WILDCATS GO!

Hi there,

This is the video of my latest choreography. The stepsheet will be out soon. Watch for it!

Dancing Potential....?? :-D

We were playing a song from Madagascar-the movie 3 days back, and my youngest, Ethan, promptly stopped what he was doing, got up and gave us this little performance.. :-D

Hmmm...a chip off the old block you reckon??? LOL

Enjoy!

Workshop with Philip Sobrielo

Last Friday (Oct 31st), my eldest son & I took 2 hours off from our usual schedule to attend Philip Sobrielo's workshop. We were there to learn how to 'pop' & 'lock' :-)

That's Philip in white; Brandon is on his left and I'm hidden by Philip (LOL)

Brandon, my eldest, has just completed his UPSR so taking a day off from school wasn't going to hurt him academically. They'd already finished their syllabus and their teachers were no longer giving them lessons.

Bronya had arranged with Philip (who's from Singapore) to specifically teach us the techniques of 'popping' and 'locking' that one commonly sees in hip-hop. He mentioned that we were actually already doing it, just that we didn't know that we were (haha). But he helped us identify the moves then taught us to identify the feeling (of the movement), and finally to fine tune them.

During the session, he also showed us how to glide. We learnt the technique but it'll be a while and a whole lot of practising before we're able to do it well ;-)

All in all it was a good experience. And it was especially great for me because I got to experience it with my son.

Born To Rock - Update

Hi everyone, just a little update on my dance BORN TO ROCK.

I created this dance back in March this year just so that I'd have something of my own to teach (in addition to other choreographers' dances) at Hiro's workshop. He said he would like something fun so I searched through my music library and chanced upon the song by Elvis. The moment I heard it, I liked it and could feel the steps coming almost immediately.

That was 7 months ago and while I had hoped that it would catch on among the Japanese, I hadn't expected it to go places. But since then, this is what's been happening to the dance (these I know of because of emails, feedback and via Youtube). There could possibly be others of which I am unaware :-)

[Note: I am fully aware that compared to other well-known & established line dance choreographers' works this is peanuts; a mere drop in an ocean. But I'm just so thrilled that something is happening...I just had to share it.]

• It has been selected as a competition dance (under the Novelty category) for an annual line dance competition in Sweden! I do not know how the organisers came to know of the dance [I certainly didn't tell them about it but I'm not complaining, no sirree ;-D] . My line dance friend from Sweden tells me that this is a popular event and is always sold out. It's in late November. I'm not sure if they'll post any videos of the competition dances on Youtube but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.



• Through emails, I know that certain groups are dancing it, (or will be dancing it in the near future) locally, in Australia, the US, Sweden, and the Netherlands.

• Write-up in the Oct 17, 2008 issue of World Line Dance Newsletter by Mike Taylor (Thank You! Mike):

Subject: BORN TO ROCK (n' ROLL)
Mike Taylor
taylormademusic@yahoo.com

Hi everyone,
You have seen and heard it many many times.... 'the script is a lot more complicated than the dance'.. and some you find its actually the reverse. Welllllllllllllll.... nowt different here. The dance script for BORN TO ROCK not only looks complicated... it IS complicated - that is until you listen to the music and read the script at the same time.. then it
DOES get a whole lot easier. It also helps (as in this case) when there are excellent demo video's to be had.
The music, by Elvis is not one of the ones you would expect and is from the 1964 Viva Las Vegas EP (blimey... do you remember them!!) but still easily obtained from iTunes and the like
See for yourself.. is IS a fun dance ..and in my opinion (for what its worth) is extremely well crafted and a credit to the Choreographer (Leong Mei Ling). The Rainbow Dancers on the second clip are totally brill.

Demo: http:://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=3AsVZkqgVuA
Partyparty: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=etHIuJeJ848&feature=related

Time to Roll your Rocks off......

Regards
Mike

• The Youtube video has been embedded in/linked to some linedance related blogs and websites in Japan, Sweden, Netherlands, Germany, the UK and Italy.

• I submitted the stepsheet to Kickit and Yipee but it's found it's way to the Linedancer Magazine, UK. I'm guessing I should thank Mike again ;-)

• The stepsheet has been translated into Dutch! I've downloaded a copy and am saving it to show my future grandchildren LOL!

• Used as a performance piece. One by KK Linedance group and the other by The Rainbow Dancers. Recently I got an email from an instructor in the US saying that she will be teaching it to her group of senior ladies for a performance next year...and she has promised me a video of it ;-)

• Invited for a local workshop next year (2009). I will know more nearer the date but if all goes well I will be teaching 2 dances at the workshop: AUTUMN TEARS & BORN TO ROCK (blush blush).

Thanks everyone for the generous comments you sent via email and on the Youtube. And thanks for dancing my 'baby'!

\(^<>^)/

MARDI GRAS Party Snapshots

As the saying goes: "A picture paints a thousand words". So, what better way to see what fun we had at the party than depicting it in photos.

Welcome!

The early arrivals and me - hamming it up.

Watch the transformation...Morina putting on the hairpiece

Making sure it's secure.

Voila! Move over Captain Jack Sparrow! It's Kapitan More-In-La Pipit...kekeke

Party gets underway

Vennie & Toni - groovin' to the beat

Makan Time! Wow look at that yummy chocolate fountain in the foreground

More movin' & groovin'

Photo break with the Cendana Mas dancers

right after their performance.

Photos with True Fitness (USJ Taipan & Jaya33) members:

Pretty ladies all. But where is our hunk Toni?

Ah...there he is!

No wonder la he hilang. Take photo with leng lui.

Hah! Zorro is no match for the Trident Queens

Wait! Wait! Before you do me in, let me get a good pose for the camera

Photos with Celebrity Fitness (1U) members:

Walao eh...this Kapitan More-In-La...one girl in every port huh?!

That 'dancer' at the back looks suspiciously like the Kapitan la. KEKEKE! :-D

Lucky Draw, Best Dressed & Best Costume:

This year I was blessed with many generous sponsors for lucky draw items as well as door gifts. I'd like to record my thanks to all of them for making the night a memorable one as everyone was able to go home with something.

We had so many items for the lucky draw that instead of picking the lucky winner, each guest came up to the lucky draw table to select a wrapped gift. A lucky draw with a twist! :-D

Tokens of appreciation for the Cendana Mas team.

BEST MASK:

1st Runner-up - Rosnani

Very creative Ros. You added colour and oomph! to your mask.

The Winner! - Vennie

A lovely ensemble. The cute little hat completed the look fabulously!

BEST COSTUME:

2nd Runner-up - Ms Pixie Blossom aka Diana Thum

Aiya! You don't have to beg la! I said I'm giving you the prize!

Oh! thank you, thank you.

.....and I'd like to thank my mother, my father...blah, blah, blah....

1st Runner-up - Morina

'Hmmph! You better give me something or I wallop you betul betul!'

And the Best Costume goes to..oooo....(drum roll)

The Winner! - Jan, our very own Ms Kitty Cat.

Can you spot her tail?

Great job putting the costume together Jan!

I had a great time my friends. All the work putting the party together was well worth it.

'Au Revoir' until next year!

HAPPY DEEPAVALI

To all my Hindu students & friends

&

to all Malaysians

HAPPY DEEPAVALI!