the idance® blog of Omar Paloma random flotsam and jetsam about me and the company I built

I feel So Proud

OK Gang,

I feel sooooo proud! Real streetdance is about freedom of expression. If your hip hop organisation is trying to stop you take note.

Tonight there are two dance shows on TV Move it Like Michael Jackson (BBC3)
and Got to Dance (Sky1)

While I take absolutely no credit whatsoever for the success of any of the... dancers or dance groups, these groups had talent before they met me andidance and will continue to have talent long after, I can't help but feel enormously proud of my involvement in their dance lives and, in one case, early in their dance lives.

First Plague!

I first saw Plague at another dance competition in London, I think in 2003.
At the time they came second to Boy Blue, but (and no disrepect to Kenrick and his amazing organisation) I had them first on my sheet. The next time I saw them was when my dance troupe, Culture Shock, were competing against them. Frankly, they were absolutely unstoppable. I think our choreo was better (sorry Muhktar) but their staging, cleanliness, concept, overall technique... unbelievable...
cementing my admiration of the group. Incidently Muhktar was one of the only ones in the competition who came up to us, congratulated us and complemented us on our piece... a level of class that I consider a trademark of his. Muhktar is truly a gentleman.

However it was in 2005 that I pursuaded Plague to enter the UK Championships.. Frankly, Plague changed the game for everyone ... globally. With pure choreography and swagger these guys ran away with they UK championships and had to beg and borrow thier way to the World Championships in Los Angeles.

At the end of the prelims when they were announcing the scores we all had a bit of panic because they were announcing the final 3 crews to go to the finals and Plague hadn't mentioned. I was worried... (Hell, I had to sleep on a sofa in the hotel room to be sure they could go, ha ha) then number two, then #1 Plague.... wow. It still sends tingles to think about it. And it got even better.

Plague (to this date) are the only crew in World Championships history to make changes to their routine and improve their score in the final. And of course Brooke's recently er... borrowed trademark move. To this day you can see how utterly and completely the World Championships was changed and influenced by their performance.

Finally, I was blessed with the initial phone call from Cirque Du Soliel
that the were interested in Mukhtar for the show.... Plague are amazing and
Muhkar is a genius But did you know...

Second Peridot

On that world championship team for Plague was Simmz from Peridot. Ok I'm going to keep my comments shorter here. Peridot are the ONLY crew in the idance UK Hip Hop Dance Championships to have successfully defended their title. Peridot absolutely KILLED it before and live audience of about 3500 at the Paul Mitchell AGM in Vegas. It was phenomenal. And Simz is also a humble gentleman. They should be in the final tonight..... robbed I tell you!

Third ANIMAINEAX!

These guys are dope! Many of you will remember Pink Mafia who were Silver Medalists in the adult division of The idance(r) UK Hip Hop Crew
Championships in 2006. Many of you won't know that Mark Calape, a member of Animaineax was the leader Pink Mafia.... and before that Mark was a member of Culture Shock Dance Troupe UK, my dance company.

Culture Shock was designed from the beginning to be highly collaborative. While I took the decision over what pieces of choreo and what dancers performed (and sometimes what music), the reality is all that dope choreo that so many of you remember, came from the dancers themselves. Mark was one of those dancers and amazing choreographers.

His first piece of choreo was an instant hit with the crew and remained a favorite.... the talent of course was Mark's.

Fourth DNA

I first met DNA at the first UK Hip Hop Crew Championships in 2005 in Portsmouth, and these guys are amazing and Passionate. DNA are the only crew to have been in the top 3 of the idance UK Hip Hop Crew Championships every year since entering. The energy and creativity
of the their leader Dee Spencer surrounds and infuses everything they do. They are truly deserving champions.

Plague, Animaineax, are in the move it like Michael Jackson live finals tonight at 9 on bbc3 Hopefully DNA will be on tv tonight on sky1 but be sure to see them at some point in the series.

Fifth Jukebox Jrs.

When I first saw them in thier White tracksuits at the Idance UK Hip Hop Dance Championships in 2005 I thought how adoreable. After their trip to la?? OMG and did you know they were bronze medalists and got thier medals from MC Hammer? Liara and these kids are unreal and get better and better all the time. I forgot to mention in my original post, the inspiring documentary about thier incredible journey to the World Championships.. a trip that nearly didn't happen. It shows again how passion above privledge is one of the best weapons to success for Hip Hoppers.

6th Nemisis

What can I say? I llove Ishe and Nemisis, the first ever finalist on Britains got talent.

I am very proud of all these guys and I am happy to have been a part of thier lives!

Keep coming to the Idance UK Hip Hop Dance Championships and support the real hip hop at the UK's biggest crew competition and the only event endorsed by the creators of America's Best Dance Crew. The first event on BBC And SKY.

Keep hip hop free! In the words of Marlon from Flawless (idance Uk Hip Hop Crew Champions ships adult champions 2006) chase the dream not the competition.

idance(r)
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