Yo peeps,

Apologies for not blogging last few weeks, with all the bank holidays and royal weddings and with me being away it’s all been a bit manic! I’m now back on the blog shizzle and ready to drop some stuff I think you’ll enjoy.  For the last few weeks we have been teaching popping in classes and I have been talking about the history of Poppin, more specifically the Electric Boogaloo family and their huge influence in bringing the dance of Poppin and Boogaloo to a global audience.  Well Alison sent me this clip she found on Facebook that is an interview with the guy who is accredited with being the major force in driving Poppin forward to the global status it has now.  I thought it would be good to hear his thoughts and opinions on an event he recently attended.  At Urban Strides we always talk about the importance of foundation in the dance, and it’s great to hear it from an OG (original gangster!).

What’s exciting about a dance style like Poppin is although people may use it to dance to different music apart from funk (what originally inspired the dance) The technique of Poppin is still as exciting today as it’s always been and Sam’s comments about learning from the source has definitely helped me, I have been fortunate to work and spend time with all of the Electric Boogaloo’s Poppin Pete, Suga Pop, Mr Wiggles and Skeeter Rabbit (RIP) and these interactions have had a significant impact on my dancing and knowledge. So if you can’t access one of these originals make sure you learn from people who have because learning foundation will help your dance sooooooo much.

I would like to know what you think of what was said on the video and how you feel foundation and real knowledge has helped you in your dance journey. Please feel free to share as I have done in the box below I know a lot of people would appreciate to hear what a difference it’s made, also if you are new to street dance and Poppin in particular let me know what sparked your interest…I remember the first time I saw Poppin it was a video my mum bought me of Michael Jackson, what was yours?

Have a great weekend la fam,

Keep on dancing

Andy

yeah yeah yeah!!!

I don’t quite know how we managed it but I think we just quite possibly had the best Hip Hop Don’t Stop ever. The atmosphere gets better, the teachers get better and understand you guys more and the whole vibe is off the chain thanks to everyone’s positive energy, I loved it. I spent this morning going through the feedback which was off the hook, thank you so much for all your kind comments and constructive feedback much appreciated and taken on board by the Urban Strides team.

I am surprised I have not hit my Hip Hop Don’t Stop post event low’s yet! although I have got my haagen daaz ready just in case!!

So I want to hear all about what you guys loved the most hit me up with a reply in the box below to let us know what you thought of the event, the vibe and to share the luv.

I promised to put the music I used up here so here it is the majority of these links are free some are to itunes, it’s up to what you want to take but it’s a gift from me to you to say thanks for an awesome three days and I can’t wait to see the Hip Hop Don’t Stop family back together again for the summer.

so the hip hop mix I used was by the awesome DJ A skills here is a link to the download link at sound cloud: http://soundcloud.com/a-skillz/a-skillz-beats-working-vol-1

The nasty hip hop tunes with the heavy beats were from the awesome artist edit, here is a link to the album I used, I reckon you should just get the whole album, it’s nasty: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/battling-go-go-yubari-in-downtown/id264049964?i=264050002&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Here is that baaaad mix “oh my gosh” which is perfect for a fast uptempo mash up flava: “Oh My Gosh (feat. Aaron Lacrate & Debonair Samir) [Gutter Anthem]” you can also download that at i tunes just put it in the toolbar.

Here is that MJ mix which I got from youtube which I also used for the warm up, it’s naaaasty: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt9aL_xLIls

Plus the classics I used for the circles was” ain’t no stopping us now” by mcfadden and whitehead

And the Jackson 5 classic, “can you feel it

I am happy for you to go out and use the links to discover a great music journey but I would love to hear what you think of them, if you want to use the links leave a comment in the box below to tell me what you think of the mixes, or how you feel about Hip Hop Don’t Stop, how it helped you, the confidence you gained and what were your personal highlights. And if you didn’t attend Hip Hop Don’t Stop thats cool feel free to take the links but let me what you think of the tunes.

Mad luv

Have a great weekend

keep on dancing

Andy

Yo Yo Fam,

Having just had a sick term busting out the locking funk, I wanted to show you a video of some of the worlds best Lockers Hilty and Bosch busting out a nasty duet. Have a look at their moves and let me know what you think of the performance, I always love to hear what you think.

Also try and name as many moves as you can see this is a great exercise to test your lockin knowledge!

Simply put in what you think of the dance and a list of the moves you recognise in the reply box below and between us we should get all of them!

Have a great weekend

Andy x

Yo yo Fam,

I was talking to Mekanikool the other night (Urban Strides + Hip Hop Don’t Stop Instructor, family member, brother from another mother and UK Poppin Champion!) and we were discussing what he was gonna be teaching at this years Hip Hop Don’t Stop. Now those of you who don’t know, Mekanikool has had an extensive amount of personal tuition from Poppin Taco.  Those of you who don’t know who Poppin Taco is let me explain;

Poppin Taco was Michael Jackson’s personal artistic consultant for 16 years and taught Michael Jackson the animation, waving, gliding and poppin techniques that inspired so many dancers around the world when Michael jackson performed them. A lot of people don’t realise that Michael Jackson was taught…well he was and not just by Taco either, but thats another story!!  Take a look at this video and see the huge influence Taco had on Michael Jackson’s movement:

It’s crazy how similar they are isn’t it!

Well Mekanikool and I thought it would be dope if we taught these sik movements at this years Hip Hop Don’t Stop – The Ultimate Street Dance Experience.  So Mekanikool will be going through waving and animation techniques and if you ask him he will probably show you how to glide like Michael jackson as well!

The only place you will get hold of this incredible experience is at Hip Hop Don’t Stop this Easter from April 12-14th.

If you want to dance like a cultural Icon such as Michael Jackson this is an excellent opportunity to do so.  As well as getting access to these incredible skills you will also:

-  Get 4 Months of dance moves in just 3 days

-  Learn all authentic Street dance Styles with Europes leading master teachers

-  Have fun and laugh… a lot

- Be submerged in the positive and passionate atmosphere of the Urban Strides Crew

- Meet and enjoy hanging out with positive and passionate people who want to have fun like you

Places for Hip Hop Don’t Stop are going as we speak.  You have an opportunity to save £20 if you book now.

You can either call Alison on 08448 488825 or book right here on this website.

To get significantly better at Street Dance, rub shoulders with Europe’s leading dancers, meet some great new like minded friends, improve your freestyle, learn the latest routines and laugh.. a lot click here to confirm your place

Have a great weekend

Big Luv

Andy

P.S. Let me know what you thought of the Poppin Taco video, leave a reply in the comment box below I want to hear what you think!

Hi Fam,

Hope your cool, just had a mad weekend dropping some workshops at Move it. We had a great time as always but what I was really excited about was the responses to our workshops. We had so many positive comments that just reminded me that what we have at Urban Strides is something really dope. People said, “I’ve never attended such an inspirational class, I’ll never look at Street Dance Class in the same way again” another said, “I learnt more in your 45 min session than I have in the last year of my regular street dance class”

It got me thinking about The Ultimate Street Dance Experience: Hip Hop Don’t Stop – our inspirational 3 day Street Dance intensive course.  I started to get really excited about it! It’s now less than a month away and we’ve confirmed some incredible instructors.  I remember when I first thought about creating Hip Hop Don’t Stop 5 yrs ago and I never thought that it would get as big as it has.  When I created it I wanted to make sure it was so ground breaking you couldn’t possibly miss out if you were at all passionate about Street Dance.

So I made sure it included the following:

1. The best instructors from the UK and Europe

2. An intensive all day everyday 3 day experience that would make it worthwhile to travel for

3. The authentic street dance styles in a positive environment where you are free to express yourself exactly how you want

4. A community of dancers of various abilities who all get on with each other

5. A “no attitude zone” where negative behaviour and rudeness is strictly forbidden

6. A positive party atmosphere where you can have the confidence to “go for it” safe in the knowledge the person next to you wants exactly the same

7. A chance to hang out with celebrity choreographers and hear their experiences and stories of what it’s like to work with massive international artists like: Justin Timberlake, Jay-Z, Snoop Dog, Take That, Timbaland, 50 Cent and Dizzee Rascal

8. Spend 1 on 1 time with these instructors who will give you the time and energy you need to get really good at Street Dance

9. An experience that is totally unique and doesn’t happen any where else in Europe

10. Passionate, friendly and happy new friends who share a positive outlook on life

Since then this event has gone from strength to strength and has helped people take huge steps in moving forward in the following ways:

- More confidence

- Become a much better dancer in half the time

- Feel happier and stronger in life

- Met a new group of friends that they can share a passion of street dance with

Check out this video to see the difference it has made to people like you who decided to come and experience Hip Hop Don’t Stop for themselves

This event has become something so much better than I first imagined and has taken it’s place as the Ultimate Street Dance experience for anyone who is truly excited and passionate about achieving an exceptional Street Dance experience.

The most exciting part of the event is the energy in the classes, with everyone wanting to have fun and express themselves the atmosphere is like something you’ve never experienced and has to be seen to be believed.

Here are some facts you should know:

1. Every time we put on the event it sells out

2. After every course we ask you to fill out a feedback form to see how we can get even better and on the form we ask a simple question: “Would you come again?” Every single person over the last five years (over a 1000 people) have all replied, ” Yes I would love to come again”. When you make the decision to come you too will experience the same feeling where you will want to come back time and time again.

To top it all we are so confident you will love it we will give your money back if you don’t.

Simple.

So you literally have nothing to lose.

I know what an incredible event it is and I will do everything I can to make sure you get off your batty and make sure you come and experience it for yourself.  But you shouldn’t take my word for it have a look at the video and see what dancers like you have to say.

To find out more about how to spend 3 days laughing, learning and being inspired click here

Big Luv

Keep on dancing

Andy

P.S. The early booking discount runs out on 3rd April to confirm your place click now

Ah yeeeeaaahhhhhh!

I am so excited! It’s here! The only Street Dance festival of it’s kind in the UK…..Hip Hop Don’t Stop.
Hip Hop Don’t Stop is an intensive 3 day course where you get to dance with the best Street Dancers in Europe, improve your confidence levels, learn how to freestyle with confidence and meet some wicked people. When you attend Hip Hop Don’t Stop you will:

1. Learn 4 Months worth of dance moves in just 3 days

2. Meet like minded passionate and positive people who often become longstanding friends

3. Feel the positive, passionate + fun Urban Strides vibe all day every day for 3 whole days

4. Hang out with the best Street dancers in Europe and discover what they do that makes them the best

5. Discover how to dance with more confidence

6. Overcome the “Fear” of Freestyling

7. Learn the foundation steps of authentic street dance like: Hip Hop, Breakin (breakdance), Locking, Poppin, House and the latest styles including New Skool and Krump

8. Experience the latest classes with brand new moves and the latest choreography

Check out our video for what you can expect:

For more info including times, dates etc click here

You should know that even before our official release we have already sold 51 places.

Go take a look at how you can learn 4 months of the freshest dance moves in just 3 days:

Find out more about Hip Hop Don’t Stop here

Have a great weekend

Big Luv

Andy

P.S. If you’ve been before let us know what your favourite part of Hip Hop Don’t Stop is, if you are coming for the first time lets us know what your looking forward to, let us know what your thinking – drop a comment in the box below.

Yo yo

Hope your cool, thought we’d put this up. It’s from our performance at the 02 arena during our arena tour.  It’s a nice mix of krumpin and funk plus our favourite piece of the moment the William Tell Overture. We really enjoyed performing it and the response we got was really cool. Let us know what you think, drop a comment below.

Big Luv

Andy

Hope you liked it let us know what your thinking!

wow. Every time we have this event we think it can’t get any better but scheeeeeeezzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!! this one was all about freestyling and circles, and what an incredible difference everyone made.  Some of the urban Strides and hip Hop Don’t Stop fam went on some proper deep journeys.  All of the stories were told in the circles, some of which we have on video some of which we will keep in our minds our memories and our hearts. The event was definantely the most soulful and expressive we have had with so many people in the circles and freestyling all around the campus.  I feel so proud to be a part of the family everyone made it such an incredible event.  if you were there and you felt the same hit me up and let me know how it felt, don’t be afraid to say how you really felt cos through our own expression of our personal journey others can gain great strength and knowledge, say what you feel, hit us up with a comment below on your personal thoughts, feelings and vibe of Hip Hop Don’t Stop.

Big luv

Andy x

p.s. steph left this note on the other video thought you should see it.

Stef H Says:
October 29th, 2009 at 7:53 pm   edit

Omg these past few days have been amazingg! Thank you sooo much Andy for giving me the confidence to go in the circles, and thanks to all of the other teachers for giving me some awsome dance moves I have enjoyed this soooo much and I am really looking forward to the easter one x
Muchh Lovee You Guyss x x
Stef H from Top 9 Massive x x x

what did you get out of it, hit us up! x

Woop woop!!!

What can I say this week has been next level! The difference in your levels of dance has been awesome even after 3 days I could see a massive improvement, that is very impressive given the short space of time you should be v. proud of yourselves.  The level of real authentic funk has been dope, all the instructors have been so impressed at your brilliant attitudes and what a pleasure it has been to share their knowledge with you, nice work! I would love to hear what you guys think of the week so far, hit me up and let me know what has been your highlights of the week and what you feel has been most beneficial to your development.

Big big Hip Hop don’t Stop Love, you guys rock!

Andy x 

p.s. you can drop a comment below….Spounch!

I literally can’t wait!

This is it, the summer event of the year. I am so excited about hip hop dont stop this year we just confirmed some new instructors plus I just got off the phone with the usual suspects, JP, Mekanikool and sasha, + Dickson can’t wait to see you all again.  Jp wanted you to know that he will “smash da place” Just thought I’d pass that on! Dickson has new words for us, 08 was all about spounch but he promises he is bringing the noise.  This year will better than ever we are switching venues so you will have more room, and more time in each class, so you can interact even more with the teachers after each class.

Calling all HHDS crew from last year-check out the vid and leave a comment!

If you went last year leave a comment and let us know what you thought, if you have never been but are planning on coming this year spread some luv let us know what your thinking and what your most looking forward to. You know we sell out every single year and I really don’t want you to miss out so make sure you book early this year….Oh yeah, we also thought because we always sell out we thought we’d offer you a substantial discount to help you book early, check it out its all here:

http://www.urbanstrides.com/hhdsinfo.php
 
Can’t wait to see you there

Big “Hip hop dont stop” Luv

Andy

p.s. Incase you were unsure we have different levels for classes so if you are brand new to street dance but want to give it a go we have a class for you and if you are a hardcore pro who has been dancing for 10 yrs we have a class for you too! The atmosphere is dope and everyone is welcome. its all here http://www.urbanstrides.com/hhdsinfo.php