“Great” – Tony Robbins – free download here – this is the song from the Purina dog commercial that might have made you cry. I think it would make a nice contemporary dance:

Try – P!nk – I didn’t know she was such an awesome dancer – check out the video:

And my final song / video combo is:
Capital Cities – Safe And Sound – you could use this techno song for warm-ups in jazz or tap, but I just love this fan-made video. Its a mash-up of historical dance moves juxtaposed with war images. I dig the old dance moves against the song:

27Sep2012

NMM: September Contemporary Playlist

Posted in Music by Cait (The Dance Buzz)

It been a while since I’ve done a New Music Monday post, so I thought I’d share my updated music from my contemporary classes.

I’m teaching a beginning contemporary class this year of ages 10-14, instead of just my usual 15 and up class, so it has been a challenge to find some music that is relatable to a 10-year old. In fact, when I tried playing the slower, lyrical-type music for the younger class, they asked if I had any faster or “fun” music.

So far (third week in), I have found a balance of “fun” and “serious” music keeps everyone happy – we are working on emotions in combinations, but then we keep it more upbeat during technique portions. What do you find works best for this age group?

Songs For Contemporary Combinations

All links open in iTunes

A Thousand Years – Christina Perri – used this song in both classes
Youth – Daughter – my younger class said this was too boring… haha! Teens loved it.
Us – Regina Spektor – used this in my younger class
Love The Way You Lie – Ariana Grande – younger class
On The Nature Of Daylight – Max Richter – teen class

Songs For Contemporary Class – warm-up, across the floor

Two Dots (Nic Fanciulli Remix) – Lucine – great steady beat for grande battements, chaines, etc
Dance My Pain Away – Wye Oak – use for warm ups
Too Close – Alex Clare – I just love this song right now!
Up Up Up – The Givers – used in my younger classes for warm-up (I also use it in my modern classes) – it is a happy song!
Home – Phillip Phillips – the Olympic USA Women’s gymnastics unofficial theme song
Collide (feat. Avicii) – Leona Lewis – another nice strong beat for across the floor
Into the Wild (Live) – LP – I am obsessed with this song right now, I use it for warm-ups or cool down in my teen class

15Aug2012

2012 Song Selections

Posted in Music by Cait (The Dance Buzz)

Now that the competitions and recitals are over, I’d thought I’d share my list of songs I used this past year for choreography. (Here is 2011 in case you’re curious)

All links open in iTunes, unless otherwise noted

TAP

Hit The Road Jack – Ray Charles: Large group tap
Medley: It Don’t Mean a Thing / Jumpin’ At the Woodside – Swing: Large group tap, ages 13-18
I’m Yours – Jason Mraz: Small group tap, ages 12-15
Americano – Lady Gaga: Large group tap, ages 13-18
Tea Party – Kerli: (had to really edit this version, so beware!), large group, ages 11-14
Hold On – KT Tungstall: Small group tap, ages 13-15
A Shine On Your Shoes – Jane Monheit: Solo, age 11
Born To Entertain – Broadway Kids: Solo, age 10 (Amazon Link Broadway Kids: Sing Broadway)

My magic hat!
Faces obscured for privacy

LYRICAL / CONTEMPORARY

Paradise – Coldplay: graduating senior dance
Addicted To Love – Florence + The Machine: jazz / contemporary collaboration – alumni dance (so ages 18+)
Who You Are – Jessie J: Large group contemporary, ages 11-14
Wonderwall (cover) – Ryan Adams: Large group contemporary, ages 15-18
Remnants of a Lullaby – Trans-Siberian Orchestra: Lyrical solo, age 15
The Call – Regina Spektor: Large group lyrical, ages 10-13

OTHER

Magic – B.O.B.: jazz, ages 6-8, complete with magic hat prop!
Ever Ever After – Jordan Pruitt: jazz, ages 5-6
Rodeo: IV. Hoe-Down. Allegro – Copland: Large group ballet, ages 6-8
Fairy Dance – James Newton Howard: Large group ballet, ages 7-9
Crayola Doesn’t Make A Color… – Kristin Andreassan: Large group modern, ages 7-9

What was your favorite song that you danced to this year?

18Jun2012

NMM: Home – Grace Aplin

Posted in Music by Cait (The Dance Buzz)

One of my graduating seniors picked this song for her senior solo this year and I can’t get enough of this song!

“Home” is a beautiful song and Gabrielle Aplin has such a unique-sounding voice, although she does remind me of Ellie Goulding. Grab the song on iTunes:

2Apr2012

New Music Mondays: Someone Un-Like You

Posted in Music by Cait (The Dance Buzz)

I never thought I’d say this, but I am tired of Adele!

Hey guys! It’s a turning table!

It’s mid-way through competition season for us and Adele has already won “most overplayed artist at competition” by a landslide. I have seen Turning Tables Turning Tables as a solo, a duet, a small group, a large group, with a table, with twelve tables, with no tables (and my studio is guilty of using it too). “Set Fire to the RainSet Fire To The Rain“, “Rumour Has ItRumour Has It” and “Someone Like YouSomeone Like You” have also been well represented.

So if you’re like me and want a change of pace, here are a few current songs I’ve been using in contemporary and jazz class lately that are not Adele. All links open in iTunes

Paradise – Coldplay (LINK) – I love the build-up in the beginning. My senior class really get into this one when the bass comes in around 0:34. I used it for across the floor and center combos with improv.

Night Drop – Act of Valor (Night Drop – Act of Valor) – The whole soundtrack is great for improv work and working on emotions – I especially like this track.

Keep Your Head Up – Ben Howard Keep Your Head Up – Ben Howard – I like this for warm-ups that start slowly and end up in big movements and small jumps (song picks up around 1:13). Somehow the refrain of “keep your head up, keep your heart strong” keeps me going 🙂

Black Sheep – Gin Wigmore – couldn’t find this one on iTunes – here it is on YouTube. Love this for a sassy jazz combo. **Warning it does use the word “h-e-double-hockey-sticks word” (h*ll) in the bridge, so may not be appropriate for your classes.

Holy Moses – Washington Holy Moses – Washington – This is a fun one for warm-ups. I have been using this song in tap class too.

Riverside – Agnes Obel Riverside – Agnes Obel – I love this haunting song – would work nicely for a small group. And it’s in 6/8 time… bonus!

23Jan2012

Love Playlist for Lyrical / Contemporary Class

Posted in Uncategorized by Cait (The Dance Buzz)

Until Valentine’s Day, I’ll be doing a different “Love” themed playlist every Monday. This week’s playlist is geared towards lyrical or contemporary dancers. After I made the playlist, I realized it tended to go to the darker side of love – the heartache or wanting. All the better to ’emote’ with, I guess! As my students would say, “this song needs an angsty lyrical face.”

[Links open up in iTunes]

Love Remains The Same – Gavin Rossdale – an uplifting song
My Love – Sia – hauntingly beautiful
She Is Love – Parachute – simple and soft acoustic guitar
A Little More of You – Ashley Chambliss – mellow
Like You Do – Angel Taylor – very “pop” and bubbly
I Will Show You Love – Kendall Payne – updated love ballad
Be Be Your Love – Rachael Yamagata – 3/4 rhythm, bluesy
The Book of Love – Peter Gabriel – beautiful song for all ages
Thinking About You – The Big Scary – slow and steadily tugging on your heartstrings
Fools In Love – Inara George – another 3/4 time! Lamenting about fools in love
Jar of Hearts – Christina Perri – no need for description, there’s a reason it’s overplayed…
Piece of My Heart – Keri Noble – song about leaving a piece of yourself behind – I used this as a duet for sisters when one of them was a high school senior

9Jan2012

NMM: Katie Herzig – Lost & Found

Posted in Uncategorized by Cait (The Dance Buzz)

I love this song – I heard it on Grey’s Anatomy a few months ago and needed to have it immediately! I finally found out that it is Katie Herzig’s “Lost and Found” from her album “The Waking Sleep” that came out in September 2011. Grab the song on iTunes here:

I’ve been using it in my jazz & contemporary warm-ups and cool downs. The beginning starts off slowly, but make sure you listen through until about 2:10 when the chorus starts in and the song really starts to take off… it has such an uplifting feeling! My teens really enjoyed this song and the lyrics are PG enough to use for younger students as well.

19Dec2011

NMM: Hey Ya – Obidiah Parker

Posted in Uncategorized by Cait (The Dance Buzz)

This one’s been around for a while, but I recently re-discovered it in my playlists.

Today’s New Music Monday song is an acoustic cover of Hey Ya by Obadiah Parker

I like to use this song in my modern and contemporary classes and also for a cool-down in jazz class. The only problem is for the first few times you play it, the kids will be concentrating on figuring out why it sounds so familiar. I know I was!