Ill Moves: Hip Hop Dance

All World Dance Has Launched!

I've been saying All World Dance was about to launch since late last year.  Just took me a minute to get to it but it's here now!

It's a site focused on dance across genres and across national boundaries, though the U.S. will tend to dominate due to their media machinery.  But I'll keep working on expanding coverage.

Yes, there's hip hop dance but there's also coverage of ballet, modern dance, dance on tv, dance movies, dance games and all sorts of other stuff.

Check it out!

Merce Cunningham Dies: A Giant Passes

I just found out that Merce Cunningham died Sunday night. No, he doesn't have much at all to do with hip hop dance but he was one of the great figures of modern dance and someone who all serious dancers should know about and all choreographers can benefit from considering more closely:

"Mr. Cunningham ranks among the foremost figures of artistic modernism and among the few who have transformed the nature and status of dance theater, visionaries like Isadora Duncan, Serge Diaghilev, Martha Graham and George Balanchine."

I studied modern dance in college from 1977 to 1982. I saw Cunningham's company a number of times over the years and even took a master class with him when I was an undergrad. As a young choreographer, he was one of my biggest heroes.

RIP, Merce.

Official Site: Merce Cunningham Dance Company

THE NEW FACE OF HIP HOP CHOREOGRAPY...WHO IS CICI KELLEY?

CiCi Kelly: Hip Hop Choreographer

[Press Release Excerpts]

From Beyonce to MTV, this Atlanta-born, dance extraordinaire is taking her place as one of the greats

You've seen her perform behind some of music's top selling artists.  From Beyonce and LL Cool J to Wyclef Jean and the Black Eyed Peas.  She's made Laurie Ann Gibson and Soulja Boy's mouth drop clean open on MTV and is the founder and producer of the most exclusive choreographer's showcase in the southeast.  She's choreographed commercials for Tyler Perry and coached the cheerleaders for the NBA's Atlanta Hawks.  Her technique is flawless and her style is groundbreaking.  Her name is synonymous with hustle and success, her name is CiCi Kelley.

A native of Atlanta, GA, CiCi essentially grew up in dance schools across the city.  Inspired by her late grandmother, a former dancer, she is extensively trained in every area of dance, from ballet to African to tap.  According to CiCi, "When it comes to being a creative artist, versatility always works in your favor."  She left Atlanta in 2000 and attended The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, where after she returned to Atlanta and began to flourish with her unique style of choreography and energetic dance performances. Within months, CiCi became the "it" girl of the south, working with some of the most prominent recording artists today.

Her performances and choreography have been seen on stage and screen while her artistic abilities have been critically acclaimed from the Bahamas to Tokyo.  Her work has appeared on BET's 106th & Park, Tyler Perry's entire summer promotional series for "House of Payne" with artist Chrisette Michelle and MTV's hit reality show MADE, where she serves [currently] as the official hip hop coach.  She has performed and choreographed chart topping concerts, tours and videos for the likes of other artists including Usher, The Fugees, Wyclef Jean, Fonzworth Bentley, Musiq Soulchild, The Black Eyed Peas and Juanita Bynum to name a few.

CiCi is a rising star in the philanthropic world as well.  She is the founder and producer of Phazes of Love.  POL, as it is more commonly referred to, is a charitable dance extravaganza that features the latest works of personally selected choreographers from the Atlanta dance district.  In its second year, CiCi gives 100% of her proceeds to both the Alzheimer's Foundation of America and 100 Black Men of Atlanta's Project Success.  POL serves as a popular conduit between the entertainment industry and the everyday dancer.  She has developed a paramount avenue for attracting entertainment professionals (i.e. agencies, directors and producers) to come and view talented Atlanta-based dancers perform visually spectacular works revolving around the theme of love.  Currently, CiCi is preparing for her 10-city hip hop master class tour, working on a new movie and is in development for her new reality series.

Please visit www.cicikelley.com