Janelle's soul session hip hop dance workshop (7th Oct 2007)

Perth's own Janelle Vaccaro has returned from her new home in LA to bring us fresh, funky moves with a bit of soul. Her credits include being signed to DDO Artists Agency in Los Angeles and receiving a US artist visa; choreographing & dancing for Virgin Records USA singer/songwriter Che'Nelle; dancing for Rove McManus; internationally recognised and respected company Dance2XS; Supafly and Ministry of Sound from the UK; Aussie dance music duo TV Rock; Carnival Cruise Lines USA; Genting Resort in Malaysia; teaching Hip Hop all over Perth and being a principal teacher/choreographer for thestudio.com.au

The growing success of Perth dancer Janelle and singer Che'Nelle since their move to America has seen them appear on MTV, Video Hits and Rage for Che'Nelle's debut music video 'I Fell in Love with the DJ'. The video can be seen on both Janelle and Che'nelle's myspace pages and the song is available on itunes.

Che'nelle is also in the running for a massive MacDonalds ad campaign alongside artists such as Neyo, Sean Kingston and Kenna!

Che'nelle is currently touring in Australia for the release of her debut album"Things Happen for a Reason" and will be appearing at the studio.com on Oct 7th '07 for Janelle's Soul Sessions hip hop dance workshop. Unfortunately, I missed her by a few hours. Anyway, I was lucky to get on of her merchandise from Janelle.

Here is Janelle taking us for our stretching session before we tackle the hardcore choreography. I'm super rusty hey! Haven't been dancing for a while....except for attending Body Jam classes at the gym with Paolo.

Now it's time to switch on and crack my brains to learn Janelle's choreography. Hehehehehe.....:) Below are 2 videos: the first is Janelle performing her dance and the second one is me trying out her dance routine. However, please don't laugh..... it's not very good. (as I mentioned I'm really rusty)




I get to take another picture with the famous Janelle. That's Chenelle's merchandise Janelle gave to me since I'm going to miss meeting her. Thanx!!!!



It was a fun Sunday afternoon. I had my 2 hrs of cardio workout and polish up some of my dance moves. Hope Janelle is coming back to visit us when she's free. Take care Janelle!!!!

Janelle is back!!!!

With the current season of "So you think you can dance" (Thursday @ 7.30pm Channel 10) in full swing on the TV, I'm itching just to get off my seat and do my thing. The perfect opportunity has just presented itself.

YAY!!!! Janelle is back from L.A. The much loved teacher and dance choreographer is back and teaching in Perth for ONE DAY ONLY!!!! Her soul session hip hop workshop which I will be attending on the 7th of October 2007 is gonna be an outstanding feel good experience for me as I've not been dancing for a while now.

All I can say is WELCOME BACK Janelle!!!! Looking forward to seeing you again. It'll be a blast absorbing all you can teach us.

Dance 2XS

Project element 2007 dance workshop update. This is me rubbing shoulders with the famous Patrick Chen (top pic) and Lee Daniel (bottom pic). Lucky me hey! Hehehehehe.... ;)




Patrick Chen in action. Teaching us the routine of one of Sierra's songs.... very complicating, dynamic, sharp and precise movements. I was very pleased with myself as I got most of the routine. The pictures below is me in action. Can you spot where I am???? (It's like "Where's Wally?" Hahahahahaha!)





Lee Daniel's style of dancing is more free style, smooth and flowing..... similar to Usher and Omarion. Unfortunately, didn't get pictures of Lee Daniel in action. However, I can definitely tell you he is a cool, stylish and smooth dancer.


Although I had a massive headache after from all that spinning,twirling and sudden direction changing, it was an AWESOME morning/ afternoon. This is my hip hop dancing phase.... love it!!!!

Project Element 2007.

Perth is so fortunate to have such creative talent hitting our shores all the way from CHICAGO! Introducing Patrick Chen and Lee Daniel (Dance 2XS: An internationally recognized dance company). They are coming to Perth on the 27th of May 2007 for a hip hop dance workshop.

Just some info about their credits, they include: Aaliyah, Lil' Kim, SugaBabes, Mya, Mariah Carey, MTV, Nickelodeon, Matrix II & III and "You Got Served". Patrick and Lee have also hosted international workshops and worked along side of Marty Kudela (choreographer of Justin Timberlake) and Gil Duldulao (choreographer of Janet Jackson).

I'm so looking forward to learning some of their dance moves!!!! Update and more pics to come. Stay tuned........ ;)

Amazing dance workshop

May 9th 2007.... Dance workshop taught by the famous Michael Schwandt. He is an LA choreographer/ dancer who has worked with AeroSmith, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Craig David, Lucy Lawless, Kristine W, The Beach Boys, Envogue, VH1, MGM, Puma, Land Rover, Mitsubishi, Palm Treo, The Latin Grammy Awards, cruise lines, Caesar's Palace and more.

You should see him..... he is a truly AMAZING dancer/ choreographer. Tonight he almost killed my brains with the dance steps!!!! It was to a Janet Jackson song.... didn't quite get the title though. However, all I can tell you.... it is a sort of a cheerful song with very complicating dance routine. By the way, the dance workshop was held at "The studio.com.au"..... check out the website. (Ref to link in my blog)

Most of the more professional dancers there picked up the choreography with a snap of a finger. There is me getting frustrated with myself. Hehehehehe..... ;) Janelle, the organizer, she recently attained a 3 year working visa in LA with a famous dance company. Very lucky but it's no surprise as she's got the talent. Believe me!!!! ALL THE BEST JANELLE!!!! Make Aussie dancers proud!!!!

What a surprise!!!! I met Jos there. I've not seen her for a long time. I knew Jos at Fitness First gym..... we love doing Body Jam together. Now she's no longer a member of Fitness First..... what a shame. However, it's good to see and dance with her again.

This is a group shot of the dancers that participated in Michael Schwandt's dance workshop. Pose for the camera people!!!! Hehehehehe..... ;)

A photo with the famous dancer/ choreographer. YAY!!!! He's a very humble, approachable, talented, fun and kind person. Hope to attend more of his workshops when he comes back to Perth. Thank you Michael for the fantastic dance workshop!!!! It was brain wrecking but enjoyable. I love my dancing!!!!

Welcome to my world of dance.

I've started ballet ever since I was 4 or 5 years old. Everyday after school, I would be looking forward to go for my ballet lessons. I've done and achieved till the grade where I'm now a member of the Royal Academy of Dancing (R.A.D) in London. Now that I'm getting older, ballet dancing for me is just pure pleasure and enjoyment.

Ballet is not the only style of dance I wanted to explore. I was very much interested to try out different styles of dancing. For example, I've exposed myself to latin/ballroom dancing; R&B/ hip hop dancing; flamingco (spanish dancing); and contemporary dancing. I hope to experience more of the latin dances like Salsa!

During my Uni days, I was a free lance dance cheoreographer for the Singapore Students' Association (S.S.A.) and the Korean students' Association (K.S.A.). I used to perform in events like the Mambo night, Raffles ball, and other social events. It was mostly the effort of many thinking/ creative minds put together and copied and paste dance moves from MTV. It was the best time of my Uni days hey!

COME VIEW MY WORLD OF DANCING...........

I attend a ballet school in Perth called Dance Venture. Every year, the school will hold a Christmas/ end of year concert. In year 2004, our theme was "Swan Lake". Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures for that concert.

However in year 2005, I had pictures of the christmas concert entitled "Sleeping beauty". They'll be coming up after this...........

In year 2006 christmas concert, I was silly enough not to take pictures. The theme was "Alice in Wonderland". I wasn't in that act.....however, I was previllaged enough to work with Pippa (ex-student of dance venture who taught in Hamburg, Germany dance academy). I was in her dances called "Requiem", "Wrong note rag" (both were contemporary dances) and we did a scene from "West side story" we were the "Bernstein dancers". In addition, I was in a latin/R&B dance item with 4 other dancers (song by R Kelly "Burn it up").

Here are the pictures for the 2004 "Sleeping beauty" concert.........

From what I remember, I was the pink fairy (pink costume) and a snow flake (white costume).

And here are my fans for that year.............

My very close colleague at work, Margaret (She's my teacher assistant at school)............


Auntie Margaret and her son, Kristos; my parents.......


And last but not least my bubs was my BIGGEST fan!

Besides participating in the year end ballet concerts, I also danced in a benefit concert on the 8th of July 2006. This was held in the dance venture studio.

This is Kate and I rehearsing before the real thing.......

This is the Adage I performed with my classmates.......and I did a contemporary dance called "Tzigane". (I'll see if I can upload the movie clip in the near future for all of you to view)

My mum and my bubs came to watch.

Once a year, Dance Venture will participate in fun fairs to promote our ballet school. Here is a latin/R&B dance we performed. Of course my bubs was there to support me. I was pleased to see some of my students from East Kenwick Primary School coming to watch too!

Moving onto my latin/ballroom dancing.......I started learning about 5 or 6 years ago. I was with Fantasia dance studio in Claremont. Ian and Leonie Evans (husband and wife) were my teachers.........very strong, passionate and capable couple. They guided me through all my medals. In between those medal, I've participated in the Medal days at the Embassy ballroom where you compete with dancers from other dance schools.

Not many pictures to show though....mainly I've got movie clips. As I've mentioned before, hope I'll be able to put them onto my blog in the near future.

These are the dances I've learnt-

• Modern- Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Quickstep.



• Latin- Cuban rumba, Samba, Cha cha, Jive, Pasa Doble.



• New Vogue- Parma Waltz, Merrilyn, Evening 3 step, Pride of Erin, Tangoette, Gypsy Tap, Lucille Waltz, Charmaine, Tracie Leigh Waltz, La Bomba, Carousel, Swing Waltz, Barclay Blues and Twlight Waltz.

These are the medals I've earned from the Dance Masters' International Association. I'm proud to say that all the medal examinations I've taken, they were all scored as distinctions-

• Modern- Bronze, Bronze cross, Silver, Silver cross and Gold.



• Latin- Bronze, Bronze star, Silver, Silver star, Gold and Gold Star.



• New Vogue- Bronze, Bronze bar, Silver, Silver bar, Gold, Gold bar and Gold star
  

During this medal examination, I was marked by the president of the D.M.I.A. How nerve wrecking!!!! In the end, I got to take a picture with her and she kindly gave me distinction for all my dances. Hooray!!!!

Meet Rhapsody James....one of the most popular R&B/Hip Hop dance cheoreographer in L.A. She has cheoreograph dances and show tours for Pussycat dolls, Justin Timberlake, Nelly, etc. I was really honoured to be learning dances from her. My favourite dance was "Beep!" by Pussycat Dolls......fun, energetic and sexy. OOoooooooo!!!!

Anton and my bubs went with me too! Sometimes he wasn't really happy......coz I got the step faster than him and with style too! Hehehehehehe.....;) Overall, Anton and my bub did quite well .......seeing that they're guys and are needed to do some of those sexy, hip swaying, booty shaking "Pussycat doll" moves. Hahahahahaha!!!!