Nigel Lythgoe, from So You Think You Can Dance, has challenged the nation to celebrate, embrace, commit and explore the art of dance all on the SAME DAY. National dance day is now officially July 31st. Why shouldn't we have a day to celebrate our passion? Why shouldn't we have a day to just get off the couch and move? Why shouldn't we have a day to feel good and dance next to a stranger? Dance day is for everyone, not just professional dancers. So celebrate your holiday in style:)

WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON D-DAY?

NEED IDEAS?
Learn Tabitha & Napoleon's combination on Youtube

The Other Duck
Fashion Company

Created By Cheryl Koo
Dancer, Choreographer and Fashion Designer

Do you remember the old bedtime story, The Ugly Duckling? It was a story about a duck who attempted to be like everyone else, but just never was. Then one day the duck realized he wasn't an ugly duckling at all, he was a beautiful swan.

Cheryl Koo, a dancer, choreographer and fashion designer decided to take this powerful message from the classic nursery rhyme "The Ugly Duckling" and let it manifest through her very own fashion line. Cheryl is driven, talented and full of creativity. She knows what she wants out of life and its seems like she is doing a fine job at getting it. Her focus and determination is truly inspirational and you can't help, but to catch the "I have a dream" bug.

The Other Duck clothing line is fun, creative, vibrant, funky and universal. Dancers: How many fashion lines do you know, where you can rock out the clothes with a colorful pair a jeans and spread a positive message at the same time?

Cheryl is a visionary who thinks outside the box and understands the true heart of a dancer and future fashionistas.

"I'm all for spreading knowledge through messages and I chose to do it through fashion, which is what I love to do. I feel like everyone has that potential to become a swan, but it's up to YOU to reach that potential in whatever field you choose. Not everyone will reach it, because some people will end up stopping themselves or let someone else stop them. If you don't let other people's words and actions get to you.... that is a lesson in life. If your able to just be and continue doing what you do, you are going to be recognized for it whether you want to or not." -Cheryl Koo

On June 29th, 2010, I met up with Cheryl at The Other Duck office in downtown LA for an interview. Two days before theotherduck.com website launch party @ Level 3.

1. When was "The Other Duck" started?
"The line was created November 2006 as "The Ugly Duckling". My friend Lizzy Richardson offered me an opportunity to put together a fashion show in 3 weeks for her friend, Stacey Kuramoto's dance event, "Project Hip Hop". I told the "Ugly Duckling" story through a high concept fashion line and it was received so well, that I began doing more fashion shows in Hollywood, CA. In February 2007, I collaborated with (choreographer) Shaun (Evaristo) and we were brainstorming on how to keep the moral of "The Ugly Duckling" story with my vision. He helped change the fashion name to "The Other Duck". It is still the same story and concept...but just a more creative name!"

2. Since the success of The Other Duck, do you still consider yourself a dancer? You are an "Essence" dancer with Gigi Torres right?
"I'm a dancer for life. Music is my fuel and inspiration. It runs through my blood. As long as I dance, it will always be a highlight, but what i LOVE LOVE LOVE is performing..whether its dancing on stage, or directing my own fashion show. I love putting on a good show with a good message for everyone to see, feel, and hopefully remember =)"

"Yes, I am Essence dancer. Right now the company has 14 girls. When members are in town, they do performances. Unfortunately, I didn't perform with the ladies at the the May 2010 Essence website launch party, because I was in Asia. I choreograph sometimes and I teach with Essence movements occasionally."

3. Is there a tour coming up for "The Other Duck"?
"There is a FASHION TOUR in the works for September 2010! Los Angles, New York, Hong Kong & Japan. It will be super exciting!! 1st week of sept=LA, 2nd week=NYC, 3rd week=HONG KONG, final week=JAPAN. The purpose of the tour is to bring "The Other Duck" to our supporters, to infect our message, spread the word, spread the movement and bring communities together. Check out more info about the tour on todmediakit.com!"

4. Dancers really respect "The Other Duck" fashion line, with the creative t-shirts and sweats. Do you have more ideas under your belt for the fashion line?
"THE OTHER DUCK (Sweats and tees geared for dancers.) is now available for purchase on www.theotherduck.com. This line allows me to fuse the dancer/music side of me.There are 2 other fashion concepts, which are not for sale yet. "THE OTHER" (high end, concept, runway.) fashion line allows me to fuse the more creative art side of me. My goal is get "The Other" into production at Barneys or Fred Segal. "THE OTHER DUCKLING" (kids line) allows me to fuse the kid in me with my vision. =) This line is still being created."

5. Where can fans keep up with The Other Duck and purchase the line?
"You can purchase The Other Duck line at theotherduck.com
and fans can follow us on the following websites...."
facebook.com/theotherduck
twitter.com/theotherduck
youtube.com/theotherduck

The Waackers
Kumari Suraj, respected choreographer, dancer and educator, has done an amazing job in marketing the crew and consistently finds new and creative ways to spread their voice. They have traveled across the world, won numerous dance battles, performed for several recording artists like, Madonna and Tony Braxton and have gained hundreds of loyal fans.

Crew members include Noel Bajandas, Tony Czar, Rob Rich, Junko, Frances Nieves and plenty more. In total there 15 members. 9 women and 6 men. Watch The Waackers Perform at ABDC party

So.... what is Waacking?

Waacking is the 2nd largest street dance to come out of LA. First was locking, then waacking and then popping. It was born in gay nightclubs in the 1970's by fierce queens who knew how to "weerrrk." They would hit every disco beat with tenacity and soon waacking, also known as punking, became the next hot dance trend. Carey Yasis, founder of Carnival Choreographers Ball, was a respected punker aka wacker back in the 80's. He is found to be helpful at times for street dance knowledge, but it's legendary dancer, Dallace, who is Kumari's main source for dance information. Dallace is best known for his work in Rick James "Super Freak" video." He continues to educate the Waackers on their history, along with famous Locker and female powerhouse, Tony Basil. Waacking sparked her attention and she basically became the ambassador of street dancer. The waacking bug spread for years, but never remained consistent. It started a dance craze on Soul Train, hit the big screen with the 80's movie "Breakin" and was reborn in NY in 2003 with choreographer, Brian Green. 

Waacking has had a very unpredictable life and Kumari Saraj has decided to commit and keep the art of waacking alive for younger generations to learn from.

On July 6th, 2010, I met up with Kumari at Starbucks in North Hollywood, CA for an interview to get the real inside scoop on The Waackers.

1. When did you move out to LA and what made you start The Waackers?
"I moved out here in August 2008. Instead of trying to teach a hip hop class, like everyone else does, I thought I would be smart, be different and create an outlet for what else I do and love. There was a lack of it here. All the older originals who teach the style have either left LA  or teach outside of the city, nobody was doing anything really constructive in LA with it. It wasn't even about making it bigger...It's just.... I'm good at it ...period and I wanted to make sure to enjoy it with people that I liked.  A couple girls were doing it a little, like Hiro McRae (from ABDC's "We are Heroes"), Tiffany Bong and Donna Dlock, but nobody was really doing anything constructive with it.   It's not how it is now."

2.What does waacking mean to you?
"It is a funk/disco style started in the 70's. It's a feeling, it's exciting, it's expressive and there is a lot of character. Every dance style has a different character and waacking has a character. Right now it's female dominated, which is a FIRST for hip hop/street dance culture in general. It's empowering for women, especially cause everyone goes around in heels murdering each other with blades of fury. It helps women bring back the true art of being a TEASE. We can be sensual, rather then sexual. There is also a definite technique behind it. Everyone's technique is different, but the basics are all the same.

"My parents are my inspiration! My dad was on Soul Train in 1972 and my mom was just that funky chick, who looked liked Farah Facet and knew how to move. I am most inspired by my mom, because she has the talent to just groove, even when there is no music playing. I grew up with disco and gospel, because of my mom, which is what made me gravitate to waacking."

3. What exactly was Tony Basil's contribution to waacking?
"Tony's contribution to hip hop culture in general is probably one of the biggest one of it's time. She found locking, waacking and popping and became very  intrigued by these dances and the people doing them. Once, she invited The Waackers over to her home and she told us the story about when she found waacking in a gay nightclub on Hollywood/Highland in the 70's. She said the men were beautiful and how she was amazed over the grandeur of it all. They were the original Waackers and after Tony discovered them, she put them on tour with Diana Ross. Tony used her connections, because at the time it was all jazz & ballet and started getting street dancers' jobs,  I've been able to sit with her and hear all of her stories, which are all amazing and it changed my perspective on a lot of things. I didn't know her well was so deep.

4. What future projects are in the works for The Waackers?
"We have been making moves for the love of dance, art and creating new inspiration for ourselves and those around us. I am hosting a dance battle in August around Labor Day Weekend at EL SID nightclub ($1000 grand prize) and I have asked original street dancers like, Tony (Basil) and Carey (Yasis), to judge the competition. We are also doing the Halloween Carnival and leaving for London in a few months."

Hollywood, CA

Carnival on June 29th, 2010 was a lot of fun. The line up was very creative and talented. Kumari Suraj, choreographed a number where every dancer had a unique style and TEASED the audience through every step, BeastMode Crew & friends ripped up the stage in their red pants, Dee Caspary expressed love with a Bob Marley medley, where dancers flowed effortlessly in all white outfits throughout the stage, SickStep moved their feet like adrenaline junkies and Knicole Haggins transitions where ridiculously effortless. There were a lot of entertaining numbers at Carnival, but in true TIV style there has to be a TOP 5.

5. BeatMode Crew & Friends
4. Kumari Suraj
3. Knicole Hagginns
2. Dee Caspary

#1. Shannon Mather
Moments before Shannon Mather's piece hit the stage, Carey had announced to the audience that he hadn't even seen it yet. He was taking the word of an MSA agent, who swore to Carey that he and the crowd would not be disappointed. Well the agent was right and the audience was not only very impressed, but also AMAZED. The duet between Scott Myrick & Ashley Gonzales was electrifying, passionate and EXTREMELY professional. It felt like I was watching SYTYCD live. Their movements were just beautiful and there was one moment when Ashley arched into a back bend, while Scott was holding her in the air. She did it like it was the easiest thing in the world and the audience became VERY excited.

When I researched Shannon on Youtube I came across numerous videos and it turns out she is a competition choreography guru. Watch a great trio now on youtube
 

During the month of June I  was fighting the flu for weeks. Unfortunately I wasn't able to attend as many events as I usually do, which is why I issued you more goodies this month with The Jabbawoockeez & Nappytabs.

One event that I did attend on June 25th, 2010 was MEDIUM's "Gritty". It was located in downtown LA in a funky warehouse.
To every loyal reader I'm sure you are well aware of my love for MEDIUM LIVE ART. It's just a chill, down to earth, artistic night full of dance, art, poetry and more. I completely agree with their slogan: "Art The Way It Should Be.








On June 25th, 2010 I attended MEDIUM's "Gritty" event with my friend Jon Paul. It was Jon's first MEDIUM, so I decided to have him share HIS experience on the creative night.

"Walking into MEDIUM presents... GRITTY, I did not know what to expect. Making my way to the performance space, we were greeted by displays from some incredible artists. I was particularly drawn to the work of Patty Kelly, who put a bright and humorously clever take on pop art.
The intimate space allowed everyone there to have a close view of the evening's acts. The trio from, the Nuevo School of Contemporary Dance, performed a heartfelt number that was amazingly mature for such young dancers, the Waackers amped it up with a high energy routine and the men of ABDC's Heavy Impact showed great versatility, incorporating both smoothness and hard-hitting choreography into their performance.

For me, the highlight of the night was the duet performed by Marty Kudelka and Dana Wilson. Their styles meshed perfectly, and their storytelling ability was fantastic.
Overall, the event was very enjoyable. I loved the mix of eclectic artwork and the variety of performances. I'm looking forward to the next MEDIUM event."
-Jon Paul
Guest TIV writer