Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Dancers Anonymous.... We Made It.

I'm sure many of you reading this can vouch for the fact that people are always willing to put us down for some reason or another. Maybe not all people, but there are definitely quite a few that seem to think telling us that we are not capable of doing something is helpful and productive in some way. I cannot really say that I understand this way of thinking, but none the less, it happens. Unfortunately, it's when I hear from my students that it is coming from their friends, teachers, and most hurtfully, family. To be more specific... their parents. I grew up in a household where I was told I COULD, not that I CAN'T. Perhaps that is why I never saw limits to my future, and believed that I held the world in my hands. (Between you and me... I still think that sometimes even today).


Students, especially at the young high school age that most of our students were at, needed to hear a message other than what they had been hearing, and I wanted to provide that for them. Our final class was about proving the world wrong. Julian Rodriguez helped me come up with a small piece of choreography that allowed the students a chance to just enjoy the moves and the moment. It wasn't a lot of choreo so that they had time to perfect it and feel comfortable in front of the camera. :) I told them to have fun, and they did! It was a beautiful class. I also had them make signs. These signs were supposed to say, "I will..." and then they were supposed to write something that they will do. They did this with great pride and enjoyed telling the person who told them they couldn't... that they would no matter what. I couldn't have asked for a better way to end Dancers Anonymous for the summer! I hope you enjoy our final class!


Thanks to everyone who came out and made this a great success!!


 Courtney

We Got It Poppin!

Before our final class, you get to meet a new teacher! His name is Jermey Edmonson and he's a dancer at New Mexico State University. Ever since the first class when I met Jermey, he had a really great personality, and it was obvious that his passion in life was dance. He most likely eats, drinks, breathes, and sleeps in dance. People who love dance that much, are the type of people I like to see. I guess I should also say that I love people that are this passionate about other productive things as well. I think it's important to have something that these students should strive for. Jermey is this type of person. So when he asked me if there was a spot to teach, I was more than happy to move things around and allow him his moment. I'm very glad he did. It was a really fun class and the students really enjoyed it. It was a style of Hip Hop that added a little bit of pom to it, and so some of our dancers who are also cheer leaders, really really really enjoyed the class! Definitely a teacher I hope to have teach again!


Courtney

Creepshow Is An Understatement.

I'm sure by now you have caught on to the fact that I am trying to get these blogs uploaded, so that you do not have to sit around waiting for them anymore! :) So here we go!

After the Amber and Courtney class, Josh Bernal gave us a modern routine. Not modern in the sense of what we see today in most slow modern/contemporary companies, but a style that we will call Josh Modern. :) It was a very creepy class to say the least. The story behind Josh's piece is that everyone is in an insane asylum. Therefore, they had to take on the persona of such characters. After recording many of students, it was obvious that these kids enjoyed embracing their creepy side! While it was a small class, which is always okay, it was also fun to watch these kids who usually only attempt Hip Hop, were branching out and trying something different. We had a great response from that class, and everyone REALLY loved the concept and the choreography. We hope you enjoy it as well.


Courtney

Is This Place About To Blow? Really Ke$ha?

Before I start this blog, I would like to start off by apologizing for getting so behind. I was doing really well until right at the end. Summer took it's hold on me and I became utterly lazy in my writing.

Please forgive me.

So, after our Dejan Tubic class, Amber and I got together for a collaboration! We wanted to add our own style of Hip Hop to the class, and we presented the class with Courtney and Amber Hip Hop. Not much of a name for a style, but it'll have to do. It was an interesting class that's for sure. A pretty good turn out, with some new faces, but choreography that definitely required the students to think outside of their normal Hip Hop box. I think some took well to it, while others... well it just might not have been their cup of tea. But that's okay. Dancers Anonymous is all about finding out what you like and being the best you can be at it! I enjoyed it, and I hope you all enjoy the below video.





Courtney

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Dear Dejan Tubic, Love Dancers Anonymous

There are many choreographers that will inspire you in life. Perhaps it's not their work exactly that inspires you, but the way they teach it, the way they handle their business, or the way they care about people they don't even know. The dance world is full of competition, so to find someone who not only made their living and has become such a big name from posting some YouTube videos, but he does his best to respond to the people he comes into contact with. Most big names wouldn't even take the time.

The choreographer I'm talking about, is Dejan Tubic. He's based out of California (of course, because that's where all the cool people are) and he teaches his own style of Hip Hop. Just from watching his videos, he seems to have a fun personality, a great grip on life and an idea of what it means to have a good time in class. Great teachers know what it means to show their kids a good time, and make them strive for more. That's exactly what he did for me, and my kids.

I'll share a little side note with you. I did email Mr. Dejan Tubic and ask him what it would take to book a class with him so he could come here to New Mexico to teach our kids. It would have been great to give our students an opportunity like that! He was not the only choreographer I had tried to email, but he is indeed the only one who responded to me, which made me respect him even more. I explained to him that New Mexico has very limited opportunities when it comes to pursuing their dreams. Dance in this area, (good/well instructed technique and dance) is hard to come by, and most students decide to leave their dreams behind once leaving high school. I can't tell you how many dance students embarked on the college journey to pursue dance, and decided to give up. I wanted them to all realize that there were plenty of opportunities out there, they just had to go after them. I also explained to Dejan why I started Dancers Anonymous, to give him a better understanding of what I was trying to achieve with my students, and to let him know I would do anything for these kids. I want the best for them. Dejan so kindly wrote back, and here's what he had to say:

Hi Courtney!

First of all I want to say that you are absolutely amazing for what you are accomplishing and I commend you for that. I do have some bad news unfortunately and would not be able come that day or even that weekend due to a job that I am doing. I am literally booked out from the 26th of July all the way to the middle of August. I hope you don't take this email as a set back and continue to what you are doing. I want you to let everyone know involved that I wish I can be there and to have an amazing time at your workshops. Dance Dreams are Reality and I hope you all achieve it.
Thank you Courtney and I do hope to hear from you soon."  -Dejan Tubic

So, to show him our appreciate that he even responded to us, we taught one of his routines during one of our Dancers Anonymous classes. We taught it, made a video, and emailed it to him to show him. Before you proceed to watch the video, please note that their are a few bad words in the song, so if you're offended by that kind of thing, we apologize ahead of time. We again would like to thank Dejan for his encouragement and for all he does in the dance world! We hope to book him for next summer, or possibly around winter time for the kids to have such a great opportunity. Below is the video, and under that is the comment he left us on YouTube after watching the video :) he truly is a great person for the kids to look up to!



"LOVE THIS! Good job everybody!! I loved the video! Can't wait to come out to DejANCE with all of you!! Much love to you all at Dancers Anonymous!"
-Dejan

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Dance Is A Flower That Blooms Forever.

Dance is one of those things that only improves over time. Go with me on this...

For example...

1) Dance in general over the years has not only improved in its performance, but its technique as well.
2) Each dance style continues to rise. Even when it hits a steady pace, it quickly picks back up and sky rockets.
3) And as dancers, our talent only improves not simply with practice, but with time as well.

I suppose you could say that dance is like fine wine. The older it gets... the better it gets.

I think I could say the same for our instructor Morgan Taylor. I've known Morgan for quite a few years now, and each time I watch her dance it's like a flower blooming in a meadow. She is extremely talented, and one of those dancers that picks up all styles extremely quickly. Watching Morgan dance a contemporary piece is like watching the best of the best. I feel deep down that Mia Michaels and Stacey Tookey would enjoy throwing their work at Morgan and watching the beauty that comes from it. She is a brilliant individual to say the least.

The work she creates is no different. Her choreography is unique and it causes you to feel something when you watch her do it. When she taught her contemporary choreography, the students were a little nervous because many of them have never done much when it comes to contemporary. She taught the class slow, but she also taught it well, by making sure all the students fully understood the movement. While the moves were not easy (we apparently like to challenge our students) the kids picked up each movement as if it were second nature. Okay.... well maybe not second nature... more like fifth nature... but none the less they did a great job and really tried to embody what Morgan was looking for. Her choreography and song choice was up lifting and fun, and I think the students left with a sense of accomplishment at trying something new.

Courtney

Morgan is a dancer at heart. She studies dance at New Mexico State University, and will hopefully continue her career for a very long time. She will hopefully continue to perfect her art and who knows... you'll probably end up seeing something on the news about her being kidnapped, but don't worry, it's only me taking her to the So You Think You Can Dance Auditions so that she can realize how awesome she is!!



Sunday, July 24, 2011

Sometimes It's Good To Be Quirky.

A lot of times as dancers, we take ourselves WAY too seriously. We have a lot of goals and ambitions for our futures, we invest time and money into perfecting our craft, but sometimes... there comes a point where we have to stop being so serious, and just learn to have a little fun. If I'm allowed to to brag for a second, I would like to. I believe that Dancers Anonymous is fun from start to finish. We have really personable teachers, kids who enjoy a good time, and dances that are fun even when they are challenging.

If there is one thing that our instructor Josh Bernal knows how to do, it's show our students a fun and challenging routine. He never fails to deliver. This time was definitely no different, but he wanted to add a little extra fun to the challenge. He chose to do a song by Nicki Minaj with a beat that brings out everyone's quirky side, and we did just that... we got quirky! :) The moves may have been fast, but they also required the kids to add their personality into it, which made for a fun class, and lots of smiles. It's what makes being a teacher so rewarding, when your students have smiles on their faces the entire time they're learning, you know you're doing a good job. It was a fun class to just let go of trying to be so perfect and to just have a good time!

Kudos to Josh for yet another great class!

Courtney

Monday, July 18, 2011

Viewer Discretion Advised... Dancers Anonymous Style :)

So while our title may raise a few eyebrows, I must first apologize for getting so behind on the blogs. The classes have been taking up a lot of time, along with taking care of my mom. Classes however, have been going really great and this class, was no different. Well... it was different in a way! This class might be a little questionable for some, but while we did not have a full class, our students came with their curiosity in tact.

Desiree Clark has been one of my students for years. We went to high school together, and I was blessed when she came to take classes at Dancer Anonymous when she had time. I was even more excited when she wanted to teach! Desiree came up with a class called Street Tease, which is a phenomenon starting up all over the place. It was kind of awkward at first to start learning for a couple students, but they quickly warmed up to the choreography, the music, and allowing themselves to just open up to something new. Desiree was a great teacher for just that! She did a great job keeping the students comfortable and making sure they really got into the movements. We really enjoyed having her teach, and hopefully we can have her do it again in the future!

So, just as a fair warning... the moves are suggestive, so if that kind of thing bothers you, just don't watch the video at the end! HA! We had a great time, and the dance really isn't that provocative! Actually, I thought it was quite tasteful! It was a lot of fun and can't wait to do it again.

So without further ado... should we introduce you to Desiree? I think so...

Desiree has been dancing for 5 years, and it started when she danced with the LCHS Performing Dance team, mainly for her interest in Jazz/Broadway. Not only does she love dancing, but she sings as well, which makes her the perfect candidate for being on Broadway! "My dancing is less technique and more about expression and performance, which is why Broadway is my forte." While she is quite the Broadway extraordinaire, she decided to teach something a little different in class. "I came across street tease on the internet and fell in love with it. That's why I decided to bring the style to Dancers Anonymous!"

We're definitely glad she did bring it to class, because it challenged our students and gave us something new to explore! Tons of fun and we can't wait to have her back!

Courtney
 Please follow the link to watch the video because for some reason the blog hates me today.
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1442582962265

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

If I Want A Good Time... I'll Go To Dancers Anonymous.

It's hard to believe. Here we are, at the start of a new month with Dancers Anonymous. To be honest with you, I didn't even think it would last this long. It's a joy to see so many students who keep returning, and those that bring new faces. What a journey it has been so far, and thank the Lord it's not over yet. July is a jam packed month, and you're going to be hearing ALL about it!

But first...

I'm a little behind on getting these recaps out. It's been hard trying to get my mind in the right mood to write. So... let's jump into it! Julian joined us yet again to teach another class. He did a great job, just like his last class, and everyone had a really great time. Julian brought us another smooth Hip Hop and he taught it with ease. The students now knew what it meant to be smooth after taking Julian's other class, and it was incredible to see how much the students had grown in only a week! They were even more smooth than before.

Have you ever lost track of time? It happens to everyone more than once in our lives, but it usually doesn't happen when we're working (with the exception of  being crazy busy). However, during this class, time went by so fast that we did not even have enough time to finish the routine! Which I was really sad about because Julian had some great choreography! You'll get to see the video here in a sec. None the less, Julian finished up his routine and we all split into our groups to record the video. Even our students were surprised that time had gone by so quickly... but I guess that's what happens when you're not only having a great time, but when you're surrounded by people you enjoy spending your time with.

Julian is an incredible person, student, teacher, and friend. I look forward to seeing where his dancing takes him in the future because I have no doubt that it will take him far.

Courtney

Thursday, June 30, 2011

"Accept The Challenges, So That You May Feel The Exhilaration Of Victory." - General Patton

It's one thing to challenge ourselves because we want to better ourselves, and it is another thing completely to walk into a room, not sure what your getting yourself into, and challenging yourself anyway. Going with the first idea, in a way, you've mentally prepared yourself for the challenge, which means you know that you are going to have some rough moments up ahead of you. However, if you go with the second idea, you may see those rough moments as obstacles that you cannot handle. Sometimes... it is those moments that are in fact extremely defining.

I know you've heard me say it a million times already, but I really am impressed to see how these students here at Dancers Anonymous face challenges that they just simply walk into. Half of the time I know they keep pushing forward simply because they love to dance. What more could I ask for in a group of students? I mean... is that not the same thing we want in every job? Employees that want to be at work, students who want to learn, dancers who love to dance, teachers who ENJOY teaching, and people who just actually want to better themselves in every way. Today was no exception for these great kids! Most of them are used to Hip-Hop... or some form of whatever they learn off music videos these days, but to throw in a more flowing aspect to it, such as contemporary, is like asking them to walk a tight rope. No... it's not impossible, but it sure does feel like it! Especially limiting the class times to only an hour and a half, makes it even harder on them, but I become more and more impressed with them as I watch them take on these styles they've never done before. They always prove to me that they know they have to work hard to get some things, while they may not have to work as hard to learn others.

A student, Eddy Rodriguez, mentioned that he would enjoy teaching a class to our instructor Josh Bernal. Josh swore to me that I would be impressed and that I could trust Eddy to have amazing choreography and do a great job teaching. He was right! Eddy taught a really great class and I was so impressed with his choreography! There were moments when he was on one side of the room and I was on the other we all would have just learned a new move and I would be telling the students how much I loved that particular move. What's funny is that I'm pretty sure I mentioned loving a particular move about twenty times! It was definitely a challenge for me as well, but one that blessed me in a great way! Not only was I blessed because these students were working their butts off trying to get the choreography down, but also because I was challenging myself and also (as General George S. Patton said himself) feeling the exhilaration of victory. Sure... most of us messed up quite a bit but we had a great time and we pushed ourselves to do something new, and ended up having a great time. (Even if they were WAY too quiet for my liking for most of the class) Ha!

Courtney


I only got to know Eddy through our instructor Josh Bernal. He's been to quite a few of our classes, and seems to have enjoyed himself. His style is really great and his personality is easy to get along with. I wish he had taught sooner, because I really enjoyed his class. Hopefully even after he moves, he will return back for a class or two :)
"Well I first started dancing the way most other small town kids start; in their room, emulating what they saw on tv. My favorite style by far is hip hop, naturally, and pop, but I also like the movements and stories that contemporary can tell, so I always try to merge the two if I ever have to choreograph a piece. I would just like to see myself continue to use dance as an outlet to vent my feelings, emotions, thoughts, ideas etc. The way I have always done it. I've never sought notoriety for what I can do or compared myself and my 'skills' (for lack of a better term lol) to other dancers, nor do I think I will ever. To me, dance has always been one of the friends I can go to, if I need to set myself right by venting to them." -Eddy

Monday, June 27, 2011

It Was Smooth. Like Cherry Dr. Pepper.

One thing I did not know, even with the extent of my love of Hip-Hop, was how many different forms there could possibly be. Not really sure what my style of Hip-Hop would be called, but we've had some girly hip hop, gangsta hip hop, and Thursday, we got to experience a real treat, and it was smooth hip hop, taught by our very own Julian Rodriguez. To get a better understanding of what smooth hip hop is or looks like, imagine if you will, Justin Timberlake and the way he dances in his music videos, and there you have it!! Smooth Hip-Hop!

I am by no means very good at being smooth... I mean... I'm not a boy... only boys are supposed to be smooth when it comes to these kinds of things. Lucky for me I had a good teacher, and while I still may not be very smooth, I think the whole class started to feel a little more suave by the end of class! Julian has a style ALL his own and he makes dancing smooth look really amazing! So amazing that as a girl, you can't help but smile. It's like being 12 all over again and at the concert of your favorite boy band. It's hard not to get giddy! HA! The students obviously had a great time and we are all looking forward to Julian's next class! He has a great personality, great dance style, and he is turning out to be a wonderful teacher. But then again... I had no doubts! :)

Julian has been dancing for almost four years now and he enjoys every second of it. In fact... it's hard to even have a conversation with the boy without him movin around or trying new ways to "Tut" with his hands. :) Which is quite entertaining! What's funny, is that Julian did not even begin to dance because he had a passion for it. He actually started doing it simply because he wanted to see how it was to dance! It was only then that he realized he was a journey he would never want to end! "I love dance because of the fact that you're able to just let loose, let your emotions out, and just have fun with it!" Julian see's himself hopefully traveling with his dance career and possibly touring. If he can't do that, he knows he wants to be teaching in a studio somewhere... ( Hopefully with me ;) ). "Dance has made me who I am. Without it, I wouldn't be who I am today!"

I'm glad Julian just simply decided to try dancing. He's great at it, and he's so much fun to watch! We all look forward to what Julian has in store for DA this summer and for his own future!

Courtney

Thursday, June 23, 2011

We're Used To Hearing Words. Now We Have To Hear Beats Too?

There is no doubt in my mind that the students that come through Dancers Anonymous are amazing. They take every routine we give them, big or small, easy or intricate, and they do their best to stay above the game and make the routine their own. It's something that I have begun to take pride in when it comes to these students and these classes as a whole. By no means are they trying to be the best dancer on the floor. They just go out there to have fun, which in the end, if you ask me, makes them look like a ten times better dancer.

Tuesday's class was a lot of fun! Amber came back to teach the students a Laura Edwards routine that has movements that go more to the beats and clicks in the background more than the words of the song. This is something new for a lot of the students that are dancing with us this year because, for example, in one of the classes I taught, the words were "wear my hat low like you", and there were specific movements to each word. Now, for Amber's class, the students really had to rely on their ability to hear certain sounds behind the words in order to know where each of these movements should go. This is not unusual, especially with a choreographer like Laura Edwards. When I took classes from her in Dallas, she did a dance to one of my FAVORITE songs and there was a move that she was doing that I did not really understand where she was putting it in the song. So when I asked where it was, she turned on the song and did the move to a sound in the background that I've never even HEARD the whole time I've been listening to this song. It's what makes her a great choreographer, and it's what makes her a unique choreographer.

The students however did a great job! They mastered this dance in their own way and it ended up being a really great learning experience for them! As teachers that is our job right? To teach them something new and useful? Now, they can go out of this class with confidence that if another routine like this comes up where the moves are not to the words but to the beats, they will be able to handle it with ease! These kids are amazing and continue to amaze me!

Stay tuned for a recap of Thursday's class, where you'll be introduced to a new teacher! :)

Courtney

Monday, June 20, 2011

If One Of Us Struggles... We All Struggle Together.

It's amazing what being a part of a team can do to a group of people. The bonds that are created just by being a part of that team, may be stronger than most bonds formed today. Even after I left the dance team in high school and moved away, the students that continued to come in, I concidered them family. When Dancers Anonymous started up I was not sure what to expect in terms of what bonds would be made, but I have been pleasantly surprised that it does not matter whether the whole class are kids from the high school or it's a mix of high school and college kids I've barely met. We dance, so that makes us family.

I forgot to mention in my last post that the Lady Gaga class that was held on Tuesday was an important class for our kids. When my dance family found out about my mom's breast cancer, they surrounded me with love, support, hope, and best of all... pink! :) Well, we recently found out that one of our other dance family members has recieved some bad news as well. Her dad has been diagnosed with Lupus in his kidneys which is not a good thing at all. So as a request she asked that her friends and family wear purple on the 14th of every month (14 is her dad's favorite number) to help show their support. I was excited to see that one of our classes was on the 14th so all the kids once again surrounded one of their own with love, support, hope, and this time... purple! What a great blessing to know that it does not matter who we are, who our family is, or what style dance is our favorite, but we can all still get together and support one another in some of the hardest times we have ever had to go through. (So if you watch the video posted in the last blog, you'll see a lot of people wearing purple).

I am fortunate enough to have this job this summer that allows me to not only be surrounded by my friends, but those that I concider my dance family, especially as I begin this struggle with my moms chemo treatments. At the beginning of the summer, I had no idea what I wanted to do when this particular Thursday class came along, but I soon began to realize that my pain and my struggle with watching my mom battle chemo was starting to become a lot harder than I thought it would be. So I began to choreograph to a song by Coldplay called Fix You. After all, all I want to do is fix my mother and make it so she does not have to suffer through these treatments. It seemed perfect. So it was then that I began my journey choreographing how I was feeling, and allowing myself to be completely vulnerable to the song, to me, and to how I felt towards chemo.

When Thursday's class arrived none of the students knew what I had in store for them, but yet they came with their prop in hand. (I'll get to the prop in a second). I told them of the story of my piece and they embraced it whole heartedly. They allowed themselves to be vulnerable with me, and therefore they struggled with me. I have not always viewed myself as the best lyrical dancer, but I do like to choreograph them sometimes when a story hits me, so I knew when people who were actually good at doing the style did my piece, it would be everything it was meant to be. After we finished the piece, it was time to film in groups and add the finishing touch... the prop. I asked them to bring scarves to class, and after they learned the choreography, they used the scarves to wrap their heads like chemo patients often do when they begin to loose their hair. We have just recently started wrapping moms head, so it made the piece even more meaningful for me. Cancer affects so many people these days that it's hard not to be close to the subject in one way or another. Whether my kids have had to deal with a loved one sick from chemo and cancer or not, I would have never been able to tell, because as soon as those scarves were wrapped around their heads, the room changed, the mood changed, and people began to feel deeper about the piece they'd just learned.

There were tears shed, and thank God not only by me. A few students hugged me and cried while they told me thank you for doing the piece and who it reminded them of. Many students simply hugged me to thank me and support me. And one student, Jonathan Martin, told me words that I will never forget because they meant so much to me. "Thank you for teaching this. My mother would have loved it." My automatic response was that he should show her, but then I rememberd him mentioning to me that he had lost his mom to cancer. I felt even more blessed that he joined my class that day. As dancers there will always be a competition of some sort, but when there are moments that mean this much, pieces of work that mean this much, and people that mean this much... we will always bond instead of compete. Thank you to everyone who came to class. Thank you for not only helping me through my struggle, but going through my struggle with me.

Courtney

Saturday, June 18, 2011

We're Dancers. Not Perfectionists.

It's interesting how rude some people are on the internet. People are hidden behind their computer screen, so automatically they feel they can be hateful to other people, and say things they would never say to that person in real life. Unfortunately that is the type of week my YouTube account has been having, and I've gotten some pretty hateful comments on my dance videos. It makes me wonder if people really don't like the dancing, or maybe they just feel the need to be angry at people for no reason. Either way, I've tried to just brush it off and keep posting stuff! :)

So with that side note, I realize that while others may feel the need to be disrespectful for no reason, we really are our own worst critics. Needless to say, Dancers Anonymous had a few bumps in the road during class yesterday. Our instructor, Josh Bernal, had a great piece of choreography and the whole class had so much fun learning it! It was obvious Josh was having a great time, and depending on what type of mood the teacher is in while teaching, usually plays into how the students feel about the class! If you were there, you would have realized how much fun everyone was having. The routine was pretty challenging and it was definitely fast, but the students once again stepped up to the challenge and handled the routine with swag! (For those of you reading that are not up on your dancer/hip hop lingo, Swag has to do with appearance, style, and the way he/she presents themselves). So bascially everyone was making this routine their own and it looked amazing!

Towards the end of class we were all so sweaty and tired that we all started to forget the routine. It's a natural thing when you've been dancing full out and have really put your all into a routine. But unfortunately, as dancers, we strive for perfection, and when we don't deliver, we (like I said before) become our own worst critics. It happed for a few people yesterday, but none the less the out look about the routine and the class was so positive and fun! Everyone knew it was because they were tired, and by the end of class most people just chalked it up to another day in the life of being a dancer. We make mistakes, and sometimes the worst mistakes, teach us not only about ourselves, but they also teach us to be humble.


Josh Bernal who also goes by "J-Bot" is an amazing teacher and choreographer who has been dancing for five years. Josh only began seeking out his love of dance when the Las Cruces High School Performing Dance Team came to his middle school to recruit. Ever since then, he has done everything he can to be the best dancer he can possibly. His passion for dance is extremely obvious when you watch him, and when you have a conversation with him. It's pretty much the only thing that is on his mind 24/7, and that's why he makes such a great teacher. He strives to pass down his love of dance to all his students, which is one of the main reasons I wanted him to work for Dancers Anonymous. "I have so many friends and loved ones because of that choice that I feel something now. Something I didn’t feel when I was alone back in elementary and middle school. I feel true happiness. I love Dance. I love the doors it has opened for me and I love the people it has brought into my life. I love how I can feel the music course through me and make sound and lyrics come alive. Dance is my passion and it is that passion that saved me from myself those many years ago. Though I have come along way in dance there is still many challenges ahead of me; Challenges that require me to push myself to be a better dancer and be a better person. But I face those challenges with a smile because I have found what I want to do for the rest of my life and I couldn’t ask for better best friends to walk that path with me." 

Sunday, June 12, 2011

The Dance Moves May Be Fast, But We Make It Look Easy.

There will always be classes, instructors, and dance moves that will challenge us as dancers. The same goes for life does it not? There will always be jobs, tests, and expectations to live up to and they will challenge us. But if we do not try, how can we succeed?

Thursday's dance class was awesome! Our instructor, Amber Arnold (who I will introduce soon), taught a Jaz Meakin routine that definitely challenged the students and our instructors! "The moves are easy....." Amber started to tell me, and then she smiled, "It's just freakin FAST!" She couldn't be more right... the dance moves were not over challenging (although I beg to differ, because making it down to the floor at the ripe age of 22 was already not workin for me) but the tempo to "Not Myself Tonight" by Christina Aguilera made the dance a lot harder and more exhausting. None the less, the students stepped up to the challenge. While they were unsure whether they could handle that challenge or not, they did it anyway, and they rocked it!

Many of our students have facebook and when scrolling through their status's the next day, many of them were sore but were so thankful for such a great workout. I was sweating like crazy and I wasn't even dancing half as hard as these kids were! Amber on the other hand was working her butt off not only teaching, but dancing as well. She is definitely one of those students and instructors that goes full out every single time she dances, and that dedication is what got her to where she is today. The students definitely tried to follow suit and tried to keep up with her non-stop energy, and most of them succeeded. It was such a proud moment as I watched these students realize, that not ALL choreography is easy, but it's worth it to have so much fun.


Amber has been dancing for 13 years, and enjoys trying any style that she can get her hands on. She feels most at home doing Hip-Hop and the style suits her well. Amber enjoys dancing because it's her escape. "I feel what I have to say is, more times than not, better expressed through dancing" and it shows in her awesome technique. She sure has a great passion and it's obvious that she loves dancing when you watch her. We're looking forward to all of the great dances she has in store for this summers program!

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

They Are More Than Just Dance Steps... They Are A Story.

My students, my teachers, and myself.... we come with a lot of baggage. I have many students who struggle with their home lives, students who have wanted to drop out of high school, and teachers whose parents don't believe in their childs dreams. All of these things make people question themselves... make them wonder what it will take to simply make things better, or what they have to do to prove themselves to the world. Sometimes we all just want a place where we can drop off our baggage and be left alone.

In a strange way, I like to think that Dancers Anonymous is allowing my teachers and my students a way to leave their baggage behind and be left alone. Except... they aren't left alone because they are suddenly surrounded by other people who understand what they are feeling. Dancers Anonymous is an escape from the many troubles the world brings to our doorstep, even if classes only are an hour and a half.

There are many beautiful things in life. God has given us sunrises and sunsets to marvel at their colors. The babies that are born each day fill us with joy as they giggle at the simplest of things. Snow during the winter is beautiful especially when it blankets a desert for the first time in years. But the one thing I find most beautiful is the story told during a dance. As I watch my teachers dance, I understand why I asked them to do this with me in the first place; their passion is just as great as mine, if not greater. When I watch my students, whether they've been dancing for years or are barely beginning, it's as if the weight of their world has been lifted and they are finally free to simply be themselves. There is a sunrise and a sunset in each dancer. There is an inner child in each of us that comes out unafraid.

Yesterday was on of those days at Dancers Anonymous. A day when the students and teachers were not afraid of what anyone else thought, but they allowed their inner childs, their sunrises and sunsets to come out and be captured for what they really are.

Angry. Frustrated. Hurting. Tired. Broken. Silly.

Beautiful.

I have the best job in the world and if I already see what Dancers Anonymous has the potential of doing and there have only been two classes..... then we've got to be doing something right.

Until next time... tell a story... everywhere you go.

Courtney

Friday, June 3, 2011

If You're Gonna Do It, Might As Well Do It Big!

I was like a young child on Christmas morning yesterday. I'm sure many of you know the feeling I'm talking about. Back when Christmas was the most magical day, presents appeared out of nowhere, and that morning, you couldn't wait to run to the living room and tear open all of the wrapping paper. Sometimes I believe that the tearing apart the paper is the best part.

Yesterday, was like the unwrapping of a great gift. While it seemed that 4 o' clock would never come around, when it finally did, my greatest dream came true. Dancers started lining up for the very first official Dancers Anonymous class, and I thought I would cry. Dancers were excited not only for class, but to see each other. Dance means a lot more to these students than just an activity to keep them busy, and what a beautiful sight it was to see a group of kids bonding over an activity that many of them call their life.

I taught a Hip Hop routine to Jay Sean's "Hit The Lights" to around 38 students. Some have been dancing all their lives, some just started recently, and some haven't danced since leaving high school, but either way, the energy that they fed me made for an absolutely amazing and inspirational class. Being a teacher is about more than just passing down your knowledge of something, but it is also about what you feel towards your students and what they feel towards you. Let me be the first to say that I would not love my job as much as I do if it were not for my students! I feed off of their energy, their laughter, their facial expressions while they dance, their attitude that fuels their movement, and most of all the passion that radiates from every inch of their bodies. Dance would not be worth it if we did not love it!

The video below is just a small group that joined us yesterday because I was having so much fun I forgot to record the whole group! None the less, this video will give you a little taste of the fun we had! I can't wait to see what these classes bring this summer, and more importantly I can't wait to watch these students grow not only in their friendships with each other, but also with their passion and style of dance. We have a big summer up ahead of us, and we are all ready to face the challenge. Thank you to any of you reading this, for coming to class, supporting this dream, or just simply being a part of our journey through this blog! None of this would be possible if it were not for all of you wanting to be a part of it!

Stay tuned for a recap of next weeks classes!

Courtney


Monday, May 16, 2011

Let's Get It Started!

And so it begins.


While the idea for Dancers Anonymous was born in the summer of 2006, the beginnings of it actually coming to life did not begin until the fall of 2010. I (Courtney Richmond: Founder/Owner) began to dream, and dream big! As a dancer during high school, my dream was to be performing for the rest of my life, but it is apparent that God had other plans for me. Instead, He decided that my influence was best left to teaching. While it has been an effort to accept this, I have done so, and I am so excited about where this is going.

The dance family that I have gained from Las Cruces High School Performing Dance is one that will forever be a part of who I am, and because it is a part of me, it will now be a part of my studio as well! If you're going to have a studio, you have to have teachers, and if I'm going to have teachers, I'm going to need teachers that love dance just as much as I do if not more. So I began asking dancers from my dance family that is ever growing, and who I have spent the last eight years of my life dancing with. They each will have a chance to introduce themselves soon!

This summer is going to be the real beginning to what I hope is a life changing experience. Dancers Anonymous has begun to take shape and we are going to be offering classes during the summer in Las Cruces, NM. We will be dancing at the New Mexico State University (NMSU) Activity Center on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-5:30 starting June 2, 2011 and running until July 28, 2011. Classes will be $5, but a whole month is only $20! Payment will be due at the beginning of classes! This is really amazing, and I'm so excited to see how God blesses this summer, and the classes. For more information, feel free to contact us at dancers.anonymous@hotmail.com. I hope to see you guys soon!!



 Courtney Richmond



My name is Courtney and I've been dancing since 2001. I'm 22 years old and have the most unbelievable passion for teaching dance. I believe that everyone should feel good about themselves and that everyone should have the opportunity to dance. Dance made me love myself, and I believe it has the power to change people's lives. Dancers Anonymous has been my dream since the idea began and it is important to me to see this dream fulfilled. Kids are the key to the future, and I believe my job (as a teacher) is to teach them how to unlock the best future, no matter if it is in dance or whatever else life inspires them to be. Let the fun begin!