OK, this is just one of those must-read interviews. I loved Tony Stone’s classes in Slovenia (he was here twice already), but learning how such a great performer and choreographer started off is even more inspiring. Please meet one of the most exciting, top world hiphop, street, jazz etc. choreographers (and music producers) Tony Stone. I recommend reading till the end, cause we saved the best for last :)
A little bird told me you only started teaching when you were 35? How did that happen Actually my sisters were already taking classes as a hobby to keep in shape. They had such a wonderful time at it they talked me into coming in and trying it out knowing that I loved dancing and did it as a solo competitor from time to time. I was able to catch onto and pick up choreography very well, I was noticed and then asked to start performances professionally. That happened when I was 35.
Do you still have fun on each convention you give? I do. Of course, with the heavy touring schedule I have there are times when I’m very tired at a particular event or convention but that certainly doesn’t take away from my enjoyment. I have always promised myself that if I stopped having fun, it would to time to wrap it up and walk away. I don’t see that happening anytime in the near future.
Today is a celebration day! A day of all us addicted to it. May it be salsa, hiphop, jazz, swing, belly dancing,.. whichever. Today is international dance day so happy Dance Day to you all!
Cited from wikipedia:
“International Dance day or World Dance day was first introduced in 1982 by the International Dance Committee of the UNESCO International Theatre Institute. The date was suggested by Pyotr Gusev to commemorate the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre.
Among the goals of the Dance Day are to increase the awareness of the importance of dance among the general public, as well as to persuade governments all over the world to provide a proper place for dance in all systems of education, from primary to higher.
While dance has been an integral part of human culture throughout its history, it is under-prioritized by official establishments in the world. In particular, Prof. Alkis Raftis, President of the International Dance Council, in his 2003 Dance Day Message said: “In more than half of the 200 countries in the world, dance does not appear in legal texts (for better or for worse!). There are no funds allocated in the state budget to support this art form. There is no such thing as dance education, private or public.”
Yeah, we kinda know that, do we? Well, no matter how you turn it, to me dance is art, sport and the best way to express yourself, to learn more about yourself, to have fun, meet different people and grow as a person. Let me finish this with one of my favorite sentences, a Nike slogan: If you have a body, you can dance”. You don’t have to be good, you don’t have to know how to do it, you just have to enjoy it.
I don’t know where I would be without dancing. It’s a healthy drug for me
So a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to dance. Instead og blowing candles and eating cake let’s all just dance tonight
If last weekend was Salsa Especial, this weekend was simply special. Why? Two reasons. Two members of Dulce Locura had a premiere performance. First was Luka, premiering in dance-singing play titled “Woman” (Ženska). Actually it is a dance-multimedia project, where he did the singing part, together with renowned Slovenian singer Nuša Derenda. This was no small project so a BIG congratulations to you Luka! And another victorious achievement was from our Maja. She competed, after a loooooong break, in national championship in modern show dances (category street show). She has recently become a member of Kazina and went straight to the nationals :). Well to cut the long story short. 21 dancers performed with the show “Mi se ne damo” (meaning we ain’t giving up) - there’s a relevant story behind - and came in second!!!! Congrats! They were just hoping not to finish last, but what do you know, they went straight for that trophy. :)
I’m sure Maja will tell us the whole story, right?
A few weeks ago I was worshiping Nike convention that took place in Ljubljana. But the last few days I’ve been hearing only about Blackpool. That’s a yearly International Fitness Showcase which brings all top aerobic and dance classes. The number of classes is unimaginable, the quality beyond expected and the fun people have unforgettable. Quite a few friends, instructors, went there and they are all just fascinated. Basically, they can’t stop talking about it! Which of course kinda drives me crazy, because I didn’t go and because I didn’t go last year either! Some attended aerobic classes – they say Marc Olivier Kluike was there… and well, he was always frighteningly good!! And than there were Tony, Nikkie, Larz… which are all just one of the best at the moment.Here are some statements of the people who DID go:
Grega: “It was craaaazy! It’s hard to explain just how good it really was. The best thing was to see Kluike after a long time. The guy still has it!”
Pero: “It was even better than last year. I even went to 7 hiphop classes and liked everyone of them. Awesome.”
Charlie: “I did mainly dance but my highlights included Tony’s House class - Kimberley Jay’s New jack swing class which is all old school hip hop (think Bobby Brown, MC Hammer dancing). Also loved Nikkie’s house class and Nikkie & Richard Callender did a team teach old school vs. new school class. I heard Tom Wolls house and Larz’s hip hop were both amazing. I saw Jairos salsa which looked fabulous too. Etc. Etc. Etc.«
Did I mention everybody said such a shame you weren’t there!« Of course… but next year… yeah.. next year for sure. No excuses!
I think it was just a question of time, when I will start writing about my all time favorite TV show - So you think you can dance reality dance show - an absolute winner if you ask me. The US version is starting its 4th season now and there are some pretty good followers around the world (Australia among best and just in progress at the moment ). You can imagine I know all previous seasons by heart, because that is just one of those things I can watch over and over and over again. There are some totally awesome and unforgettable shows which gives me the best inspiration and motivation for dance ever.
An award winning, one of best ever shows. Wade Robson’s Ramalama Bang Bang group routine.
Well, what can I say? Once again Nike has fulfilled all my desires. Ok, I’m not gonna overreact. But I don’t think any other event can top the excitement and classes that appear there. I’m totally amazed by myself, that I manage to do almost all classes and than still give class the next day. I think there’s a name for our kind of people… something ending on ***cholic?
If you imagine a typical salsa event, multiply the intensity of classes by 250 and take away the parties (because most people really don’t have the energy to drink and dance than all night.. with exceptions of course). But there are still top world teachers, great energy, fun, excitement, meeting people, … I must say it was really great seeing old friends again (love ya Charlie and Nikkie :)) and it was even more spectacular to attend Tony Stone’s classes. That’s simply just phenomenal! I don’t know which words could describe him better. But I’m not taking anything away from aerobic classes. No, Steve Boedt and Rebecca Small - all my respect to them!! I could not believe the amount of energy Steve left during his classes (and all the things he did along with teaching.. just crazy). And Rebecca,… she’s a pro. That can be seen up from the sky or 2.000 miles away. But even she did not expect Slovenian people are so crazy. At the very last class of the two-day convention, we wanted more!! She was about to finish the class, but we wouldn’t let her. The girl just laid on the floor and said “give me 2 minutes!” We did the routine once more and I must say that was one of my favorite classes this weekend.
But not the only one - my top classes:
- Nikkie Riozzi’s hiphop with her great methodology, creative moves and fun fun fun
- Tony Stone (hm, which one?) - well I did the Sunday’s first class best so I’ll pick that one (others were more difficult)
- Steve Boedt hi-lo: WOW man, cool choreography but what an energy?!!
- Rebecca Small Aero groove .. like I said - we did not want to stop, despite all the blisters on our feet!
That’s the short version of a long weekend. Of course there was a whole bunch of other instructors as well. I have to complement Geršak as well, others I unfortunately didn’t see.
There a few negative critiques though - the first day started with a 45 minute delay - that’s really not acceptable and I don’t think the mics were set properly (this could be my prefessional deformation speaking, but it has to be mentioned). About those intro shows or warmups.. hmm.. I decided to forget about them asap.
Here are some photos, gathered by me, Charlie and Nikkie.
Aerobic convention is similar to a salsa festival, with miner differences. The classes are definitely more intense and we usually get so tired, we can’t imagine dancing and partying than all night. However, we still manage to visit the evening gala event and than wake up in the morning and take another round of classes. It’s exhausting alright, but it’s worth it! The people you meet there are awesome, the classes they give are spectacular and the best thing is, that this conventions lean more and more towards dancing, which means there are not just aerobic classes but a bunch of dance classes as well (mostly hip hop, plus some latin). So my weekend is fully booked! I’ll be sweating like in the middle of summer, on the Greek beach at 1pm with no breeze at all. 12th Nike convention will take place this Saturday and Sunday, in another location than we’re used to: Konex center in Ljubljana, and the evening party in Hotel Ljubljana - Austria trend. The convention will present 20 instructors, which is really impressive. We know our Slovene instructors and we have Tony Stone and Nikkie Riozzi coming back (yeeeey) - they are just crazy guys, plus there are some new faces, which I shall report on Monday
So have a great weekend everybody, and if you don’t know what to do - come sweating with us!
Dreaming at eve, when the bright sunset glow
Is gilding the clouds in the west.
Dreaming of those gone before, yet we know
They are safe in the arms of the blest.
Why dream and mourn for the friends that are gone,
When we know they are free from all pain.
Why not press on toward the goal they have won
Hoping sometime to meet them again.
Ring the bell gently in memory of him
May its tones guide the erring ones here.
To help to pursue the good work he began.
And each and all find a welcome far and near.
At only 58 years of age one of our greatest politicians has passed away. He left some memorable achievements throughout the history of our young country, and even before when Slovenia was still a part of former Yugoslavia. With his PhD in economics he didn’t really want to become a politician, but everybody else wanted that. In all good work he made as a premier and president of Slovenia, he managed to bring the warmer, more human-like side out as well. Unfortunately his disease took away more successful years he might have had in front of him. In his last years he turned into a completely different person, helping people in material and spiritual way. Peace and good is what all people need, were his last words, published on the official webpage of his humanitarian organization Gibanje za pravičnost in razvoj (Rights and development movement).
Festivalna dvorana is ready. I saw it with my own eyes yesterday, when I was surprised and invited to the dance. Due to the nice act of surprise I was of course late but still, people said the best part was in the end anyway. The hall, where tomorrow salsa party shall be held, was packed and dance-floor always full. Lovely hosts, singing star Alenka Godec and some Big band. A nice evening full of emotions, red hearts and kissing couples. I like to see all the man dancing foxtrot and swing … just to please their loved ones. Now let’s see how our salseros will do tomorrow
:)
but still, people said the best part was in the end anyway. The hall, where tomorrow salsa party shall be held, was packed and dance-floor always full. Lovely hosts, singing star Alenka Godec and some Big band. A nice evening full of emotions, red hearts and kissing couples. I like to see all the man dancing foxtrot and swing … just to please their loved ones. 
