Atlanta Ballet Plays Footsie With Hip-Hop

“Big,” the Atlanta Ballet’s new production, features a live performance of the music of Antwan Patton, better known as Big Boi of the famed hip-hop duo OutKast. Clearly the aim is to expand the ballet company’s audience. But it’s far more likely that “big,” which opened on Thursday night at the Fabulous Fox Theater here, will bring ballet audiences to hip-hop. (I, for one, am going to download as many songs by OutKast as possible.)

And that, from a dance point of view, gets to the heart of the problem with the rambunctious, rambling, hugely enjoyable concert that is “big.” As the title indicates, it’s all about Mr. Patton: his inventive, unpredictable music; his smart lyrics; his persona; his stable of artists. And as hard as Lauri Stallings, the ballet company’s resident choreographer, has tried to match his starry presence with a veritable onslaught of kinetic, charged dancing, it’s an unequal alliance. At best, “big” has moments of fascinating intersection between the movement and the firecracker verbal delivery of Mr. Patton’s work. At worst, the dancers simply look like a rather sophisticated back-up troupe.

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Shimmy Exclusive Interview

Shane Sparks




Shimmy: Please tell readers how you got started dancing.

Shane Sparks: Dancing chose me. I played sports and did gymnastics, but none of them kept my attention like dancing. I was born to dance, and nothing else. I couldn’t stop if I tried!

Shimmy: Where do you get your inspiration?

Shane Sparks: I get inspired by anything and everything; music, animals, TV, people, and anything that has something to say. I love songs that tell a story, and then I bring it to life. I love that.

Shimmy: You’ve choreographed for television, film, videos, etc. At this point, what is your favorite genre to work in?

Shane Sparks: Actually, I love teaching more than anything because I am free to do whatever I want. But if I had to choose, I would say movies, because there are no boundaries.

Shimmy: You’re not returning to SYTYCD this season, overall how was that experience?

Shane Sparks: I am not returning this season, but you never know what the future holds! I am going to miss it, and miss showing the world the thing I love doing most, choreography.

Shimmy: How has it been working on “America’s Best Dance Crew?”

Shane Sparks: It is the biggest blessing I could have ever received. This show is incredible, from the crews, to the creators. Randy Jackson is the man, and I think him for believing in me.

Shimmy: Are you still teaching, doing workshops, etc?

Shane Sparks: Yes, I am still teaching and doing workshops. I still travel with The Pulse, and I am still teaching at Millennium. I will do it until my legs fall off!

Shimmy: What projects do you have in the works, and planned for the future?

Shane Sparks: I am working on a film called “Backdown” with Marques Houston, and Omarion, and the creators of “You Got Served.” There is a new movie I also am doing called “The Jump Off.”

Shimmy: If I swiped your iPod for an hour, what would I be listening to?

Shane Sparks: It would be straight R&B, Neyo, Chris Brown, and a little bit of Boys II Men’s first album. Flo Rida’s “Low Low Low” is on there too! I listen to pretty much everything, and I also can’t get enough of Alicia Keys’ new CD. I love it!

Shimmy: Three things you cannot live without.

Shane Sparks: God, my mom, dance, music, and Francia, my girlfriend.

Shimmy: If you could switch places with anyone [not in the dance world] for 24 hours, who would it be?

Shane Sparks: Adam from Adam and Eve, because if I could be him for a day, back in the day, I could have changed the world!

Shimmy: What advice would you give to aspiring dancers?

Shane Sparks: To dream! I have been a dreamer all my life, and I dreamed about my life right now. If you want it, you can have it. Work hard and stay focused, stay away from the drama, don’t let any male or female stop you from going for your dream. I love you all, and one day we will all be dreaming together

Step Up 2: The Streets- See The Trailer

Nothing in life has come easily for 16-year-old street dancer Andie West (Briana Evigan) - nothing, that is, except dance. After her mother died, she was taken in by her mother's best friend, Sarah (Sonja Sohn), but for Andie, Sarah's house is just one more place she doesn't belong; her only real family is her dance crew, the 410, and her guardian angel from the neighbourhood, Tyler Gage.

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Source: Contact Music

How She Move- Worth Seeing?

After Drumline, You Got Served, Stomp The Yard, Save the Last Dance 1 and 2, Honey, Step Up, and Step Up 2 the Streets, did we really need another teen step/dance movie to add to the collection? After viewing 2008’s How She Move, the answer is definitely -- no. Directed by Ian Iqbal Rashid, How She Move debuted new actress Rutina Wesley as Raya Green, the heroine in this token coming-of-age tale set in Jamaica, Queens. Written by AnnaMarie Morais, How She Move dryly chronicles the tale of a young Jamaican immigrant on the path to finding herself, and getting out of a bad neighborhood.

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Source: Vibe

ALLHIPHOP.com Interviews Dave Scott

You may or may not know who Compton, California native Dave Scott is, but if you have seen the movies You Got Served or Stomp The Yard then you have seen his moves.



As a self-taught dancer, Dave Scott has worked his magic on the big screen and television. He has also choreographed many music videos and stage performances for the likes of Ginuwine, Tyrese, Brian McKnight, Bow Wow, Immature and B2K.



Back with the new movie Step Up 2 The Streets, Dave is steadily developing new shows for TV and more movies. We talked with him about the ins and outs of a choreographer’s career, the challenges he faced in mixing step and dance styles for Stomp The Yard and his views on Hip-Hop dance crazes .

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Source: AllHipHop.com

Hok Konishi Talks To Scene Guy

Hok exemplified the show's potential and central premise -- taking a dancer and putting them out of their element, a premise that simultanesouly creates the fish-out-of-water scenarios that so many reality programs thrive on, while also displaying to a mainstream audience the virtuosity, artistry and sheer athleticism present in the world of dance.

As a bboy, Hok's exuberance takes precedence over his (formidable) technical skills. Not one to rely on mere tricks, Hok's strength is his performative instincts. He's not just dancing; he's entertaining, he's emoting, and he's engaging with the music, the movements and the audience. So it's not surprising that Hok is an artist in other mediums as well -- he's a talented visual artist and accomplished violinist, other forms of expression that he plans on pursuing after his arms and legs can no longer do the things he wants them to. "Dancing is something you can do only while your body functions, so I decided to take that as my career for now," he says.

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Updates From SYTYCD 3's Hok And Lauren

Via Myspace bulletins.

Hok's Update

Quest performance!!!

hi guys, me and my troupe "Quest" will be performing and competing in a talent competition in LA called Kollaborationon feb 23rd!!! the more people we get to come support us, the more energy we will get!!!! please get tickets through the link and come support!

http://kollaboration.org/quest.php

cast:

Hokuto Konishi
Ryan Conferido
Steve terada
Victor Kim
Dominic Sandoval

Lauren's Update

Guess what's happening in 2 days......................
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MONSTERS OF HIP HOP IS IN TUCSON *ARIZONA*!!!

January 19-20, 2008
Doubletree at Reid Park

It's a GREAT faculty and its even better that its taken place in my home. Make sure to check out the website and sign up now since you only got 2 MORE DAYS!!!!!!

When you go, make sure to find Andy Funk (the director/owner/founder) and tell him I say WHATS UP! Oh and ask him how old his 6 year old son is.....he'll know what your talking about :)



go to www.monstersofhiphop.com to register


For everyone who's going....have a BLAST, work hard :)