Keepin it FUNKY FRESHHHHH....

It all started last summer when my friend, Latice and I dropped in for a few hip hop classes at Howard School of Dance. There I met the fabulous KellyD.

Because of crazy summer scheduling and such, I only got to go to a few classes but I definitely loved getting to pick up some new hip hop skillzzzz haha. Jump ahead to October... I got the heads up that one Sunday a few different hip hop choreographers were doing a workshop in Dayton, and although no one was able to go with me, I didn't want to miss the chance to work with and learn from some new people.

Afterwards, KellyD. introduced me to her friend, and one of the choreographers from the day, Tonika.
From having seen me dance that day, she let me know how her and Kelly run a crew, FUSION, and asked if I'd like to dance with them. Um... hello, Yes!

So fast forward to this spring. With May 13th performances scheduled at Urban Nights in Dayton and the hip hop showcase in Centerville, we got together a couple times and prepped 2 routines for the day's events.

First off in the afternoon, we went to downtown Dayton at Riverscape to dance as part of the Urban Nights event, a celebration of all things arts. There we performed a routine we so lovingly call "Funky Fresh," as one of the songs in the mix shares the name.

From there we ran over to Tower Heights Middle School in Centerville where we joined other students from Howard, and other hip hop crews from the area for the 3rd annual Hip Hop Showcase. There, we performed a routine to the Black Eyed Peas "Just Can't Get Enough" and Katy Perry's "E.T." Check it...




To finish off the night, Fusion Crew did a cipher with some additional TWS crew members.






Overall, it was a super fun day. Great dancing and new friends... always a stellar combo.

E-11... An Efficacious ELLIV :-)

The came,
They stepped it up,
They shined in the center ring...

Just as a single, sunny Saturday afternoon emerged out of 2 weeks of Midwest rain, masses of Cedarville students emerged from their dorms to attend the most anticipated event of the year, Elliv.

Elliv (for those of you who either A. did not read my last blog or B. live under a rock) is Cedarville University's annual mock award show that brings to light the most memorable moments of the year, honors student accomplishments, and brings attention to unique student talent. Started in 2000 as an dorm-room-formed idea, the event has transformed from more of a spoof, to a legitimate platform for talent and campus unity.

Throughout my 4 years at Cedarville, I had the chance to perform at, choreograph for, and coordinate the event, so when I was asked to continue my involvement and choreograph this year, I did not hesitate for a second. Starting back in January, I was able to audition and cast for 5 dance numbers and soon thereafter, begin the hardcore rehearsal schedule. What came out of those 12 weeks of rehearsals were some stellar numbers to hit the ELLIV '11 stage on April 30th.

The show opened with a bang in the form of my girls doin' a fab rendition of Willow Smith's WHIP MY HAIR (<-- see video!). Check it- mah Girls were workin it...







After that, one of my bestest, Erin, hit the stage in all her Pat-Benatar-awesome-yet-borderline-hideous-80's glory and took on Bon Jovi's LIVIN ON A PRAYER. This girl has some skill. Both in singing, and rocking cliche' anthems. Please also notice the sheer hotness of my friends Tyler and Boliger (left and right respectively) in their denim washed, mullet-ed greatness.


As that act ended, the fabulous stage crew adorned the stage with park benches and lampposts in preparation for a number I had been visualizing since the fall. In what I had hoped would become a sweet little lyrical hip hop number, my 3 couples accompanied our own "Bruno Mars" as they danced to JUST THE WAY YOU ARE.




As if any talent or award show could be complete without it, a fabulously coiffed group of 8 stepped into the spotlight in sequins and skinny ties reminding us in such a beloved Glee fashion, DON'T STOP BELIEVIN. Yea, they made 3-step turns look good.




Adding to the spectacle of the evening, MAGIC was the next dance number up. And no, rapping, a sweet video, and awesome lighting is not enough. Check out my flippin awesome swing/jive couples. Yea, they're pretty cool. They even kept in all their death-defying stunts amidst the smaller than anticipated stage spacing with dangers on all sides :-)





Over the years, Cedarville has dealt with and overcome many things. Bed bugs, swine flu, etc. But right now, even Cedarville can't escape the ailment that is sweeping the world by storm... Beiber Fever. It would have been wrong to not give the campus a taste of their SOMEBODY TO LOVE. {Please note the "Beiber heart" formation at the end. I was excited that so many picked up on it. yay.}




After a few more awesome musical numbers ranging from Taylor Swift to the Beatles... it was time for the finale. The summit. The pinnacle of the evening. The anticipated final number. Usually the finale is epic, and we of course kept that up this year, but while the final number is usually a well-known song, we opted for something a little more obscure. Although most likely new to the majority of the crowd, we decided to build a spectacular act recreating the final scene from Fame, the musical number HOLD YOUR DREAM. From a 25 piece orchestra, vocalists, a gospel choir, ballet dancers, lyrical dancers, tribal dancers and more... this number was definitely deserving of the standing ovation to close the evening.








ELLIV is an incredible tradition that I am so very thankful to have had such an opportunity in being involved the last 5 years. Where else can you throw together a hip hop routine with a social work major on the right and a mechanical engineer on your left in the same room where you have chapel every weekday?

Yea, that's what I thought. Be jealous.


(Ooh... and if you were wondering, yes, we've already had a meeting to start brainstorming for next year... BRING IT, ELLIV 2012!)

Step Right Up... Elliv 2011 is COMING!!

It's that time again.
A time that marks the end of a year at Cedarville.
A time that correlates with the anniversary of the start of my blog.

A time to STEP RIGHT UP!

Check out the PROMO!


Elliv is by far one of my favorite Cedar-isms, and I can honestly say the event was the origin of some of my favorite memories, and closest friends over my 4 years at the 'Ville.

For those of you who are not aware, ELLIV (Ville backwards) is the end-of-the-year award show bash that shines light on student accomplishments of the year past, relieves the best and funniest campus memories, and gives a stage (literally) to student musical, acting, and dance talent.

During my 4 years as a student at the Ville, I had the great opportunity to be involved with the show in several avenues... performer, choreographer, casting, talent coordinator etc. It would have been sad in graduating last year knowing that my ELLIV experience was over, but I knew last spring that I would be around to choreograph the show this year, so that eased the pain of walking across that graduation stage.


This year's show has a lot of potential and will certainly be a night of entertainment. And all of that begins with the night's theme "Step Right Up," a request given to accompany a flash back in time to those days of vintage circus fun and fabulous muted colors.

I can't give too many details just yet as the nature of the event includes secrets and surprises at every turn, but I can tell you make sure you get to the pre-show. We'll see how it goes, but in my 5 years involved in the show I think this is the most unique, exciting pre-show and I very much anticipate the time before the lights hit the stage.

As for the show itself, there are some great song choices, and although I haven't seen every musical act go through checks at this point, what I've seen is good. What I can speak on though is the dance/choreography since I've been working with dancers virtually every night since the first week in February. At this point, I can say this group and these dance numbers have the potential to be the strongest showing of dance at ELLIV ever. I got some great talent with great attitudes and I really pushed them this year choreography wise. I didn't just give moves to suffice some movement on stage, these kids are gettin' worked.

From hip hop, lyrical hop hop, jive/swing, ballet, lyrical, African and more there is no lack of variety and impressive moments coming from these kids.

If you are at Cedarville and haven't gotten your tickets yet... DO IT!
If you are an alum, will be in the area and/or just enjoy some sweet moves... GET A TICKET!
They are $16/$13 for lower front and lower back/balcony respectively.
Still don't believe ELLIV is awesome? Check out some vids from years past HERE!

And we'll see ya in the center ring April 30th!




(W2JWRBMLOAPMDSBSHHSTLBATYBMBMF2=Elliv2011)

6 bucks?! The girl does it again!

Ok, so if you read my previous post, you saw that yesterday the Lord showed great fashion favor on me and I was able to get a cute dance shirt and a pair of stellar sneaks for $6 bucks!

WELL- without even TRYING I experienced some delicious deja vu tonight as I went out searching for replacement dress boots (again... after the DC terrain took their life).

So, as I prompted before... WHAT DOES $6 LOOK LIKE?


Yah, it can look LIKE THAT! Shirt and boots!

Good day.

What can you get for 6 bucks?

Well, if you are as awesome as me you can get a sweet gold tank for dancin' in and some KILLER gold kicks!! Yes... I paid 3 bucks for each today.



You see, I hit the mall after church with my friend, Chelsea to return some things. (I was not in the market for anything but black boots since my current leather stilettos crapped out on me... thanks pavement during nighttime stroll in D.C.) So among other places, peeked in Charlotte Russe and didn't see anything close to what I needed, but I could not refrain from checking the "Last Pair 50% off rack."

(I used to work at Charlotte, and you learn to constantly keep an eye on what will be progressing to that heavenly location.)

A few pairs of non-attractive shoes my eyes glazed over... and then... mmmm. I saw the shoes about a month ago and thought, "how hot would those be to dance in?" But at $25 bucks, and after recently buying 2 pairs of sneaks for dancing it was unnecessary. BUT- at half off (13-ish) and then having a $10 off any purchase coupon... $3 made it a DUH decision and they were mine :-)


Then during a stroll through JCPenney, a $2.97 loose, fun dance top caught my attention. (Maybe it was a gold day for me or something). Anyway- I never pass on shirts I can dance in if they are under $5 so it was mine as well.


6 bucks never looked so good :-)