The Kiner Hour - Let's Talk Dance with Ashani Mfuko

Tonight on the Kiner Hour – Let’s Talk Dance with Ashani Mfuko, Norton Owen from Jacob’s Pillow Dance Interactive, will share with us about their innovative new website, which serves as a curated online video collection featuring dance artists from around the world.
Select performance videos, once available only to people who could travel to the Jacob’s Pillow Archives, are now accessible to the nearly two billion people with internet access worldwide. These videos span more than seventy years of dance, from rare film footage of Ted Shawn and His Men Dancers to dynamic performance clips from today’s leading international choreographers such as Nacho Duato and William Forsythe.

Plus, Life Balance Expert and Holistic Health Counselor, Takeyah A. Young, will offer some helpful tips on how dancers can have a balanced and healthy lifestyle; mentally, spiritually, and physically. Takeyah A. Young is the Founder and Director of Core Connection Lifestyle, a company dedicated to providing life essentials for well-being and tools for balanced living to ensure a healthy lifestyle. Through health counseling, wellness education, and sustainable living consulting, she serves as her clients’ personal advocate for living an energized and passionate life. Takeyah is a Life Balance Expert, Lifestyle Coach, Holistic Health Counselor and Speaker.

You don’t want to miss this show!

Tune in to the show from 7-8 pm EST at http://talkingalternative.com.

Please share this on Facebook and Twitter,

ABOUT THE SHOW: “The Kiner Hour – Lets Talk Dance With Ashani Mfuko“ is an internet radio show on the Talking Alternative Radio Broadcasting Network, which is also streamed live from the studio in New York City on Ustream.tv, on Tuesday nights from 7pm-8pm, with archives available for download. This show covers hot topics in the dance world, the business side of the dance industry, how to be successful in the dance industry, health and wellness, advice on how to use social media for dance, and how to stay positive and motivated as a dance studio owner, dance teacher, and professional dancer, with special guest interviews from dance-industry leaders.

Dance Teacher Web is an official sponsor of the Kiner Hour – Let’s Talk Dance with Ashani Mfuko.

Grosh Backdrops & Drapery is an official sponsor of The Kiner Hour – Let’s Talk Dance with Ashani Mfuko. 

Dances To Go is an official sponsor of The Kiner Hour – Let’s Talk Dance with Ashani Mfuko.

DanceTeacherWeb.com is an official sponsor of The Kiner Hour – Let’s Talk Dance with Ashani Mfuko live weekly internet radio show, and Steve and Angela Sirico will be guests on our show, on Tuesday, June 7th from 7-8 pm EST. Join our dance teacher staffing network today to learn more information on how you can win this free entry to the Dance Teacher Web Conference & Expo.

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS!

Ausben Spottedeagle Jordan II (Aus), known as “King Aus” started dancing at the age of 7 years old with Native American Traditional Dance, then through the years not only picked up Hip Hop, but also martial arts. By the Age of 14 he was in his first B-Boy crew called Rascal’s, which is where he first learned about, Popping, Locking and Waacking style’s. He attended a performing arts high school along with “Pussy Cat Dolls’ Nicole Scherzinger. Later got his BFA, at one of the most prestigious Art’s College’s in the U.S.A. studying Jazz, Tap Modern and African.

Aus’s dance background includes Jazz, Modern, Tap, Hip-Hop, Popping, Locking, and more. Aus is also a part of The infamous G-Style popping Crew with his mentor Hit Master Fish. He started the world’s first global waacking organization/ dance company, “The All mighty Imperial House of Waacking”, with sections of his company now openly active in such countries as Canada, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Denmark, Holland, Sweden, Russia, Italy, England, and Spain the dance lives on. He was also named Ninja by the founder Willie Ninja himself.

Aus has performed on stage such as Lincoln Center and with such great’s as Jody Watley,Wayne Brady, Madonna, and showcases around the world.

You don’t want to miss this show!

Tune in to the show tonight from 7-8 pm EST at http://talkingalternative.com , or watch the live stream on Ustream.tv!

Please share this on Facebook and Twitter,

ABOUT THE SHOW: “The Kiner Hour – Lets Talk Dance With Ashani Mfuko“ is an internet radio show on the Talking Alternative Radio Broadcasting Network, which is also streamed live from the studio in New York City on Ustream.tv, on Tuesday nights from 7pm-8pm, with archives available for download. This show covers hot topics in the dance world, the business side of the dance industry, how to be successful in the dance industry, health and wellness, advice on how to use social media for dance, and how to stay positive and motivated as a dance studio owner, dance teacher, and professional dancer, with special guest interviews from dance-industry leaders.

DanceTeacherWeb.com is an official sponsor of The Kiner Hour.

Grosh Backdrops & Drapery is an official sponsor of The Kiner Hour.

Dances To Go is an official sponsor of The Kiner Hour – Let’s Talk Dance with Ashani Mfuko.

One of my favorite people in the world, whom I’ve never met, is John Jantsch, author of “The Referral Engine” and “Duct Tape Marketing“. He recently wrote an article entitled,  “5  Reasons Why Free Is Hurting Us All”, which really struck a cord with me. I immediately began to reflect on dancers, and all of the reasons why we can’t afford to work for free, but for some reason still choose to do so. And yes, working for free is a personal choice.

Here are some questions you should ask yourself, when considering working for free:

“Is my rent free? Can I get groceries for free? Are the dance classes in my local area free? Can I get from Point A to Point B for free, via bus, car, cab, or train? Do I get clothes for free? Can I get dance shoes or itunes music for free? Can I get decent healthcare for free?”
If you answered no to the questions above, then that means, you definitely cannot afford to work for free.

So why then, do dancers work for free?

This is a serious epidemic in the dance community, and it’s our dirty little secret. Most people outside of the industry don’t even know that so many of us work for free. What’s up with that?
We practically kill ourselves as we train our bodies to do things that are not by any means normal or practical, yet absolutely amazing to watch, and for what?
There are lots of reasons why dancers work for free, some reasons make sense, most of them don’t. Nonetheless, we’ve all done it, and unfortunately, some of of us are still currently doing it.

Why do we do things that we know are wrong?

I shared this quote on Facebook yesterday, “Some doors have got to be closed before better doors can be opened“, and an associate of mine, who is a dancer, posted “Why?” in reply to this quote.

My answer is this…Do you know that saying, “If loving you is wrong, then I don’t wanna be right”? Have you heard that before in a song about being in love? Have you ever been in a relationship where you know the person you’re dating is not right for you, but your emotions have taken over your mind and your actions? (Lord knows I’ve been there, before meeting my wonderful husband.)

Here’s the issue with that, ultimately you’re saying, “I know that being with this person, and staying in this situation is wrong for me, and not what’s best for me, but I love them”. Or rather, “I love to dance. I just want to dance. Even if I don’t get paid for it.”

The consequences of your actions:

- The longer you stay in a relationship with someone who is wrong for you, the more time you waste, and prolong the joy of being with the right person.

- You can’t see the forest from the trees. When you stay in a situation that is less than what your standards are, you can’t even begin to notice, embrace, and recognize better opportunities, because you are distracted with your current situation and busy settling for less.

- You diminish your value. Who wants to pay for something that they can get for free? And what person wants to give the best treatment to someone who will allow people to treat them any old kind of way?

In order to step into the extraordinary, you must leave the ordinary. You can’t have it both ways. Mediocrity and excellence cannot co-exist. So either you are a person of value, who is worth a certain level of respect, consideration, and treatment, or you’re not. Either you’re a professional dancer, with valuable skills, talent, education, training, and experience, that comes at a premium, or you’re not.

I believe this wholeheartedly. How can you tap into something great, when you’re stuck holding on to something mediocre, or below your standards?

It’s one thing if you’re in training, you’re an apprentice, you’re doing an unpaid internship, etc. That makes sense. But there’s one thing that those types of situations have in common. They are temporary. They are meant to go on for a specific period of time, during which, you are gaining valuable insight, experience, and education, that will then provide you with the necessary tools to earn a living applying what you learned.

Unfortunately, dancers tend to take this concept to a whole other level, and actually end up working for free for extended periods of time. This then starts a perpetual cycle of the expectation for dancers to work for free, although our years of extensive training and education were a huge financial investment. Does that make sense to you?

Just imagine you said to your parents when you were in high school, “Hey Mom, hey Dad, I’d like for you guys to pay $150,000 over the next 4 or 5 years for my training and an education, so that I can begin working for free. Sound good?”
What do you think their response would be? I know what my response would be…..”Are you out of your mind?!!”

The Bottom Line

Do you know that if you get injured while in dance rehearsal working on, or should I say “volunteering on” one of your dance projects, you have no recourse. No help. No worker’s compensation. Nothing. What if you were to get hurt in one of your free rehearsals, or performances, and could no longer work, or couldn’t dance for an extended period of time, and was left with some hefty medical bills as a result? What then?

My advice for Professional Dancers:
If you must work for free be smart about it. Be very clear about what your goals and intentions are, and have a logical understanding of what you’re getting out of that particular job. An opportunity to work with a well-known and respected choreographer, something really fantastic for your resume, reel, or portfolio, etc. Also, make sure you set a time limit for the job. Commit to it for 3 mos. or 6 mos., or whatever you’re comfortable with, and then move on. Most importantly, dancing for free should not be the norm for you, or become a way of life. It should be something that you only choose to do as an exception, for a limited period of time, with a direct, and clear benefit to you and your career. And frankly, after a certain age, dancing for free shouldn’t even be an option.

My advice for Choreographers:

Treat your dance group or company, or dancers that you work with like a business. No business can operate without funding. Most entrepreneurs fund their businesses from their pockets when they first start out. So that means that, you may have to come out of pocket initially, in order to pay your dancers. This may require you saving up your money for a year before you even start your dance company, or start to choreograph on dancers other than yourself. If self-funding, temporarily, is not an option for you, consider soliciting sponsors, applying for grants, etc., and wait until you have proper funding before you begin your project. That may mean that instead of rehearsing year-round, you only rehearse with your dancers 3 months out of the year, and then perform for the next 2 or 3 mos., and then spend the other half of the year getting funding, and working on your choreography.

This approach will benefit you and your dancers in the long run, and the dance community as a whole, although it will take a high level of patience, hard work, and determination.

One of my friends and dance family members, Safi Thomas, Artistic Director of The Hip-Hop Dance Conservatory says it best, “Think Smart“.

It starts with you and me. We must each do our part to improve the state of affairs in the dance community, and not point the finger at others, or place blame. No one said it would be easy, but if we want to bring about change, we must make the sacrifice.

Be the change you want to see in the world.

Do you have thoughts, comments, personal experiences that you’d like to share? Please post a comment below.

Tonight on the Kiner Hour – Let’s Talk Dance with Ashani Mfuko, learn all about Dance New Amsterdam’s new Summer Youth program, and get to know a phenomenal, young professional dancer and dance writer named, Taylor Gordon.

Taylor Gordon, Professional Dancer/ Dance Writer

Taylor Gordon has been featured in the NY Times, and the Huffington Post, and has danced with The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Exit 12 Dance Company, Rebecca Kelly Ballet, Ballet for Young Audiences, Albano Ballet, New American Youth Ballet, Untitled|Collective, Push Factor Dance Company, and in numerous other performances around NYC. She trained at Boston Ballet, The Rock School of Pennsylvania Ballet, and Ballet Academy East NYC (performing as a student with each respective major company), with summers at ABT and Miami City Ballet. Taylor is also a freelance writer and received a BA in Communication Arts and Masters Degree in Publishing by age 20. She has written for Dance Teacher, Pointe, Dancer Magazine, movmnt, M Life Magazine, Quick & Simple, ExploreDance.com, and has interned at places like The New Yorker. She is a certified Pilates instructor.

Dance New Amsterdam Photo

Dance New Amsterdam has just launched their new, Summer Youth Program. This will be the first time that DNA has offered programs for youth and their new School for Education of Emerging Dancers will commence with a unique summer offering for kids and continue to take shape into the fall.   The youth program is already a success with a group from Canada selling out one of the 5 weekends.

Learn more about this program tonight on The Kiner Hour, with Special Guests, Martha Chapman, Board Member and Ballet Faculty, and Anne Merrick, Program Coordinator.

You don’t want to miss this show!

Tune in to the show from 7-8 pm EST at http://talkingalternative.com , or watch the live stream on Ustream.tv!

Please share this on Facebook and Twitter,

ABOUT THE SHOW: “The Kiner Hour – Lets Talk Dance With Ashani Mfuko“ is an internet radio show on the Talking Alternative Radio Broadcasting Network, which is also streamed live from the studio in New York City on Ustream.tv, on Tuesday nights from 7pm-8pm, with archives available for download. This show covers hot topics in the dance world, the business side of the dance industry, how to be successful in the dance industry, health and wellness, advice on how to use social media for dance, and how to stay positive and motivated as a dance studio owner, dance teacher, and professional dancer, with special guest interviews from dance-industry leaders.

Dances To Go is an official sponsor of The Kiner Hour – Let’s Talk Dance with Ashani Mfuko.

Are College Dance programs a waste of time? Are they legit, or are they a joke? Are they really worth all of the time and money? Do they really help you in your career as a professional dancer?

These are all questions that I was asked recently at a local dance and performing arts studio, when I spoke on a career panel to young, aspiring dancers. (I was also asked, “Is A Career in Dance Really Worth It?” You can read my answer to that question here.)

I attended Connecticut College, and was a double major in Dance and Hispanic Studies. I knew that I wanted to get a Dance degree, but I also wanted to have another degree, as a back up. So, I majored in Hispanic Studies because I’ve always been interested in the Spanish language and culture, and I knew it would be very beneficial to me to be bilingual. I was even blessed with the opportunity to travel to Spain during my Senior year.

But back to the topic of being a Dance major….

I will first say that, my experience as a dance major was phenomenal, and one that is truly priceless to me. I learned so much, and got so much personal attention from the faculty at my school throughout my college career, which played an integral part in my post-college career, and still does to this day.

Here are the Top 3 Things That I Learned As A College Dance Major:

1) How To Train My Body and Improve My Technique. The technique classes at my school were absolutely amazing! We had technique classes 5 days a week, and of course they were mandatory, as you received grades based on your attendance, technique, and progress. First and foremost, knowing that your grades/G.P.A. is dependent upon you showing up for, and working hard in your technique classes, already forces you to work very hard. But on top of that, you get personal attention from your teachers who are truly invested in your growth as a dancer. Additionally, you are surrounded by other like-minded, and hard-working dancers, who naturally motivate you to work harder, and really push yourself. It’s a great environment to be in every single day.

2) How To Become A Great Choreographer. The composition classes in our Dance program were really intense. They really stretched me and pushed me out of my comfort zone as a choreographer. I learned so many new ways to create shapes and imagery through choreography, tap into my emotions when choreographing, and explore levels and space in ways that I never had before. Through my composition classes, I was really forced to explore aspects of choreography, that I was very uncomfortable with, because it was so new and different. It was definitely a challenge. However, because I had such great teachers, and a wonderful and nurturing learning environment, I was able to reach new heights as a choreographer, that I never would’ve known about, or even been courageous enough to explore, outside of a college/classroom setting.

3) Staging, Lighting, and Production. This was one of the most interesting things I learned about while a college Dance major. As part of our requirements, we had to work as crew on several productions each year, in order to earn a certain amount of credits. We learned all about lighting design, stage production, stage managament, striking the stage, laying down marley flooring, stage cues, and so much more.  Working back stage is a very different experience from performing on stage, but it’s an experience that every dancer should have in order to understand the full scope of what goes into creating a fantastic stage performance. You get the hands-on experience, plus the educational aspect of learning specific terminology and modes of operation for stage production, in a classroom setting.

There are many other things you learn as a college Dance major including, Anatomy and Physiology, Health and Nutrition, and Injury Prevention, among others. You also have the amazing opportunity to work with famous and well-respected choreographers and dance companies at your school, that you woulnd’t get to work with otherwise (unless you made it through a grueling audition process). And of course, a college Dance program is the first place you begin to network, and connect with other dance professionals who may play an integral part in your post-college dance career.

The Bottom Line

Overall, getting a degree in Dance is a truly valuable experience, and will definitely get you started on the road to success as a professional dancer or dance teacher (especially because many dance studios either prefer or require a Dance degree in order to teach at their dance studio nowadays). So, my advice would be to go for it. If you want to double major, or minor in something outside of dance, so that you have a back up plan in place, you can definitely do it. Just be prepared to work really hard and manage conflicting degree requirements and expectations.

What do you think? Do you think professional dancers should go to college for dance? Did you go to college for dance? Do you think it’s a good thing?

Please leave a comment below with your thoughts, and share this post on Facebook and Twitter.

National Small Business Week Celebration

National Small Business Week (May 16th – May 2oth) is upon us, and as part of our celebration, we’d like to show you (dance studio owners), our favorite small business owners of all time, how you can grow your dance studio through strategic, social media marketing.

For seven days, we will offer a free, online course, sent directly to your inbox, with a step-by-step tutorial on the seven key steps to growing your dance studio through social media marketing.

SIGN UP FOR THIS FREE COURSE AND LEARN MORE BY CLICKING HERE.

Negotiating For Dummies Book

“In business you don’t get what you deserve; you get what you negotiate.”  T.Harv Eker

Do you feel uncomfortable, maybe even squeamish, at the thought of approaching your dance studio owner boss for a raise? Do you get flustered or tongue-tied when it comes to discussing money, salary, payroll issues, etc.? Do you avoid these topics at all costs? If you answered, ‘Yes’ to any of these questions, don’t worry, you’re not alone.

Most dancers are very uncomfortable discussing money, and tend to be quiet, cautious, and settle for less than they deserve, instead of facing the discomfort of negotiating for the salary that they want. Are you one of those people? If so, I’m here to help.The following five secrets are very practical, and will be very effective for you in negotiating a raise, as long as you separate your emotions from the process of negotiating.

There’s a reason why the phrase, “it’s business, it’s not personal” exists.

Although your love for dance, for teaching dance, for your dance students, parents, etc. may be very personal, the fact of the matter is, a dance studio is a business. Therefore, when it comes to financial decisions, like how much you get paid, it must always be based on what makes the most sense for the business.

Here are my Top 5 Secrets To Negotiating A Raise At Your Dance Studio:

1. Know Your Worth. Do you have a  degree in Dance, or 5, 10, 15, or 20 years of teaching experience? Have you won awards for your choreography? Have you recently completed a teaching course, or received a new certification that is teaching-related? Have you caused significant increases in student enrollment at your dance studio on a consistent basis? All of these things contribute to your worth or value as a dance teacher. These are things that should be in the forefront of your mind as you prepare to negotiate a raise at your dance studio. That way, you know what type of increase will make the most sense for you, and for the dance studio owner.

2. Expect To, and Be Prepared To Negotiate. There is in fact an art to negotiating anything; a home purchase, a car, etc. Therefore, you should start your negotiations at a number that is higher than what you really want, to give yourself room to negotiate. If you start at your exact final number, then you have nowhere to go but down, and that’s not good. Give yourself, and the studio owner, some wiggle room, so that you can both feel like you’re getting what you want, and end up at a number that’s comfortable for both of you.

3. Think Like A Dance Studio Owner. Be aware of the average hourly pay rate for teachers in your local area, and be prepared to explain how a raise will benefit the dance studio/owner. Have solid facts to support your case. Your yearly rent increase isn’t really a good enough reason to ask for a raise (although inflation/cost of living expenses do play a part in the appropriateness of your salary). The fact that you and your husband/wife want to buy a new house/car/condo/vacation home, or whatever, is also not a legitimate reason to ask for a raise.

Here are some legitimate reasons to ask for a raise:

- Your class enrollment numbers are consistently increasing because so many students love your classes.

- You recently completed a particular course, certification, or training, that now makes you even more knowledgeable and valuable as a dance teacher.

- You received an attractive offer from another dance studio, and are considering accepting it. (Be very careful how you approach this situation.)

- There is a significant change in your teaching schedule. For example, if you’re traveling an hour to an hour and a half to the studio, and your usual five, 1-hr classes are being cut down to only two, one-hour classes. That’s a good reason to ask for a raise.

- You’ve been teaching at the studio consistently, for a minimum of 2 years, at the same salary.

4. Timing Is Everything. Trying to talk to a dance studio owner about a raise in the midst of competition or recital season, is probably not the best time to talk. However, whenever you decide to approach this subject, you should definitely schedule a time to sit down with the studio owner. That way, they will be prepared to give you all of their focus and attention for a specific period of time, and also recognize that what you want to talk about is serious enough that you need to schedule a meeting to speak with them.

5.  Have An Exit Strategy. It’s very important to know where you stand going into your negotiations. If you are not able to get the increase that you want, or an increase at all, what will you do? Will you quit? Will you be okay with it? Will you be bitter for the next year? Figure out what you want, and how you will handle the worst case scenario, and no matter what, always handle yourself in a professional manner. You never want to burn bridges, or damage professional relationships. Most importantly, take time to process the negotiation, and give yourself 24-48 hrs before you make your final decision.

Were these five secrets helpful to you? Have you ever successfully negotiated a raise at a dance studio? How do you handle negotiations? Please share your thoughts below, and share this post on Facebook and Twitter.

Photo: Wendy Williams' Feet During 'Dancing with the Stars' (from Media Takeout)

Is A Career In Dance Really Worth It?

Bloody feet, back pain, low pay, no pay, pulled muscles, knee surgery, hip replacement, no paid time off, no paid holidays, sick leave, or maternity leave, no 401K, no medical/dental benefits, too many talented dancers, and not enough jobs, lack of respect, lack of appreciation, lack of government support, auditions, cattle calls, years of training, short career span, the list goes on and on!
What would possess someone to sign up for that?!! They’d have to be crazy, right? Well, maybe…

A young male dancer posed this question to me a few weeks ago, when I was speaking on a panel with 4 other professional dancers/dance teachers, on how to be successful, survive, and thrive as a professional dancer. Although each one of us had different reasons for why it IS worth it, we all had the same answer: Yes!

How Do You Know If A Career In Dance Is Worth It For YOU?

My answer to his question was, “I can’t answer that question for you, I can only answer it for myself. For me, it is absolutely worth it. For you? I have no idea”.

You have to ask yourself, “if I woke up tomorrow, and I could never dance again, how would I feel? Would it matter to me? Would I care? Would I be devastated? Would I feel like a part of me is missing?” If your answer to these questions is, yes, then a career in dance is worth the pain, the struggles, and the difficulty, because you can’t imagine your life without it.

My Dance Hiatus
Along with one of the other panelists, I had taken a short hiatus from dancing many years ago, after graduating from College with a Dance degree (ironically). I graduated, didn’t have a job, and didn’t have any money, so I couldn’t take dance classes, or go to auditions. I didn’t even have money for bus fare!
So I borrowed some money from my Dad, got myself together, went on some job interviews, and landed at the job that I’d worked at during Summer, Spring, and Winter breaks, throughout college. It was an office job, with some work in the field, and came with a company car, great salary, and medical/dental benefits. Technically, a really great gig. But, I wasn’t happy, because I wasn’t dancing. The money, the car, the shopping (and boy did I shop! lol), and the comfort, were not enough. It didn’t matter to me. I wasn’t dancing.

Have you ever heard that saying that goes something like, ‘find your passion, what you love to do, what you would do for free, then find a way to make money from it, and you’ll be happy forever’?

Well, that’s what being a dancer is all about.

Why Is A Career In Dance Really Worth It?

Because we don’t just dance, we ARE dancers.
It’s a part of who we are, just like our gender, our ethnicity, religion, etc. It’s a part of us. So, we don’t really choose dance, dance chooses us. Not dancing, is like not breathing, for people like you and me.

We love it. We live it. We can’t live without it. It feeds our soul. It’s how we celebrate the great things in life, and how we get through the tough times in life. It revives us, it heals us. It’s how we communicate and express ourselves. It’s how we bring joy to others, and touch people’s lives. It’s how we send positive, powerful energy vibes into the world around us that affect those who are like us, and those who are only dancers in their heart.

It’s a way of life. It’s a gift. It’s a blesssing. Dance is life.
Other Difficult Jobs That Are Totally Worth It
- Parent

- Doctor

- Nurse

- Minister/Pastor

- Dance Studio Owner

- Caregiver

- Police Officer

- Fireman

- Musician

- Teacher

- Artist

- Attorney

- Judge

- Entrepreneur

And many more! Feel free to add some to this list.

What do you think? Is a dance career really worth it? Is it worth it to work in any career that is very demanding, competitive, and not always rewarding financially?

Do you think I’m crazy?

Leave your comment below, and please share this post on Facebook and Twitter.

Tonight on the Kiner Hour – Let’s Talk Dance with Ashani Mfuko, learn all about the new world’s locking guru, Shocka Lock, and about a new and exciting youth program, at the world-famous, Dance New Amsterdam!

Shocka Lock

Kevin (Shock-a-Lock) Porter is “the new-world’s locking guru”,  inspiring lockers from around the world including, Firelock of NY, Idan Baranes of Israel, Abdullah AlMarta of Al Kuwait, and Isolock of New Jersey, to name a few. Shock-a-Lock is founder of the performance group, “Lockism: The World’s First Mimelockers”. He continues to hold his own at the forefront of the urban dance scene, staying true to the tradition while presenting highly innovative material with a crew of remarkable dancers. He also provides mentoring and corporate presentations to a number of artists, entrepreneurs, and organizations.

Dance New Amsterdam Photo

Dance New Amsterdam, the internationally acclaimed center for superior dance training and the exclusive provider of Simonson Technique in NYC, has announced new summer programs for youth and children ages 4 – 18. Having firmly established itself as one of the premier training institutions for adult contemporary dancers in New York, DNA is now expanding its reach to younger dance enthusiasts.

You don’t want to miss this show!

Tune in to the show from 7-8 pm EST at http://talkingalternative.com , or watch the live stream on Ustream.tv!

Please share this on Facebook and Twitter,

ABOUT THE SHOW: “The Kiner Hour – Lets Talk Dance With Ashani Mfuko“ is an internet radio show on the Talking Alternative Radio Broadcasting Network, which is also streamed live from the studio in New York City on Ustream.tv, on Tuesday nights from 7pm-8pm, with archives available for download. This show covers hot topics in the dance world, the business side of the dance industry, how to be successful in the dance industry, health and wellness, advice on how to use social media for dance, and how to stay positive and motivated as a dance studio owner, dance teacher, and professional dancer, with special guest interviews from dance-industry leaders.

Dances To Go is an official sponsor of The Kiner Hour – Let’s Talk Dance with Ashani Mfuko.