Bitearsweet

So sad! Today was the last day of the workshop! We were totally stoked when we found out that Pete and Pop decided to do a collaboration class!!!!!!!! The 2 Electric Boogaloos doing a collab class... out of this world!! Not only did they do a collaboration, it was a 2 class long collaboration meaning 2 hours and 45 minutes!!! For the first class they both taught popping and we did some warm-ups... things they would do normally. Pete came up with a few counts, then Pop came up with a few counts and then so on and so forth to create a combo. Then we gathered on one side of the studio and did some "training" for our arms for popping. It wasn't too hard to follow until they added the Electric Boogaloos taste to it which consisted of a neck roll... and that just threw everyone off! Then we made a line around the studio and practiced the old man until we formed a circle, then we faced into the circle and did the popping exercise inwards. It was so tiring that some of us started dropping our arms so when we got to the centre Pop all of a sudden yelled "and do the Thriller!!" It seriously looked like we were doing what the zombies were doing in Thriller haha!

Second class they did an actualy choreo combining popping and locking: Pete coming up with the popping portion and Pop coming up with the locking portion. It was amazing!!!! They made us do the combo in groups as well as facing and not facing the mirrors. Then they did the unthinkable... Pete and Pop sat at one side of the studio, facing the mirrors, and we had to turn around and do it in groups of 4 like it was an audition!!! They even recorded it!! They started with the first group doing the popping section and then the second group doing the locking section, and then after a while the rest of the people had to do the entire thing. It was completely nerve-wrecking but such a great experience! I'm glad they did it! I'm glad I didn't screw up! I've always looked at the floor or focused inwards when I danced, never looking up, and I've been told that's not good. But Pete never called me on it during the private and actually he even told us in class not to look at the mirror! Pop even said that when you dance at an audition you should focus in on yourself and not look at anyone else or it's going to screw you up even if you're doing it right cos you'll start second guessing yourself. I mean, I know that doesn't mean always look down, I'm just saying that you don't have to look at the audience the whole time you're dancing.

I was so lucky again the second half of the day, the very last class before everything ended (we had Q&A's after that's why the second half had only 1 class as opposed to 2) cos we were able to persuade Link and Caleaf to do a collaboration class! Actually this one was the most interesting I've done cos it was hip hop choreo mixed with house! SO cool! I really like it when Caleaf has us dance by facing a partner. You totally feed off them and it's so much fun! We danced to Daft Punk's Harder, Better, Stronger, Faster. ALl I can say is WOW! It was so different!!

Link and Caleaf did a bit of freestyling before the Q&A's right after the class. I can watch them dance forever!! Actually it was mostly Link freestyling cos he just has to move when there's music. It's so awesome! I learned so much stuff during the Q&A about all four of them and it just gives you that much more of an appreciation for them and what they do. It's so inspiring! I wish I started dancing earlier! You hear a lot about people starting dance lessons when they're like 6 years old, but these guys are the core of dancing no word of a lie! They didn't start lessons when they were 6 or whatever, they were actually full out dancing and moving and grooving to music! They didn't have to go to a class to have people tell them what to do and how to move (wouldn't know where they'd go anyways since they're the pioneers of locking/popping/house/hip hop). They were hardwired this way when they wre born! I myself hadn't learned to express myself musically through dance until I was 21. Before that I'd always expressed it through playing music, but I think there' a deeper connection through dancing. It's so cool to know that they've known each other for so long through dancing! Pop and Pete and known each other since Pop was like 15 and Caleaf and Link went to school together when they were young... they lived in the same neighbourhood! And you can tell that they're all the best of friends which is so awesome!

I didn't think I was going to stay for the Q&A but I ended up staying for the entire thing cos it was just so fascinating! Like for example I had no idea Pop played Grover from Sesame Street (couldn't wrap my head around it until he did Grover's voice!!), Pete's "Robotic Boy" story (lol!), Caleaf not liking elevators and Link being part of Elite Force! That last one there didn't really click until I was in the car going home and I went "wait, Elite Force? Jang Woo Hyuk!!!" And sure enough when I got home and looked up the video for 지지 않는 태양, there was Link dancing right next to Jang Woo Hyuk!! If I made the connection earlier I would have asked him to show me the choreo! hehe! I've wanted to learn it for so long and someone who actually did the dance was standing in front of me the entire week!!! Before I left I got a photo with all 4 of them and thanked them personally. Pete told me I had potential and to continue popping and practicing so that I'll be better the next time he comes and we do our thing! He burned a CD for me to practice but forgot it so I'll have to get it from Kerry in August haha! His music was awesome! Pop told me I did good as well! I didn't know what to say! I know Pop doesn't just hand out compliments (and it's for our own good!) so for him to say that to me is SUCH a huge self-esteem booster and I'm on the right track! I remember Pete saying that we shouldn't cheer or go "oh you're so good!" when someone dances unless it's really is good. We're all used to doing it when we see little kids dance cos it's so cute or when girls pop cos it's not something that is often done by girls, but we're just giving them a false sense of security. So these compliments are... omg I can just cry!! I'm so pumped to continue to better myself in popping and locking! I'm going to research as much as I can as Pete suggested!