Disrespect

Guilty.

That is my current status for not updating my blog for quite a while, not to mention the increasing difference in the time lag.

Allow me to present my defense:
1. Concentration on the rehearsals for the upcoming Feb Concert.
2. Increasing time spent on developing a hiphop group in its infantile stages.
3. Current workload status - Full-blown seasonal peak period
4. Increasing commitment to my current Dance Group
5. Proposing plans for a June Performance for a Civil Service Club.
6. Developing plans for a major dance competition in August.
7. Initiating preparations for Exams in May.
8. Amidst the chaos, find time for family and friends' outings.

Members of the jury, the audience - with the above statements presented I seek not to claim proof of innocence but simply a common understanding.


Recently, I attended the trial dance lessons presented as a promotion during the YMCA Open House just last Saturday.



Full of hope and anticipation, I placed bookings for registrations on trying their MTV Dance and Hiphop sessions. Last year I was also present and was impressed by the performance that a chereographer called Mr Lionel Araya has presented. I was expecting no less for this year. You may view his profile here with regards to his current dance group called L.A. Dance Connection.

Alas, disappointment of unprecendented levels.

Both MTV Dance and Hiphop sessions were conducted by a Mr Darric Chan. While I do not practise discrimination against teachers for their individual styles in dance and tastes in dressings, I was slightly disturbed by Mr Darric Chan's choice of dressing for a hiphop session.

You do not wear tight fitting clothes for a hiphop session. For a guy at least.



When he executed certain hiphop moves, big puzzlement followed for they were clearly not of the actual hiphop style but rather a mixture of jazz. Correction - He was using jazz style to perform hiphop.

I would give him credit for the execution of moves for they were relatively clean and professional enough. He did a smooth double piroutte, thats professional enough for me.


Until he commented [right after the hiphop session ended] that hiphop is actually a "Low Level" type of dance.


Alarm bells rang at deafening decibels. Every last possible ounce of strength was mustered - not for building anger - but for restraining an almost uncontrollable urge to lash out at his incompetence for demonstrating hiphop moves and even daring to disrepect the essence of hiphop styles. I would not deny the fact that jazz techniques are established in their rich cultural and historical background but in comparison of techniques Hiphop would not be any less complicated. Culture? Hiphop was evolved from culture. History? You ain't heard nothing yet.

And as a sidenote - If you dont respect the type of dance you're teaching. The perhaps you should not be teaching it in the first place. The very fact you're teaching it reeks of hipocrisy and not to mention the students who would grow up with a wrong preception on how they should view all dances in general.


Ah well, time to head out and become councillor to Jelly. She's my dance partner for the concert item of Lyrical Jazz and well.. she's having relationship problems.

Till the next time, adios amigos.