So I am about to announce something new, exciting, and something that I know a lot of dancers (and parents!) have been begging for since we started.

We have been thinking about this for a long time, how to do it properly, how to ensure we get the best people onboard and how we can train the next generation of juniors to be at a performance standard.

So I am delighted to anounce the creation of a brand new performance crew ahem (drum roll)…….

“The Official Junior Urban Strides Crew”

As you know at Urban Strides we do things differently it’s probably what has given us the edge and the ongoing success we have enjoyed for the past 12 years.

I believe passionately that performance opportunities are a privellage. I was taught very quickly the chance to entertain, excite and energise an audience is a gift not a given.

I have also held a very strong belief that if we are to do anything in life we should commit whole heartedly to it and give our very best to help it succeed.

With this in mind the Junior Crew will be run in the same way The senior crew is currently run, this is our winning formula and has enabled us to Open the Royal variety performance, be seen in 128 countries worldwide, viewed by a global audience of 1.73 billion and seen on 36 TV channels.

The winning formula:

The principles of success are simple and straightforward: work hard, have fun and achieve. People often see the results of this in our arena tours, TV appearances and live shows but they are not always aware of what we do that results in these phenomenal opportunities.

These achievements have been reached by a tremendous amount of hardwork, dedication, sacrifice and practice, lots and lots and lots and lots of practice!

This Junior crew will be creating their own identity their own choreography and their own chemistry on stage.
The senior crew got all of their opportunities from continuos hard work and a positive and friendly approach to rehearsals.

Therefore the goals and aims of the Junior crew will be to:

- Improve their dance technique to an Urban Strides performance level
- Be dedicated to training outside of the crew rehearsals
- Bring a positive and passionate attitude to rehearsals every week
- When ready create a performance piece to give to promoters to ask for the opportunity to perform-again only when they are at a level that we feel is commensurate with the standards required by the Urban Strides philosophy.

If the junior crew follows this formula I have no doubt in my mind the success and opportunities will follow but only after the hard work, drive, ambition and the continued support of fantastic parents.

If you work hard, commit yourself we are living proof you can achieve anything but as the great Muhammed Ali once said,

“I ran on the road long before I danced under the lights”

Hard work 1st then success.

Here is the proof:

Here is a video of James who started with us aged 7, James usually does 3-5 hrs of classes per week, and has not stopped driving himself forward, and here he is after that hard work having been scouted by ITV with an opportunity to Perform on the Prime Time ITV show born to Shine, check it out:

Now what you don’t see on the video is the hard work and commitment and the extra rehearsals but believe me it’s there.

So the benefits of being in the Junior Crew are:

* Opportunity to work with industry professionals
* Dramatically increase your dancing ability
* When ready – performance opportunities
* Be able to say you were the original members of the first ever Official Junior Crew!
* Be able to create something you can call your own
* Create great new friendships with like minded individuals
* 50% off all additional class fee’s
* Discounts off clothing
* Discounts off Hip Hop Don’t Stop (when over 11yrs old)

What we are looking for in Junior dancers:

* Confidence to express
* Authentic Street dance technique (hip hop, house, lockin, poppin, breakin)
* A positive attitude
* A team player
* Hard working
*Dancers who are in the age range School Year 4 up to school yr 9 (if you are in School yr 10 you are eligible to audition for the senior crew-see next blog post below)

Here is what we are looking for in the parents of Junior dancers ( yes your auditioning as well!)

* Support and belief in Urban Strides values of hard work, dedication, commitment and fun!
* An understanding the Junior Crew has been created in order to create something exceptional and this will not happen overnight.
* An understanding that your child may not be selected for every performance and this decision will lie with the creative director
* Be an active ambassador for Urban Strides and your childs crew
* Ensure your child attends every rehearsal ( 2hrs Saturday mornings term time from 11-1 pm cost £16)

If you feel this opportunity is for you we would love to see you at the auditions and will relish the opportunity to create something new, exciting and that will enrich everyone’s life that is involved.

So the auditions for the Junior Crew are:

When: Sun 29th Jan 2012 9 am – 12 pm (auditions are run round by round so bring a book or ipod to keep you entertained)

Where: Bucks New Uni:

Our brand new studio located at Bucks New Uni, click here for a map There is no parking at the Uni but you can park at the eden car park located here ( its a 1 min walk)

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 until 1 pm if necessary.

AUDITION FEE :£5 payable at registration-Cash only. Children must be accompanied by adults at all times, apart from when in the dance studio.

The official senior dance crew dance captain Alex has 3 top tips for auditionees;

* Have confidence
* Enjoy yourself if you’re having fun it will show in your performance
* Relax everyone wants you to do your best

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

When is it? – Sunday 29th Jaunary at 9.00 am – 12.00 pm

Where is it? – High Wycombe Campus
Queen Alexandra Road
High Wycombe,
Buckinghamshire
HP11 2JZ

Good luck and I can’t wait to see you on the day.

Big luv

Andy

P.S. If you have any questions you can email Dianne at classes@urbanstrides.com or call 08448 488825

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,

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.

Day 14 of our arena tour leave us a message and let us know what you like,

Big luv Andy

Hi Fam,

I am super excited to announce the auditions for the Official Dance Crew are this Sunday the 16th January at our brand new studio located at Bucks New Uni, click here for a map There is no parking at the Uni but you can park at the eden car park located here (its a 1 min walk) However you can drop off outside the uni just not park their.

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:

• Valuable training from top choreographers
• Paid performance opportunities + the chance to perform on huge arena stages such as the 20’000 seat 02 arena
• Personal development, team working skills and choreographic opportunities
• 15% off all Streetwear and DVD’s
• Big discounts on Hip Hop don’t Stop

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.

We only take the dancers we feel are right from the crew in some years we’ve taken 10 people others 15, 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 Bucks new uni on the 16th January, who knows it could be you!

The Urban Strides Official Dance Crew is regarded as one of the most successful Street Dance Crews in the UK credits have included:

• Opening the Royal Variety Performance in the Presence of Her Majesty the Queen
• Filming and creating the Pure Street Dance DVD
• Performing alongside artists such as:
• Dizzee Rascal
• Sean Paul
• Alexandra Burke
• VV Brown
• Apearing on 36 TV Channels including BBC 1, ITV, Channel 4, and MTV
• TV appearances in 128 countries worldwide
• 3 sell out arena tours, perfroming in 45 arena shows including performances at:
• London 02Arena
• Manchester MEN
• Birmingham NIA
• Royal Albert Hall
• Sheffield Arena
• Belfast Odysey Arena
• Dublin RDS Arena

As well as commisioned works by Breakin Convention.

The 02 arena on the night of an Urban Strides performance.

The crew!

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?

Here is the story of Cyrus one of the crew members on how he got involved in the crew:

I had the Urban Dance Explosion CD and DVD that Andy presents and already had a love of street dance and hip hop culture.  Then I came to watch Urban Strides at Activate I realised that is what I wanted to do.  The power and energy that came off the crew really connected with me, and I knew that I wanted to be a part of that. I enrolled at Aylesbury high school classes and did as well as jamming and practicing in between classes.  The classes gave me a huge inspiration.  It was the platform of real technique and performance training that I needed.

I was really nervous the day before the audition because I was unsure about whether I was good enough. Then I thought, there is nothing to lose if i dont go. The worst that can happen is I don’t get in, but because I wanted to be part of the crew so much I knew that even if I had to audition 10 times it would be worth it. When I knew I got in I was overwhlmed because it was the culmination of so much hard work.  When I first started  at the rehearsals I was still nervous but the energy was so positive and everyone was so friendly and lovely.  Being in the offical crew was even better than I thought, everyone was so welcoming it felt like I had been adopted by a new family, everyone was so lovely.

The amount of knowledge and experience I have got from the crew has been incredible, dance wise and the knowledgde about hip hop dance culture.  Words cannot explain the improvement Urban Strides has made to my dancing.  When I first went on tour with the crew it opened my eyes to a whole new world and I realised this is what I want to do for a living.  Urban Strides has shown me what I really want and how i can achieve my dream.  Don’t worry if you have never been to an audition before. Going along to the audition and being part of the crew was a life changing experience for me, it could be the best decision you ever make. Give it all you’ve got and don’t be scared, there is nothing you can lose.

Where is it?

Our brand new studio located at Bucks New Uni, click here for a map There is no parking at the Uni but you can park at the eden car park located here ( its a 1 min walk) However you can drop off outside the uni just not park their.

Registration starts at 10 am 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.

The official dance crew dance captain Alex has 3 top tips for auditionees;

• Have confidence
• Enjoy yourself if you’re having fun it will show in your performance
• Relax everyone wants you to do your best

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!

When is it?- Sunday 16th Jaunary at 10.00am

Where is it?- High Wycombe Campus
Queen Alexandra Road
High Wycombe,
Buckinghamshire
HP11 2JZ

The Urban Strides team x

Yo Fam,

We’ll here it is, 2011 already! Time flies when your having fun right? I was teaching my Misbourne massive last night and was super chuffed to be back at class and sharing the love with Urban Strides fam. I was talking about moving forward and setting ourselves our own targets, when I got back in my truck after class I started to think about the year ahead and my own personal goals for myself and Urban Strides.

Each year I set myself a set of goals and targets, I use this to keep me focussed ( I can get easily distracted……mmmm pineapple) and I realised that everything of any significance I have achieved in my life is through thinking of what I want, focussing on my goal and not stopping till I get there. I think that is one of the only defining factors between people who have the chance to follow their dreams and people who simply never get off the ground in the first place.

Setting goals and targets is vital if we want to progress, after all if we’re not growing we’re ultimately dying. Growth can be perceived in many ways but having a passion for learning is key and remaining a student has always kept me motivated and excited about the future, having a feeling that we are always moving forward is a basic human instinct that links directly into our happiness.

Have a think about what you want to achieve this year…in all aspects of your life, it could be personal goals, career goals or just levels you’d like to progress with your hobbies.

So take some time to have a think about what you’d really like to achieve in 2011 and put some time aside to achieve it. Who knows what you can get when you put your mind to it. The human mind is full of potential and history has shown us that with passion, determination, persistence and a clear goal we can achieve anything we desire.

After being all inspired last night and spending my time into the wee hours of the morning thinking and dreaming about what I wanted to achieve in 2011 I also got a heads up from ma boy Mekanikool to a video clip which I think is absolute comedy gold and thought you’d appreciate on a Friday.

Let me know what you think of the vid, and check her little looks to camera, she is a genius…. Who thinks we should get her in for Hip Hop Don’t Stop?! x

big love have a great weekend.

’80s Dances:
How To Learn Popping And Locking

The final day in Manchester. Next venue is Sheffield, check out what happens…