Friday, May 18, 2007

Dancing with the Russian Stars

Alas, the show is a bit different there. I love that they have the same graphics and 'call in' number thing goin' on though.

*More props.
*Wild costumes.
*Extra people.
*The women are more likely to wear pants. Or a giant floral dress. Just depends.
*And, oh, the whole "speaking Russian" thing.

Here's a few dances for your perusal:

Traditional Russian Folk Samba:




(Even after she changes, check out the costuming. Hiking anyone? I am so confused by the woman's shoes/boots.)

Uhm, some kind of Free Dance, I imagine:




Eastern Block Egyptian Cha Cha, to a religious song sung in English:

Celine Sings AC/DC

Truly, I thought this might be a SNL-type hoax, but no.

There's singing. And bad dancing. All together, like a buy-one-get-one.

Friday, May 11, 2007

More Baby Dancing

Baby Dance

This little one does three sets. And there's Shih Tzus! (Woo!)

Do the Hustle! (African Dance)

This is African Dance with hustle music inserted in the background. The dancers aren't bad--well except the one lady who dances by herself. You'll see.

Thanks to Nicee who told me about it...She said:

"This is what happens when you take MY heritage and put YOUR music with it. Would the hustle die already, please?"

Asian Teen Hustle

Madonna

Because the world needs another skinny boy in spandex lip synching to Madonna. This one is surprisingly sweet in a weird way, perhaps because his friends are his back up dancers. It's almost, uhm, understated.

Weird Al: White and Nerdy

Really, no introduction needed.

British "Strictly Dance Fever" Audition

John Travolta, redux.

Vintage Finnish Disco Lesson

What is better than learning disco from an older guy in a white leisure suit? Learning it in Finnish! Woo! He will actually teach you those horrible moves one still sometimes sees in clubs today. And then, for the grand finale, he turns it into a Disco, inviting all his 'friends' to join him on the floor. Keep watching because just as you think it can't get better, it does.

And in case you aren't sure what the heck is going on, the word "Disco" flashes helpfully on screen from time to time. (You know, so you don't get it confused with, say, Waltz, or Fly Fishing.)

Vintage Indian Disco

Yes, it's Vintage Indian Disco time. This one scores points for costuming as well.

Dance Fever! (1970s original)

Why is this here?

Not only was Dance Fever one of my FAVORITE shows growing up, but this clip has Frank Zappa, you guesssed it, dancing badly (and judging).

Plus:

The costumes are FANTASTIC. There's another guy named Frank who is dressed like a Disco Ancient Egyptian. And a guy in a green, scoop neck jumpsuit with a white shirt under it.

There's a headdress. A giant round wig of sorts. Seeing is believing.

There's a 'sexy move' dance lesson at the end with the celebrity judges. They do the "My feet are stuck in concrete so I think I'll swivel a bit while polishing the table" move.

"Dance Fever was recorded before an audience that was AY-LIVE! WOO!"

Add to that the fact that one of the guys who was on the Waltons is also a judge, and you've got a winner!

Oh, how I remember that light up score board!

(An aside: the couple in green from New Orleans is dancing West Coast Swing.)

Ugchaka Baby

The Ugachaka Baby kept me laughing during my dissertation. When I'd need a break, I'd take 30 seconds and watch the baby dance. Uga-chaka, uga-chaka...

Baby Breakdancer

Very cute and the kid does bust a move. Wow. (They must be a breakdancing family--they laid wood down *over* their carpet in the middle of the room to have a dance floor.)

Mr. Really Really Really Bad Dancer (Bud Light)

Yep, it's a Bud Light Commercial. But it's funny.

Bonnie's School of Dance

I think we've all taken class with Bonnie (or Miss Bonnie, more likely).

This is a short narrative film...

A little action in the hallway

Okay so this has weird editing but it's short. And the guy seems to be having a lot of fun.

He busts out with a few choice moves, including:

The partial robot
The rope climb (modified)
The nunchucks
Stirring the pot
The alternate arm flap

...and more

Dance Shower

How can I pass up something called "Dance Shower"? I think it's a bad translation because there is no showering involved. (Bye to all those who found this while looking for p#rno.)

Anyway, she's not actually a bad dancer, but merits inclusion here because:

1. The tone is so serious.
2. She does the "rotating lawn sprinkler" move. Twice.
3. She does the "horse counting with its foot" move.
4. There is essence of aerobics and essence of cheerleading.
5. Odd ending.

If anyone knows what the characters across the screen say, please let me know (the non-English ones).

Live from the UK

Alas, here's a lad dancin' (or as he says, not so much dancing as moving to music, badly) to the Lone Ranger, Andy Griffith, some rap, No Doubt and, my personal favorite, Ah-Ha. (Do watch the Ah-Ha part.)

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Clogging Prodigy

Not bad dancing, just kinda cute.

Bob the Disco Hippie

A pre-adolescent dance off, cast of one.

Hippie Dance Off

My people! I can almost smell the patchouli now.

Again, I give you the folks who attend every musice event in Santa Cruz and dance like this whether it's heavy metal, swing, salsa or The Dead.

My favorite hippie move: Pickin' the Flowers.

Yet More Solo Joe

I think he may have lost a bet.

I've seen this guy or his slightly more hippie bro at pretty much every Santa Cruz dance or concert I've gone to in the past 12 years.

WHAM! Dances with Dog

Just watch it.

So you think you can dance?

Alas, not sure which is worse, the fashion or the dancing. You decide.

Cotton Eyed Joe Hamster Dance

Not the best quality, but still, it's a hamster dance.

More Joe

Cotton-eyed Joe with a skinny adolescent who inappropriately uses the word "gay" and his older chubby friend. But man, the skinny kid solos...they are good.

Cotton Eyed Joes

Thriller: Wedding Dance

Most people choose a waltz or foxtrot, but not these folks...

Celebrate!

Just goes to show you--you don't need a crowded floor to get down!

Have suit, will dance...

Bad Wedding Dancing

A good a reason as any to elope.

This Started Bad Dancers Unite

This is the video that started the Bad Dancers Unite thread.

Alas, he has some classic moves: the boxer, the kung fu fighter and the jogger. Woo!

Talking AND Dancing

Or, You Go Girl! Part II

Cheerleading meets aerobics at the gay bar! Woo! You GO!

You go girl!

Cheerleading meets aerobics meets interpretive dance meets don't bother with the beat.

Bad Dancers Unite!

More self-reflexive bad dance

Kinda Cute

This is just kind of cute.

And she's right--Bad dancers ARE the life of the party.

White Man Dances

You know you've seen him at the club.

Badness Knows No Boundaries

Live from Pakistan.

I didn't make it through the whole thing.

I Can't Dance

No, no you can't.

Really Bad Dance

These folks? Well I suspect they've all surpassed that two-drink minimum. A while ago.

The Bad Dance

One reason not to supply your teen with the latest technology.

Christian Mime

Comes complete with "Nailing to the Cross" scene.

Senior Year Performance? A Short History of Modern Dance

I'll admit it, I didn't make it to the end. I've taken modern dance and always found it, well, too long. Even when it's short, which this isn't really. Ah, it's nice to remember my college days...

One thing I did want to say, though, in all seriousness, is that it's great that there is a woman in a wheelchair and a woman with a crutch in the piece. I do think everyone should dance.

Alien YMCA

So, this one's shot in a real dance studio. Which makes me wonder...is it:

*An unfortunate attempt at a dance midterm at a liberal arts college?

*Sorority hazing?

*What people at the High School for Performing Arts do after getting into Mom and Dad's Frangelico.

Also, what's with the rainbow color changes? Hmmm.

For real: Interpretive dance on the beach

Alas, I'm not sure what to say, except that both Christians and feminists tend to have a large repetoire of bad interpretive dance. This, I believe, is from the former camp.

Watching the first 45 seconds is probably enough.

Turn Turn Turn Interpretive Dance

An alternate history of dance

Also a bit out of order, but ultimately, who cares?

A favorite: The History of Dance (the last 40 years)

Interpretive Mime: Natalie I.

Yes, it's an interpretive mime 'dance' to Torn.