Halloween Parties and LAPD

So my new flatmates invite me to come along to a Halloween party at Lauren's apartment around the corner in North Hollywood (NoHo). Lauren's an agent for CTG Agency and a tonne of dancers and teachers from Millenium are apparently hitting up this party. So after experiencing Halloween in SanDiego, i've already witnessed just how intensively the US celebrate Halloween... mostly the American interpretation of Halloween is just to get nekkid(!), but in the arts community, people try to be as ingenius and creative as possible! Brent carried a quarter and a hammer - should anyone ask him what he was, he's bang the quarter with the hammer - he was a Quarter Pounder! Khalil was a black eyed Pea, Jazmyne had her famed Bumble bee outfit and as for me, with the last minute notice I could just come up with my 'Hip-Op' Doctor Outfit - the standard scrubs medstudent costume!!

Halloween at Lauren's apartment.. before LAPD came down(!)


So the party's not even started yet.. maybe a dozen people there, no music, just quietly chatting.. then Knock Knock the LAPD show up.. ordered to end the party or face a $2000 fine if they return! After meeting a lot of dancers and hearing a bunch of interesting stories from tours (includin Geri Halliwell's inability to count music!) we decide to bounce.. whilst loitering outside the building, we see the LAPD return with more cars and procede up the stairs, with Shotguns in hand(!). Yep, the stories were true.. LAPD are far more excessive than reasonably required!! Turned out the party was stopped and Lauren was given an eviction notice!

Dont mess with these Ghetto HipHoppers... Jazmyne's got Cake(!)

Last full day in SanDiego..

So with my last full day here in SanDiego i decide to finally do the touristy stuff. So I walk up to Balboa park, take in the views and just generally zone out on the grass.

Later I head over to La Jolla (pronouned La-hoy-a) cove... where the surrounding area is really pretty, with galleries and beautiful restaurants...

Carnival

So Paula decided she wanted to spend her final few days in SanDiego.. and so I have no one to go to LA with.. as I'm about to abandon my plans for the trip up, Jeile (the Producer I met whilst I was in NY leaves me a voicemail asking if she can come to the Carnival tonight and that I'm more that welcome to crash at her pad). So at the last minute i hop on a train to LA.. a subway and bus ride later I'm in a breath taking apartment block in Santa Monica (just past the luxerious Beverly Hills!). Jeile's roommate owns his own franchise of Apple here in Santa Monica! They're TV is literally like the WHOLE wall of the lounge!

So we drive down to Carnival and whilst waiting around I bump into Ivan outside from Boogiezone.. turns out BREED is closing the show this night! Jess Dexter hooks us up with free tickets and takes me upstairs and says "Imran, meet a friend of mine....." .... "Dave Scott, meet Imran, my friend from London..."!! For those that don't know, Dave Scott is a big time choreographer out here. And the whole night I was just bumping into big name choreographers.. Marty Kudelka (JT's choreographer), tabitha and napolean, even some of NSync were there! Was interesting cos the show wasn't what i expected from an LA Choreographer's Carnival...there were so many 'working' LA dancers desparate to "showcase" themselves, yet their material really wasn't anything that special. And then BREED (team Boogiezone), who are mostly just college kids, came along to close the show and just had THE most amazing piece of the whole night, with the best concept (they did a dance version of 'Eyes Wide Shut'), a proper storyline and by far the best hiphop choreography.

Jess, Me, Jeile @ Carnival


The morning after I was meant to go to Millenium Studios to train, but since I was staying in Santa Monica.. i decided to walk down to the beach.. On my way I stopped at the 3rd Steet Promenade & did my first major bout of shoppin here in the US... My wardrobe is kinda evolving, but in a good way.. i think(!). Then chilled on the beach for a while, before heading back and hoppin on a train to SanDiego where I caught Samath's class... yet another dope class.



Went to dinner downtown with the CultureShock family.. got to hang with a few more of the SanDiego dancers.. Sasso etc, which was cool. And then said goodbye to the CultureShock UK guys before they flew out back to London...

Dinner with CSSD...

The Masterclass Experience..

So... this morning we checked out Javier's Ballet Company and CultureShock SanDiego production of Alice in Wonderland... was a really cute lil show. Even tho Samath, Julie and the other CSSD dancers only did maybe 20% of the show, they had MAD applause at the end.. more so than the ballet dancers even! ha!

At this point in time, only had one eight of choreography for tonight's masterclass.. so headed to Balboa Park with Paula assisting to finish the rest of the choreo. Ended up choreographin on some random cliff top in the midst of random tropical plants and some crazy ass bugs... had a mini scare when Paula received an "urgent" message from home - had to cancel choreographing and make a detour till she could check her email.. but turned out to be not so serious in the end! Finished up the choreo then headed to the Dance Center. Couldn't take Kevin Brewer's class this week and almost cried, the choreo was SOO beautiful! And then yeh.. we taught our Masterclass..four eights of mine and three of Paula's.. mashed together in some mad eclectic mishmash of choreography! There were so many ridiculously powerful dancers in class..these guys/girls would rock our own choreo better than us! Was like a dream and honour to be able to see these dancers make our choreo come to life. Obviously i would have prefered more than 16 hours to choreograph for the masterclass, so that I could have tweaked all my choreo so it was all on point, but the class was still a brilliant experience. Was SO happy Paula was still in town to take some of the pressure off me teachin masterclass on my own...it was a nerve wrecking but ultimately incredibly gratifying experience teaching at the Dance Center. Paula's choreo and my own have such different styles, but I'm glad we finally managed to collaborate on a piece, I think the variety created a really nice piece! Angie (CultureShock Director/Owner) was really appreciative and I'm really grateful to Margareta (Director CultureShock DC) for hooking me up to get booked to teach here in SanDiego.

Raaaaaaaaar! Panic Choreo!

So today we just checked out the Scenic Views from the 'Coronado'.. a lil island just off from downtown SanDiego.. ended up walkin all the way across it and back so we could check out the beach there as well. Then took a great class from Sammy and Julie back at the Dance Center and just as we were leaving, i was ENLIGTHENED with the fact that i'm on the schedule to teach the MASTERCLASS at Dance Center 2mrw night! Kaycie drove me to this cute little tea house where we met some other bboys and sipped on a funky mango strawberry slushy with this dope tapioca in it! And now.. so yeh.. less than 24 hours left.. am Panic CHoreographing for the class 2mrw!!! Hopefully it'll turn out ok......... Watch this space!!

Wkend in LA...

So the great host Kaycie (manager at the CultureShock Dance Centre) drove me and Paula up to LA this wkend... drove up on Friday lunchtime.. took class at Millenium Studios, with Jayson Wright (dope dope dope dope DOPE choreo) and then Wade Robson was teaching a masterclass that night too.. that was an interesting experience!

Me, Wade, Paula @ Millenium Masterclass


Crashed over with the lovely Jazmyne (of CultureShock SanDiego and World Fa-Muuuus fame!) who lives in a pimp flat just around the corner from Millenium in North Hollywood. Then on Saturday we were meant to go to the "Friendship Games" College event in Fullertone South LA.. but then our cali friends thought it would rain and so we ended up bailing on that and just napping most of the day! Kaycie hooked us up with free tickets at AMC Cinema in the evening (this girl is a DOPE hook up!) and we watched the ridiculously funny movie 'Waiting' (GO AND WATCH THIS MOVIE IF U WANNA LAUGH!). All wkend we were eating at diners.. a funky concept we dont have enough of in London i think! Met up with some of Jazmyne's friends.. one was a music producer and ended up spending the rest of the night zoning out in a car park listening to the dude's music pumping out of Kaycie's car CD player!

Chillin in the lot...


Sunday we took class with the awesome Gus Bembery, was really cool cos haven't taken his class in like over 18 months! On the drive back down to LA we stopped in a mall down in Orange Country full over-make-uped 16 year-olds with FAR too much money! Was definitely a great wkend and looking forward to heading back to LA this week for the Choreographer's Carnival on Wed night!

SanDiego Update

So still just taking classes every day at CS Dance Center... Kevin Brewer's just hilarious and also just has some of the most friggin BEAUTIFUL choreography you've ever seen. Masterclass with 'Nik Nak' was just crazy.. such different musicality, but yet totally dope! Keone's class was really smooth and I learnt so much just watching his freestyle during class! Samath had a SUPER fun piece on Thursday night. It was the perfect example of totally connected and totally dope, yet simple choreography... was real fun to perform! When I'm not in class.. generally just exploring SanDiego.. the beaches, the views, downtown (I'm stayin in the 'Gaslamp Quarter' in the heart of downtown).. tis a very pretty vintage city

Subbing at the Dance Centre

Bumped into Angie Bunch (CultureShock Director) whilst we were at the cinema last night and she asked me to sub FloMaster's class 2nyt... so yeh, taught the routine i had for DC.. was another shy bunch of dancers.. but i think they enjoyed it. Was scared shitless teaching there.. dunno HOW i'm gona be if i end up teachin the Masterclass slot nxt Tuesday!!

Party In The Park.. SanDiego-Style!

Samath picked us (myself, Brendan, Caroline and Chloe) up from our hostel in the downtown Gaslamp Quarter of SanDiego and after a quick stop for BBQ munchies, drove us to the park for the big CultureShock BBQ. The Sun was shining, the lino was out with the live DJ & the Bboys were dancing out in full force, food was plenty and family was all around with CultureShock SanDiego, CultureShock New York and some of CultureShock Washington. Was a great day, kicking back with so many other beautiful spirits who all share the same passion for hiphop. Finally got to be properly introduced to Angie Bunch (founder of CultureShock) and I have no idea what Margareta (Director of CSDC) had told her, but it was obviously good because Angie instantly asked me to teach some classes at the Dance Center! Kaycie joined the party later on and I got to finally chill with her properly too...


Paula with some of her FutureShockers..


Lindsay and some peeps by the live DJ..


Samath munchin away..


Brendan & Caroline


CSSD kickin it by the net..


Paula says Hello!


Keone brings more food...


Myself, Kristina (Director CSNY) and Adrian from CSNY


J Boogie (Sean from CSNY), Myself and Linds (CSNY) lookin ghetto.. Ha!


CSUK and FSUK kickin back in the park..


Samath & Paula, photoshoot by the tree!


CSNY Thugs!


Dont mess with the NY crew...!


Kim (CSNY) & I...


Lindsay (CSNY) having a good giggle...


Me and some of the Boys from DC, Joseph (Artistic Director) and Rizki

Showcase...

So like i fly in to LAX.. take the luxerious but slow ass train down to downtown SanDiego.. only to discover the tech rehearsal is like 70miles away or something ridiculous! Anyways, finally got myself there and hooked up with the rest of CSUK.

First night i crashed with the CSUK newbies in the USA Hostel located in the heart of the vibrant 'Gaslamp Quarter' of Downtown SanDiego.

Dinner @ Hard Rock with my hostel roomies - the CSUK newbies...


On Friday night we had Showcase finally..it was, well i mean i knew it wudnt be the best performance for me.. i learnt the staging basically on the DAY of the performance and after three weeks away from rehearsals, i wasn't on top form. But Julie Palomar said a cool thing, that performin isn't about being perfect, but bout just doin the best u can do. It was really nice seein all the dancers i'd met from NY and DC over in SanDiego again that night and a really nice vibe - being part of that international community of people who all share the same passion finally became very real...

With some of CSNY backstage @ Showcase


Lashonda, me, TP @ Showcase


Chloe, Jef, Me, Nina @ Showcase


Workshop on Saturday had some ridiculously amazing classes..shout out to Zach and Linds!!

That night all the over 21 CultureShockers headed down to DECOs (conveniently located opposite our hostel in the Downtown Gaslamp Quarter of SanDiego..

Wendy, Kerrie, Paula, Hebb @ DECOs


Jef, Me, Joni @ DECOs


Paula & I @ DECOs


Then

Last day in Washington...

So my last full day in DC. Decided to be the tourist... checked out America's largest Mosque in DuPont Circle (wasn't all that big to be honest!).

Then strolled up to the front desk of The Pentagon, ignorantly spouting, "So someone told me there are free tours of this place.." to receive the reply of "..Someone lied..." Ha. Ended up walking around Arlington Cemetry instead - pretty eery place - saw JFK's resting place, as well as the 'Tomb of the nameless soldier' - dunno what that's about, need to look it up actually!

Then toured around downtown Washington DC.. that place really is beautiful. Wandered around some of the Smithsonian institutes and also the National Archives where I saw the original Magna Carter and the US Constitution and Bill of Rights etc.. was kinda interesting...US History in general is an incredibly interesting tale of seriously messed up stuff! ha!

Then Jonaki, my stunning transatlantic, indian, hiphopping, college student counterpart from CultureShock DC drove down to be my tour guide for the night... taking me around the World War II Memorial, The Korean War monument as well as the main George Washington Memorial and main Washington Monument sights. She entertained with me with some brief history of some of them, with a little guess work! haha.

The beautiful Washington DC monuments at night, almost as beautiful as my tour guide, Jonaki:

Johnno & I @ The GW Monument...


Hopping back into her car outside the Smithsonian, a bicycle cop rode up and enquired about her expired tax.. followed within seconds by FOUR, yes FOUR police cars.. cos obviously us small-boned indians are such a dangerous threat to safety! They must have been waiting for us.. major Overkill..guess they had nothing better to do with their time that night! Luckily she managed to get away with a warning rather than a fine. Then found a restaurant back in DuPont where we further discussed the quirk's of life. Finally headed back to Bethesda to get a few hours sleep before flying out to LAX for Showcase in SanDiego!

Jonaki & I.. Dinner in DuPont Circle