Chris Brown & Benassi

Beautiful People

   I'm not going to lie, I am not a fan of Chris Brown because of his anger issues, but I DO love this beat!!

Swedish House Mafia

Save The World

Aqua - How R U Doin?

   OH YES!! They are back!! LOVING this beat!! <3

LMFAO ft. Natalia Killz

Champagne Showers

   This is the next video after Party Rock Anthem... LOVE ITT!! <3

Till The World Ends Vid

"TILL THE WORLD ENDS" OFFICIAL VIDEO!!!!

   They are saying this is Britney's best video since "Slave 4 U"! I have to fully agree!!! =D

Till The World Ends

Britney Spears - Till The World Ends

OMFG!! How much do I love Britney!?!

~Mikenze ~

Femme Fatal

Britney Spears "Femme Fatal" Album Spoiler

New album comes out TODAY, MARCH 25, 2011!! 

~ Mikenze ~

The Pirouette

   A pirouette is the most common spinning step in jazz. You need strong arms, a strong core, and strong legs to perform this dance move. There are many different exercises to stretch and strengthen your muscles. The most important muscles to focus on for a pirouette are your glutes muscles, hamstrings, quadriceps, calf muscles, your arms, and your core.

   To stretch your glutes muscles, lay on your back and put both feet flat on the floor. Your knees should be pointed towards the ceiling. Lift your right foot and place your ankle just above your left knee, on the bottom of your left quadriceps. Lift your left knee towards your chest as far as you can go, and hold it for 90 seconds to get a good stretch. Repeat for opposite side. To strengthen your glutes, quads and hamstrings, the easiest exercise is to do simple squats. You could also do walking lunges.

   For your hamstrings, the best stretch is to lay on your back with your arms at your sides, legs straight, toes pointed, and core solid. With your left leg pointed about an inch off the floor, lift your right knee to your chest. Hold it there for about 20 seconds. Then extend your leg to the ceiling. Keep your leg straight and pull it as far towards your chest as you can. For an added stretch, put as much pressure as you can from your leg to your hands for 10 seconds, and then relax your leg, knee still straight, and pull your leg further towards your chest. Hold your leg for 90 seconds to get a really good stretch. Repeat this process for your left leg.

   To stretch your quadriceps, stand with your feet shoulder width apart. Go down into a squat position. Place both hands on the floor behind you, and then let your knees fall forward as far as you can go.

   For your calf muscles, stand with your feet shoulder width apart. Place your right foot in front of you and bend your right knee. Make sure your left heel stays on the ground. Go out as far as you need to to feel the stretch and then repeat for your right leg.

   To stretch your arms, cross your right arm in front of your chest, and pull it with your left arm. Hold for 30 seconds and repeat for your left arm. Then lift your right arm above your head, and let you forearm fall to your shoulders. Your elbow should be pointing towards the ceiling. Pull your elbow backwards with your left arm. Hold for 30 seconds and repeat for your left arm. The best way to strengthen your arms is to do a series of arm circles. Extend your arms to your sides so they are 90 degrees with your body. Begin to circle then forward quickly with as much muscle tension as you can use. Keep the circles small for 30 seconds, then medium for 20 seconds, and large for 10 seconds. Repeat this going backwards to get the full effect.

   To stretch your core, stand with your feet shoulder width apart. Lean to your left, only bending the sides of your core. Place your right arm over your head and reach out as far as you can. Repeat for the left side. For your upper and lower abdominal muscles, lay flat on your stomach. Put your hands on the floor directly under your shoulders and lift your upper body off the floor. Your hips should still be on the floor. Hold this for 90 seconds. To strengthen your core, there are many different crunches you can do. After you have decided which crunches you will do, choose your favourite up-beat song. Do 12 of the first type of crunch, then 12 of the second type of crunch, and so on. Repeat this cycle for the entire song. The crunches are:

 

Standard Crunch

 

Table Top Crunch

    

Butterfly

Side Crunch

Plank Hold

... You can also do leg lifts, where you lay flat on your back and lift your legs up to a 90 degree angle, lift your hips off the ground, let your hips back down, and then slowly bring your legs back down to the floor. Your legs should be in full point during this exercise. You must always remember during any crunch, plank, or leg lift exercise that targets your core, to keep your abdominals working throught the exercise, or your core will not be targeted properly.

   To properly execute a pirouette, you must remember to engage your entire body, especially your core. This will help you with balance. Start off by standing with your feet shoulder width apart. Bend your knees and put the majority of your weight on your left leg. You will will be turning to the right, with your right foot in retiré. Put your right arm straight in front of your body, and your left arm out to your side. Make sure you are using the muscles in your arms, this will help you. You must bend your knees. Bending your knees is what gives you the momentum to get around. The you push up, your right leg goes into retiré, you go onto demi- point with your left foot, keeping your left leg straight and strong. As this happens you bring both of your arms into an oval in front of your ribs. It is important to push downwards with your arms while they are in this position because it helps with your balance. Always remember to keep your core tight and spot! Once you have spun around a full 360 degrees, land it in fourth position. This is where your right leg extended behind you, and yours arms will be slightly higher than your eye level in a V. The perfect example of a pirouette is in the video below, except she does 36 in a row. Her landing isn't perfect, but her technique is very good.

36 CONSECUTIVE PIROUETTES!

Sarah Mattea

Sarah Mattea - Heart on Fire (Noel G Mix)

Lovin this BEAT!  =)

~ Mikenze ~

Amazing Lyrics

Lady Gaga - Born This Way

It doesn't matter if you love him, or capital H-I-M

Just put your paws up

'Cause you were born this way, baby

My mama told me when I was young

We are all born superstars

She rolled my hair and put my lipstick on

In the glass of her boudoir

"There's nothin' wrong with lovin' who you are"

She said, "'cause he made you perfect, babe"

"So hold your head up girl and you'll go far,

Listen to me when I say"

I'm beautiful in my way

'Cause God makes no mistakes

I'm on the right track baby

I was born this way

Don't hide yourself in regret

Just love yourself and you're set

I'm on the right track baby

I was born this way

Ooo there ain't no other way

Baby I was born this way

Baby I was born this way

Ooo there ain't no other way

Baby, I was born this way

I'm on the right track baby

I was born this way

Don't be a drag - just be a queen

Don't be a drag - just be a queen

Don't be a drag - just be a queen

Don't be!

Give yourself prudence

And love your friends

Subway kid, rejoice your truth

In the religion of the insecure

I must be myself, respect my youth

A different lover is not a sin

Believe capital H-I-M (hey hey hey)

I love my life I love this record and

Mi amore vole fe yah (love needs faith)

I'm beautiful in my way

'Cause God makes no mistakes

I'm on the right track baby

I was born this way

Don't hide yourself in regret

Just love yourself and you're set

I'm on the right track baby

I was born this way

Ooo there ain't no other way

Baby I was born this way

Baby I was born this way

Ooo there ain't no other way

Baby, I was born this way

I'm on the right track baby

I was born this way

Don't be a drag, just be a queen

Whether you're broke or evergreen

You're black, white, beige, chola descent

You're lebanese, you're orient

Whether life's disabilities

Left you outcast, bullied, or teased

Rejoice and love yourself today

'Cause baby you were born this way

No matter gay, straight, or bi,

Lesbian, transgendered life

I'm on the right track baby

I was born to survive

No matter black, white or beige

Chola or orient made

I'm on the right track baby

I was born to be brave

I'm beautiful in my way

'Cause God makes no mistakes

I'm on the right track baby

I was born this way

Don't hide yourself in regret

Just love yourself and you're set

I'm on the right track baby

I was born this way

I was born this way hey!

I was born this way hey!

I'm on the right track baby

I was born this way hey!

I was born this way hey!

I was born this way hey!

I'm on the right track baby

I was born this way hey!

LMFAO -

Party Rock Anthem

Every day I'm shuff-a-lin'!!!

History of Tap Dance

   Tap dance is a very popular form of dance in modern theatre. It is more about the rhythm made by the feet than about the whole- body movement. Tap dance first began way back in the early to mid 1800's. It was created from a combination of African slave's dance movements, Irish clog dancing, and European jigs. The man who is believed to have first began this dance form by combining these styles was known as "Master Juba". In the later 1800's, tap dancing was further popularized through "blackface" performances in Vaudeville shows. The performers would imitate the black slaves known as 'Levee dancers' in their acts, while using tap dancing to entertain. 

Bill "Bojangles" Robinson             

  There were two styles of shoes at this point: hard wooden- soles and soft leather- soles. The hard- soled shoes were used for fast paced dances, also known as "buck-and-wing" dances. The soft- soled shoes were used for more humorous and delicate tap numbers with slow, smooth music, also known as "Sand Dances". Metal taps were added to the soft- sole leather shoes in the early 1900's. Thomas Rice was the first person to perform a tap dance with metal taps on his shoes in a large- scale show in 1928. It then became very popular among black dancers and throughout the 20's and 30's they created new styles and moves. These styles included the Shim Sham Shimmy, created by Leonard Reed, and the black bottom, introduced to the dance scene in 1919 by Perry Bradford. The most famous tap dancer of this era and of all time is Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. He is best known for his "stair dance". This dance came about when he danced up a long flight of stairs to be honoured by the King of England.

   Tap dance grew in the early 50's because of famous dancers such as Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. Their routines were becoming more modern, adding new moves to the dance form. It became more elegant, expressive, and creative. Tap then fell off the scene until the 80's due to the rapid growth of Hollywood's film industry. This is when popular dancers Gregory Hines and Savion Glover brought tap back to the stage. Savion had his first Broadway role in "The Tap Dance Kid" in 1985. He is known as a living legend of tap.

Gregory Hines & Savion Glover

Sources:

http://www.essortment.com/history-tap-dancing-65288.html

http://www.offjazz.com/tp-hist.htm

http://www.streetswing.com/histmain/z3tap1.htm

http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/The-History-Of-Tap-Dancing/1079189

http://www.theatredance.com/tap/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shim_Sham

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Robinson

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savion_Glover

P!NK - F*ckin' Perfect

 Made a wrong turn, once or twice
Dug my way out, blood and fire
Bad decisions, that's alright
Welcome to my silly life
Mistreated, misplaced, misunderstood
Miss 'No way, it's all good', it didn't slow me down
Mistaken, always second guessing, underestimated
Look, I'm still around


Pretty pretty please, don't you ever ever feel
Like you're less than f*ckin' perfect
Pretty pretty please, if you ever ever feel like you're nothing
You're f*ckin' perfect to me!


You're so mean, when you talk about yourself, you were wrong
Change the voices in your head, make them like you instead
So complicated, look happy, you'll make it!
Filled with so much hatred...such a tired game
It's enough! I've done all I can think of
Chased down all my demons, I've seen you do the same


Oh, pretty pretty please, don't you ever ever feel
Like you're less than f*ckin' perfect
Pretty pretty please, if you ever ever feel like you're nothing
You're f*ckin' perfect to me


The whole world's scared so I swallow the fear
The only thing I should be drinking is an ice cold beer
So cool in line, and we try try try, but we try too hard and it's a waste of my time
Done looking for the critics, cause they're everywhere
They dont like my jeans, they don't get my hair
Exchange ourselves, and we do it all the time
Why do we do that? Why do I do that?


Why do I do that..?


Yeah, oh, oh baby, pretty baby..!
Pretty pretty please, don't you ever ever feel
Like you're less than f*ckin' perfect
Pretty pretty please, if you ever ever feel
Like you're nothing, you're fucking perfect to me
You're perfect, you're perfect!
Pretty pretty please, don't you ever ever feel
Like you're less thank f*kin' perfect,
Pretty pretty please, if you ever ever feel like you're nothing
You're perfect to me...

Britney Spears

Hold It Against Me

NEW BRITNEY ALBUM!

RELEASE DATE:  MARCH 2011

Can I just say how STOKED I am for this album!!! =D

Avril Lavigne

What The Hell

   OMFG! Avril's new song is BOMB! ... Ever since Avril stepped on the scene with "Complicated", she has captivated me with her simple but complex lyrics, and unique style. I love her message. And we were born in the same city of Belleville, ON.

Her new album is scheduled to release on March 8, 2011... This album is definitely on my list to purchase! =D

Kayden - To The Moon

We all remember the Savage Garden original right? I LOVE this remix!!! Enjoy!  =)

Medina - You & I

(Dash Berlin Remix)

I love this beat. Very trance & chic.  =)

Annie Lennox - Little Bird

I look up to the little bird

That glides across the sky

He sings the clearest melody

It makes me want to cry

It makes me want to sit right down and cry cry cry

I walk along the city streets

So dark with rage and fear

And I...

I wish that I could be that bird

And fly away from here

I wish I had the wings to fly away from here

But my my I feel so low

My my where do I go ?

My my what do I know ?

My my we reap what we sow

They always said that you knew best

But this little bird's fallen out of that nest now

I've got a feeling that it might have been blessed

So I've just got to put these wings to test

For I am just a troubled soul

Who's weighted...

Weighted to the ground

Give me the strength to carry on

Till I can lay this burden down

Give me the strength to lay this burden down down down yeah

Give me the strength to lay it down

But my my I feel so low

My my where do I go ?

My my what do I know ?

My my we reap what we sow

They always said that you knew best

But this little bird's fallen out of that nest now

I've got a feeling that it might have been blessed

So I've just got to put these wings to test

Hap - Happy Holidays

   This Christmas was very interesting. We were missing two Uncles and a Brother, but everyone else had a great time. I spent Christmas with ALL of my family. I got lots of household items and kitchen items as gifts. Daddy gave me some money, so I bought a new digital camera. I love it! All the photos in this post were taken on my new digital camera. After Christmas I went to Hamilton to visit my favorite cousin. We had a great time. New Years was the craziest of all. It's a really long story, but I am feeling MUCH better now than I was the next morning.

   I am extremely excited to start another semester at school! I can't wait to dance again and see all of my SLC family! =)

New Hair w. Waves

New Hair on New Years

New Hair Straight

Hair Before the Blonde

Kim & Mikenze

**My True Hero**

Jen & Mikenze

Jen & Mikenze

**The Wild Side**

Mikenze & Meadow

**Sisters**

Mikenze & Mama