My last dance video post featured all Canadian choreo and I'm going to stick to that again for this week's list since I love how talented our country is :)
Choreo by Mikey Le
RAW Dance Crew
Toronto
Choreo by Mickee Reyes ft. his adorable sisters
Praiseteam
Vancouver
Choreo by Carmen De Los Santos & Roberta Bierman
Diamonds In The Rough
Vancouver
TWEET ME some of your favourite Canadian dance videos and they could make next week's list!
- Christina
Follow my adventures on Twitter: @christinaaa28
Every weekend, there is something going on at Dundas Square - the smaller, less crowded version of New York's Times Square. Whether that may be a cultural food festival or a free movie screening, there's never a dull moment. This past weekend, it was full of dancers, performances, and lots more, in celebration of the Unity charity festival. I checked it out for a little bit and was able to catch some bboys freestyling, graffiti artists, and a beat boxing battle; plus I got to support my friends, the guys of RAW Dance Crew (@RawDanceCrew) -- they killed it up on stage!
In celebration of Canadian talent, this month's Dancer in the Spotlight is featuring a BC-raised dancer who is making her face -- and moves -- known in the entertainment industry. You may recognize her from season 4 of So You Think You Can Dance Canada, but since then, 21-year-old Carlena Britch made the move out to LA to pursue her passion and has already landed gigs in music videos alongside artists such as Michael Buble and Victoria Duffield and in movies such as Disney's Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam and Nickelodeon's Rags. Most recently, she performed back here on Canadian soil at the MuchMusic Video Awards as a backup dancer for the one and only Justin Bieber.
Here's a clip from STYTCD Canada:
She started out under the main training of Kim Sato and her Vancouver-based company SOULdiers, where she learned about all the forms of hip hop dance and the four elements: DJing, emceeing, graffiti art, and breaking. Taking off from there, she has been affiliated with Vancouver's dance crews Diamonds In The Rough and StoneFoxx, as well as RAW Dance Crew in Toronto (I featured RAW dance crew member Gregory Villarico in a previous Dancer in the Spotlight - check it out here).
Carlena took the time to answer some questions about her dance life, so here's a great Q&A:
How long have you been dancing for?
Carlena Britch: I've been dancing since I was nine years old. So, almost 13 years!
Being from Vancouver, how has that influenced you as a dancer?
CB: Vancouver is a passionate city that contains many outlets for training and growth within dance and hip hop culture, both underground in the industry. It truly shaped the individual I am, and gave me the confidence to take what I do and use it successfully in other parts of the world. It gave me the direction I needed to utilize my talents and knowledge to the best of my ability.
You must also get to travel a lot -- could you tell me about some of your favourite places dance has taken you?
CB: Europe was incredible! I fell in love with each city I travelled to (Oslo, Norway; Vienna, Austria; Switzerland; Slovenia & Hannover; Germany) and was so inspired by the dancers and their unconditional love for what they do. It was a very humbling experience.
What has been the biggest challenge you've had to overcome to get to where you are today?
CB: The biggest challenge is one I deal with everyday -- believing in myself enough to make my biggest dreams, realities. Regardless of what you come from, you create your own life. It is a choice. Every morning I wake up and try to be better than I was yesterday, and remind myself that I deserve everything I work so hard for.
Who do you look up to in the dance world?
CB: I'm inspired by so many people in the dance world - we all have such unique strengths and I try to take bits and pieces from everyone I get to meet or work with. However, some of my favourite inspirations are Toni Basil from The Lockers, Shotyme from New York, and Toronto's very own Moon Runners. I do look up to some of the biggest names in the industry, but even some of the most humble class-takers inspire me to push harder at perfecting my craft and experiencing new and uncomfortable styles.
You've gotten to perform alongside Canadian superstar Justin Bieber on both The Voice and this year's MMVA's - how was that experience?
CB: It was incredible! Justin's someone I've wanted to dance for since the start, and the whole experience has been very surreal. I learnt a lot from the opportunity and feel like I've grown a lot as a dancer and performer. He's an extremely talented guy - and I love that he's Canadian!
What are some of the other projects you've been working on?
CB: Before the MMVA's, I was working on a new music video with the R&B singer Ne-Yo, and was blessed to perform alongside Jason Derulo at the American Idol finale. I'm currently training and focusing on some goals I'd like to tackle this summer!
How was that transition from living in Canada to the States?
CB: I made the move mid-March of this year; it was exciting, scary, and very overwhelming! But, this has been something I've wanted for as long as I can remember. My first visit to LA was in March of 2008, and i remember telling myself, "I want to live here by the time I am 21." So, in March of 2012, at 21, I made it my reality.
What was the best advice you've ever been given?
CB: To believe in myself, and not worry about the "how." By focusing on what we want most, the "how" will take care of itself, and everything else will fall into place as it's supposed it. I believe out minds are out most powerful instrument, and we can take on anything we desire as long as we truly believe so.
So what's up next for you?
CB: My current dream is to go on tour with an artist, so right now I'm training, perfecting my craft, and staying focused. I am also enjoying the transition between dance and acting; since Rags came out last month I've been quite curious about developing my acting skills. It's been challenging but extremely exciting!
And as a dancer myself, I love hearing success stories like hers. An inspiration to many aspiring dancers out there, Carlena is continuing to make her dreams a reality and is showing that hard work does pay off.
Be sure to 'like' Carlena's Facebook page and follow her on Twitter @CarlenaBritch
As a dancer, we can only dream of being hand-chosen for a scholarship by legendary choreographer Shaun Evaristo at a Movement Lifestyle convention in Chicago. But for this talented Toronto dancer, the dream became a reality.
“Straight-up, I cried when they announced my name. I was so happy. Overjoyed.”
21-year-old Gregory Villarico is a dancer and choreographer here in Toronto, where he teaches weekly classes at RightFoot Dance Studio and performs at a variety of showcases throughout the city, and even across the country. He currently represents three crews: C2Genesys (which he co-founded), RAW Dance Crew, and most recently, he was recruited by Pyro to join the Twisted Ankles 3rd Generation.
Earlier this month, he attended the Chicago stop of the Movement Lifestyle Tour and came back home to Toronto with an amazing experience, incredible inspiration, and a realization of how much dance truly means to him.
He also came back with a scholarship for one month of free classes at the Movement Lifestyle studio in LA as well as another stop of the mL Tour for free.
“I can’t say that I went down there with no expectations - I had an expectation of myself to work really hard and to just go in there with an empty mind. Just to be a student, 100% student. Forget the fact that I’ve done this or I’ve done that. I wanted to forget all of that and go back to where I started and how I felt and how I viewed dance back then.”
Check out this awesome video from the Chicago stop! (The piece that Shaun taught is my FAVOURITE btw)
Don’t know what Movement Lifestyle is?
“mL is a lifestyle brand which provides various components including choreography management, merchandise, a premiere studio facility, film/production, and now expanding to a national tour. Along with our mL artists and affiliates, we focus on creating ways to expose their art using all of our resources. The Tour is our opportunity to bring the Movement Lifestyle experience to individuals like you.” (http://www.themovementlifestyle.com/tour.php)
Well now you do!
I actually met Greg last summer in Vancouver, when him and RAW Dance Crew performed at the J.Reyez concert. You can go back to that blog post HERE. So it was great to catch up with him and chat about his dance life in Toronto.
So who are his dance inspirations?
“I can look at this in two different ways. My mom would be one because I know that this is the only way I can see myself providing for her. So if I feel myself slacking, I have to remind myself that you have to take care of your family when you’re older, so don’t slack off on this. So that’s an inspiration in that sense. And I guess in a dance world sense, the people who might inspire me to work harder are definitely the crews I’m a part of. They’re all such hard workers, they’re all talented, they’re all creative and they’re all original. Toronto is inspiring. Not just dancers inspire me, just any artists in Toronto that put in good, quality work, that help bring the city’s overall presence up - that uplifts me and makes me want to do the same thing.”
It’s clear that dance has opened many doors for him and that it’s allowed him to learn, grow, and meet amazing people. So I asked him: What does dance mean to you?
“After that weekend in Chicago, I found out that dance means everything to me. I was so tired after that first day and I pushed myself. Then that second day I really found out how much it meant to me once I pushed through mental exhaustion and physical pain. I thought I was done, but I dug deep and it made me realize that I really do love this. I love it more than all the negative stuff, all the pain and the laziness I was feeling. I pushed it all aside and realized that I want to make this my life. This is how it’s going to be from now on, just dancing. It sounds so simple, but it is my life now.”
I'm excited for what's in store for him in 2012! You can follow him on Twitter at @GregoryJohnV - And you can take his classes at RightFoot Dance Studio on Tuesdays 6-7:30pm!
Thanks Greg for the interview and CONGRATS again on the scholarship! :)
I know I haven't been able to post event coverage in quite some time, but don't worry, it's just the start of the year and I'm sure there will be lots to come! But in the meantime, I thought I'd show some appreciation for the talented people that surround me all the time - whether it's a new YouTube video or news coverage or a simple Facebook status update, it's so awesome to see the amazing things these people are doing. So here's to 2012 - another year of growing, learning, and dreaming! So proud!
Express Not To Impress (E.N.T.I)
I've watched these guys grow into such incredible and passionate dancers and I am SO proud of how far they've come - and they're only still in high school! I was lucky enough to coach them back at Sullivan Heights Secondary and I love visiting them whenever I'm back in town. Just yesterday, they competed at Breakout, a high school dance competition, and they came 2nd in the small team division. Check them out!
Laura Roy
I met this talented singer/songwriter at Encounters With Canada, a trip to Ottawa that brought Canadian students together for a week of various activities/events. Laura is from Canning, Nova Scotia and she is currently in a Music Arts program at the Nova Scotia Community College. This past summer, she even visited Ghana, where she collaborated with Ghanaian rapper Guru and produced two hip hop/r&b tracks. She also has a video entry right now on YouTube to be a contestant on Canada's Got Talent (see below) - good luck Laura!
I interviewed her a couple years ago for a previous blog post - check it out HERE
Navid Charkhi
Wow, this guy is seriously so crazy - and humble - in the dance world. I've known him since our high school dance competition days and it's so great to see he's still as awesome as ever. His choreography is so sick...AND he's in baking & pastry arts, so he's sick in the kitchen too! Check out this video (props to the other dancers in the video too!):
BRAV3 Productions
This is the company that produced Navid's video above, and I think these guys are super talented - they do photography, video, and other awesome multi-media projects. They even helped me out with a photo shoot for my clothing line (all.dun.up) and I love their work! Want to get in contact with them? Shoot an email to: brav3productions@gmail.com
RAW Dance Crew (RiseAsWe)
I met these guys at an event in Vancouver but they're actually from Toronto! So I've gotten to hang out with them and see them at TO events as well, which is awesome. The group is made of Mikey Le, Gregory Villarico, David Forteau, and Jimmy Lin and they are based out of Rightfoot Dance Studio. Keep it up guys, can't wait to see more!
Follow them on Twitter: @RawDanceCrew & on Facebook
Jayson Araja
A fellow dancer from Vancity, and Ryerson student, Jayson is one of the most fashionable people I know. Currently a third-year Fashion Design student, he is always incredibly busy and I don't know how he does it sometimes. I've posted previous blog posts about him as well, featuring his contest entries in different competitions: TRIUMPH & Danier. I can't wait to see his designs on a runway in the future!
Scott Forsyth
Vancity is full of so many incredibly talented dancers, so I will probably continue posting videos from all of them eventually, but this guy in particular...he's so dope. I've been able to dance with him in the past, with SickStylz Symphony, and always used to see him at high school dance competitions, so I love seeing his amazing choreography on his YouTube channel - here's his most recent:
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Okay, that's enough for now, but I could honestly go on and on for a while - I can't help it, I admire so many people and what they've accomplished! So this will probably become a series of posts, perhaps weekly or biweekly. So let me know if you know any talented folks who I should feature!
On May 28th, Youtube sensation J.Reyez made his first Vancouver appearance for a concert hosted by fellow Youtuber Timothy Delaghetto. Other performances included Scopez, MsHambz, Gentleman's Vibe, and Raw Dance Crew. Here are some pictures!
