Yo yo,

Here is the opportunity you don’t want to miss out on: the official dance crew auditions on the 11th January at Wycombe High School.  If you are interested in performing with one of the most successful street dance crews in the UK you need to come and strut your stuff at the audition.  We are looking for dedicated, dancers with a raw performance edge who want to have the time of their lives with a strong family unit.  If you want to take your dance to the next level, gain unrivalled performance opportunities and become part of a team, then the official dance crew is for you.

Being part of the dance crew entitles you to the following benefits:

·         15% off all Streetwear and DVD’s

·         Big discounts on Hip Hop don’t Stop

·         Valuable training from top choreographers

·         Paid performance opportunities

·         Personal development, team working skills and choreographic opportunities

 The 2008 crew on the set of their dvd, PURE STREET DANCE

The layout of the audition is as follows: you learn a short combination in groups of 15-25 just like in a class.  The only people watching you will be a judging panel made up of artistic director Andy and some guest instructors.  You will then be selected on how you do but will also be given an opportunity to freestyle if you want it, you will not have to do anything you do not feel comfortable with.  If you have any additional skills you will be given the opportunity to show it.  REMEMBER, we want you to do well so just relax and have fun!  Here is a video of one of the funny clips the crew did for James Corden and Big Brother check it out!

Segun is one of our students who started off at our beginner’s class in Aylesbury and has just completed our 13 date arena tour including performances at the 20000 seat o2 arena tour sharing a stage with X factor winner Alexandra, not to mention performing in the Pure street Dance DVD. He recalls how he felt before the audition:

“I was all set to come to the audition, I had plucked up the courage and was really looking forward to it, but then I saw some footage on YouTube of the 07 arena tour and was blown away by the quality of dance. I was really nervous and nearly didn’t attend the audition. However I thought I would go anyway and in the end I got in, it was a big shock but Andy said he saw the potential in me, this year has been incredible and auditioning for the crew was the best decision I have ever made I have had opportunities that I would never have normally got, become part of a close team and learnt loads….and to think I wasn’t going to turn up!”

Segun performing at the NIA in front of 14000 people

We normally take 27 dancers, we look for potential so if you want to have life changing opportunities and could see yourself performing in front of 20 000 get yourself down to Wycombe High school on the 11^th, who knows it could be you!

Am I elegible:

• Do you have over 1 yrs street dance experience?
• Are you willing to commit your time and energy for something exceptional?
• Are you serious about taking your level of dance to exceptional standards?

Where is it?

Wycombe high for Girls High wycombe click here for google maps: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?sourceid=navclient&hl=en-GB&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4PBEA_en-GBGB275GB275&q=wycombe%20high%20school%20for%20girls&um=1&sa=N&tab=wl 

registration starts at 10.30 am go thorugh the main gates in to the main reception and turn right to register

Should you be successful you will be needed until 5 pm there will be lots of waiting around so bring a book or an ipod!

Please be aware the audtions will be run round by round so we have no way of predicting when you will finish please be prepared to stay all day if neccesary.

AUDITION FEE :£3 payable at registration-please bring change.

·         Have confidence

·         Enjoy yourself if you’re having fun it will show in your performance

·         Relax everyone wants you to do your best

A photo of the 2008 dance crew before their headline performance at the 02 arena

to find out more crew click here: www.urbanstrides.com/dance_crew.php  

To watch videos of the crew click here: http://blog.urbanstrides.com/category/videos/ 

Tell your friends and we look forward to seeing you there!

The Urban Strides team x

Hi! We have arrived in Dublin and tonight and tomorrow we are performing at the RDS. We have seen the choir and their energy and enthusiam is fantastic and we know that the shows are going to be awesome! We brought the Urban Strides flava to Northern Ireland and this weekend will be bringing it to Dublin!

The kids have worked really hard at their street dance moves and we want to make sure that the positivity  of the Urban Strides Street Dance Crew continues so we are offering our Pure Street Dance DVD at only £10 for those of you who come to the shows. Unfortunately due to such high demand at the venues we have already visited we have sold out! So we are offering the DVD at half price here on our online store where we have DVDs available to send you. All you need to do is click on the link and enter “Dublin” into the discount code section on the store page to receive your discount. However, this offer is only available until Monday 8th December at midnght so make sure you don’t miss out, grab your DVD now and keep the Urban Strides energy alive.

Click here now http://street-dance-store.com/store/gbu0-prodshow/15.html

The dvd also features loads of extras including interviews with the crew and a CD of music from Beatbox Champion, Beardyman! http://street-dance-store.com/store/gbu0-prodshow/15.html

If you came to the shows leave us a comment and let us know what was your favourite part of the show was so we can keep doing what you love to see, your time and feedback is much appreciated.

Keep on Dancin

Andy x

p.s.

Remember, the offer only lasts until midnight on Monday so don’t miss out and click here now!http://street-dance-store.com/store/gbu0-prodshow/15.html

Tonight we are performing at the Odyssey Arena and we can’t wait! We are looking forward to jamming with the Belfast choir and bringing the Urban Strides flava to Northern Ireland. Because we don’t do classes in Northern Ireland we wanted to make sure the positivity and energy of the Urban Strides Street Dance Crew is here to stay we are offering our Pure Street Dance DVD at only £10 for those of you who come to the show. We would be selling them at the venue but due to such high demand we have sold out! So we are offering the DVD at half price here on our online store where we have DVDs available to send you. All you need to do is click on the link and enter “Belfast” into the discount code section on the store page to receive your discount. However, this offer is only available until Friday 5th December at midnght so make sure you don’t miss out, grab your DVD now and keep the Urban Strides energy alive.

Click here now http://street-dance-store.com/store/gbu0-prodshow/15.html

Don’t forget the dvd also features an over an hour of extras including interviews with the crew and behind the scenes footage of the young voices tour, so if you want to find out what goes on behind closed doors click here now http://street-dance-store.com/store/gbu0-prodshow/15.html

If you came to the show tonight leave us a comment and let us know what was your favourite part of the show was so we can keep doing what you love to see, your time and feedback is much appreciated.

Keep on Dancin

Andy x

p.s.

The DVD also features a free CD from two time UK beatbox champion beardyman as well as five hrs of tution so you can learn to dance just like the crew! Act now to ensure you receive your copy before they sell out…again! click here now http://street-dance-store.com/store/gbu0-prodshow/15.html

Yo Yo, last night we had a wicked show at the MEN Arena in Manchester. The vibe was awesome and I have to say having 23,000 people jump up off their feet with such vibrancy and passion was something that I’ll never forget. Thank you so much to the phenominal parents, audience and Young Voices Choir for bringing so much enthusiasm and passion to the show. I can honestly say I have never been part of such a massive freestlye jam! If you were at the event or you came last year, hit us up and let us know what you thought of the Urban Strides performances. Let us know your highlights and what you enjoyed the best so we can make sure we are giving you guys what you want.

Last year we received thousands of enquiries of people wanting to carry on with Urban Strides street dance. Unfortunately we currently don’t have classes in Manchester . Instead we were planning to sell our awesome Pure Street Dance tutorial DVD with free Beardyman Beatbox CD for half it’s normal retail price as a gift to the Young Voices Choir. However, demand was so high we sold out at the O2 so we had no DVD’s to bring to Manchester! So we are offering this special deal on our online store until Wednesday at midnight. THIS IS A ONE TIME DEAL AND WILL NOT BE REPEATED! You need to write the promotional discount code “Manchester” when you purchase the DVD to ensure your discount. Click here to get one before they run out…again! http://street-dance-store.com/store/gbu0-prodshow/15.html 

Don’t forget to leave us your feedback on the Urban Strides performances. Let us know what you loved so we can make next year even better. Your time is very much appreciated as is your opinion. 

Keep on dancing.

Big Love,

Andy

PS. Don’t forget, like Cinderella, the special offer runs out at Midnight! Ensure your not disappointed, click here now! http://street-dance-store.com/store/gbu0-prodshow/15.html

Hey dudes, it’s that time of year again for the young voices tour.  We are taking in Birmingham, London, Manchester, Belfast, Dublin and Sheffield!  Last night we performed at the NIA and the audience were awesome and the school choirs were dope! We would like to thank everyone on the tour for their hopsitality, the technical and venue staff and all the performers.  We cannot wait to rock it again tonight! The interactive dance section was wicked and I have to say well done to all of the schools who practiced so hard you were like a hard core bunch of Urban Strides NInjas!  If you were at the show we would love to hear from you let us know what you thought of the Urban Strides performances, let us know what you liked the best, your feedback is very important to us and helps us keep on top of our game, big love,

Keep on dancin’

Andy x

Well it’s 2.40 am and I’ve just got home from our gig at Southampton guildhall for the mojive massive.  We were performing the showcase for the evening which was a jive night for the mojive dance company.  I have to say we had a great night, it was fantastic to see so many people just jamming and dancing, you know it’s a good night when there are more people on the dance floor than sitting down.   It reminded me why we do what we do, the positive and enjoyment of dance what ever your style or flava is something beautiful I was inspired tonight by seeing so many different people come together to socialise and jam, absolutely awesome. Thanks to Mojive for having us come and do our thang for the second year and thanks to the management for looking after us so well plus all the lovely comments people said to us when we were leaving.  If you were there tonight feel free to leave a comment and let us know how you enjoyed the evening, we would love to hear from you. Keep it up mojive massive!

Keep on dancing

Peace

Andy x

WOW! THE BEST HIP HOP DONT STOP YET!!!  Loved the vibe this year you guys were off the chain, all the instructors loved every minute we were freestyling in the car park till 7! Big love to everyone at the event you guys are represetning for the whole hip hop community.  The locking freestyle at the end of the day blew me away 100 people all jamming together sharing in the love, AWESOME! I was so inspired by everyone who was in and around the circle so proud of everyone who was representing I love you guys, if you were there and you felt the energy drop a message and let us know how it was for you, I loved every second!

big respect

big love

Andy x

Well, the 1st day of hip hop don’t stop and everyone seems to be loving another action packed year and so much knowledge being dropped it’s making people dizzy!We even had Dickson the 2008 Uk popping champ drop in with Mekanikool from the Urban Strides family. I had a great day sharing, you guys are dope, there was some serious funk kicking around! Thanks for all the fantastic feedback I got today if you are on Hip Hop Don’t Stop drop us a comment and let us know how your feeling the vibe.

p.s. In class today I mentioned the locking duet which is a good example of funk check it here, blog.urbanstrides.com/category/videos/

p.p.s I know I mentioned the star wars vid, I have put it below cos it made me smile

peace

Andy

I just spent the morning presenting certificates to a group of exceptionally gifted young people, and I have to tell you it was fantastic.  The urban scholars programme was set up to help young people in London Boroughs to access expertise and experiences that might not have been accessible to them otherwise. The Moody foundation funded the enterprise and the benefit to the graduating students was obvious.  I was fortunate enough to be invited to give a key note speech and present the awards and I felt privileged to be asked.  When there is so much negativity going on in the news right now about the hardship facing many residents of london it restored my faith in society to be able to celebrate the incredible achievement of these young adults.  It took 4 yrs of commitment and a lot of hard work to graduate and  to see so much joy in one place was wicked. I personally received so much positivity from the event it will keep me going for months!  Congratulations to everyone involved in urban scholars both the staff and the graduates.  Good luck to everyone you deserve everything you get.  If you were at the event let us know what you thought, drop us a comment and stay in touch!

Peace

Andy Instone

Here it is guys, an excerpt from our performance at Swan slam, If you were there drop us a comment, if you couldn’t make the show and this is the first time you’ve seen this drop us a comment anyway and let us know what you thought! By the way the style of dance here is called locking, one of the styles we will be covering at Hip Hop Don’t Stop 08! If you want to improve your dancing with some of the best dancers in europe take a peek at our Hip Hop Don’t Stop 08! video it’s sick! Click here to see what all the fuss is about www.urbanstrides.com/hhdsinfo.php  

peace

The urban strides team