to become a part of their act. And they’ll usually stick with the formula of what works by continuing to make use of dance moves in their videos and tours.

Even Michael Jackson had his dance teachers. From his dancing it is obvious he was inspired by many great dancers but it was Jeffrey Daniel from soul group Shalamar who taught Michael Jackson the backslide or ‘moonwalk’ as it is more commonly known.

Behind every dancer there are choreographers that help make things happen and very often are responsible for the dance moves that catapult the artists and dancers into the spotlight.

Kevin Shwe
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/where-justin-gets-his-dance-moves-from-558317.html

Picking up girls in clubs is not as easy as it seems! In fact in may come as a surprise to some, but I would actually argue that clubs are some of the toughest places to pick up girls believe it or not. There are a number of factors working against you, such as having to fight to be heard over the music, being crammed, and having to deal with her friends. However, despite these setbacks, there are actual methods of picking up girls in clubs.

You don’t have to be Don Juan to ensure your success when picking up girls in a club; but you do need a plan of attack (or game) before you approach the girl who has caught your eye. Follow this five step plan to develop the smoothness of Don Juan in a club!

1.) Before you approach the girl you are interested in a club, you should have positive signs from her body language. When approaching a girl in a club, you will most likely not be able to start a conversation with her (due to music being loud and other factors). Therefore, you need to court her via body language. You need to develop eye contact and smile. If she responds to your eye contact (by either looking back at you or smiling) then that is a green light to approach her. If you approach her without any positive signs, then you have the danger of appearing as a creepy guy in a club, which is what she is expecting from most guys and that will ruin your chances of attracting her.

2.) Don’t use some corny pick up line; for instance “Do you come here often?” or “can I buy you a drink?”. Remember you’re not the only player in the club! Your goal should be to set yourself apart from the average Joe. The approach that almost always guarantees success is “ask her to dance”. This shows her that you are confident and not worried about what others think; this move alone will set you apart from 90% of the other guys. However, this should be done after step one.

3.)Be responsible with your alcohol consumption; “Don’t get wasted” it is never attractive and marks a red flag about your future behavior.

4.)Once the conversation has started don’t talk about yourself too much! Show her that you are not just interested in sleeping with her, but you actually want to get to know her and like her for who she is. Everyone likes to feel important, and everyone’s favorite subject is always going to be themselves.

5.)Be a gentleman! You don’t have to be corny to be a gentleman; you should walk with her, not in front of her, and order her drink first. Basic manners your parents taught you.

Remember that picking up girls in clubs is not rocket science! If you approach her with confidence and the right attitude you will have more successes than failures.

For more information on reading her body language, and the steps to take once the conversation has started visit my website to get your hands on a free report that has changed the dating lives of many men.

Mark Taylor
http://www.articlesbase.com/dating-articles/secrets-to-picking-up-girls-in-clubs-733877.html

Who on the planet earth exists that doesn’t love dancing? Whether humans, animals or birds, you will see everyone dancing in their moods. Dancing, though a specialized skill, is no doubt an art of expression. There are some who love to express their joy by dancing to their own rhythm while there are also few who in the low mood, also dance so as to express their pain in their dancing steps, which somehow they can’t express in their words. Hence, everyone on the planet earth has been acquainted with the art of dance performance. In today’s times, it has become a part of profession for many as well as there are so many young ones and adults who are joining dance classes to excel in this body art.

Amongst so many dancing forms, the most popular dance these days is the tap dance. One doesn’t need to be a professional dancer to learn to tap dance. Whether amateur or learned, all can learn to tap dance through a series of dancing videos that specialized in making people learn to tap dance.

It is DVD series which instructs and teaches tap dance lessons to dance from the very comfort of your home. This series is for both non-dancers/amateurs as well as dancers/professionals. The instructions on tap dance lessons are very clear and easy-to-use that you will feel that you have never been learnt in this way ever before.

The best feature of learning this way dancing is that you don’t have to attend any tap dance classes or tap dance schools. By just putting the tap dance video, you can learn the dance. The dance video has dancing steps which covers split-screen camera angles as well as offers musical counts also.

There are many of us who feel shy to join tap dance classes or tap dance schools because we don’t have that confidence to face audience and other batch-mates of the group, whom we think excel than us. So, if you are also one of those who can’t join a live class because of your lack of confidence and shy nature, then fitness video option is best for you.

Apart from joining it in order to learn tap dancing, it can be also be used by those who wish to lose their weight. Tap dance requires high energy and involves movement of all body parts, especially legs and thighs. Hence, it is a great form of exercise. So, one has an option to join these tap dance classes as a form of fitness regime. So, you have option to use them as dance video or fitness video. It is the best medium to lose weight while having fun and enjoyment. You can also call your friends or neighbors and fix a time together, and can learn dancing in the group by putting the dance video.

So, take out the notion from your minds that you can’t dance, we have made it very simple for you. So, just remove that fear and join fitness video classes today. For more information about tap dancing, learning tap dancing or tap dancing classes, log on to tapdancemadeeasy.com

Eli Newsom
http://www.articlesbase.com/art-articles/say-yes-to-tap-dancing-728108.html

Planning a part or event doesn’t have to be that difficult. If you want to improve your events, find a way to make them really special. One way to do that is to introduce a little spice into the mix – in the form of entertainers – break the ice and get things moving.

And what more entertaining spice can you think of than a good entertainer. Whatever their role, be it mascot, mingler, or in the spotlight, a good entertainer can make people feel relaxed and comfortable and add flare to an otherwise dull event.

When you use an entertainer to improve your event, think about the type of party you’ll be hosting. Of course, you must first identify your goal. Are you welcoming home a long lost uncle? Trying to sell a timeshare? Increasing your network of professional contacts? And what are the characteristics of your guests? Are they business people, families, students? What type of party will it be? A small, intimate affair for a few friends or a big bash for the whole neighborhood? When you’ve established who’ll be there and what you’ll all be doing, you can begin to search for the perfect entertainer to brighten up the affair and improve your events.

How will you use your entertainer? A DJ is perfect for a party where people will be dancing. A comedian makes a great emcee or stand-up performer. A public speaker can not only entertain, but motivate and inform. Dancers can teach while they entertain, and exotic dancers (like belly dancers) can keep the place sizzling. Musicians, including singers, are a wonderful
addition to most events. Here is a list of types of entertainers you may not think of without a little help:
- balloon twisters – clowns
- face painters – impersonators
- hypnotists – magicians
- Elvis impersonators – mentalists
- puppeteers – ventriloquists

Musical entertainment doesn’t have to be a rock band or chamber orchestra. What about a barber shop quartet, folk singers, hip hop or rappers, or even a small gospel choir. It all depends on the people and the party.

You can probably find a number of choices by visiting your yellow pages or checking on the internet. The options are almost limitless. Most of these entertainers work at very reasonable prices because they’re either just starting out and need the experience, or they’ve already retired and want to keep active in their beloved profession.

If your budget won’t support a professional entertainer, you might think about bringing in someone who will mingle with your guests to get and keep the conversations and laughter going. Do you know someone who’s outgoing and funny? A good mingler is comfortable with all types of people and is a great conversationalist. If you bring someone in with that purpose in mind, it will probably improve your event and bring the best out in your guests. Of course, as host or hostess, you’ll want to play the role of mingler as well, making sure your guests are comfortable and involved.

One approach to party entertainment is to have activities in which the guests participate. A hypnotist can use your guests as subjects and keep everyone laughing. Impersonators can play role-playing games – what would you say to the President at a fun event? A local dance teacher can keep everyone involved in learning a new dance step. There are also theme parties where everyone has a role. One of the most familiar is the murder mystery where guests have to solve a crime. Casino or poker parties involve your guests in challenging and fun activities for hours!

And, of course, there’s the traditional costume party where your entertainer can play a specific role (like Caesar or George Washington). You can turn your costume party into a casual version of Trivial Pursuit, where the entertainer/character asks guests questions about his or her life or events of that day. You can offer prizes for most answers. Be creative! People love to get outside the old party box. A professional entertainer will give your party a special flare and improve your events.

Bringing in a professional photographer is a great way to get people excited. Few people don’t like to have their picture taken. Now, imagine them having their picture taken with Caesar, George Washington, or George Bush!

There’s only one down side to this approach. Once you’ve spiced up your party with a professional entertainer, your guests will expect all your events to be as much fun! They’ll be talking about you and the party for years to come. So, if you’ve run out of ways to bring smiles to the faces of your friends, family, and business acquaintences, consider introducing an entertainer into the mix. They’ll make your party a smashing success and improve all your events!

Abhishek Agarwal
http://www.articlesbase.com/management-articles/mascots-minglers-eye-catching-entertainers-702814.html

I want to know the name of the song in step up 2 at the end during their final dance battle. Its more of a mix than a song. I can’t describe it besides that its more of a mix and theres alot of breathing on it and I was wondering where I could find it

A remix of Timbaland’s "Bounce" and Rage Against The Machine’s "Killing In The Name".

Jordan Zevon wins the Overall Grand Prize of the 2008 USA Songwriting Competition along with co-writers Jordan Summers & Morty Coyle. His winning song home will be on the USA Songwriting Competition’s compilation CD this year. Jordan is a singer-songwriter from Los Angeles won 1st Prize in the 2006 USA Songwriting Competition but was not placed in the Overall Grand Prize, Overall 2nd Prize and Overall 3rd Prize at that time. This year Jordan improved to the Top position. He is signed to New West Records. His 2006 winning song “The Joke’s On Me” is the first track on his debut album “Insides Out” with New West Records. He has also appeared on TV’s “Late Night with David Letterman”.

Nathan Brumley, a singer-songwriter from Nashville, TN won the Overall Second Prize with his song “Breath of My Soul”. Hanneke Cassel, a violinist/composer from Boston, MA won the Overall Third Prize with her song “A Shadow And A Thought”.

~FIRST FROM ISRAEL & MIDDLE EAST TO WIN
Yasmin Levy, became the first songwriter from Israel & the Middle East to ever win First Prize at the USA Songwriting Competition. She won the First Prize in the World category with her song “Me Voy”.

Onno Krijn, Jeroen Zijlstra & Jeroen Kramer also became the first in their country (The Netherlands) to ever win first prize. They won the the Children’s Category. Other first prize winners include: Jorge Lan, Madrid, SPAIN (1st Prize, Latin), Joey Avalos (1st Prize, Rock/Alternative), Pepper Mashay & Corey White (1st Prize, Dance/Electronica) and Lucy Wainwright Roche (1st Prize – Folk).

~TEEN PHENOM WINS HONORABLE MENTION AWARD TO CLINCH YOUNGEST WINNER
Sam Plotkin broke Kate Voegele’s youngest record to win an award at the USA Songwriting Competition at just 15 years old. Kate was 18 years old when she entered the USA Songwriting Competition and won.

~MOST SONGS IN THE FINALS
Helle Hansen (DENMARK) holds the record of having the most number of songs placed in the finals for the second consecutive year, with 3 songs. She also won an honorable mention award. She is also one of the most consistent winners we had. She has won an honorable mention award each year since 2002.

Here is the complete winners’ list:

OVERALL GRAND PRIZE:
Home – Jordan Zevon, Jordan Summers & Morty Coyle; Los Angeles, CA

OVERALL 2nd PRIZE:
Breath of My Soul – Nathan Brumley; Nashville, TN

OVERALL 3rd PRIZE:
A Shadow And A Thought – Hanneke Cassel; Boston, MA

FIRST PRIZES IN 15 INDIVIDUAL CATEGORIES
1st Prize – LATIN
Las minifaldas – Jorge Lan; Madrid, SPAIN

1st Prize – LYRICS
If I Had A Daughter – Terri Hendrix; Austin, TX

1st Prize – DANCE/ELECTRONICA
Does Yo Mama Know (You’re A Freak) – Pepper Mashay & Corey White; Los Angeles, CA

1st Prize – POP
Home – Jordan Zevon, Jordan Summers & Morty Coyle; Los Angeles, CA

1st Prize – ROCK/ALTERNATIVE
Get Over It – Joey Avalos (Stars Go Dim); Broken Arrow, OK

1st Prize – R&B
Brand New Woman – Crystal Anderson; Mt. Vernon, NY

1st Prize – FOLK
Snare Drum – Lucy Wainwright Roche; New York, NY

1st Prize – COUNTRY
Month of Mondays – JD Dohnal & Mark Schaffel; Nashville, TN

1st Prize – GOSPEL/INSPIRATIONAL
Breath of My Soul – Nathan Brumley; Nashville, TN

1st Prize – INSTRUMENTAL
A Shadow And A Thought – Hanneke Cassel; Boston, MA

1st Prize – JAZZ
Samba Do Espịo РJason Wellington Black; Virginia Beach, VA

1st Prize – CHILDREN
Water – Onno Krijn, Jeroen Zijlstra & Jeroen Kramer; Amsterdam, THE NETHERLANDS

1st Prize – NOVELTY/COMEDY
Redneck Wannabe – Sherri Gough; Nashville, TN

1st Prize – HIP-HOP/RAP
Kingdom’s Takin Over – Aaron Rodgers and Melvin Grice (NevaLukeWarm); Anchorage, AK

1st Prize – WORLD
Me Voy (I’m Leaving) – Yasmin Levy; Tel Aviv, ISRAEL

20 Honorable Mention Awards
1. Lost In The Music – Tom Watson (Transparent); AUSTRALIA
2. Mi Regalo – Martha de Quesada; Miami, FL
3. You Were Right – Sam Plotkin; Somers, CT
4. Underdog – Sherry St Germain; Toronto, CANADA
5. One – Jesse Dold (The Daylights); Dover, NH
6. Disintegrate – Andrew Mitchell (Sixpin); Lockport, NY
7. Believe It – Danny Stringer Jr, Brandi Womack, Cheyenne Womack (Babysister); Los Angeles, CA
8. All You’ve Got To Lose – Brigitte DeMeyer; Burlinggame, CA
9. You Were Drunk – Rose Polenzani; Boston, MA
10. My Own Hand – Jack Sundrud & Randy Handley; Nashville, TN
11. Backwards – Bill DiLuigi & Lonnie LeVelle; Nashville, TN
12. Hold Me – Laura McGreevey – Ridgefield, WA
13. You Believe In Me – Dan Yessian & Kurt Schreitmueller & David Barrett
14. Winter Flower – Shao Ying Low; SINGAPORE
15. All In Good Time – Heather Combs; San Francisco, CA
16. Honey Don’t – Helle Hansen; Copenhagen, DENMARK
17. The Easter Bunny – Richard P Geere; Rowland Heights, CA
18. Morning Wood – Pat Sloan; Stafford, TX
19. 1 Step Away – Tom Prater; Hidden Valley Lake, CA
20. Contradi̤̣o РRogerio Maudonnet; Sao Paulo, BRAZIL

For more information on the 14th Annual USA Songwriting Competition, visit:
http://www.songwriting.net

Eric de Fontenay
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/jordan-zevon-wins-2008-usa-songwriting-competition-700132.html