dance
"Dance; the hidden language of the soul."
She Braced, Channeled, and Danced
She was at a party. In fact, it was her tenth birthday party. Her aunts, uncles, cousins, and older siblings came out to New Jersey from New York, and her friends from all over the 22-acre apartment complex joined in for the fun. The adults were enjoying the music, conversation, and food, while the neighborhood boys stirred up trouble and the girls giggled and gossiped – when they weren’t joining in whatever mayhem the boys were getting into. She felt a sense of giddy blissfulness the entire time, until she heard the dreaded words from one of her friends. “Let’s have a dance contest!” Why? Just, why? Weren’t they having enough fun already? The audacity of Kira to suggest a dance contest at Janelle’s birthday party. Janelle quickly devised a plan to thwart the dance contest. Just as excitement for the neighborhood dance contest was building, she shouted, “Hey! How about we have a spelling bee instead?” Yes – a spelling bee would work. See, Janelle could spell. As a straight-A student, Janelle could compete academically across any subject, really. But if there was one thing she could not do, it was dance. Her inability to dance was not from lack of effort. Seeing her struggle, friends and family would give the unhelpful advice to, “feel the beat.” Processing that piece of advice is what most would feel like if being asked to interpret hieroglyphics (barring Egyptologists). Janelle looked around to gauge how others were taking to her brilliant diversion, confident that there would be no need for her to embarrass herself on her own birthday. The party chatter stopped, and the children and adults alike exchanged incredulous and confused glances at each other. In those glances, they came to an unspoken agreement that they would ignore the birthday girl’s inane suggestion and carry on with the dance contest. At this defeat, she drew in a deep breath. She braced herself; she channeled the strength; and she danced.
Cha DoringPublished 2 months ago in Beat
Bobby Doll
Bobby Newberry, best known for choreographing music videos for Eminem, Nicki Minaj and Missy Elliot, is busting a move today in the music video for his own summer jam, “Ride.” The song is a feel-good track he co-wrote about taking chances and chasing after life’s wildest dreams.
Ben NelsonPublished 3 months ago in Beat
Romantic and Classical Ballets
The ballet as known today was a development from the entertainments devised for the court of King Louis XIV of France in the 17th and 18th centuries. These involved a range of skills, including dance, mime and music, performed by heavily costumed dancers. Over time, the costumes became less cumbersome and the movements defined and codified, so that by the early 19th century ballets were being performed that would be recognised as such today.
John WelfordPublished 3 months ago in Beat
Shake the Internet
When I hear the beat of a bongo and guera working together with a bass and some guitar plucking, my entire spine tingles. I can close my eyes now and imagine the flashing lights in the club, the hand guiding me paso por paso, vuelta por vuelta through a Bachata, a Salsa, a Cumbia. My heart feeling light, my brain empty of all feelings but the euphoria brought on by synchronized movement with friends and strangers alike. There is something about the connection that needs no words, the mutual understanding of you and I dancing while surrounded by others doing the same. Everyone from different backgrounds with different reasons, but sharing the same purpose, to move together. Dance heals us, dance creates a safe space, dance creates connections.
Karissa Alvarez-WolivarPublished 3 months ago in Beat
PRIDE IN THE REFLECTION YOU SEE
Lady Gaga – Born This Way https://open.spotify.com/track/6r2BECwMgEoRb5yLfp0Hca?si=e0287ac9b9cb4b70 “There's nothing wrong with loving who you are"
Jamil ShamjiPublished 4 months ago in BeatEcstatic Dance
Flowing, Staccato, Chaos, Lyrical and Stillness. These are the 5 Rhthyms of an ecstatic dance. A linear progression of ecstasy in notes partnered with moves, but so much more than that. I'm talking happy sad cries and primal howls and everything in between--the softness and hardness dancing together in something so raw and majestic that you cannot fully recall nor could you ever predict a day's experience. What happens on the floor, in this sense, stays on the floor.
Happiness just came by
Prior to this whole pandemic mayhem we're experiencing right now I used to organize weekly dance practices. It was a good year and a half but I remember how much it fulfilled me while helping me physically and mentally. Now I yearn for the world to go back to normal so that I can get that same sense of happiness that I once knew. I never really felt that I took this happiness for granted but the lockdown made me realize just how lucky I really was.
Brian AnonymousPublished 4 months ago in Beat
ICON
When I was in the ninth grade, I taught myself how to dance— In secret. I’d never really been the daring type, but I had become inspired. Early that year, when it became apparent that I had no real taste in music, I set off on an expedition to find songs I actually liked. The right genre for me was quickly discovered: dubstep. Ah, yes, a strong bassline, powerful drops, and, often, few lyrics. What more could you want in a song? Little Josh, at least, was satisfied. Note for clarity: dubstep is not the same as club music, which blends every song together, typically with an endlessly thumping bass. No, the music I liked had a little more substance.
Joshua McMullinPublished 4 months ago in BeatLove & Hip-Hop
Growing up in the ’90s, I always watched MTV and in-demand, tv-shows and movies, hoping to discover the newest [popular] dance moves to use at school dances and family social events.
Rev. NnediPublished 5 months ago in BeatDancing Through the Early '50s
Dancing Through the Early “50’s Got time for a little time travel? I hearken back to the days before I-pods, CD’s, Walkmen, 8-Tracks, tapes, stereo, and even LP records. Music was live, on the radio, on records, or on jukeboxes. By the mid 50’s forty-five rpm records were the height of technology and adapters were needed to adapt them to spindles built for 98 rpm records. Those records were a buck apiece at a time when kids were lucky to make 50 cents an hour and many adults were making only $1 an hour.
Cleve TaylorPublished 5 months ago in Beat
Let The Good Times Roll With Super Disco Club 'We Are One'
Super Disco Club are no strangers to the dance floor. Stepping forward with this latest release, their adept knowledge clearly shows an affiliation with authentic Disco, merged with modern day House music. Essentially we all love to dance, and armed with 'We Are One' you are sure to inspire anyone to dance with its prominent key stabs, astounding vocal and vibrant rhythm. Strike a pose and throw some serious shapes.... in this house, there are no rules (just fun and freedom).
Mike MediaPublished 5 months ago in BeatHave you heard of Medidance?
2020 was the year. That year. A year that sounded as preposterous as it turned out to be. We were afraid to leave our houses, afraid to go to the supermarket, to see dear friends. And we were right to be, things were getting worse, and fast. We needed to protect ourselves, be safe. Stay home.
