Baile Funk is a big mix of different music styles. To have a better understanding of this music and dance style, I’d like you to have a read of this comprehensive Wikipedia article on the topic:
Want to hear how it sounds or how people dance on it? Go no further, I’m going to share with you few music playlists and dance videos.
First of all, there’s a great mixtape playlist you need to subscribe to and this is the following one from Rio:
baile funk dance
I will share with you a couple of dance choreography I have found. However, please note that they aren’t actual tutorials. Unfortunately, I haven’t found any real dance tutorials.😞
Finally, you might want to read another blog on how this music and dance style became exported:
First of all, f you have missed this year’s Juste Debout world hip-hop dances (now generally held in March each year), don’t worry! You can catch up the finals right now!
Secondly, if you don’t know what ‘Juste Debout’ is, check this article:
I dug deeper into some cool dance performances and find this interesting music and dance style.
HISTORY
First of all, Kuduro (or Kuduru) is a type of music and dance originally developed in Angola in the 1980s. It is characterized as uptempo, energetic, and danceable.
Secondly, it began in Luanda, Angola in the late 1980s. Initially, producers sampled traditional carnival music like:
soca and zouk from the Caribbean
Semba from Angola
Then, they laid this around a fast 4/4 beat.
SIMILAR DANCES
Thirdly, it is similar to the Kizomba rhythm. The lyrics are usually in Portuguese.
For those of you who like urban dances, you will certainly enjoy this dance as well! It has a lot of similarities with new style hip-hop, house.
If you’d like to know more about it, check these articles:
For those interested in learning this dance, there are classes in Paris (France) and London (England):
IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
Every Tuesday with Iris De Brito from 19:30 to 20:30 known for her afro, for her Kizomba and Semba. It is a high energy class that will make you move!
@ The Space Studios/ 31 Falkirk St London N1 6HQ.
IN FRANCE
Every Monday from 20:00 to 21:00 with Nat Borges (NKM) known for his afro-house and kuduro energy! He is one of the dancers from the video I’m sharing with you later in this post :).
@Studio Bleu/ 32 rue du Capitaine Marchal, 75020 Paris (Porte de Bagnolet- metro Gambetta).
KUDURO DANCE VIDEOS
Finally, have a look at this youtube mix of music and dance videos. The first video is the one I liked most. The choreography is very good and the two dancers are also witty/funny!
What do you think of this music? And what about the dance?
First of all, Dance Aware was a fun-filled night of dancing at Twisted Pepper on Friday 15th August 2014.
As a side note, you will not find any information anymore about the ‘Twisted Pepper‘ venue name as it has closed in down in 2015. It has however re-opened after restorations under the name of Wigwam.
ABOUT THE DANCES
Secondly, the annual dance aware event showcased various dance styles from across the globe, such as:
Lyrical Hip Hop (mix of hip-hop and contemporary dance)
Traditional African Dance
Hula Hoop
Tribal Fusion Belly Dance
Polynesian Dance
Flamenco
Italian and Polish Folk Dances…
We were very lucky to have the fabulous Kristine Adams of FatChanceBellyDance performing at this event.
ABOUT THE CHARITY
As regards to the fundraising event itself, it was organised by Resham-Ka Tribal in aid of Aware.
The aware charity helps people affected by stress, depression and mood disorders.
Furthermore, if you would like to know more about this charity, donate or raise funds for them, visit their website.
If you would like to view pictures from the event, please check their related Facebook event page.
DANCE SHOW LIVE RECORDINGS
Finally, if you have missed the event or would like to see its live recordings, have a look at the 6 below Youtube videos:
I have noticed that a few of you enjoyed the previous videos I shared around how to danceAzonto. So I thought you might like to learn a bit more about how to dance on it!
There are a lot of Azonto dance videos out there but not that many tutorials. I have been collecting the ones I found the best ones and hope you will enjoy them. They show you different basic and more intermediate moves.
Finally, this article explains to you how each body part moves to create the azonto dance (second part of the article below the first video):
STREET DANCE FILMS STARRING CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS
I usually post videos or films starring adults but I discovered two nice street dance films showcasing children’s talents. As you know, most professional dancers start at a young age, so don’t dismiss their skills! I have included the full film videos in this post. So have a read of the plots and enjoy watching!
ALL-STARS
The first one is ‘All-Stars‘, a British film, which has received very good ratings and has a nice storyline.
It features the 2010 winner of Sky HD hit TV talent show ‘Got To Dance’ Akai Osei-Mansfield.
This comedy family entertainment film tells the story of two kids teaming up to save their East London youth club by staging a dance show…and have to move fast to avoid humiliation. With one banned from dancing and the other discover that he has two left feet, the pair rope in their misfit mates to put on a show-stopping routine. But can they get their act together in time for their make or break performance?
‘All Stars’ features a cast of famous faces including Theo Stevenson (Horrid Henry), and Kimberley Walsh (Girls Aloud).
BATTLEFIELD AMERICA WHERE KIDS RULE
The second one is ‘Battlefield America‘, an American film, which has received moderate ratings. I still think it’s worth watching it, though.
Starring Marques Houston (Sean Lewis), Mekia Cox (Sarah Miller), Lynn Whitfield (Marcia Parker), and a slew of talented young dancers, Battlefield America is filmed in Los Angeles.
It tells the story of Sean Lewis (Houston), a successful businessman sentenced to community service for a DUI. Forced by children’s centre director (Cox) to teach a band of misfits how to dance, Sean (Houston) winds up learning much more about himself than he ever imagined.
Talented youth dancers – Tristen Carter (Eric), Edward Mandell (Marv), Kida Burns (Tommy) and Camren Bicondova (Prissy) – steal the show in an underground dance competition (aka “battles”).
Now, want to watch them? Check out the below Youtube videos. Free viewing and no need to download anything!
First of all, hip-hop dance refers to street dance styles primarily performed to hip-hop music or that have evolved as part of hip-hop culture.
It includes a wide range of styles primarily:
breaking
locking
popping.
These hip-hop dance styles were created in the 1970s and made popular by dance crews in the United States.
Hip-HOp Dance cult series
Secondly, the 1980s saw the emergence of hip-hop dance cult series, films and shows.
Indeed, the television show Soul Train and the 1980s films Breakin’, Beat Street, and Wildstyleshowcased these crews and dancing styles in their early stages. Therefore, it gave hip-hop mainstream exposure.
Furthermore, the dance industry responded with a commercial, studio-based version of hip-hop (called new style). This new hip-hop style influenced the jazz dance style called jazz-funk. Classically trained dancers develop these studio styles, in order to create choreography from the hip-hop dances seen on the street. Because of this development, hip-hop dance is practised in both dance studios and outdoor spaces.
Then, the commercialization of hip-hop dance continues into the 1990s and 2000s with the production of several other television shows and films such as:
I personally discovered this B-Girl film that may not be cult series but is also very cool.
As for these LXD (Legion of Extraordinary Dancers) hip-hop dance cult series, they show strong similarities with the story plot from the Diversity Digital Tour 2013. You will also find in this film a diversity of dance styles reminding you the last Step Up series.
Check out “The LXD: the uprising begins’ now:
The EVOLUTION
Although the dance is established in entertainment, it maintains a strong presence in urban neighbourhoods. This led to the creation of street dance derivatives such as:
turfing
krumping
and jerkin’.
The television shows and the Internet have contributed to introducing hip-hop dance outside of the USA.
Here is a good example of turfing dance “Turf Feinz RipD Rich Dancing in the Rain Oakland Street (California)”:
Additionally, what distinguishes hip-hop dance from other forms of dance is its freestyle (improvisational) in nature. Crews often engage in freestyle dance competitions, referred to as battles. Crews, freestyling, and battles are identifiers of this style.
Finally, since its exposure, educational opportunities and competitions have helped to maintain its presence abroad. Europe host several international hip-hop dance competitions such as:
UK B-Boy Championships
Juste Debout
EuroBattle.
Lastly, you will find several videos of Juste Debout World Championships (All styles 2013 -2014):
If you are a break dancer or just want to watch live 2v2 breakdance battles and hip-kop showcase by the French company “Nomade”, check out the information, pictures and videos of the past Urban Bboy League in Dublin organised by Breakdancing Soc Dit (Irl) & Nomade Cie (Fr).
For additional details about the event, check the event page as follows:
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