dance Tyler’s Hip-Hop Hot Spot by Mike & Kathy Wood Tyler, a hip hop center? It will be for five days starting on July 25th when FLY KiDS imports three world class Breakers and Hip-Hop dancers for a summer camp workshop that packs a colossal amount of dance in each seven-hour day. Our instructors will be Chris “Colcutz” Gamez, Corey “Spidmon” Greene, and Armando “Boy” Alejandro—all professional instructors and former or current members of the world-famous Havikoro crew and Urgeworks. Hosted by Tyler’s Glass Recreation Center, this camp is open to the public for advanced, intermediate, and beginner dancers, ages eight and older. It’s an opportunity for East Texas dancers as well as dance teachers from studios, public and private schools, colleges, and universities to get intensive instruction from Hip-Hop dancers who have traveled, performed and taught extensively throughout the world. Chris and Corey, our returning instructors from the 2010 camp, are known as All Styles dancers and choreographers, meaning that they can do many different forms of Hip-Hop movement and can create complete dance pieces. Both have excellent people skills with upbeat teaching styles making them effective and popular instructors. Last year, every student went home with many new breaking skills, two pieces of choreography and a new respect for learning. New this year is the amazing Armando “Boy” Alejandro, a break dancing and power move specialist. Power moves combine acrobatics, strength, force, and momentum. All you Breakers who want to move from beginners to intermediate level or intermediate level to advanced, this is your chance. Conducting the camp is Kathy Wood, the driving force behind FLY KiDS and creator of FLY Dance Company, a Hip-Hop based act that toured throughout the U.S. and Europe for five years averaging sixty concerts each year for performing arts venues including the Kennedy Center, the Lincoln Center, and the Bob Hope Theater. She is one of the founders of the Texas Dance Educators Association and a member of its Hall of Fame. Chris, an original FLY Dance Company member, has also danced with Planet Funk, Sandra Organ Dance Co., the Houston Rockets, Destiny’s Child, Coolio, Common, Biz Markie and, of course, his Havikoro crew, which has traveled to over 40 countries performing and teaching. At Houston’s Lamar High School, Chris was a full-time HipHop dance teacher. He recorded a rap album with Much Luvv Records. Working for American Voices (a U.S. government agency), his Urgeworks organization took American Hip-Hop culture to Third World countries. Two years ago, Chris started his own church, The Worship Experience. Corey’s career started with martial arts and gymnastics which he immediately adapted to Hip-Hop dancing that, he says, was “love at first sight.” Still in high school, he was recruited by Dance Force Productions and began performing at both private and large corporate parties. After graduation, while stationed in San Diego with the U.S. Navy, Corey joined and battled with the Bang Uh Rang crew which introduced him to his specialty, House Dancing (a fusion of R&B, Jazz, and Hip-Hop.) In 2008, he was ranked in the top 16 out of 50+ of the world’s best dancers at House Dance International New York City. In Houston, he won the first Ritual Grand Prix, a compilation of House Dance Competitions.
PineyWoodsLive.com
Armando has been break dancing and teaching dancers around the world for over fifteen years. From London to Denmark, Japan to France, and all over the U.S., Armando has entertained many thousands of people worldwide. He is known for creating some of the most difficult power moves in the break dance world. Now, Armando is focused on teaching and training dancers who are eager to learn the fundamentals and techniques he used to get to the top. He’s got an App for that. Really. Camp classes will begin at 9:00 a.m. and go until 3:30 p.m. with thirty minutes off for lunch. A 30-minute demonstration will end the day at 4:00 p.m. On Friday, there will be a public student concert where camp dancers will show what they have learned and instructors will showcase their Breaking and Hip-Hop skills. This camp is not to be missed by dance teachers, dancers, cheerleaders or anyone wanting to add some new and very cool movement to their dance repertoire. Tyler, a hip hop center? Well, the FLY KiDS Hip-Hop Summer Dance Camp will be making sure it is—at least for one week every summer. For more about the summer camp, fees, housing for outof-town students, registration, the instructors (with photos, videos, and biographies), and Kathy Wood, please go to www.flykids.net then click on Summer Camp. Contact Mike Wood at 713-419-4611 or flykids@suddenlink.net.
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It is unique to find a city such as Longview, that has such a vibrant arts community – a ballet, opera, symphony orchestra, symphonic band, art museum, historical museum, and a children’s theatre group! With such widespread support and dreams for the future, the arts in Longview continue to flourish and it is by working together to promote our creative resources that will enhance the arts community for everyone.
Visit us online at
www.artslongview.org for a complete Calendar of Events!
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Taking 2 groups twice a year! Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm
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June 2011 - Page 17