Funky Merry Christmas wishes to you all in music and dance!

FUNKY MERRY CHRISTMAS

First of all, I would like to send you all my warmest season greetings. 🎅

I wish you a Funky Merry Christmas holiday..in music and dance, of course! 🎶👯

CHEERFUL CHRISTMAS MUSIC

 Secondly, here a few lovely tunes to get you into a happy mood:

• soul,
• funk
• and old-school hip-hop Christmas soundtracks:

If you want to listen to full songs of old and modern funk songs, check this YouTube playlist:

UPLIFTING CHRISTMAS DANCE MOVES

Finally, if you have put on weight after all this seasonal food stuffing,  here are some street dance choreographies to get you back in shape! The dance styles are new style hip-hop and locking. But, let’s start dancing the boogie, breaking, locking or whatever dance you like.

Who knows? You might get inspired to create your own one!

Advertisement

“Step Up 5” aka “Step Up All In” upcoming film and its soundtrack (2014)

STEP UP ALL IN

Hello, my dance fans!

First of all, here is the ‘Step Up All In‘ film we have all been waiting for!

FILM CAST and trailers

Secondly, the main dance characters from this film consist of the previous Step Up all-stars:

• Hair (Chris Scott)
• Vladd (Chadd Smith)
• Monster (Luis Rosado)
• Jenny Kido (Mari Koda)
• Andie West (Briana Evigan)
• Sean (Ryan Guzman).

ABOUT RYAN GUZMAN

Ryan Guzman was born in Texas, USA and relocated as a child to San Francisco, California.

He is a dancer and actor known for his roles in Step Up Revolution and April Rain amongst other non-dancing films.

About Chris Scott

Christopher Scott was born in Wheaton, Maryland.

He is a dancer, choreographer, actor and producer. He has acted and danced in many other well-known dance films such as:

• The LXD: The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers
• all the step up films
• Glee
• Alvin and the Chipmunks…

ABOUT Chadd Smith

Chadd Smith was born in Ventura, California.

He is a street dancer and actor specialised in robotic movements (street dance called ‘popping’). He appeared in Step Up 3D, Step Up Revolution and Step Up All In and in the web series The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers (LXD).

ABOUT Luis Rosado

Luis Rosado was born in Germany, grew up in Italy until 7 years old, who relocated to Florida and finally to Los Angeles.

He is a competitive dancer best known as a member of the crew Skill Methodz and also portrayed the character of Monster in the Step Up film franchise. He took part in The LXD as well.

ABOUT Mari Koda

Mari Koda was born in Japan.

She is an actress and dancer who is best known for her role as Jenny Kido in all the Step Up films. She also appeared in Timbaland and Missy Elliot’s music video “Cop That Disc” as a soloist.

If you’d like to watch film trailers, check this article.

FILM PLOT

Thirdly, the plot is like for all dance films, focused on the dance rather than the actual story.

Indeed, it’s the story of Sean, a street dancer from Los Angeles who is trying hard with his crew to succeed. Unfortunately, after several unsuccessful gigs, the crew leaves him. He feels like his dreams have vanished until he discovers an elaborate Vegas dance competition called the Vortex, being organized by VH1. For the purpose of the event, he sets up a new crew and they end up winning the battles.

Additionally, if you would like to know more about the plot details, read this film review.

FILM SOUNDTRACK

Finally, for those who have already watched it and really enjoyed its soundtrack, check these music tracks.

So, are you going to watch it? Leave us your comments about the film below, once you’ve seen it!

Hip Hop music event Boom Bap BBQ (Beatyard 2014 Festival)

The Beatyard festival started in Dublin (Ireland) on 24th April and will end on 4th May 2014 and offers an eclectic music mix for all tastes!

If you have missed the Boom Bap BBQ hip hop event on Saturday 26th May 2014 taking place at the Bernard Shaw, here is a little recap of the line up and event programme.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I arrived at 6pm onwards, so I have filmed the live turntablist DJ D.O.G as well as the live band performance of The Animators. Want to check the 6 videos out ? All you need to do is click on the link below, which will re-direct you to my Youtube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/user/emelinej1/videos

And if you are around for the May bank holiday weekend, you might want to catch up with other events from the Beatyard festival ? For more information, visit the following page:

http://the-beatyard.com/#lineup

Hip-Hop dance cult series, history and worldwide championships

HIP-HOP Dance History 

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 Wildstyle showcased 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:

• The Grind
• Planet B-Boy
• Rize
• StreetDance 3D
• America’s Best Dance Crew
• Saigon Electric
• Step Up film series
• The LXD web series.

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):

https://www.youtube.com/user/emelinej1/videos