I was at work when I heard the news that Michael Jackson died. For me, Michael Jackson as a entertainer was the greatest entertainer to grace the earth, no one will ever come close. His innovative style of dancing, singing, and overall stage presence will NEVER be matched. You know you're the best when 30+ years after you came out, people are still listening to your music and STILL trying to imitate your dancing. This is a tragic loss for the millions of fans who still adore his portfolio of work including myself who enjoyed listening to his music, including Thriller which is by the way STILL the greatest music video ever made, which came out YEARS before I was even born. No matter what the allegation are or what people say, I will remember him as the best, the greatest. RIP Michael Jackson.

When we put ourselves out there for the public to see, its natural for people to love or hate you. I think that's always going to be the case with dancing. This past year, I'd like to think myself as evolving from someone who sorta did dancing as a way to get involved on campus to something that I can't live without, as a great quote I read not too long ago said, "dancing is as close as I'll ever get to flying...". I couldn't have said it any better than that. I always wondered if people would recognize if I had made a difference in PG, or at least recognized that I could dance at least lol. I thought maybe if I knew how to freestyle, or knew how to do other flashy things, maybe I could fit the 'stereotype' for a hip-hop dancer and maybe people would give me opportunities to do other things. But then I thought, you know, I don't have to do all that, as long as I stay true to my craft, someone will give me the opportunity to teach, to lead, to do what I LOVE to do. Hopefully I will start teaching again soon, maybe to the local community, I think that will be a great opportunity and maybe start my own crew, who knows, the ideas are endless with me lol, but I've learned as long as you're humble with your 'talent' people will definitely recognize you and doors will open :)

Lately I've been tryin to decide what all styles of choreography I want to choreograph for this year. I'm almost done with my chill swag choreo that I probably will give to PG this year....but if they do decide to go to competition with it, I will DEFINITELY be in it, best believe! hahaha. I've been watching a lot of crews compete at VIBE, Fusion and Body Rock which are held at the west coast. Honestly to begin with, I didn't appreciate all the crews and their interpretation of a song, but lately whenever I watch any top crews there, I root for them like im at the even haha. So getting inspiration from all the crews, the next styles of choreography which I hope to get done this year are, Isolation, Locking/Wacking, contemporary styled hip hop piece, Rnb sexy iso...and thats it for now, but I'm sure i'll think of more stuff to do haha. anyway thats it for now..peace!

this style is sorta not the 'traditional' hip hop choreo, but i LOVE this shit like crazy!!!!
Keone Madrid-Black and Gold Choreo

Since graduating from UNCW, I've been hanging out in my apartment by myself for the most part because everyone that I know has gone home for the summer, some to return in the fall and some I will probably never get to see that often anymore, sad I know, but its the reality of life. I've been faced with reality pretty much all this year, first was probably when I didn't get into the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC for photography. That threw me into a loop hole because I did not have a plan b or whatever, I just knew I was going to get accepted, but after I didn't I figured this was God's plan for me to stay and be....normal? After not being accepted, I focused much of my energy into something that I LOVE and is really passionate about, DANCING. And yes I did choose a favorite between my two passions, photography and dancing lol. When I started dancing the spring of my Sophomore year of college, I figured it was something fun for me to do since I wasn't involved with anything on campus, and for the most part it was just something fun. It wasn't until towards the end of my junior year before Physical Graffeeti's end of the year showcase that I fell in love with it. It was like a relationship was formed between me and dancing haha. That was the first time I choreographed something (So much Betta-Janet-Intro AlterEg0 Hawk it Out if you're wondering). During that whole summer, I made it my goal to do something different, to better myself as a dancer and choreographer, and I think for a couple of months, I really transitioned myself from just a member of PG to a member that really made a difference this year (I think lol). So as my senior year is winding down, I was faced with the reality that I will have to give up being a dancer and choreographer because I have to "grow up" and be a old man i guess. It was like someone was telling me that I had to break up with my girlfriend and move on, and we just got serious LOL. ANYWAY, since I dont have cable at the moment, I decided to watch American Idol..blah blah, nothing new, there aint no Kelly clarkson, Fantasia, or Carrie Underwood up in there haha, but there was a new show premiering, a show called GLEE. I was tempted to turn off the tv, but there was a few jokes that I thought was funny so I decided to leave it on in the background. Thank God I left it on because it's actually a REALLY good show. It's about a teacher who is trying to revive the Glee Club which is like a musical club that goes to competition. He struggles with the fact that his wife is having a baby and he has to be responsible by "providing" for them so he quits his teaching job and applies for a accounting job(accounting SUCKS by the way lol). Well as he's about to leave a co-worker stops him and show tapes of him at 93 nationals competing with the Glee Club and tells him he shouldn't stop what he's passionate about. This made me think of myself because just because I'm a "old man" now and gotta take care of my responsibilities, that doesn't mean I have to stop doing things that I love. I would LOVE to teach area kids the True meaning of Hip-hop dancing, and I would do it for free because that's how much I love. I'm not sure how I'm going to do it, but somehow I will do it. This may be the reason God chose me to stay here in Wilmington instead of going to NYC, I dont know, but whatever happens in the future, I will NEVER Stop dancing!!!!!! and YOU should never stop doing things you're passionate about EITHER!

So here are my "official" graduation ceremony photos, they are ok I guess, but definitely not going to pay 200 bucks for these ok quality pics, I rather set up my stuff and photograph myself haha, OR i could just photoshop the "proof" from the photos, but that will take too long haha oh well

I thought this subject needed to be discussed.

First thing, as a dancer and choreographer who lives in a city where hip-hop dancing is not heard of, we have to look at other places to find inspiration, and most of the time its what we see on tv and on youtube.com (as you may already see from my past entries). I'm all about getting ideas from choreographers and inspiration from there on doing some movements, but when you decide to steal someone's choreography and then say it is yours and then get paid for it, there is DEFINITELY a problem. How can someone call themselves a choreographer when all you did was take someone else's choreography and then teach it to people??? How can you say you've learned from the best and was taught this and that, but your skills doesnt even say nothing about you as a dancer, and all the famous name dropping that this dude claims he knows is even worse..and you "plan to take hip-hop dancing to a new level" HA! I find that HILARIOUS!

Secondly, in March I got to participate in a school event where dancers at the university could compete for prizes. I was SO glad to have the event over and done with when it did, one because my crew practiced so much and second because half if not more of the competitors wanted to be seen, wanted to be in the limelight, and did not give a shit about the art of dancing. I'm not gonna sit here and say being cheered on isnt fun and exciting but do you get as much pleasure and satisfaction when you just dance for yourself in front of the mirror?!?? I'll just say the the people who won first and second DEFINITELY deserved it, forget third, they basically took the whole routine from Step Up 2 and performed it in front of the school, I mean, come on bruh, and they said we didnt deserve to get 2nd. (Yes Im still bitter he said it, We should've GREETED them in our mini probate scene LOL) OMG IS THAT THE BREATH!

The reason I'm so passionate about this, is because as a dancer/choreographer who loves what he's doing, its damn disrespectful when you spend countless hours coming up with choreography and have someone steal it and then get REWARDED for it. Its basically PLAGIARISM!! and we all know what that can do if you don't properly cite your papers, a big ole F! anyway that was my rant for the day...haha, heres a video of a Tony Tran, a choreographer who i love, he may not be as "famous" as those ppl that dude seems to know, but I would rather learn from Tony than from...Shayne Sparks (no offense) lol...enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caKwKcmLJ2A

I recently discovered a GREAT English artist James Morrison, after being in UNCW Dance Company and Tracee choreographed a song by him. I really like his music because he seems to sing his songs with passion, he sounds like John Mayer and Jason Mraz with some added SOUL! haha, here is a song I think you should listen to. The track is called "If you dont wanna love me"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9IjLDEtGHM

Another GREAT artist from England is Adele,

listen to her track Hometown Glory :)