The first thing I want to share with you is my experience at ASH Philadelphia over the Christmas break. The workshop was held December 27-30th at Penns Landing. Advanced classes were held in a beautiful ballroom looking over the Delaware River, adjacent to the Seaport Marine Museum and Christopher Columbus Statue.
It was a popular event and all the ASH assistants were in attendance. I love these girls and will miss not dancing with them now that the tour has come to an end :(
Pictured are Christina, Maycee, Montana, Courtney, me, Logan and Stephanie the evening of the Performance Showcase. I REALLY need to get some heels! The ASH family of Braham, Joyce, Bill, the staff, faculty and assistants are all amazing and the whole week was filled with fun classes with a positive, supportive energy.
Below are highlights from the workshop. It was my first time taking class from Jason Samuels Smith who is some kind of talented!!! I tried to keep up with his lightening fast feet...luckily for many of us dancers, he is a very patient teacher and a very kind man! I also really enjoyed Lisette Bustamante's hip hop classes. It was my first time taking from her as well, she is so fun and we did a really chill dancehall combination that felt like we were at a dance party.
The Philadelphia venue also offered class with Christopher Huggins - he is a modern master who directs the best stretch class and warm-ups EVER prior to his class combos! His combos test your ability to give into the music and dance unconventionally.
Please visit the ASH website for information on their summer event "The Company". It will feature classes with ALL the talented ASH faculty and an opportunity for dancers to audition to become an ASH assistant for the 2012-2013 tour!
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In January, I attended NYCDA Lansing, Michigan. It's always an amazing weekend to be surrounded and inspired by faculty like Joe Lantieri, Suzi Taylor, Taja Riley, Danny Wallace, Joey Dowling, Scott Jovovich and Jason Parsons. I danced in the teen/senior room and was honored to be chosen as one of two Outstanding Teen Dancers of the weekend.
NYCDA focuses on quality learning and I love that they teach the importance of technique as the foundation to dancing. When combos are taught in class, they focus on the details and importance of transitions. Joe Lantieri is insightful and motivational when he speaks...he touches on the reasons WHY we should be dancing, the importance of the human element of dance and the unimportance of trophies as affirmation of dance. Its such a different vibe its no wonder dancers attend multiple cities of this convention.
Below are highlights provided by NYCDA:
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In January, I also attended NUVO in Los Angeles, California and Dearborn, Michigan. The complete NUVO faculty was in both locations which made for two amazing weekends of dance! In LA extra classes were offered on Friday evening with Randi Kemper and Saturday with Ricky Lam during lunch.
It was fun to see friends from California I've met the last few years during summer intensives. Shout out to Kaitlyn, Jenny, Emma, and their team mates from Westcoast and Alyssa, Bella, Lucas and Sean from Westside. It was an awesome experience to dance alongside so many talented dancers both professional and amateur, and to feel the support dancers give each other when they put themselves out there. I think we can all learn how to be more supportive of each other!
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In February, I attended ASH in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Like in all ASH cities, the assistants perform their solos in the closing show...my solo called "Faking the Books" is posted below...my mom danced in the parent number too....go mom! Check the ASH website for links to solos by the other ASH assistants.
ASH has been busy posting video highlights from the tour....please check the videos below featuring choreography by Braham, Lisette, Dee and Tokyo to see for yourself just how great the ASH convention is!
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In February, I attended "The Pulse" Toronto and it was AMAZING! It was my first time at Pulse and I loved taking classes from Brian Friedman, Desmond Richardson, Tyce Diorio, Dave Scott, Chris Judd and Wade Robson. What a line up!!
I was selected as a "Protege" which is a huge honor. It was a great way to end a weekend that was already amazing with opening number and fashion show opportunities, amazing classes each day, meeting new friends and seeing old friends!
I've been fortunate to meet some really great friends through my travels like Morgan, Katelyn, Logan and Patrick. Can't wait to see them all again soon.
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During the March break, I traveled to Los Angeles to take class with some of my favorite choreographers at the edge and Millenium - classes with Justin Giles, Miguel Zarate and Luther Brown never disappoint. It was great to see so many Soul Escape friends, Stephanie, Janelle, Amandine, Joanna and Erica in class and Canadian transplants Tatiana, Amy, Melanie and Carlena sweating it out!
While in Los Angeles, I also attended the VIP Cast Party for the Hunger Games at the Grove and met Liam Helmsworth (Gale), Alexander Ludwig (Cato) and Amandla Stenberg (Rue). It was an awesome experience since I am a HUGE Hunger Games fan. Cato and I had a moment when he learned I am Canadian like him...a few fist pumps and high fives later, I had my HG books autographed and was on my way to see the movie!
Lastly, I attended a new hip hop workshop called "Movement Lifestyle". ML is a new studio in North Hollywood, just steps away from Millenium. ML kicked off a five city tour in 2011 with the last stop being in Irvine, California March 24 & 25th. I took class with Ian Eastwood, Jillian Meyers, Miguel Zarate, Lando Wilkins, Lyle Beniga & Bam Martin, Jeka Jane & Pat Cruz, Jun Quemado, Mari Martin & Keone Madrid, Laura Edwards and Shaun Evaristo.
The workshop was ALL hip hop and had a different vibe from the conventions I normally attend. There were no scholarships or audition classes, no competition and the average age of dancer was probably 20+ Prior to the workshop starting on Saturday morning...a freestyle circle began with head spins, popping and breaking! It was a high calibre convention with a very supportive group of dancers and choreographers. ML focuses on their community of dancers, sharing their love of hip hop and education.
Thanks to the faculty for a great experience...I've never danced so much hip hop in one weekend! and to Lando for giving me my new street name "Maddie Mad-dog Hanson".
Its hard to believe we are three months into the year already! It's been busy but there are many more exciting things on the horizon. Thank you to all the people I've met who've made my journey extraordinary and shared their expertise and passion with me. I can't wait to share what I've done and learned with you in the months to come.
Happy Dancing Everyone!
