GROOVE 2013: DANCERS GET BACK STAGED

GROOVE 

It was a great night, a night that the dance industry should have took a hint. Follow me closely because am heading somewhere with this. The set up, the content and lighting was commendable. I mean there was also a groove camp *clap clap clap ululation*.

And am still mad, no not mad, I am sad, sullen, because it makes perfect sense. That a huge event like groove awards, with all its glamour can survive without dancers, they can do it without dancers. Don’t take me wrong, I appreciate all dancers that did a performance, dancers that were behind the faces of other artists who I believe were not paid for the performance. Go ahead and laugh and argue,” this is not about money Its all in the name of spreading the gospel.” I don’t believe  at one point I caught a dance  crew asking an artist who had just won an award to thank them after she received an award.

TAKE A HINT

Does it mean that dance is a supporting art? That it can’t exist without other/some forms of art. Being real entails painting a picture as it so appears or so rightly should appear so here is my canvas and you can call me a painter, for all I care. Dancers be wise in your engagement and realize that being on TV is not everything, when and how are you going to bring that plate of food for once in your own house matters a lot. Wake up and smell the cookie, be paid for your creativity, build your future and always make it a growth process. Be observant and learn because event organizer will always look to reduce cost and maximize profit. This is business so the question is does the profit margin increase at your expense?

I will also take this opportunity and express my deepest respect for the President. This, as Bob Collymore (call me more) would so put it, is the coolest president Kenya has ever got. Supporting the art, Dr. Hassan Wario, hat off for being at the show and that is a strong positive statement. I read president Uhuru speech and I am hopeful for a better life for a Kenyan dancer. A Kenyan dancer will not belong to the other art forms (support artist)

H.E. THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA UHURU KENYATTA READING HIS SPEECH AT THE GROOVE AWARDS 2013.

                                                                                                                             

MY BREATHE OF DANCE

My story begins and as it should, from when I was a little boy, I treasured friends; Holidays were my favorite days of the calendar and especially the December holidays, one you may well reckon as the Christmas holidays. In this my Golden days “soda kubwa” was the drink, all inclusive, economical though am not sure if that’s the reason why lots of Kids competitions favored the 1ltr soda as the ultimate prize for the winner(s). Don’t forget this because later in this blog you will meet with soda kubwa and my deepest desire is that you meet them with the enthusiasm it so rightly deserves.

SODA KUBWA

The story of the day I first won a present for dancing and seeing a smile on my parents face was definitely special. As an African child, traditions state that we make our parents proud and to do it at an early age was something.When the lights were turned on and music started playing. I opened my heart and accessed my art creative, I danced to the music of Papa Wemba, The Maroon Commandos and I was good. I won every round, beat every opponent I competed/battled; I smiled because I felt free and jovial. Forget the cheers, what amazed me was the look in my father’s eyes. He most definitely had never pictured me in this light or was it scary? The fact that his son would follow an artistic path which was neither common nor popular. I didn’t know what bothered him most but the thought (whatever it was) must have dried his lips and gave him a cold chill down his spine.

I remember the last battle I won, before we even started I could smell the fear (Oh well that’s just dramatic) I could see the fear in my opponent’s eyes and the crowd cheered me on: this made me stronger.

My dad said, “Passion is and will forever be the way you make me smile.” Back then I never understood, even one little bit of what he meant but now, now I do get, I do understand. Over that brief period of brilliance I was happy and comfortable. When I got back to Nairobi, I went under my bed, took the wires I had stacked to build myself the ultimate car model that would rule the hood, I took under the mattress; batteries I had bought, gave them all to my mother  for her ever-ready torch. And I was done with being the experimental kid in science and architecture! I became the dancer kid.

My high school life...

THE IMPRINT OF DANCE ON ME.

The MC has the line up in his hands. All entertainment parties in a predetermined order. For the few times we've gotten the honor to perform at any event my crew has never been the trail blazer so we get to see what some of the crews have to contribute to this art which is dance. Nervousness is building up in me and someone is assuring me how it will be okay. I start to come up with backup moves just in case I forget the routine we've practiced, especially in areas where I feel are 'weak'. 

NERVOUSNESS IS BUILDING UP IN ME

I promise myself to be perfect next time because the mental torture at the last minute is something I'd easily trade for....anything. I'm finally feeling settled and there's a flip being completed on the stage. We all shout in support of the skill. I start to think whether there's someone screaming because they fear the dancer will fall and somehow break his pelvis, both his jaws, 7 fingers, a good number of vertebrae and the floor itself. Either way, we're all appreciating his moves. In no time, we're clapping for the crew as it leaves the stage. And we're up next. By this time we're already at the backstage waiting for our name to be called. We quickly say the grace and I feel good that God is involved.LL

 We've been told to get ready as the MC reads some jokes he's just googled to stall the audience. The DJ has our music, the MC is raising his thumb to us to confirm that we're ready. (But really, he means "Be ready or just get your unpreparedness onstage")......It's time. One crew member is quickly reminding us to look at one particular person in the audience while dancing, preferably a girl, for obvious reasons. There's a small laughter from everyone at that.

The name is finally called. BOOM CREW! 

BOOM CREW

We're making our entrance to the stage and we're met by a loud cheer from a very lively audience. Or scared. Who knows? Good news is they're cheering and we're rest assured we don't look like recruits from a hobo camp. As we get into our positions, all sound fades out. I can't see a single person in the audience,not even that random girl I was supposed to find and focus on. Maybe it's because of the blinding light from spot lights directed towards the stage. I doubt that's the reason though. I'm leaving the world and I'll be back when we're done performing. My heart's beating a bit hard. I'm not that worried about blundering now. But just like every other time, I'm sure all I'll hear is the speakers doing their job.

The music starts.We start to move...

This is in the words of Stanley Kariuki, a Boom Crew member.

Stanley Kariuki AKA BBQY AYEKEI

Facebook:  Stanley Kariuki , Boom crew

Twitter: @stanl_eysays , @Boom_crew 

DANCE NOT DRUGS (THE KENYAN- CANADIAN CONNECTION)

LEXXIE: IN A MAD WORLD,DANCE IS SERENITY....

Name: Lexis Bettie

Dance styles: contemporary, hip-hop, jazz, African

What does dance mean to you: in a mad world, dance is the serenity. It has the power to chance peoples, lives and fight inequalities. Dance gives me hope, so I dance to give hope to humanity.

lexis bettie during a performance looking sharp and enjoying it

Lexxie Bettie: NICE! I see you have a picture in your blog from break session, I performed in that at the German Institute and I remember seeing that guy perform! It was AWESOME!

LEX AND CIARA PERFORM AT  BREAKSESSION2012

When I sent lex a message on Facebook never thought she would even reply leave alone her replying with a sheng salutation, “Niaje (hey).” She is soft, accurate and though I have never seen her on stage you would think she can’t move inch-her humility is outright.

LEXXIE: IN A MAD WORLD,DANCE IS SERENITY

Okay about Heshima >>>

our main goal is EDUCATION. We divide our work into 3 sections:

1.    SPONSORSHIP: We provide formal education which involves getting youth enrolled in school whom, otherwise could have no opportunity. The youth we currently sponsor were street children, orphans or being raped and abused incorrupt orphanages. We also teach informal education in terms of breaking stereotypes that divide the human race, health, maintaining good values and staying on a positive track in life. We do mentoring with youth, and in heshima, the older youth also mentor the younger youth.

*COOL*

2.    SOCIAL LEADERSHIP: We work with youth in High Schools(mostly in Canada, but am hoping to bring this to Kenya sometime soon, once we get more people involved), tackling issues of children rights, poverty, developing leadership skills and how to make change in their communities.

*Awesome* and at this point I feel I should introduce some totally cool dancers.

Name: Winnie Wambui Kamau

Dance Style: I do Hip-Hop-Salsa.

What does dance mean to you: Dance is the use of body to express how you feel. Dancing is my all.

Name: Ciara Njeri

Dance Style: Hip-Hop, Salsa, African and Krump

What does dance mean to you: Dance to me brings life to every moment and I do it with full love to express the joy of having life itself.

FROM LEFT:LEXIS AND CIARA DURING A PERFORMANCE IN KENYA AT BREAKSESSION2012

3.    DANCE NOT DRUGS

This idea was developed by Winnie Kamau, and later joined by Ciara Njeri and Lexis Bettie (myself). Winnie was tired of seeing youth with so much potential, just in the streets of her hometown wasting away, becoming hopeless and resulting to drugs to feel some sort of hope or feeling in their body.   

THE SMILE OF HOPE AND DETERMINATION...THE BEAUTY OF DANCE

We want youth to feel the positive power of dance and how it can send positive vibes through every muscle and bone in our body. We want youth to  feel the positive power of dance rather than the negative power of drugs. To  do this, we will start meeting at-risk youth in towns across Kenya, and just start dancing with them to gain their trust and build confidence. 

 

UNITY OF PURPOSE THROUGH DANCE

we will also develop dance crews with girls from slums and as they grow, they will become recognized and get hired for different jobs(music videos, events etc).With the money, Dance not Drugs will enrol the crew members in school, an opportunity they would not have had otherwise. 

 

FLAUNT YOUR FLAG>>> DANCE IS A UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE OF UNITY

We also teach dance classes in Canada, in a border town where drug trafficking between Canada and the USA is increasing at an alarming rate. Dance not Drugs has the potential to be Huge and Change so many people and it will ,if we have enough passionate people on board.

THAT MOMENT WHEN YOU DANCE RIGHT.MAKE EVERY MOVE COUNT

THE DANCE ON FINE CHINA BY CHRIS BROWN

Off his latest album ‘X’ Chris Brown has managed to spark enormous reaction of his lead single Fine China. I would love to think that this might be one of his most legendary albums if Fine China is anything to go by...In the event that it is not, make sure you definitely don’t come back here.

A MATURE CHRIS BROWN ON SET OF FINE CHINA VIDEO SHOOT

At 23 years old, Brown has surprised us over and over and with his now 6^th Album ‘X’ we are and continue to be expectant on his power to deliver powerful music and right movement. Over his last two years, his gut to fill the shoes of one Michael Jackson has grown way bigger than his passion to dance. I let MJ come to play here because that is what the Fine China video is- Billie Jean and Thriller.

Michael Jackson

Fine china is laid back, smooth and warm, the video is straight out classic and the story line is basically epic. Well one problem though is the pathetic acting in the video and especially on the stare down at the complete end aimed at creating suspense. Complete #Fail! 

Chris Brown Fine China Stare Down

Hastily moving on, Chris has always been a great mover, from his red  veyron, to his more mature video presentation- he actually censors a scene when the beautiful lady in red changes dresses from a red black blended one to an all black one.

Chris Brown receives the lady on the video FINE CHINA 

DANCE SEQUENCE

Okay let’s focus on what is important because without which then Fine China would just be that-A music video. So the video takes us on a roller coaster of amazing choreographies with amazing dancers. Chris brown is a respecter of the dance culture and he shows his prowess as he werks the girl in the alley. In fact he does it as an enough dose –right measure. So in the club, gets his claws on and engages in a fight with such dance stars as Hok and Steve(choreographed the fight scene) of Quest crew. This is definitely awesome, the sequence, the filming...I mean wow you should see how Hok puts it on the quest crew blog.

It’s undeniable that Chris Brown is good and this should not even be an argument because in my school of thought anyone who can sing good and dance strong is already a winner. All am not saying is I don’t know what to write on Chris brown without Michael Jackson.

THE VIDEO THREE PIECE OF CHRIS BROWN LEAD SINGLE ‘FINE CHINA’

Chris Brown ‘Fine China’ video

Chris Brown one take performance of ‘Fine China’

Chris brown Behind the scenes of ‘Fine China’ video