ILLEST INGREDIENTS 8/24 & 8/25

Adding a New Ingredient... The Illest!

The Illest Ingredient is a regular monthly jam that Urban Artistry has held, most recently in a partnership with U Street Music Hall.

The jam is an opportunity for dancers of all styles to interact and be inspired by one another. The Illest Ingredient has been the mixing of genres, styles, music, beats, and locations. People come from all over the East Coast, and from other countries to compete against dancers with different backgrounds. From Virginia to Sweden and New York to France, the dancers who have entered The Illest Ingredient Battles are diverse! We have had club heads up against choreo heads, popping vs. waacking, and the person who is battling for the first time up against people who have battled in their own communities.

But what is the "illest" ingredient?

What makes these battles so interesting? Is it the joy of battling someone who interprets the music completely different from yourself... a freaking of different beats.. a mix of different genres. Maybe it's like the recipe for grandma's 7-Up cake.. a dash of this.. a hint of this, a dollop of something sweet.. something different every time, so that the mix of ingredients is never the same, but it is always just as good.

While the main ingredient of The Illest Ingredient has been dance, Urban Artistry is about to shake it up!

This week, we are hosting not only Illest Ingredient the all-styles battle at U Street Music Hall on Friday, August 24th, but we are adding not one, but two totally new ingredients...wait for it..... SKATING and ART.

That's right! Urban Artistry is doing it up at a skate park again! Remember the closing day of International Soul Society Festival...FLOW?! There was skating, parkour, graffiti, and dance... and there was that je ne sais quoi! It was that perfect combination of forces and physicality. Now, on August 25th, not only are there a bboy battle ($200 prize) and an all styles battle ($200 prize), but there is also a Best Trick Skating contest.

This month, there are two Illest Ingredients! The first all styles jam is on Friday, August 24th at U Street Music Hall. We have to let the next one marinate overnight. On Saturday, August 25th, Urban Artistry hosts The Illest Ingredient at Wakefield Skatepark in Annendale, VA from 5-11pm.

At this all ages event, there will be live painting on skate ramps and walls by Vice Versa, John Rivers, and Lightup! Art Under Pressure and 3 Pyramids will be there! There will be music by DJ Baronhawk Portier and DJ Mate Masie.

All ages and levels are welcome. If we each bring an ingredient and mix it all together in open cyphers and friendly competition, we will make something special!... 

And as if that isn't enough.. we have a some surprise dessert: An Afterparty at Love Lounge. See you there... and if you can't be there, make sure your are mixing up something good at home and we'll see you next time.

Influences by Johnte Cunningham

Johnte is an Urban Artistry performer.

Many musical influences have had a big impact on my life. Through music, style , dance etc. My musical taste is heavily influenced by the music I heard when I was a kid watching MTV. It was a mixture of Rock/Punk and Hip-Hop/R&B.   As I got older and started to meet new people who soon became my friends, they were listening to music I’d ever heard of. They introduced me to different producers and DJ’s so I got into different kinds of music like Prefuse 73 , Nujabes and DJ Shadow.

Prefuse 73 on Soundcloud

Nujabes on Youtube

Nujabes is best known for his approach to hip hop beats, often blending jazz influences into his songs creating a mellow, nostalgic and atmospheric sound.

DJ Shadow on Soundcloud: 

His genre-bending works of art merge elements of funk, rock, hip hop, ambient, jazz, soul, and used-bin found records.

so...

I blended everything together once I got my iPod. At the time I felt like I was the only kid in my neighborhood listening to this kind of music due to the influences of people who had other tastes.  The diversity in my taste in music had a domino effect and influenced my dancing on a more creative note. I had influences from the sounds I heard, the lyrics, the style of the artist and story. That’s what I love the best... because with all of that, there will never be a dull moment.

I’m a big melting pot of everything I’ve encountered, heard, seen or done.

How far can folk reach?

This week, Urban Artistry’s Executive Director, Junious Brickhouse, is teaching hip hop and house dance classes in Elkins, WV.   

Junious was awarded the honor of being named a Maryland Master through Maryland Traditions, a partnership with the Maryland State Arts Council and the Maryland Historical Trust in 2009 for his work with Desmond Howard and other apprentices through Urban Artistry. He understands the importance of urban dance styles being recognized and included in folk dance intensives.  For house dance especially, the movement and culture is clearly a descendent folk dance culture. Urban Artistry has found great opportunity and collaborative spirit working with genres that relate to house dance, such as Appalachian flat-footing, West African Traditional, Lindy Hop and Tap.

The convergence for Dance Week at Augusta Heritage Center of Davis and Elkins College is a key place not only for its deep commitment to preserving regional folk cultures, but also because it is part of a University that prides itself in doing just that. The Augusta Heritage Center’s mission is to encourage the wider understanding and practice of artistic expression found in local, regional, and ethnic traditional folk cultures.  

In the past year the relationship between Good Foot Dance Company and Urban Artistry, has grown tremendously. Urban dance and percussive folk dances are working together now, more than ever and these two groups are at the front of the line for that collaboration. 

In order to get a better understanding of the work that is being created through the sharing of folk dance cultures, master/ apprenticeship relations and collaborative projects, take a look at the spotlight Interview of Mr. Brickhouse by journalist Michael Lipin of Voices of America.

VOICES OF AMERICA: http://www.voanews.com/media/video/1474667.html  

Urban Artistry Goes to Artland

The summer months for Urban Artistry means more barbecues, outside jams, sweat, and of course opportunities to connect directly with local neighborhoods within our community.   

We continue our work in NE Washington, DC  by participating in yet another art festival---Artland.  

Artland is a 12 week public art celebration offering free cultural events and promoting creative expression. The events are housed in temporary art spaces (Temporiums), animating public areas and this time revitalizing two vacant store fronts in the Monroe Street area on NE Washington, DC.  

Artland is presented by Dance Place with guest curators from all over the creative community. 

These events will be going on until August 26, 2012.

At Dance Place just a few blocks away, one of our Apprentice Artistic Directors, Desmond Howard drummed for an African Dance class with Coyaba Dance Theater, while others from Urban Artistry gathered at Island Jim’s to perform our educational performance and workshop, Surviving the Times. 

One family brought their 70 year old aunt to celebrate her birthday. She danced with UA and taught us a thing or two!! The audience was especially excited when we played funk music and at the end of the show one woman thanked us for not just doing the dance, but for really going into the history and heritage behind the steps.

This moment in the show stands out, because it really speaks to our mission. 

Nick, an Assistant Operations Director for Urban Artistry and Martial Arts specialist in Chinese Kung Fu, reflects on the importance of creating a living history and archive for our movement.

“Events like this are important, because without the continual refreshment of arts, their respective histories would be lost. The last person who knows how it's taught may pass on and all that remains are their stories.  It is important to keep it going with demonstration, as well as the story. One of the special things about Urban Artistry‘s participation in cultural heritage events is that they are keeping alive traditions that are often 500 or 600 years old. For example, Capoeira, is the descendant of what enslaved Africans in Brazil were doing to hide their fighting discipline and preserve their culture. The same holds true with Shaolin Kung Fu, there is a story there, a story of  thousands of years of struggle and cultural preservation.”

Urban Artistry is committed to keeping the roots and heritage of urban dance forms fresh in the heart of everyone we encounter. One way to reach this goal is to continue bringing a cultural perspective to up and coming arts neighborhoods, like the Monroe Street section of NE Washington, DC. 

More than a Just Dance... by Miki Cabrera

Some time back I was going through some hard times. I wanted more than ever to keep dancing, except I was inevitably hitting an artistic block . On one of the days when I was feeling my lowest, I arrived at Urban Artistry rehearsal and coincidentally ended up having a conversation with one of our directors about my goals in dance. I was asked one simple, yet strong question that really hit home…

He said to me “ Well, you have to ask yourself, why do you continue to dance?” 

I thought to myself, “Well I love it, it's fun… it makes me look cool?” LOL

But if the answer were that simple it would not have gone to the trouble of being asked. The amount of effort that continuing to better myself in dance takes couldn’t be that vain. Somewhere along the way I had forgotten the real truth. I needed to look to my past before I could move forward. I remembered that I always felt an unexplainable need to continue dancing - something bigger than myself,  a connection to others around me. It was like fate, because this was a question I obviously needed to be asking myself. So,  I did and I will attempt to put into words...so bear with me ;-)

Looking back, dance has always affected me positively in life and it continues to do so now. I accomplished so much more when I was dancing, I had bigger aspirations in other areas of life. The late rehearsals taught me diligence, and the physical demands pushed me to be healthier so I could continue dancing. I’ve had to work even harder to continue now as a parent. Though I love dance more than words can express, it comes second to one, and that is my beautiful daughter Joella . She’s also the most important reason I keep dancing.

When she began to show interest in dance I was so happy encourage her in her inclinations. I’m always happy to encourage any activity she wants to try, artistic or not. 

I’ve heard again and again how extra curricular activities  improve  self esteem and help kids do better in other areas of their life.  As for  my own personal experience:  it really just makes for one happy,outgoing little girl! But why should these activities stop when we are children? I believe adults need the same in their lives. At least,  I know I do. It shouldn’t stop once we “grow up”. I’m blessed to be able to lead her by example and show that it's good for me too.

Dreaming big dreams together!

These past 4-5 yrs I’ve had to bring Joella from one class to another and then to rehearsals while she colors or something on the side. Now that she is dancing,  we are balancing her classes and practices with mine. It got pretty hectic at times trying to balance things, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I’m her biggest cheerleader and she is mine.  She has witnessed me fight to keep dance in my life, and I think that it is something she will never forget.  Kids look to our actions more than our words for guidance; we are their biggest heroes.

I also had a hero once and still do…my dad. He is an amazing musician who has dedicated himself to it professionally since he was 16 years old.  I grew up around him playing music in Bolivia and admired his talent so much. He noticed my love for dance early on and enrolled me in my first Jazz dance class. Something that back then was somewhat of a luxury.  His faith in me is the biggest reason I ever even had to courage to push myself in dance. All the music and arts he exposed me to shaped who I am today and I’m eternally grateful to him.

I remember how I used to dance to loud music at parties amongst the adults till late hours of the night with him. No matter where I went; if there was music, I was dancing. I was that kid who just JUMPED at the opportunity to dance for an audience. There was one style of music that made me want to dance so much more than the others, it made my little heart flutter when it came on…. Bolivian Saya. I would pretend to dance caporales to it, even though I had no idea how back then. Once a year during the carnival, the parade would come through Cochabamba, Bolivia.  This was one of the highlights of my years growing up. I wanted to be a dancer in the parade so badly. It just made me so eager to start dancing as soon as I heard saya music approaching and caught glimpse of the colorful Caporal costumes. The only other time I fell so in love with a style of music  and dance this strongly, in case you hadn’t guessed it, was when I was introduced to soulful house music.  

No matter the style of music… we all know the feeling <3  

It's truly never too late fall in love with our passions again.  Never too late to try to learn more, to reach for what we want ..in fact as adults we NEED to keep learning. I’ve been trying to adopt this mentality and because of it, I FINALLY said F** it  and started dancing caporales with a group for the first time this year. It's one of the best decisions I ever made.  I freaking love it. It’s reminded me even more of all the reasons why I dance and how much I love my country’s culture.

In the beginning, my biggest motivation for dancing Caporal was to expose my little one to her culture and inspire her when she watched mommy dance. But honestly, it's her who truly inspires me when I watch her practice her little choreographies all around the house.  She even tries to teach me a thing or two… she is MY little hero <3 

There is much to find within ourselves to make us better dancers, better artists, better people, even better parents if we only allow ourselves to do so. Little by little I have been shown the answers to why I dance and I have Urban Artistry to thank for that. It was meant to be that I would find myself in a group who believes in the importance of the culture behind the music, the history behind the movements and in passing on these traditions while giving credit to the people who paved the way for us.  We all have other responsibilities outside of dance, but we come together for the same cause. I’m so grateful to be part of something so positive and real. With Urban Artistry it is truly more than just dance.

Every time I enter a house club or cypher, step on a stage or arrive at a rehearsal alongside other dancers…I feel I’m home. It gives me so much to look forward to. When I dance I can feel my pains, my joys, my insecurities ,my strengths, my cultural past and the passion in my heart.  It all can come through in that moment and I’m okay with that, because I want to share it with those who feel the way that I do. Positive or negative it is all inspiration for my art. For all intensive purposes, this is my religion, the higher power I trust to heal my soul. When I dance I am WHOLE!

Be Careful What You Ask For... by Giovanni Galleno

Many people go through their everyday life. How many actually enjoy their time? When I say enjoy, I mean they are satisfied with their actions before they fall asleep. This feeling comes from being able to do what it is you fight for everyday. Some ask for more time with children. Some ask for more hours at the gym. Or even some more opportunities to show what they are capable of to others. What would you do if you actually got that which you have been fighting so long for??? All of us in Urban Artistry have been fighting for something all these years. What have you been fighting for these past years??? Guess what….if you haven’t already noticed….we are getting exactly what we have been fighting for. Some of us are teaching full time, some of us are performing more often, and all of us are learning the arts and the business of arts at an exponential rate.


This brings me to my experience so far in this blessing we have been privileged to upkeep for so long. In a previous blog I spoke of my first real cypher experience. That was something I had been asking for and received in a big way. I chose to accept the gift and then show and tell to everyone (like back in Kindergarten). Now for the past 6 years, I have been asking and working for more opportunities in the arts, education, and my family life. What am I doing with all these things do you ask? I am ecstatic. I am grateful. I am nervous and scared to fail. My family and friends keep giving me strength to succeed. This tells me I have to honor them and myself by maintaining focus on these goals. Taking care of business has become my full time job. Things like more family time with my daughter, more hours at work, taking on more responsibilities with students, and enrolling in community college. This will all take up all of my valuable time. Yet I realized that all these aspects of my life are more than necessary not  just for survival, but sanity. This means showing up for everyone on an all the time basis. This blog won’t really have a cool ending because it’s supposed to be like the cypher… keep it goin yall!

DeanwoodxDesign

Urban Artistry members, Maren Cummings and Emily Oleson took part in DeanwoodxDesign this weekend on Saturday, July 14th.  DeanwoodxDesign is a four-month long project that showcases the rich arts, cultural, historical, and green space assets of Deanwood and Ward 7 through a community-wide, intergenerational, and collaborative effort. This project was funded by an ArtPlace grant from the DC Office of Planning (OP) and managed by Partners for Livable Communities (Partners). DxD is one of four Arts and Culture Temporiums that OP has funded through ArtPlace in the emerging creative neighborhoods.  

Emily Oleson, as a co-founder of Good Foot Dance Company and Artistic Director of Urban Artistry, performed pop out performances of traditional and vernacular movement from American percussive dance. Their movements show the connections between Irish and European step dance, Appalachian flatfooting, tap, and contemporary movement.  As Good Foot Dance Company performed on the porch of The Fishing School, Maren Cummings, Assistant Director of Operations for Urban Artistry and Senior Site Coordinator for The Fishing School, did arts and crafts with youth.  The Fishing School serves as a safe haven that has offered academic and enrichment programs to more than 3,000 young people and their families in Washington, D.C for the past 22 years. With such a rich history and investment in the development of youth and their families, The Fishing School served as a temporium space for this DeanwoodxDesign kick-off event. 

Urban Artistry has been a partner of The Fishing School for the past year, offering classes during the after-school programming. We also currently have two members working for the Fishing School during the summer program.  We are invested in building communities and recognizing histories through our work as professional company members as well as in our individual careers.

http://www.fishingschool.org/

http://mattolwell.wordpress.com/good-foot/