INTERVIEW WITH: Christina Perri

Photo via Facebook

Christina Perri describes her start in the music industry as a Cinderella moment. I had the chance to sit down with the American songstress and she told me what it was like going from a waitress on June 29, 2010 to having an instant launch into stardom after her song 'Jar of Hearts' debuted on So You Think You Can Dance.

"I remember I came home and just cried for like three days," she says. "I had to process what had just happened."

Another one of her ballads, 'A Thousand Years' made it to the big screen. Her fan base continued to grow after being part of the incredibly popular Twilight franchise.

"I might not have ever pushed my comfort zone had I not been pushed out into it," she says. "I was very afraid of this, which makes me believe in the concept of doing the thing you're afraid of."

--> Most recently, she released her second album, Head or Heart, and has been touring and sharing it with the world. "I think I love this album so much emotionally because I loved making it," she says.

INTERVIEW WITH: Shaping Sound Dance Co.'s Joey Arrigo

If you love to see passion come to life on stage and a cast of incredibly talented dancers, a national tour that hit the road this weekend is the perfect show for you. Shaping Sound Dance Company is traveling across North America with a production that brings the “wow” factor. Founded by Travis Wall, Nick Lazzarini, Teddy Forance and Kyle Robinson, following their stint as a reality TV show (All The Right Moves), Shaping Sound has become something so much more. 

The theatre show kicked off in LA on May 18^th and already I’ve come across tons of great reviews online.  I’m hoping I’ll get a chance to see them live when they hit NYC. Here are the rest of the tour dates:

Amongst the cast members, there is even a bit of Canadian pride. 21-year-old Joey Arrigo found his way from Toronto to Los Angeles and I got to chat with him about his experience in the cast, what it’s like living in LA and what he’s most looking forward to. (You may recognize him from So You Think You Can Dance Canada.)

Christina Dun: How are rehearsals going?

Joey Arrigo: Rehearsals are absolutely amazing. This is my first project working with this company and from the work that I’ve done before, it differs so much because working with these guys is such an experience. Working with such talented artists fuels you every day. Everyday is a good experience and I’m always happy to be in the room. So rehearsals have been going amazing.

CD: How did you get involved with the company?

JA: I met all four boys working on conventions and going to conventions. I assisted for JUMP Convention, where Teddy and Nick are teachers and just from assisting their classes and working with them a lot, they asked me from there if I was interested in being part of the company.

CD: What are you most excited for?

JA: First off, I’ve never been on a full tour of the United States before, even working with conventions I go to these cities to work the conventions but I don’t leave the hotel for the entire weekend so it’s like I haven’t even been to the city. So it’s nice that I‘m going to get to go on a tour of the United States and see all these cities and be able to actually see parts of the city and perform in them and get to experience them. And also, since these four guys have such a high-profile name in the country and are confident, it’s going to be great to share the stage with them and I’m really excited to have my name associated with the company.

CD: What’s it like working with everyone?

JA: The group dynamic is absolutely amazing. I feel that everywhere I’ve worked, there’s always been somebody I butt heads with and I feel that there’s always somebody I have to really work through to get along in the process of creation in the show or whatever. But here, I just feel like everybody’s here for the same reason and I feel like everybody’s here because they want to dance. They want to do dance and it means something to them. And they want to create a good show so everybody’s on the same page and there’s nobody I feel is holding back or anything like that. I feel like we’re a good group and we’re working well together, so I’m really excited about that.

CD: How would you describe the show? What makes it unique?

JA: It’s very story-driven. We all play characters in the show and it’s cool to experience that side of a show when you can really explore the movement and improve yourself as a dancer while trying to play a character. So I think that really sets apart the show from other dance shows; it’s more than just dance, it’s a full production. So I’m really excited about that.

CD: What character do you play?

JA: The character the boys have given me is that they’ve titled me “The Antagonist.” So that’s someone who is the troublemaker in the show, the one who causes problems. So I like that, just to add some shading to the show.

CD: What’s the biggest challenge you’ve come across so far?

JA: I guess the biggest challenge is that all the dancers in the show are actually based here in LA, and I am not. I’ve lived in Toronto my whole life and I went on a world tour with a company previous to this, so I didn’t have an address and I was living out of a suitcase. And once again, right now I’m just staying with one of the other company members, in their apartment. So basically, I feel like I’m not at home, not at my home base working at this. Also being in LA, I don’t have a car and it’s hard to access things. But I mean, I’m saying that’s the hardest thing, and it’s not even that hard because I’m here and I’m doing what I love. I’m here because this job is fulfilling and I wouldn’t say there’s anything hard about this because I’m enjoying it so much.

CD: How does the Toronto dance scene compare to the LA dance scene?

JA: I would kind of say that it doesn’t. The Toronto dance scene is, well I mean, I grew up there and I absolutely love Toronto, it’s such a great city. I love the people there and everything and every time I go home I miss them so much and I just miss the energy of Canadians. But the dance industry there, there’s just not as much work there for a dancer. So everybody who is really serious about making a dance career that have come from Toronto does whatever they can to get their work visa to move to Los Angeles so they can have a successful career.

CD: What pushes you to continue dancing?

JA: Definitely I would say the aspect of getting better as a dancer and improving as a dancer and not being the same dancer you were the day before. I know a lot of dancers that get comfortable and then they realize they don’t like dancing anymore because it gets boring to them and it becomes all the same. I feel like the dancers who really try to push themselves really look at themselves and try to be better than they were the day before, those are the dancers who stay motivated and keep striving for passion.

CD: What advice do you have for other aspiring dancers?

JA: There’s really two things that fuel me as I was growing up, even now as a professional and someone who keeps working in the dance industry. Definitely number one is training and class and technique and knowing about your body and knowing what your body can and can’t do. And trying to figure out ways to improve and strengthen and make your body stronger so that you can dance the way that you want to. So I would say training is number one. Number two is just remembering why you love dance because the dance industry all over the world, small and big, is full of so many things that can twist your brain and make you question. It is an artsy industry so there are lots of things that twist your brain. I would say that the number one thing is remembering why you love dance and remembering that dancing is for you and not for anybody else. Keeping your sanity is definitely important.

---

Be sure to stay updated with Shaping Sound on Facebook & Twitter. You can buy tickets to the show at: http://www.shapingsoundco.com

- Christina

Follow my adventures on Twitter: @christinaaa28

LMFAO Brings the Party to NML!

Hey everyone!

The super energetic duo of LMFAO made a special appearance on NML today! They were there for the full hour and performed 4 songs, both inside the studio and on a platform that went out onto John Street. With their crazy outfits and even crazier hair, they kept the audience pumped up and ready to party.

Check out my photos!

With dancer Hok! (You may recognize him from ABDC or SYTYCD)

Host Phoebe looking great as always

Everyday I'm Shufflinnnnnnnn

LOVE them!

- Christinaaa

Dancer in the Spotlight: BRANDON DUMLAO!

Hey everyone,

Here is the first dancer in my new "Dancer in the spotlight" feature. His name is Brandon Dumlao and I was fortunate enough to take one of his classes when I went down to San Fran back in 2008. He danced with Funkanometry SF and is currently dancing with NeverLand, a group branching off from the successful LostKids, created by Kyle Hanagami and Ellen Kim. Brandon was also recently seen on So You Think You Can Dance Season 6, as a replacement for another contestant in the top 20. Although he was eliminated off the first episode, Brandon proves to be an amazing dancer who doesn't take things for granted. I was fortunate enough to get an interview with this down to earth dancer whose hard work shows through his passion and determination.



1. When and where did you start dancing?

I started dancing when I was 8 years old in jazz in Concord, CA. I was pressured to quit by my father six months later and got into sports. I then picked up dancing (hip hop) in San Francisco, CA again at 17 under the direction of Funkanometry SF because I realized that it's something I really wanted to pursue and see where it takes me.

2. When did you start teaching?

I started teaching when I made Funkanometry SF in 2007. They allow their dancers to teach their weekly company classes to the public and I was given an opportunity to teach my "A Milli" piece in late 2007.

[I was able to take his "A Milli" class! Check out the video, find me! hint, blue t-shirt haha)


3. How long have you been with Funkanometry?

I was only on Funkanometry SF for the semester of 2007-2008. I am now dancing with NeverLand, a bigger company off The Lost Kids directed by Ellen Kim and Kyle Hanagami.

4. Have you been with any other groups?

I haven't had a long run with being on crews besides Funkanometry SF and now NeverLand.



5. What is your favourite dance style?

My favorite dance style is ballroom. I really want to get into that and getting a taste of it from SYTYCD made me want to get better at that. But overall, I love all styles of dance. It all expresses emotions, passion, and inspiration. That's what I love so much about dance.

6. If you could take a class from any choreographer in the world, who would it be
and why?

If I could take class by any choreographer in the world that I haven't taken from yet, it would be Lyle Beniga. His style, execution and choreography is everything I've been trying to explore with myself.

7. So how was the audition process for So You Think You Can Dance?

The audition process for SYTYCD was very fun! I love auditioning. It makes you a better dancer and performer by challenging yourself mentally and physically. I can't go quite into the details of this particular audition, but it does challenge every ounce of your being if that makes sense... haha.



8. After being so close to being chosen for the original top 20, what was your reaction when you were asked to return to the show to replace Billy Bell?

After being cut, and then being called to replace Billy Bell, I cried. I've been auditioning for this show for awhile and I've gotten better each time, but seeing that out of all the cuts they made, I was the next alternate and that felt amazing to hear and to experience.

9. So how was working with your partner Pauline Mata?

Working with Pauline Mata was such a great experience. She's like one of my best friends from the show because we met in Season 5 when we both got cut right before Top 20. To continue our journey together for Season 6 from LA to Vegas to the SYTYCD stage was an experience that we'll never forget. We're hoping to collaborate or work together in the future outside the show.

10. And your routine was the smooth waltz, what was your initial reaction?

The smooth waltz was surprisingly very comfortable for me to get. I was glad I didn't get hip hop because the whole reason I wanted to try out for the show was to show myself and everyone that I can tackle other dance styles. I love challenges and I just took this one head on. It made me fall in love with ballroom because being a hip hop dancer, I hardly do partner work, and that was a great thing to learn to help me grow as a dancer.



11. So what was it like meeting the judges?

Meeting the judges was cool. I never see celebrities as celebrities, so I looked at them as regular people, like an audience. That's kind of a good mindset to have when you audition so as not to psych yourself out in front of the judges. =)

12. What was the hardest part about being on the show?

The hardest part about being on the show not originally being prepared to be in the Top 20 because I replaced someone. So the hardest part was doing all the interviews, learning the dances, getting into show mode all in a day and a half because that's as long as I stayed on the set, but it was the greatest experience I've ever had.

13. What was your favourite part about being on the show?

My favorite part about being on the show was dancing on that stage and spending my experience with the best group of people I've ever met.

14. So is there a possibility that we’ll see more of you in Season 7?

I am allowed to come back and audition for SYTYCD Season 7 and am planning to. Nuff' said haha.

15. What advice do you have for other dancers?

My best advice for dancers is to not let anyone tell or make you feel you can't reach your highest goal in dance. You are your own driver on this journey to getting what you want. Never feel comfortable, always push for your highest potential even if you aren't confident. From every experience, you learn, you grow, and then you achieve. =)

MY FAVOURITE CHOREO, I WANT TO LEARN THIS SO BADLY!!


Thanks for the great interview Brandon, we're rooting for you in Season 7! :)

-Christinaaa

INTERVIEW WITH DOMINIC FROM QUEST CREW AND SYTYCD

Hey guys! Well a couple months ago (I believe end of April or beginning of May) I was able to do a phone interview with Dominic Sandoval (who also goes by the name of D-Trix). You may remember him from So You Think You Can Dance and from America's Best Dance Crew as a member of the Quest Crew! He was super nice and it was great talking to him. My interview was recently put onto www.youthink.ca, so that's why I am putting this interview up kinda late. So yeah here's the full interview!

1. So when did you start dancing?
I started dancing February 28, 1999 at a Valentine’s Day dance in 8th grade. Do you need more details on that? Just kidding.

2. What is your favourite style of dance?
Wow, I’d have to say...like, we don’t really have a style, or a name for it, so I guess just improve or free styling like everything all at one. I don’t know what that name is, so I guess we’ll just call it improv.

3. Growing up, did you have all the support from your friends and family to dance and follow your dreams?
Well the majority of my friends, well we supported each other but the thing is, is that we didn’t really have anything to work for, except for maybe breakdance competitions but even then, it wasn’t really something you could make a living off of. My parents didn’t really see much of a future for it, probably also because there weren’t a lot of dance shows back then and it wasn’t as big in the media. So it wouldn’t really sell, so I wouldn’t really make money off it. So we were kind of like shooting in the dark, just dancing in our garages for reasons we don’t even know. And then opportunities like SYTYCD and ABDC definitely helped out the dance community and of course myself and quest crew.

4. So, before Quest Crew, what other dance groups were you in?
Well I’m currently in two other ones as well, but these are the ones I grew up with since around 2001 and 2005 ish. I’m in a world renowned break dancing crew called Flexible Flays. And they are based out of Sacramento. We’ve been around probably around since 1999 as well. I actually got in that crew around 2001, I’d say, maybe 2000. And then I’m also part of an entertainment dance group called Step Boys, so I’m still running with them because it will always be family stuff, but just recently it’s just been more Quest stuff of course.

5. So how long have you all been together as the Quest Crew?
Quest Crew has been together for about 2(3?) and a half years now and I recently joined as soon as I got off of SYTYCD season 3. You know, going through that together, we spent a lot of time together, we became really close friends. Through that, I started training and getting down with Quest in probably about December of 2007.

6. So, since being on So You Think You Can Dance, how was that show different from ABDC?
SYTYCD was more out of the elements so basically I was just making a fool of myself on national TV because I didn’t really know what I was doing. So it’s like every week you get thrown these dances and you only have like a matter of a couple of days or a few days...it’s really hours...Cuz you kinda learn something that you’ve never done before and try to present it to the world hoping that they don’t think you’re as dumb as you feel. Then on MTV it’s more our own art. We definitely came more prepared as far as chemistry with the crew. And just training up to that point so there’s more of what we do. So basically that’d be the big difference: SYT is not really what you do, but you learn a lot and then MTV you finally get to do what you’ve been training for your whole life.

7. So, before auditioning for ABDC, did you have any expectations about what the show was going to be like? If so, was it actually different from what you thought it would be?
It definitely was different because I never thought we would have won, so that was the biggest difference. Since I heard the Beat Freakz were going to be on the show I honestly felt from the beginning that they were going to win. And just because of the reputation that they have, they’re just so amazing I mean, everybody can tell that, you know. So I just felt that as far as being on the show, we were hoping to get on the show and just become memorable so people would remember who we were. Because I think that’s really important. I think that if you’re memorable, then you’ll still be able to do work and show America what you can do, regardless if you win or not.

8. Each week, you were given different challenges, so in your opinion, what was the hardest challenge?
Let’s see. I would have to say…I would say…Hmm….I would have to say magic week was really tough because we kind of got a crappy magic trick…actually we got 2 crappy magic tricks…and then we had a song and we didn’t know how, like… we figured everybody else, no one really caught the fact that we blended all 3 of those ideas together but it was just the thinking behind it probably took 2-3 days so we didn’t really start the piece until a couple days before we had to show it. So I think the little thing about Quest crew is that we always think too much. I don’t know, we think way too much into things, and that one took A LOT of thought process. And that was probably the most difficult to make that stupid money trick and that stupid trick at the end and the music work all together.

9. What was your favourite part about being on the show?
Oh man, ummm… I’d have to say, just being in front of an audience again, being able to perform with my brothers. Because you know when you work for something, we trained for this show for probably about little over a year, probably like a year and a couple months and being able to finally show people what we’ve been working at for that long. That feeling is just a pay off in itself. Win or lose.

10. What was the hardest thing about being on the show?
Um…There’s a lot. Let’s see…Not crying. Yeah that’s probably the hardest one because like I felt like Quest had so much to prove. The girls were really amazing and everybody was really pushing for them to win and a male team has always won so we figured we had to work twice as hard. So, I’d have to say the hardest part was definitely not crying…I don’t know how I got into the other stuff…but yeah, just not crying because…I didn’t want to seem like a wimp on TV. That’s kind of sad, you gotta go back home and all your friends and boys are just making fun of you. So yeah, crying.

11. So do you guys have a favourite routine that you performed?
Yeah. Our…I’m sure it’s everybody in Quest’s…is Orquestra...is the piano piece. And that is basically the ultimate definition of what quest is because we’ve been trying to…there’s so many people in quest, not really myself actually, but everyone else in quest has some type of musical or art talent and it’s something that they’re all so amazing at. Like dance is something that brought us together, but actually there’s other things that people have been working on their whole lives. Like Ryan with his piano, we finally got a chance to put something together that collaborates music and dance, so just that was an honour to do.

12. So it must have been pretty nerve racking at the finale, did you ever think that you guys would make it that far?
We didn’t think so, just to be in the top 2 with the beat freakz, like that was amazing for us. But nerve wracking wise, I don’t know, I think we just, I don’t know, we didn’t expect Quest I guess, we expected Beat Freakz. It’s just so hard because it could have went either way. And we took it as more of a bonus if we won, you know so it’s like we were already in the top 2 so if we win, that would just be a bonus because I felt like with the piano piece and decathalon, which was the week before last, that was enough, I felt, to make Quest memorable so that was the whole goal. So anything after that would just be a bonus.

13. So what were the benefits after being on ABDC?
Um...Clothes. Clothes and food...Food! Like now when we go to restaurants, sometimes the managers recognize us and they give us free dessert. Yeah that’s like the best part, because now we don’t have to pay for dessert! Hmm...benefits? More Myspace friends. Definitely now we get to travel as a crew, you know, like before it was like me and Hok would travel a lot together and some would travel on their own or whatever the case may be. But now we finally get to make a living off dance, off of something we love. Some people in the crew quit school, quit their job, to train for this competition and now we finally get to make a living off of it. Just to know that we get to do that together and our parents are proud of us, like that’s the biggest come up after the show.

14. Being a dancer myself, what advice do you have for teens who want to make it in the dance world?
Umm. I’d have to say with whatever you do, work towards something. And whatever people might say towards that, if it’s positive, then of course you’re going to understand that and accept that. But all the negativity that you’re going to get, because everybody goes through it that’s trying to do something, whether it’s a friend that might be jealous or whether its parents that might not believe in you or whatever the case may be...Take that negative energy that you get and put it towards your art because it’s only going to make you ten times stronger. And I feel like when people have something negative that happened, for example like kids that go through their parents getting divorced and they feel like it’s the end of the world. But if you take that energy and you put it towards your art, you’re going to come out with something extravagant, something you didn’t think you could ever do. So just take the negative energy and turn it as a positive. That’d be my probably ultimate tip.

15. Where would you like to see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
Making money without having to dance because our bodies are going to be dead and soft. Travelling and still doing stuff with Quest and really I want to see what the piano piece has started for us. I feel like that’s the beginning of something that can be extraordinary. And I want to see what Quest is doing in 5 years altogether as far as putting all those talents together.

16. So what’s next for Quest Crew?
Besides travelling, all I’m going to say is...Christmas Day...Go to the movie theatres...and watch Alvin and the Chipmunks The Squeakquel. Visit Questcrew.com and that’ll tell you everything we’re doing.

Check out the full article at :
http://www.youthink.ca/yt/music/interviews/america%E2%80%99s-best-dance-crew-life-after-winning-title

-christinaaa