Spiral Mint.

COOL MINT FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE
watch for sick execution of movement, unison, facial expressions...these kids are too badass.

CORNBREAD.

Few folk know about CORNBREAD...and the lucky ones...they know of him as the godfather of graf. Check the vid. Share your brainpieces.

Spinnin' Sock Magic.

Pretty much what we do in our spare time out here...
Pablo Hassan on the ones and twos coming at cha!

Yard Dogs Wants Who?!

Sooo…things are happening at a reasonable rate. I’m in Cali now! Seems I’ve caused a bit of a stir amongst some fair Santa Cruzians. Seems I’ve caused some excitement farther down the rabbit hole as well, as folk far and wide have begun to bug me about when I would have the reel ready. The Yard Dogs Road Show recently contacted me as well - stating that they were holding auditions and haven’t ever done so in 9 years! Better get on it!

I smile.

What I’d like to know from you all - who may know the yard dogs…what were your gut feelings watching their stage performance for the first time? what did you feel they were missing if anything? Do you have any ideas that might be helpful in the way of attacking this footage knowing their current aesthetic and standards?

We all know I can bust a move - but I’d like to be smart in my approach. I think I have a good chance, been emailing them for a bit now…Kind of cool that this would be the first ever “audition” for their group in their 9 years of existence!

Zach, I know you volunteered to help - Smurf too…I’m down for HD quality - it’ll prob set me apart from whoever else they’ve invited…I dunno…ideas? Hit me on my 2way ya heard?!

Queen of Pin-ups Dead...

Farewell Bettie! You've inspired so many!

The Making Of Music Video Tokyo, Japan

This "making of" footage just came out of a music video I shot in Tokyo for Namie Amuro, Japanese pop sensation.

Five Los Angeles based dancers were hired to compliment the ten local hires and Japanese crew and choreographers. I couldn't understand a word on set!

One of the choregraphers, Yasko, choreographed the little tap dance section you will see in the final video. Yasko was an amazing hoofer - and that's coming from an amazing hoofer, so ... believe me when I say it was an honor to work with her.

Patricia Field was the costume designer. You might know her work on Sex in the City. She also has a line of shoe designs manufactured by Payless shoes currently, which I shot the commercial for. This industry is getting more and more cozy.

Ironically, I had just visited Japan the year prior to see Nine Inch Nails play Chiba Marine Stadium. To my delight, the Namie Amuro "New Look" video was filmed in the exact same location.

Another first on set, which you won't see mentioned in this "making of" music video, was a sit down strike the LA dancers staged. The work format just isn't the same in Japan. I mean, I thought film and television shoots were long in Hollywood, but we were on our 20th hour and well ... the US dancers could see that we were no where near done and well ... we needed another day's pay for this. Honestly, we needed two more days pay - like double triple over time or something. The Japanese production crew was extremely respectful and gave us cash on the spot. But they worked us long hours! In the US, I hate to say it, but we wouldn't have had to sit down for another day's pay, but on the other hand, we would have been shouted at kindy pushy like the entire shoot - which definitely never happened in Tokyo:-)

Oh, and before the make up artists did make up, they massaged our face. For a long time. Now that was brilliant!

Enjoy the "making of" Namie Amuro's New Look music video:



Who's that tall girl?


A precarious situation with tights.


First day of rehearsals:


What to do at hour 19 on a 24 hour shoot:

Yes, that's how you were born sweetie...

The MILKMAN - loveable, blueheaded freak!
The Counter Culture Collective's bendy heartthrob...check this cutie out!

Smokin' Hot.

YO! I just got aholda'dis..yaddida? Seems Cali is doing a number on my speech...but not my judgment. Is it just me or is Michael Dirt a total hottie? And talented to boot! Hooray! Oddity artists unite!

Little Superstar

The Scoop.

Moj, what would you call what he's doing here? Waving? Gliding?

+FLY+

The other night was pretty unreal and there were a few moments where I could not tell if I was alive on Earth or Heaven or Sandy Otherwhere. I grabbed Katie by the hand and said "wanna fly?"

Afterwards, she exclaimed that she felt like she was breathing for the first time and flung her arms out like she was receiving some great hug from God[dess]. This made me happy.

AcroYoga is what I guess is the new BIG thing.
I see alot of this at clubs like LOVE (NYC) and at Burning Man. Pretty much wherever contact improv jammers, hippies, and yoga folk gather. I was slightly interested and then my friend Niko kind of just up and pulled me in! I can't say how addictive this stretch is...on too many levels.

Ultimately it's a combination of acrobatics, yoga and thai massage. It involves two people, a base and a flyer - carefully and attentively going through various poses that test their trust, core strength, flexibility and partner flow. Super similar to adagio - it's fun stuff...check out this vid!

Things Get Stewy

For such a tiny little hole in the wall - Santa Cruz throws down hard on the art tip.
In my short time here, I've already encountered some of the best graffiti I've ever seen - cave parties - bike porn and let's not forget...the TEAM PAUL SWEET ART PARTY on the 5th! yay!!!!

It's amazing what happens when people get all stewy and condensed. I feel like getting down with some of the local artists in a big way is in order....SO

I plan on getting a very special person to collaborate with me in a live art/bodypaint/ uv reactive dance-splosion for the upcoming shindig. shhh...don't tell nobody.

I guess photos and such to come!

Where I'll be on the 22nd.

SF Hip Hop DanceFest Master Classes!

flawless dance company

The 10th anniversary San Francisco Hip Hop DanceFest is proud to offer two amazing master classes taught by some of the visiting performing artists!

The first class is taught by Flawless Dance Company Popin Pete
from London and the second class is taught by of the Electric Boogaloos. Here is the info-

SF Hip Hop DanceFest Master Classes
Saturday Nov 22nd
1-4pm (Flawless at 1pm/Popin Pete at 2:30pm)
City Dance Studios 10 colton street, San Francisco, CA
$20 for 1 class / $28 for both

To register-
ADVANCE-send check made out to "SF Hip Hop DanceFest" and mail to PO Box 411492 San Francisco, CA 94141
OR
Register the day of the classes at the door

Old Friends Doing New Things.

Ladies and gentlemen...Eric Negron.

Puppeting Ography

Technology and the human body cohorts again!

This is brilliant choreography. I can not help but wonder what dance the entire body could do without conscious thought with this technology. IF we could survive this type of stimulation full body!



Tonya Kay
http://tonyakay.com

Because Halloween is all year long...

and breakdancing marionette skeletons are awesome...

Holding out for a hero.

Miss Tressa Gold of the Counter Culture Collective recently did some dancing for the Miss Gay America contest. Details are unbeknowst to me - as she's been off the grid for a little while...but lucky her! All of us here send her our love and yo - if you've never seen a drag contest...here you go! Definitely not something to be missed.

This is Miss Tandi Iman Dupri performing for the crown at the 2001 Miss Black America. Unfortunately she did not win the title at this drag event - and passed away shortly after due to AIDS related complications (according to the mass media). Sure glad I found the footage. Enjoy.

Above Below the Register

Check out this Inca princess from Peru. In her heyday, she recorded an astonishingly wide vocal range of more than four octaves, from B₂ to C♯₇ and could hit notes in both the low baritone and upper coloratura register.

I've been on this kick for a minute...asking "what makes me an artist?" "what makes someone a singer?" DEFINE define DEFINE. I sing - but am I singer if I don't persue it as much as say...the dance?

A special person told me - as long as you're putting yourself completely into what you're doing - as long as it's got soul...it's yours - your art - your craft. well, it was said much more articulately and eloquently than that...but you get the gist.

just hit play already.

+Midnight Madness+

Because the Milkman is a slow man...lol.
It was mentioned that this should without a doubt go on the blog. Here you are - enjoy.

Paz, Amor, and Unity

So -- maybe I'm a bit of a raver ... or a rager for that matter -- but really, it will always be all about the PEACE-LOVE-UNITY-RESPECT...{PLUR} for you cool kids. Check out my fellas from NYC, England, France and Germany get down...international freestyle champions of the new world. Peep it:

say hello to some old steez - say hello to some new steez.

+Rosetta Stoned+

Yo, had to let you folks know...
My boys Rosetta Stoned - definitely members of the tribe when it comes to the "alternative hip-hop" scene...If you're near, check out their groove. I promise you won't regret it.

[The Outsiders Open/Zevs Gets Loose]

HE BODY JERK finds spirituality in nyc hip-hop dance. hip-hop dance can become something viable too. nyc hip-hop dance can be taken back. nyc hip-hop dance can be a method of radical communication. nyc hip-hop dance can be therapeutic. nyc hip-hop dance can make your soul light up. dance is my religion. I am a hip-hop dance activist. You can be an nyc hip-hop dance activist too. We use dance as a mode of radical communication. Like urban gypsies, we flood the streets, sampling culture . nyc Hip-Hop was born of soul and sample. Become an nyc hip-hop dance student. Become an nyc hip-hop dance educator. Become an nyc hip-hop dance activist. hip-hop urban gypsy. hip-hop dance evolution. revolution. ]

::HERSTORY - thought you knew electronic music?::

Say hello to my little friend.

Daphne Oram (1925-2003) was a woman of many skills. What she was known best for, however, is that she was a pioneer in the electronic music game and a sound engineer at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.

She developed a workshop surrounding ideas pertaining to experimental production and soundtrack composition. Ever hear of Oramics? Well yes sweeties, that was allllll her.
This lovely human created a system of converting drawings on 35mm film into sound textures. Check out samples of her her music here.

From The Guardian:
Oram was one of the first British composers to produce electronic sound, a pioneer of what became "musique concrete" – music made with sounds recorded on tape, the ancestor of today's electronic music. Her story makes for fascinating reading. She was born in 1925 when Britain was between two world wars. She was extremely bright, and studied music and electronics – unusual at the time not only because electronics was an exciting new industry, but also because it was a man's world.

GET EM GIRLS.

I'm particularly interested in this yummy bunny because of the sudden uprise of the dubstep movement. Let's see how many female musical experimentalists I can get my hands on in the next month. Ready...set...go!

I smell collaboration...
well, I always smell collaboration. lol.
:)THE BODY JERK finds spirituality in nyc hip-hop dance. hip-hop dance can become something viable too. nyc hip-hop dance can be taken back. nyc hip-hop dance can be a method of radical communication. nyc hip-hop dance can be therapeutic. nyc hip-hop dance can make your soul light up. dance is my religion. I am a hip-hop dance activist. You can be an nyc hip-hop dance activist too. We use dance as a mode of radical communication. Like urban gypsies, we flood the streets, sampling culture . nyc Hip-Hop was born of soul and sample. Become an nyc hip-hop dance student. Become an nyc hip-hop dance educator. Become an nyc hip-hop dance activist. hip-hop urban gypsy. hip-hop dance evolution. revolution. ] [counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective]

{Challenge Your Peers}

To all the creatives sitting around waiting for art to strike them...
Here's to you.

Get up and do it like us hip-hoppers do it...battles are a way to flex your skills, teach something, learn something AND get inspired...

Why do we do it?
TO GET DOPE.

not because we're scared of looking like an arse. : )

Here are some artists in Brooklyn who are using this technique to create large scale, dynamic painted works.
Say hello to my little friends:
Melissa Brown and MOMO


Espeis "June" from MOMO on Vimeo.

[:Risky Business:]

A history lesson for you folks today but first -- I send my deepest apologies for the disappointing flow of content. I've been in a bit of a rut inside and out and just trying to live and breathe and be. But now, now my fingers feel nimble and frisky they tappa tappa on this here keyboard to bring to YOU [whomever you may be] a history lesson.

The art of BURLESQUE landed upon America's lap in the late 1860's by a troupe called Lydia Thompson and her British Blondes. The British troupe spoofed traditional theatrical productions and did a lot of exciting things like gender role reversal portrayal and prancing around in skimpy lil' costumes.

Since then, it has taken on the characteristics of vaudeville, comedy, cabaret and striptease to evolve into the wackyness it is today.

The mid 1990s birthed the burlesque revival! Led by bad mama jamas Ami Goodheart [NY] and Michelle Carr [LA], troupes across the country began incorporating burlesque aesthetics into their performances.

TODAY -- we've got folks like the Indigo, Yard Dogs Road Show and Tease-o-Rama mixing things up with their curation of complex/dynamic performing environments/vibrations. Moreover, they focus on the comedy, the tease and the aesthetic as opposed to the strip...so to speak.

Well...all this to say -

LISTEN MOFOS...BURLESQUE DANCERS/GO-GO DANCERS AREN'T SEX WORKERS!!!!
[well, maybe some are - but that's only because their parents have wronged them...]
It's an art. Don't get it twisted.

anyway, there are artists out there who are constantly trying to tweak and grow this American folk art -- and know what? -- they're being bombarded with ultimatums and sexy propositions. A few dumb ones accept to get the gig and it spreads like wildfire.

It is YOUR social responsibility as an artist to set the standards within your industry. You can't ask for change unless you start changing your responses...even if it means being poor and without gigs...
Skanks.

<*sigh* the plight of the artist...>

=AfterBurn=

I came home from the west coast and cried.

I wiped my face on my scarf and *ahem* cough, playadust. lol.

If there is one thing that I'm feeling right now, it's that things have changed inside and now it's time to run outside and see where I can make the pieces fit. BM is just as much Babylon for me as the "real world" is in many ways...but what I got from it was this overwhelming urge to reevaluate what it means to love, share and be an artist.

I want to be BIG do BIG and not just that...but proactive - right now, all the time...all nows and tomorrows and next days. I want to move and keep moving and moving and shit-last time I checked, that's what my job description was made for.

I'd like to get in touch with some folks in the ny burner communities to see what's what in the way of set design and traveling in style...
*whoodewhoo!*

Photos from the burn coming soon.

[:USPS:]

Dear Sir - please remit payment for all of the lessons you have received from the School of Life.

*~It's All Abouts The Voltage Sirs~*

There's something interesting that happens when you step foot in a grove or redwood forest after spending your entire life stuck in a whirlwind of smog, tall tall skyscrapers, and parks inhabited solely by hobos. Something interesting happens when you give yourself time - to do what? Doesn't really matter...Time to bike, time to romp in nature, time to sleep - to sweat - to dance.

I thought I was close to hitting that moment where I would just walk away from performance forever. While there are things going for me on all levels, I felt as if there was NO TIME for training, for experimenting, or for even loving my craft. Truth is - there is NO TIME...but you have to give yourself the time to work on making things come to fruition...because there is no time. If that makes sense...No time to sit on arses. No time to wait. You see, it all depends on the context in which you speak.

I am in the hills of Santa Cruz. I have had the most delicious burrito/salsa bar combo ever. I've been riding a :MoJo: style tweaked/freaked/technicolorized custom bike (yes, complete with hot pink duct tape accents - thanks Agler). I've ridden that bike miles and miles. I've smoked a whole bunch. Gotten my headspace nice and spread out and churning and WAIT - I think I've met one of the most productive stoners of all time...an amazing musician, stencilist, conversationalist, human....CODA!!! (finally, I come in contact with the other half of all those amazing beats from the Mad Zach/Coda combo sampler.)

Yep, things are really going swimmingly out here. But most importantly I've given myself the time to really fall back in love with my arts. This trip marks the beginning of the rest of my life. I have no job to return to once I get home, I've no fears, no obligations...I've allowed myself to stretch and breathe and be and lo - I'm really feeling like...dizzy...spinny...with possibility.

I realized last night that I was sleeping waaay more than partying once out here. And then it hit me - sometimes, though the city is great and will swallow you and teach you and give you orgasms big as nature itself -- sometimes, you need space and peace of mind.
Everyone's been talking about this recession that's around and about - as ole' :Milkman: said -- it's a recession of peace of mind. So--

I've decided to be mindful and give myself that peace.
Thus far, my body thanks me. My soul thanks me. My heart...well, it waits for its other pieces to gently land next to it in a field, on a hill, or in a tent somewheres...but yo - all that soon come.

Folks, this is important. And if you've thought that this was a ramble thus far...well, it was. But if you are to leave your monitor with anything from this - know -
YOU MUST GIVE YOURSELF THE TIME, SPACE, AND LOVE NEEDED TO MAKE PROGRESS. PROGRESS DOESN'T JUST HAPPEN. SOMETIMES...RUNNING AWAY IS REALLY RUNNING TO.

Moreover, when you find yourself hitting that moment...when you're like..."AH-HA!" and the electric bitch comes out...remember - it's all about the voltage.

{:LovEvolve:}

{:Who's Gonna Save My Soul?:}

Collabo by: Gnarles Barkley/Chris Milk BTW - hey dude. I understand.

[inter]ACT.

I have been going through a rather tumultuous time of the heart. It seems the universe would like to test my limits, my compassion for humans, my spiritual awareness...But yo - never underestimate the lessons learned during the hurricane and tumult. While I have every reason to focus on the beings and doings and feelings, I've been trying to focus more on the growth and the magic that has been coming out of the situation. I was told by an old lover - there are folks who go to art school - learn to make what people want to see; Learn to fit themselves in a box and put their art on a canvas - hang it up, make it look real pretty in a gallery with shiny white walls and philanthropists jerking eachother off while they say words like FIVE THOUSAND and TWENTY TWO HUNDRED...

and there are folks who feel the burning and churning in their gut; see the need for change and social reform, can't help but create because if they don't they will die.

That said, I've got a lot of weight on my shoulders right now to effectively create the way I was meant to - I've been slacking and I've been inspired - too inspired, I'd say...to the point where it's distracting because I can't sort my inspiration out into neat little piles...or even big sloppy piles...

I saw {::this::} video today. What Tom14 is doing in Barcelona touched my spirit in a way that yea, it's been touched before - but wow....MONSTER ULTRA STATUS...like BAM - I'm hit and I'm hit hard.

He approaches his painting and music the way I need to be approaching my crafts more. I share his views - but holy cow...this man is about being spontaneous and proactive.

The Counter Culture Collective aims to do the same with their dancing. I'm excited to see how far down the rabbit hole this project will take me...

WATCH. LISTEN. BREATHE. FEEL. LEARN. BE. DO. [inter]ACT.[counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective]

Flag Dance

I haven't seen flag dance hit the mass media too often. Which totally surprises me with a prop containing such fullness of expression ... I learned flagging with NYC's http://axisdanz.com . Director, George Jagatic combines this beautiful artform with modern dance in his company. As much as I enjoy performing flags on screen or the big stage, I'm sort of glad it's remained street - I have no problem finding flagging in the clubs.

Here's a video short of me spinning on tour with Panic At The Disco:

[Climb a Poetree...]

Alixa & Naima :
These beautiful ladies have really been inspiring me as of late. Their site describes them as poets moonlighting as performance artists. I have yet to meet them - but all I've ever heard of them has been good. And really, if they've got the mojo to inspire long distance style...might be a force to watch closely.

Multi-talented, these ladies are killing it on the poetry front, the bookbinding front, the mural painting front, the screen printing front, the miracle making front...I guess I could go on and on - but you should really go check out their kick ass site - which, by the way, they also did themselves.

{:CLICK:}

And while you're there...buy some of their wearable designs and maybe a CD or two of their verb magic. [counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective]

::You Don't Need Technics ... You Need Techniques::

HA! Totally stole the title from the ffff@ lab - cuz it was good...and cuz...really you should stop reading and watch this funky sh!t.
[BODY JERK finds spirituality in nyc hip-hop dance. hip-hop dance can become something viable too. nyc hip-hop dance can be taken back. nyc hip-hop dance can be a method of radical communication. nyc hip-hop dance can be therapeutic. nyc hip-hop dance can make your soul light up. dance is my religion. I am a hip-hop dance activist. You can be an nyc hip-hop dance activist too. We use dance as a mode of radical communication. Like urban gypsies, we flood the streets, sampling culture . nyc Hip-Hop was born of soul and sample. Become an nyc hip-hop dance student. Become an nyc hip-hop dance educator. Become an nyc hip-hop dance activist. hip-hop urban gypsy. hip-hop dance evolution. revolution. ]

+SWOON+

Swoon is an amazing female street artist from NYC who specializes in life-size wheatpasate prints and paper cutouts of figures. She's been a staple in this city for over 6 years! Covering some of the ugliest places with intricately designed, colorful works. Check out an installation she did a bit ago...and boy oh boy - be on the look out for her newest project. I've been hearing whispers about the magnitude of this one...but don't worry girl, I won't tell.


Swoon Brings Juarez to Chelsea from Scribe Media on Vimeo.counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective]

--Creep Face--

LOL...
vid of me freestyling about two years ago for the Hip-Hop Dance Conservatory. Quite contained if you ask me...but adorable nonetheless...as I tend to be...HA!
CLICK.[counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective]

[The Art of the Exchange] PART I

I was, for a very long time, involved with an amazing bunch of enthused dancers and sorcerers who believed that it was their job to train the world to fall under a new standard of dance. While their training mechanisms were interesting and highly effective, they fell victim to a couple of illnesses - mainly ego and greed and the game of the big ole' H word...HIERARCHY.
This was more than dancer bootcamp folks, this was the full on war...a war against individualism and creativity. Somehow, dance stepped out of the picture and structure and bureaucracy was all that was left - well...for me at least.

One day I sat down, thought to myself - hey, I've seen this before.
In 1984, Orwell portrays a state in which government monitors and controls every aspect of human life to the extent that even having a disloyal thought is against the law. The controlling force kept a boot on the neck of its followers by means of:
psychological manipulation
physical control
control of information and history
and acceptable language/terminology used...

sound familiar?

seems some folk don't read between the lines...or read lines at all!
But me and a choice few - we broke free...in baby steps - because though maybe what these happy folk were into was right for them - it surely was not right for me, my soul, and my moral compass. During my slow breakaway process I received an email stating this "...because of your fear of subjugation and constant disdain for authority in many forms, your words often turn to or can be interpreted as obfuscation, inveigling and downright disrespect."
WAIT.
WHAT?
The happy dissenter should shut up...because her words might be misinterpreted?

Well...it's been a while since this has all gone down. And I've been thinking of my words carefully so as not to mince. And then I thought,
WAIT.
There's a fellow - who can articulate much better than I.

And here's what he said:
"The hierarchical principle is the magic spell that has blocked the path of men in their historical struggles for freedom. NO REVOLUTION WILL BE WORTHY OF THE NAME IF IT DOES NOT INVOLVE, AT THE VERY LEAST, THE RADICAL ELIMINATION OF ALL HIERARCHY."

The "revolution" I was previously engaged in - seems now to me to be a farce. A means of gaining and gaining and controlling and winning and gaining and making big names and getting billboards and performing for ClearChannel and hey - I'm on MTV and gaining and controlling and yes yes yes I'm master, you're below me, you know nothing.

Maybe a bit of a rant - but a valid one. Ask the dancers in NYC and elsewhere who either 1) are now disgusted by the thought of the dance or 2) are pushing past their bad taste to create something completely in opposition to what they've experienced and endured.

I own no bad blood - but I am determined to fuck the system...right up it's tight little ass.

The dance comes from an insane hunger to give - to show - to extend the tumultuous mass of emotions to an audience so that one might elicit response and ponderance.
We really shouldn't waste time with bitterness...(you should know this - my dearest Hindi gal)

My therapy? GIVE.

Dancers, are you hurt? GIVE.
This exchange that we've turned our art into - this exchange that has become a play on commercialism and ladder climbing and colored shirts and ranks and $44 tickets has determined the prestige of the giver.

But no - because, how many "famous" modern day dancers are there? You watch the music videos and really, how many dancers can you recognize by name? Who's really getting the shine here outside of the ones who consistently teach or work for big name studios such as Broadway Dance Center or Steps?

'Forced out of the sectors dominated by economic imperatives, this exchange can easily find itself reincarnated in values such as hospitality, friendship, and love.' Teaching to teach. Performing to perform. Free skill shares in the park at night!
GIVE PEOPLE GIVE!

Grow balls big enough to kill the market that this has turned into - and if that is too scary for you - grow balls big enough to change it.

LovEvolve.[BODY JERK finds spirituality in nyc dance. hip-hop dance can become something viable too. nyc hip-hop dance can be taken back. nyc hip-hop dance can be a method of radical communication. nyc hip-hop dance can be therapeutic. nyc hip-hop dance can make your soul light up. dance is my religion. I am a hip-hop dance activist. You can be an nyc hip-hop dance activist too. We use dance as a mode of radical communication. Like urban gypsies, we flood the streets, sampling culture . nyc Hip-Hop was born of soul and sample. Become an nyc hip-hop dance student. Become an nyc hip-hop dance educator. Become an nyc hip-hop dance activist. hip-hop urban gypsy. hip-hop dance evolution. revolution. ]

::WanderLust::

A beautiful human showed this to me for the first time last week.
Watch and love.
Wanderlust from yoichi on Vimeo.[counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective]

+What's Moving+

Albert Hoffman 1906-2008.

A bit late...but since I've been thinking so hard about the great spiritual escape and the Rapture...and its correlation to dance and movement theory - how the mind can bend and warp and put you in a trance-like state, if only you make yourself susceptible to it...I thought of Mr. Albert Hoffman and not for nothing - the man was surely on to something.
I won't get into details now or gush gush gush...but do the research. Make your connections. Find your rapture. Turn on, tune in, drop out - as a great man once said. What moves you?
BBC News
[counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective]

--Merry Blues--

So, I know I just finished praising the work of intergalactically known dance troupe Pilobolus (their vid remains below) - but you know, things change. Sometimes more rapidly than you'd expect.

Though I cried tears of joy and awe after watching Symbiosis for the first time, yesterday I saw them live and in the flesh - and let me state for the record that there were no onions around - no scorpions in my seat - no tear gas or pinches...Last night I also cried a little.

Last night I had the deepest feeling that the dance world was being quickly raped. Again, more rapidly than I had ever expected. Last night...I felt like the Illuminati really did exist. I mean, surely someone has to be the man[m3n] behind the curtain when it comes to those cool [D4ng3r] parties in Brooklyn and those over the top pilates and wellness centers on the L.E.S.
Someone's in charge of the sexy not so hidden hidden bars in the village...and SOMEBODY - is definitely in charge of getting the shmucks at the Joyce theater to charge $44 per ticket for a bunch of "dancers" to play circus and shadow puppets worse than a 5th grade mom and pop recital.

I remember being originally attracted to the group after seeing various videos of their shadow witchery from the Oscars. I watched what they did for the TED convention. It all seemed so genuine and focused. After this show...I really get the inkling that there are some very athletic folk out there riding the big strong wave that is reputation. Sloppy really - and sloppy business of even pretending the show meant something. I left at intermission.

Seriously, what happened to quality of movement? Seriously, what happened to having a deep concern for performance caliber and integrity? You're what? Dancers? No no...you're money makers...money chasers.
What a fucking racket.
ZEITGEIST.BODY JERK nyc hip-hop dance can become something viable too. nyc hip-hop dance can be taken back. nyc hip-hop dance can be a method of radical communication. nyc hip-hop dance can be therapeutic. nyc hip-hop dance can make your soul light up. dance is my religion. I am a dance activist. You can be a dance activist too in the nyc hip-hop dance spheres. Open your eyes and spit out radical forms of communication. Where are all the nyc hip-hop dance activists?BODY JERK ]

[As Soon As It Became Popular-I Lost Interest]

Martha Cooper speaks on being one of the first to document Hip-Hop roots from a non-commercial angle.Many thanks to CurrentTV for the vid!

[BODY JERK nyc hip-hop dance can become something viable too. nyc hip-hop dance can be taken back. nyc hip-hop dance can be a method of radical communication. nyc hip-hop dance can be therapeutic. nyc hip-hop dance can make your soul light up. dance is my religion. I am a hip-hop dance activist. You can be an nyc hip-hop dance activist too. We use dance as a mode of radical communication. Like urban gypsies, we flood the streets, sampling culture . nyc Hip-Hop was born of soul and sample. Become an nyc hip-hop dance student. Become an nyc hip-hop dance educator. Become an nyc hip-hop dance activist. BODY JERK]

::Bali::

[hip-hop dance hip-hop dance hip-hop dance hip-hop dance hip-hop dance revolutionary revolutionary revolutionary revolutionary revolutionary revolutionary entertainment entertainment entertainment entertainment entertainment evolve evolve evolve evolve evolve evolve evolve nyc nyc nyc nyc nyc nyc nyc nyc nyc evolution evolution evolution evolution evolution art art art art art art art counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counter culture collective counterculturecollective.org counterculturecollective.org counterculturecollective.org counterculturecollective.org counterculturecollective.org counterculturecollective.org counterculturecollective.org counterculturecollective.org counterculturecollective.org counterculturecollective.org counterculturecollective.org counterculturecollective.org counterculturecollective.org counterculturecollective.org counterculturecollective.org]

+Piercing Is the Most Important Part+

So..as a starving artist you find yourself working jobs of the menial, ridiculous, and - if you're lucky - amazingly unique nature. I've been a waitress at many a burrito stand and coffee shop, worked both the sales and sweatshop sides of an "alternative" retail chain, sold gastric bypass products over the phone, and taught tiny tots to silver sneakers how to ... shake their groove thang.

Fortunately, I've been recently lucky enough to fall into working as a pseudo-personal assistant for whom most would consider a madman. Pompous and intense and quite possibly a secret genius a la' Hagbard Celine of the Illuminatus Trilogy - my employer has for the past few months rambled at great length of mystics, 2012, and meaning -- not the meaning of life, no - he could never be so cliche - but MEANING; the meaning of a look or gesture, the significance attached to a symbol or network, and all the muddled and not-so-muddled in-betweens. He mentioned something to me quite some time ago about a Lakota Indian ritual he was preparing himself for. He was brief and I assumed it was for the purposes of secrecy and reverence. Maybe it was. However, I'd soon come to find my research on dance practices and their connection to the "ALL ONE" or ever-evolving, interconnecting spirit self quickly hurtling towards the details he originally failed to extend to me.

Wikipedia describes the Sun Dance Ritual: "The Sun Dance is a ceremony practiced by a number of Native Americans. Each tribe has its own distinct rituals and methods of performing the dance, but many of the ceremonies have features in common, including dancing, singing, praying, drumming, the experience of visions, fasting, and in some cases piercing of the chest or back. Most notable for early Western observers was the piercing many young men endure as part of the ritual.

Frederick Schwatka wrote about a Sioux Sun Dance he witnessed in the late 1800s:

Each one of the young men presented himself to a medicine-man, who took between his thumb and forefinger a fold of the loose skin of the breast—and then ran a very narrow-bladed or sharp knife through the skin—a stronger skewer of bone, about the size of a carpenter's pencil was inserted. This was tied to a long skin rope fastened, at its other extremity, to the top of the sun-pole in the center of the arena. The whole object of the devotee is to break loose from these fetters. To liberate himself he must tear the skewers through the skin, a horrible task that even with the most resolute may require many hours of torture.

In fact, the object of being pierced is to sacrifice one's self to the Great Spirit, and to pray while connected to the Tree of Life, a direct connection to the Great Spirit. Breaking from the piercing is done in one moment, as the man runs backwards from the tree at a time specified by the leader of the dance. A common explanation, in context with the intent of the dancer, is that a flesh offering, or piercing, is given as part of prayer and offering for the improvement of one's family and community..."

Put that in your peace pipe and smoke it! I'm wondering right now - where the magic has gone...and moreover, are there folks in NYC currently out there - actively trying to find it? I know Santa Cruz is home of Dance Church.

{:CLICK HERE:}

If anyone is aware of anything going on on the East Coast that is similar - please, come out, come out cave dwellers! Let me know! [BODY JERK finds spirituality in nyc dance. hip-hop dance can become something viable too. nyc hip-hop dance can be taken back. nyc hip-hop dance can be a method of radical communication. nyc hip-hop dance can be therapeutic. nyc hip-hop dance can make your soul light up. dance is my religion. I am a hip-hop dance activist. You can be an nyc hip-hop dance activist too. We use dance as a mode of radical communication. Like urban gypsies, we flood the streets, sampling culture . nyc Hip-Hop was born of soul and sample. Become an nyc hip-hop dance student. Become an nyc hip-hop dance educator. Become an nyc hip-hop dance activist. hip-hop urban gypsy. hip-hop dance evolution. revolution. ]

--Symbiosis--

"Pilobolus dance company members Otis Cook and Jennifer Macavinta perform the sensuous duet "Symbiosis." Does it trace the birth of a human relationship, or the co-evolution of a pair of symbiotic species?"
[BODY JERKnyc thoughtful dance hip-hop counter culture collective radical communication.nyc thoughtful dance hip-hop counter culture collective radical communication.nyc thoughtful dance hip-hop counter culture collective radical communication.nyc thoughtful dance hip-hop counter culture collective radical nyc thoughtful dance hip-hop counter culture collective radical communication.BODY JERK]

[And I had no idea it'd get this sticky...]

:[Meme]:

“…consists of any unit of cultural information, such as a practice or idea, that gets transmitted verbally or by repeated action from one mind to another. Examples include thoughts, ideas, theories, practices, habits, songs, dances and moods.

Meme-theorists contend that memes evolve by natural selection (similarly to Darwinian biological evolution) through the processes of variation, mutation, competition, and inheritance influencing an individual entity's reproductive success. So with memes, some ideas will propagate less successfully and become extinct, while others will survive, spread, and, for better or for worse, mutate.”

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What makes everyone want to wear those Palestinian scarves?

Why are we all running around like maniacs, trying to make sure that we’re wearing the freshest kicks when all we’re doing is going to a dance class where they’ll be scuffed?

Who told everyone that rump shakin’ videos weren’t degrading and kind of tacky? … Cuz last time I checked…well…you know me well enough…

Memes.

These little buggers get around like viruses – infecting folk through speech and thought and media.

It seems to me that successful idea dissemination is measured by its acceptance by the many – lo, nobody gives a crap about those things that are accepted by the few.

Sad and honest truth – no matter what scene you’re in or how “underground” you think you are.

We have seen over and over that how widely accepted an idea is does not necessarily have a direct correlation to its value - amazing works and valid ideas are oftentimes lost in the cracks while the painfully average and ridiculous are generally accepted as being the best thing since Ipod earbuds.

It is through this that we’ve done a really fine job of landing ourselves in a pit – culturally speaking. Our music is over processed, our art is uninspired, and our dance? Well, let’s just look at what “they” are calling dance these days…CLICK

I dunno…maybe my distaste stems from the fact that I’m horribly jealous – or maybe I’m just not an “ass man.” In any case, where are the folks who are determined to bring art back? Our world is shattering around us like many, many eggs on a Halloween night.

Disgusting. Sticky…and jeez – the rank stench that it’s giving off is intolerable.

I know you’re out there lurking in your little coffee shops and slaving away in your studios…But these times you see - are getting desperate. It’s time to show your face.

In an information driven society – sticks and stones break no bones. Our thoughts and dreams are weapons of the realest nature…But only if we utilize them as such. The only way we can save our respective art forms – dethrone current ideologies and break existing stereotypes…is to get up and rock – and roll too for that matter.

I know for me – this means utilizing dance more as a form of radical communication. Oh boy oh boy are there tricks up these sleeves...

[BODY JERK hip-hop dance can become something viable too. nyc hip-hop dance can be taken back. nyc hip-hop dance can be a method of radical communication. nyc hip-hop dance can be therapeutic. nyc hip-hop dance can make your soul light up. dance is my religion. I am a hip-hop dance activist. You can be an nyc hip-hop dance activist too. We use dance as a mode of radical communication. Like urban gypsies, we flood the streets, sampling culture . nyc Hip-Hop was born of soul and sample. Become an nyc hip-hop dance student. Become an nyc hip-hop dance educator. Become an nyc hip-hop dance activist. BODY JERK ]

::Gl[iTch]::

[BODY JERK nyc hip-hop dance can become something viable too. nyc hip-hop dance can be taken back. nyc hip-hop dance can be a method of radical communication. nyc hip-hop dance can be therapeutic. nyc hip-hop dance can make your soul light up. dance is my religion. I am a hip-hop dance activist. You can be an nyc hip-hop dance activist too. We use dance as a mode of radical communication. Like urban gypsies, we flood the streets, sampling culture . nyc Hip-Hop was born of soul and sample. Become an nyc hip-hop dance student. Become an nyc hip-hop dance educator. Become an nyc hip-hop dance activist. BODY JERK]

+This Means Rapture+

“Creativity is the source of novelty and of the growth and development of nature: ‘creativity' is the universal of universals characterizing ultimate matter of fact. It is that ultimate principle by which the many, which are the universe disjunctively, become the one actual occasion, which is the universe conjunctively. It lies in the nature of things that the many enter into complex unity.”

-- Alfred North Whitehead (1929)

Weird headspace.

We all sit here on this shelf in Santa’s Workshop. Little dolls made of plastic and glass – toy soldiers and beasts and Slinkies that find it way easier to walk down steps than up. We all sit here knowing – fully, that we own this power to compose magic and craft fantasy; and yet – I cannot help but feel slightly dusty. Been sitting on the shelf for way too long. And why are we all waiting to be picked up and bought anyway?

I am dancer. I am movement artist. I am motivator and risk taker and rump shaker.

Recently come to the realization that being completely submissive to your craft also means being proactive and submitting yourself to the insanity that ensues when you do not devote the amount of time you should to exercising heart and mind and soul – to pushing for evolution and revolution of self through self – and to allowing yourself to ride through love and hate and sadness for your translative process.

The plight of the artist – we call it.

Well, let it be known that today calls for a new type of movement.

Should many jump on board – call it the People’s Movement.

Should few – call it my spiritual conviction.

Came across some interesting stuff today written by an interesting human. Preview his book, “Ecstatic Naturalism: signs of the world” here.

Mr. Corrington put the jello in my head best by stating:

“the ecstatic release of energy need not be joyous. Indeed, in most cases it is not. The concept of ecstasy denotes self-transcendence and the move outward from a point of origin. “

What it really comes down to you see– is throwing the fear away...Being honest with yourself about your willingness as an artist to extend yourself past your notions of comfort, space, time and circumstance. I know that at least for me – that sort of honesty only manifests itself in the scariest of headspaces. Maybe I just haven’t learned to properly release yet…

Semiotic theory is typically restricted to a heavy focus on human forms of signification. Now, what Robert Corrington did, which is interesting to me – is delve into the semiotics of nature itself. I’d like to think of this in the context of my art – my dance, my painting, my daily meditation…

He situates the divide between “nature naturing” and “nature nurtured” within the context of classical and American pragmatism and insists that all signs - visually represented or otherwise – “participate in larger orders of meaning that are natural and religious.”

In a nutshell – “Meanings embodied in nature point beyond nature to the mystery inherent in positioned codes and signs.” So get the “F” up and go catch you some rapture! Trust, it’ll be good for you.

Focus right now for me revolves around living and regarding my art – all of my arts – as spiritual encounters. Each piece of choreography a spell to be learned, perfected and cast. Each step outdoors a sermon to be preached - as I slowly break myself out of the trap of specializing in a particular genre, or locking myself in a room in an attempt to achieve quality of movement…or even the trap of losing sight of my self worth.

Freedom.[BODY JERK nyc hip-hop dance can become something viable too. nyc hip-hop dance can be taken back. nyc hip-hop dance can be a method of radical communication. nyc hip-hop dance can be therapeutic. nyc hip-hop dance can make your soul light up. dance is my religion. I am a dance activist. You can be a dance activist too in the nyc hip-hop dance spheres. Open your eyes and spit out radical forms of communication. Where are all the nyc hip-hop dance activists?BODY JERK ]