I didnt start training at 3 yrs old

Good morning my fellow dancers, fitness lovers, followers and supporters, hope your all well.

Someone sent me a really great quote this morning and I wanted to share it.

“A man, as a general rule, owes very little to what he is born with. A man is what he makes of himself.”

– Alexander Graham Bell, inventor

 

I love this quote..

As a dancer I use to think OMG I didn’t start dancing at 3 years old, I can’t become a dancer, that thought stayed with me until I finished college, then with the support I needed I was able to start training to better my dance skills, yes the thought took a while to leave, but its gone, because now I know that what I make of my dance skills, is a reflection of the time and effort I put in to better myself.  The fact that I didn’t start dancing at 3 years old will not affect my destiny.

 

Whatever you do to better yourself know that you could do it.

 

Enjoy your day.

 

Dance * Live * Inspire

Kay-Ann

Anokhi Award show and Gala

Today I’ll be performing at the Liberty Grand with Canadian Singer Farahri and Hip-Hop artist Choclair, with Hype man and Reggae artist Fire Lion.

This performance is the 4^th Annual Anokhi award show and Gala.

 We will be performing Farahris new single ft. Choclair Dance the night away. I had posted the video a while ago, but here it is again if you missed it.

 

I will definitely keep you all posted, matter of fact I’ll be tweeting away, I’ll try to get in 4 twit pics for the night.

If you don’t know what a twit pic is, just follow me on twitter and you shall find out.  FOLLOW ME

Funny Alicia Keys and Beyonce video

I love this song by Alicia Keys and Beyoncé. Its called *Put it in a love song*

I found a fake music video of the song on youtube.

Oh man usually I don’t put up these videos on my blog, however just check out the dance moves, absolutely funny.

Good work ethics

So you want to dance, you want to be one of the top dancers in the industry.

You want to make dance your career.

Well I’ve summed up some tips that may help you get and stay in the dance industry.

Before I do so I have to say what I’m listing is based off experience, and observation.

Here we go

 Its not cool to constantly show up to your dance rehearsals late, it’s not professional.

When you commit to performing, that’s your commitment, the choreographer, and dancers are relying on you to do this. Calling the night before or on the day of to say you can’t perform is not professional. We all know that personal situations come up, but only you know if it’s worth it or not to cancel.

We all have ups and downs, how you deal with your ups and downs is your personal choice. Being known as the dancer that can’t be hired because whenever they have a personal issue, everything goes downhill including the project is not very healthy.

Keep work related issues at work and keep personal related issues personal, when the two cross it’s never a good combination.

Speaking ill of other dancers is not OK…. think of it this way, the people you are discussing another dancer to may have your name in his or her mouth in there next conversation with someone else. And the conversation may not be very pleasant.

Not only is this not professional, it’s disrespectful and damaging. Treat others the way you want to be treated. The next time you’re around a group of dancers and they are speaking ill of another dancer, leave the conversation or keep your mouth shut.

Spend your energy speaking positively or engaging in positive criticism. Don’t waste energy on matters that do you no good.

Be prepared: Come with all your rehearsal gear and performance gear, make a list of the things you need.

Turn your cell phone off during rehearsal.

Listen to what the choreographer wants you to do. You are the dancer, not the choreographer; if the choreographer doesn’t want you to do a particular move then don’t do it.

When you’re the choreographer then you call the shots, plus you would want your dancers to be receptive towards you.

If you don’t like the choreography and costume that’s fine…but going around to others and causing an up roar is not really called for..if the costume or choreography makes you feel extremely uncomfortable speak with the choreographer or agent, but not the other dancers.

When it comes to choreography, it’s not always going to be what you like. That’s why there are many different choreographers who have different choreography styles.

Its art and not every ones art is the same.

Be respectful be professional

Build positive working relationships with others, no you don’t have to be best friends, and go out to eat everyday. But it’s important to build healthy relationships. And to do that you must respect yourself and others.

Train, take dance classes and not just classes  your friends teach…for goodness sake… take classes to learn and to challenge yourself, not so you could perform the life out of the routine all the time. If you’re constantly breezing through choreography, are you growing as a dancer?

Step outside your comfort zone and learn different styles from different teachers and choreographers.

Discipline yourself, practice not just in the studio, practice by picturing yourself dancing, practice by going through the dance moves at home.

Don’t get comfortable. Dance *FULL OUT* who cares if you know it already, dance FULL OUT…unless your dead tired, injured or sick.

Overall the goal is to develop good working habits to match your talent and hard work. When talent, hard work, dedication and knowledge come together it makes the path a little easier.

Dance * Live * Inspire

Thanks for reading. Let me know your thoughts.

 Kay-Ann

Februarys thought

So it is February. I wonder how everyone is doing so far in 2010.

I really hope the excitement is still there and the will to change and build new healthy habits is still there.

All in all we could always make a change, regardless of what time of the day it is and it doesn’t matter when in the year, change is constant and it is always something that we all could take part of.

So to all my lovely dancers it’s never too late, to take that ballet class, or that advance hip-hop class, it’s never too late to seek out a mentor, its never too late to let go of un healthy habits and turn them into good ones.

Most importantly it’s never too late to let go of what you think you know, and learn from everyone around you.

Take new classes, step outside of your comfort zone.

 Talk to someone new, asks questions..if you’re always late arrive early, if you’re always early and on time keep it up..lol..That’s good work ethic

If you’re always blaming others, look in the mirror and start the change with you

If you’ve always wanted to choreograph, start and do your research on choreography

If you’re shy, make it a goal to talk to one new person each day

If you’re always in the back of the dance class, stand in the front, or stand at the other side of the room

If you’re always in the front stand in the back you would be surprise how the mind works when you don’t stand in the same place

Watch a dance show other than Hip-Hop, Ballet or Jazz

Take a class that you know will be hard or a challenge for you, matter of fact take a class that’s so out of your element that it’s like learning how to walk again

The point is it’s never too late to change and try something new, when you do this; you are growing as a dancer and person.

Dance * Live * Inspire

Dancing is for everyone

So you love to dance, but you are convinced that dancing is something that is too hard, and or you think it could only be done by professional dancers and those who where born with the great ability of co-ordination.

Or maybe you’re too scared to take your first dance class, because you have never and I mean never in your life danced before, but you would love to learn.

A lot of times people come up to me, and they say, I really want to dance, but I’m scared.

I ask them why and I get different reasons, but the most popular one is, it looks hard, I ask them why it looks hard and usually it comes down to, whenever they see someone dancing its usually a dancer so they compare there skills to those of someone with training or who has a dance background.

They watch shows like so you think you can dance or dancing with the stars and then base there capabilities off these shows….

 Nooooo, lol…that’s a big no no…

Those participants and dancers on TV shows have had time to practice, plus many of them have years of training especially on popular shows like So You Think You Can Dance and American Best Dance Crew

Plus…dancing is not just for dancers, it’s for everyone and anyone to enjoy.

Dancing is a one of life’s gifts that should be enjoyed by the world.

There are dance classes out there for recreational dancers and professional dancers. And there is a big difference between them.

Professional dance classes are designed to train dancers at a level that is needed to work in the dance industry.

Recreational dance classes are designed for everyday people with no dance back ground and those who may have had a dance back ground but do not want to take a professional dance class, or they are not ready for a class at that level.

Recreational classes are for all to enjoy, one of the great benefits is that you’re learning at a pace that is good for you, yet you’re still challenging yourself.

Dancing is for everyone, so if you have that fear and thought in your mind that it’s too hard or dance classes are only for professional dancers, wipe it out of your thought process today and start dancing.

There are many people out there who want to dance, all they want to do is move…give yourself the gift of a life time and dance, even if its at home, just move around, and take a recreational dance class.

I guarantee you will feel better.

Oh yes and the popular question I also get is.. “OMG Kay-Ann, I seen your videos on youtube, they are great, but I can’t dance like that”

What’s on youtube are video clips of me dancing with other professional dancers at showcases and events, and I wouldn’t dear teach those moves to participants in an open level recreational class…that would be crazy, the moves are too complicated. Plus alot of rehearsal time went into each performance.

So the answer to that is…what you see on youtube is at an advance level, the moves I will teach in an open level class are just as unique, easier, yet they are meant to challenge you,  and you are still able to master them with practice, you will enjoy them and leave feeling good and accomplished.

Open level recreational classes are for everyone..so come out and enjoy

Start dancing, and let go of that fear. Dance is for everyone find a dance class that’s at an open level that you will enjoy. Just try it.

Dance * Live * Inspire

Kay-Ann Ward

These inmates got groove

This video brought tears to my eyes..lol….Its the feeling, and how together they are…Wow these inmates really put in rehearsal time..Truly powerful and quite entertaining.

I have to find out, how they did this, stay tuned.

There is Hope for Haiti

We all know the devastation that hit Haiti on Tuesday January 12^th, 2010.

Lives were forever changed within minutes of a massive 7.0 earthquake that killed thousands of people. Kids were left without parents, people were buried alive by homes and buildings that came crashing down, the chaos that took place and that is still taking place is not only unbearable, it is also heart breaking.

Millions of people around the world immediately started asking what they could do to help. And help is what the world is doing. With different charity organizations around the world and in Toronto, many Fundraisers are taking place.

If you don’t know how to help here are links of organizations pouring out resources to Haiti.

World Vision

Unicef

Red Cross

Yele

Hope for Haiti Now

For continuous news coverage you can always tune into CNN  and other local TV news stations.

Different televised shows are taking place to raise money for the cause.

Last night Hope For Haiti Now: A Global Benefit For Earthquake Relief was held on a variety of TV stations, celebrities came together to use their star power for an amazing cause. I got a chance to watch few of the performances and I was deeply touched. Jennifer Hudson and Wyclef Jean brought tears to my eyes.

 I missed Beyoncé performance for Hope For Haiti Now: A Global Benefit For Earthquake Relief, I watched it today and was deeply touched. Here it is.

If you missed the live show, thats OK, you can get a list of all the artist that performed by visiting Youtube. Just type in Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earth Quake Relief

Canada is doing their part. Congrats to all Canadians who together raised money for Haiti at “Canada for Haiti.” Over $8 million dollars was raised on Friday January 22, 2010 on a televised Fundraiser which brought together Canadian celebrities from Celine Dion to Rachel McAdams from the Hit movie The Notebook.

With many local and grand fundraisers taking place, please give generously.

Here are a few local fundraisers coming up, and yes there will be plenty of dancing taking place.

When: January 24th, 2010

Where: Tattoo Rock Parlour 567 Queen Street West

Time: 7pm

Cost: Pay what you can

Hosted by Canadian Dance Group Baby Boyz visit website

***

 

What: Concert, Enjoy a night filled with music, dance and art. Proceeds raised will go to Haiti.

Start Time: Tuesday, February 2 at 6:00pm
End Time: Tuesday, February 2 at 11:00pm
Where: Footwork Bar
Link to the event

**

**I’m working on a great Fundraiser which will bring together Toronto’s finest, to raise money for Haiti, details to come in the following week**

For now there is so much we could and continue to do, give whatever you can, pray, talk to your friends and family about it, keep hope alive, it will take years to rebuild this nation, but they could do it, and they could do it with our help. Lets not turn our backs. This is more than just sad, we have kids, and people holding on, so we must hold on with them.

Dance * Live * Inspire

Kay-Ann Ward

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Are you right for the job

Something interesting happened, and through frustration, I started to vent, it was a healthy vent, the kind of vent we all need to get out the toxic feelings inside of us.

Well after venting I felt better and my thoughts cleared up, and it was as if a light bulb went off in my head.

Here is what happened.

I was getting frustrated because I wasn’t getting the results I needed, and I felt this was a serious block towards moving on to the next step, getting these results was and still is extremely important, however I was not working with the right people.

The team I was working with were all friendly and made me happy, they all wanted to do the job well, but the problem is they were not right for the job, and because they were not right for the job, I got frustrated when I didn’t get the results I needed. I didn’t have the time to break down specifics with them; if I did then the outcome would have been different.

How does this apply to dance?

Picking up choreography fast and being able to execute the choreography well is important, majority of the time, choreographers do not have enough time to break down each move to dancers, so it is up to that dancer to be able to soak up information quickly and be able to execute the moves well enough in a short period of time, without the choreographer having to repeat information over and over and over again.

Choreographers do not always have time to break down how dancers should feel when executing a dance move; it’s also up to the dancer to be able to express the essence of each move through his or her body.

You could be a great dancer, amazing and with just one more rehearsal, you will perfect the dance move and be able to perform it well. But majority of the time, that extra rehearsal is not there.

So you must be able to pick up quickly and execute each move well.

I knew this already, but sometimes you have to experience before you could actually relate.

So yes the choreographer likes you and knows you could dance well and perform well, but they don’t have a full day or two to break down each move, therefore you’re not right for the job.

So what ends up happening at times is that, the dancers who are able to pick up choreography quickly, execute the moves well and who are able to express the essence of the moves get the job, because they are able to do what needs to be done effectively, in a short period of time.

Choreographers are looking for dancers who could do the job with out having to think that the dancer may make a mistake on stage, which is damaging to the performance, the artist, the choreographer and to you the dancer. Some choreographers may understand and some may not be very understanding. I mean the truth is we all mess up every now and then, but could you mess up and fall back gracefully into choreography, it seems simple, but its not, this is a skill that good dancers also have, the skill of making it seem like nothing happened.

Also the work that is being put on you is the vision of the choreographer, what you look like is a direct reflection of the choreographers talent, so if you are not performing to the standards of the artist and choreographer, it will not look good, the choreography will not look the way its been envisioned by the choreographer, which now becomes a problem.

When you are able to understand this dynamic you have just improved your knowledge of the industry and are now ready to move forward in your dance career

What could you do to get yourself to that level?

• Take dance classes, train your brain and body to learn how to pick up and execute choreography quickly.
• Dance with essence and emotion
• Don’t give up, some dancers have a great skill to be able to grace through auditions, some don’t, the majority has to work at this skill.
• The job has to get done, it’s a business, don’t take business matters to heart, learn how to let things go.
• Think and act like a professional dancer. Walk in the room prepared to do what you know and love to do. Your job is to dance your heart out period; anything else on your mind at that time should be second priority. This is blunt but very truth.

 Lesson learned

**So what I learned  was, even though I like this team, they are not right for the job, I have to go out and find a team that is able to give me what I need to get results.**

It’s not personal. If I had plenty of time to work with this team, then yes I could train them to get the results needed, but if I don’t have time, then I need to go out and find a team that is able to execute the plan.

Dance * Live * Inspire

 

 Like always thank you for reading. Help spread the word about this blog. I love sharing my thoughts and experiences with you, please spread the word amongst your friends and other dancers.

Kay-Ann Ward

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Little X

On Saturday January 16^th, 2010 I went to a lecture at Ryerson University that Canadian Music video director Mr. X also known as little X taught. The topic of the workshop was *Performing for the Camera* This workshop was for everyone in the industry, from dancers, directors, producer and music artist.

I thought it would be good for me to go and take in the knowledge from one of the industries leading directors.

If you don’t know who X is, now is a good time to Google him. He has worked with some of the industry’s top artist and has directed videos that featured some of Toronto’s finest dancers.

 Little X is the one in the gray suit

I got the chance to work with Little X two years ago, when he directed Kreesha Turners Bounce with me Video.

 On set of Kreesha Turners “Bounce with me” Check out the video on You Tube.

I was one of the featured dancers, the video was choreographed by Toronto’s own and lead judge of “So you Think You Can Dance Canada” Tre-Armstrong.

So what did I take from the workshop?

Ummm dancers and performers all I could say is this, you have to love what you do, because it takes a lot of work to get the final product looking the way it does.

**He touched on some key points that I think is beneficial for dancers and all artist**

1)      When performing in front of the camera, use your body and follow your instincts. Let every move and every shot count, don’t waste a move or a look, let your energy radiate through the camera and into the rooms of all the viewers watching. He used Beyoncé as an example…just watch Beyoncé when she’s doing her thing, it could be a close up or a wide shot, she knows what to do with every part of her body.

2)      Be on point, stay focus, their are many distractions on and off set, you can not come on set, with distractions, time is of essence, and work has to be done, make sure when you arrive on set, that your ready, even if its hurry up and wait which is usually the case.

3)      Do your research, be passionate about what you do, to the point that it becomes an obsession, study what makes the top performers and artist great, watch how they move and how they work the camera, down to the smallest gestures from the way they move their eyes, there fingers, there hands and how they stand. Perfect example Michael Jackson.

4)      Be persistent and put yourself out there. WORK HARD.

5)      He touched on something that was interesting and of course because someone brought it up. Sex Sex…the way women are objectified in videos etc. His point of view is this. A women’s body is beautiful, if she chooses to show it, its her choice, and if you have a problem with it you should solve that problem, she doesn’t have the problem. You do. And why should she change for you, if you get a hard on from watching, then you deal with it. She is a grown women who is able to make educated decisions about her life. …no further discussion is needed. Let’s move on.

6)      Practice, makes perfect. If you’re an artist who doesn’t dance, take dance classes or classes that allow you to move and become aware of your body. If you’re a dancer learn how to move your body with purpose. Practice your facial expressions in the mirror. Understand what it means when the director says, we are using a  18, or 35 lens. Or when he says, we are coming in for a close shot. Know what movements to use, so that the shot is effective, to know this,  you need to know your body.

7)      Most of all when you get in front of the camera be yourself. Let go and do what feels best, follow your instincts, because your instincts is usually the true you.

      It’s never ok to tell someone on set how to do there job..ex.  you are the dancer it’s not ok to go to the makeup artist and say could you change my makeup I don’t like the way it looks, it’s not about you, it’s about the video, that’s just an example, I’m pretty sure there are many horror stories of people telling others how to do there jobs…all in all focus on doing your job right.

It was a good workshop, informative in different ways. I was told the next one will be Feb. 7^th, 2010. I’ll keep you all posted.

Put it this way, if you want to work and continue to work in the industry, it’s always good to learn, its good to hear from the director himself what he’s looking for…hint hint..:)

On another tip, he brought out a few artists to take part in shooting demo music videos, and could I say, we have talented  artist here, the talent that came out, was nice to see.

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Dance * Live * Inspire

Kay-Ann Ward