The News Review:
- MST hosts break dancing competition
- FLATS LIKE A BUTTERFLY
- Dancer wants to kick it like it’s 1986
- Koester shifts focus to dancers
- South African dancers mesmerise the Park
- Limping With the Stars
MST hosts break dancing competition
Capital News 9 – Apr 29, 2007
Participants danced in several categories like two-on-two and one-on-one popping battles made popular by the movie “You Got Served. ” Some dancers said they just go with the beat of the music.
FLATS LIKE A BUTTERFLY
New York Post – Apr 29, 2007
' And she said 'Yeah absolutely. ' She never overpowers me. "In fact when Ali walks into a West Hollywood dance studio for rehearsals she doesn't strike you as being particularly intimidating. It's only when she strips down to her dancewear and uncovers her shoulders and biceps that the champion boxer emerges — and then disappears again as she practices the kind of graceful flourish with her arms that is almost impossible to teach "She's never had to be feminine" says Chmerkovskiy. "So I'm trying to bring it out. She can kick my ass. But it's going to be in a very girly kind of way… "And most of the time I was saying: I can do better than that. " Does she think she could take on say last season's champ Emmitt Smith? "No" says Ali "but there were certain people you saw mainly the women and you'd say 'Come on girl you're just not working it! Work those hips!'"She agreed to sign on because she's at a crossroads in her professional and personal life. Engaged to former NFL great Curtis Conway she is taking a break from boxing planning a July wedding and hoping to start a family. "I want to have a child" says Ali. "I want to start working on that after the show. This was a way to show a different side to myself and have fun. " And kick some serious butt.
Dancer wants to kick it like it’s 1986
San Francisco Chronicle – Apr 29, 2007
“Kickin It ld Skool” never pretends to be a documentary so it’s easyto forgive most of the frequent lapses in plausibility. But it’s more thana bit distracting that all of Justin’s clothes still fit even though he’stwice as big as he was before the coma. And will anyone in the 13-year-olddemographic that attends these kinds of movies even understand theSmurfette and Andrew McCarthy jokes? While “Kickin” is overly long with only sporadic laughs it does getbetter once Justin reunites with his old break-dancing troupe (the FunkyFresh Boyz) and they try to battle against more modern urban dancers. Thefinal tournament is to breaking what “Bloodsport” was to martial arts witha lot of interesting different styles. Real-life street dancer JesseBrown who plays Justin’s rival has some particularly good moves. There’s also a funny scene where Justin tries to commit suicide byeating Pop Rocks with Pepsi — but this movie even screws up that 1980scultural reference. Everybody knows that Mikey from the Life cerealcommercials died from Pop Rocks and Coke.
Koester shifts focus to dancers
Deseret News – Apr 29, 2007
“I’m not really interested in seeing dance by that I mean a combinationof steps put together” said Koester during a rehearsal break at theUniversity of Utah’s Marriott Center for Dance. “I’m interested in seeingmovement. And I wanted the dancers in these works to focus on the personwho is dancing as much as the dancing itself. “There are human beings on stage and not merely dancers with a capitol’D. “‘ To convey that goal Koester who is a professor of modern dance at theU.
South African dancers mesmerise the Park
Jamaica Gleaner – Apr 29, 2007
There were cheers for high leg lifts from the women in the early going their male counterparts in leopard print soon following suit. ‘Mama’ was discernible in the singing in the uptempo song which followed rhythmic ‘heys’ coming from the audience as three young men in black loincloths high stepped at the front of the stage. There was some effective oral communication among the visual treat though as after a particularly extended music break one young woman advised “Never think negative in life. Let the past be your guide to defining your future. ” Another said “You won’t change anybody unless you change yourself first. So I believe as Africans we can stand. ” And a man defined the stance encouraging all to “stand against crime stand against poverty” to cheers from the audience… So I believe as Africans we can stand. ” And a man defined the stance encouraging all to “stand against crime stand against poverty” to cheers from the audience. Fluid movementThe dance that followed ended with one woman cradled in the arms of a young man legs glowing from under her mid-thigh skirt. The women did one routine in track suit pants and abbreviated gym tops dropping to one knee then both spinning around and standing in a coordinated fluid movement. And the men followed in torn jeans and high work boots the music soon stopped for them to provide their own beat from slaps on the sides of the boots and handclaps in intricate rapid patterns at one point accompanied by shouts of ‘woah’. Members of the audience duly ‘woahed’ back the piece ending to very strong applause. From vests and shirtsleeves for moves that would not have been out of place for a Jamaican ska song to long red dresses for a solemn piece from the ladies the combination of attire and dance continued to delight the large audience.
Limping With the Stars
Washington Post – Apr 29, 2007
f course within three weeks Butler and Arenas were also shelved by injuries leaving Coach Eddie Jordan and his assistants the team’s only unscathed all-stars. "The coaching staff better watch itself" Butler said yesterday. "Step on a crack break your mama’s back all that. "But Crystal — who continued attending home games like Butler and even dance team practices despite her injury — said she didn’t believe the franchise was cursed. "I just think it’s a string of bad luck and it could happen to any team" she said. "It is unfortunate but I still have faith. It’s been an amazing year regardless of the injury.