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On March 3rd, "Ra’s Dance Presents" will be having auditions for new dancers to join in the next Dance Project that Ra (he went to Singapore for NUS Hip Hop Nite 2006) is going to run in 2007.

Basically it is advertising for aspiring dancers to join our studio and family in the next dance project. No joining fees, no class fees, only if you have right attitude and confident in your abilities and willing to learn more, (and live in Seoul), you can audition. ^^

Here is the flyer..

And here is a picture of Ra… 

Ra is one of Korea’s most respected street dancers. He has been dancing since he could walk pretty much and dances locking, popping, house, hiphop and more. I first met Ra in October 2005 at his studio "Dance Studio" in Song Pa, Seoul. He organizes "Projects" in Seoul for gifted dancers and he let me train with "Hard Training Project," a dance team that trained from 11pm to 5am 7 nights a week for a year.

That’s right, they trained all night for a year. I only trained with them 3 times a week, haha, im so weak.

Ra’s Dance Projects are really famous in Korea, basically, he trains you for a year or so and let’s you use his studio for free everyday. The catch is, you have to train damn hard. You can’t be late, can’t miss practice and you can’t sit down during training!

 

This is a pic of "Song Pa Family" as we call ourselves at dinner after a competition in Seoul - ‘Performance of the Year.’  (POTY) 

Baya Baya - an entry in POTY from Song Pa

 

Funkyz - a locking duo from Song Pa Family at POTY

Ra put a lot of energy into training these dancers…i used to wonder why he did, because they never pay him, they can’t advance his studio economically, he doesn’t even act as their manager to get a commission from any gigs they do.

He does it out of Community and Love. That’s it. No other reason.

Ra is one of the most generous people I have ever met. Even when I first met him and went to pay for my lessons, he straight up refused payment and just asked me to come and practice in his studio for free~ ^^

He became a big influence when I started "Korea Singapore Dance Project. "

If you are unsure what the KSDP is exactly, check out this earlier post here .

Basically, every now and then, for the love, KSDP does a project that either benefits the Korean dance scene or the Singapore dance scene.

You might have seen

Project 1: Knu Funk Crew in Floor Skillz Asia 2006 in Singapore.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12C88egZJfA

Project 2: Ra in NUS Hip Hop Nite in Feb 2006.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVns8Pa0BKM

Project 3: Jay 1 HipHop/House/Popping in June 2006

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIAmJMqD6ow

Each project has something to do with Knowledge, Foundation or Love, which is what the KSDP’s steez is all about. I hope that each Project somehow contributes back to hometown SG’s dance scene, maybe someone is inspired by Knu Funk to take up breakin, or bboys already in sg feel inspired to train harder, i hope Ra turned some heads at NUS when he freestyled his entire way thru to only get beaten in the quarter-finals. YOu guys really missed out on a chance to see him battle, because he is one of the best in Korea. And I hope Ji Won’s students remember "Jacking" and "Lofting" and the other key foundation techniques to Hip Hop and House dancing that might be difficult to find in SG back in 2006.

So now, its 2007 and I called this post "New Beginnings." Well, it is a new year and directions for the KSDP are still being drawn up. I wasn’t going to share the bad news with y’all, but KIM Young Jin, a Korean Freestyle Dancer came to SG in Feb for some workshops and told ppl about Ji Won and Ra’s car accident. I wanted Ji Won and Ra to come back sometime early in 2007, but it’s not likely to happen…so be satisfied with Project 3.5 "DVDs" ok?!

You can get DVDs like this~isn’t that educational?!

So…errr…that’s it from this post I guess…i think i will update a lot more this year than last year. It will kind of be my New Year’s Resolution. Haha.

Peace

Chris

Royalty Lockers, Seoul

Korea Singapore Dance Project

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