First of all, let me just say how amazing these Next Gen Jams have been, and to be invited to hold the competition at Carriageworks’ Annual Platform Hip Hop Festival is incredible. I’m such a nut, it’s always just the week before that I start rallying the troops and actually organising and promoting the jam. This one’s no different and what’s even worse is that I thought this was the fifth jam when it fact it’s the sixth. So on all the Platform 3 Hip Hop Festival advertising material its advertised at D2MG Next Generation Jam V. Ah no biggie, we’ll know for the next one.

Sorry i’m blabbing on instead of talking about the details. But I can’t believe it’s achieved one of my goals, which is to make it really big, and be part of Nick Power’s event (he’s the artistic director of Platform and is an all-round Hip Hopper, this guy has so much knowledge and history and does Hip Hop fulltime which is awesome).

Anyways here’s the details:

Event: D2MG Next Generation Jam VI at Platform 3 Hip Hop Festival by Carriageworks and Nick Power
Format: 2v2 Popping (Open), 4v4 Bboy/Bgirl (Next Gen only)
Date: Saturday, 20th March 2010
Time: 1pm-5pm SHARP (Freak the Technique 4v4 Bboy/Bgirl prelims start 5pm sharp)
Venue: Carriageworks, 245 Wilson St, Eveleigh
Prizes: Exclusive D2MG Next Level Shirts, $100 for the Popping battles and merchandise for the Bboy/Bgirl battles

REGISTER YOUR CREW: trina@d2mg.com

Popping Judges: Danis Kool, Romeo Pop, Chux
Breaking Judges: Jojo (SKB), Dany (Adictos), Ill FX (All Consciousness Crew)

DJ: Libre
MC: NickKnowledge

THIS IS A FREE EVENT FOR EVERYONE!!!

My fellow House dancer and NY-obsessed friend Rod has been scoping out the club scene for a while, on the lookout for funk, soul, house and good Hip Hop nights out in Sydney, since the ones we know of are utter crap holes filled with teeny boppers and posers. What a goldmine was the find of Ache4House at the newly renovated Mars Lounge in Sydney. I went for the first time last Friday night, and while quiet, it was soon full of Rod’s posse and more, due to the farewell celebrations of one of the most prominent House and Hip Hop dancers in Sydney (from and going back to Japan of course). The sleek interior and cosy booths give that underground feel, and while we could do with some more open space, we’ll do with what we have and keep our moves small. The music was fantastic, a deep, souful and funky type of House, absorbed by every dancer in the room, especially those who have had a taste of the New York House scene and longing for more. We’ll be sure to make it a regular Friday night jam, with Rod leading the pack. I’ll be there every now and then, and will update on my Twitter/Facebook when I do so you can hit me up if you feel like getting down

Details

Entry: $10-$20, sign up for membership on their site for freebies and guestlists

Every other Friday at Mars Lounge, the ACHE 4 HOUSE crew come together to bring back the best House music on the Sydney scene.

Our resident DJs’ track selection is all that is deep, funky, jazzy and soulful house.  Accompanied with live musicians on trumpet, percussion, sax or drums, immerse yourself in our bouncing energy!

Mars Lounge, recently refurbished and under new management, the atmosphere is down-to-earth and has a cocktail menu to die for!

From 5pm, Mars opens for after work cocktails to kick off your weekend!
From 9pm, we crank up the energy and hit the dancefloor!

ACHE Members score:
-5pm to 9pm $5 beer, wine, spirits & $10 cocktails
(show membership card at the bar)
-Discount entry after 9pm on guestlist!

FREE entry before 9pm!

Mars Lounge
16 Wentworth Ave, Surry Hills
(just off Oxford St, near Hyde Park)

R.I.P Greg “Campbellock Jr” Pope.

On Thursday, 28 Jan 2010, a member of the pioneering dance troupe “The Lockers” passed away after fainting the day before at the 11th Year Anniversary of the Carnival Choreographers Ball held at the Vanguard, Hollywood California. While he has passed in physical form, his spirit and legacy will stay alive in those that continue to spread his passion and life’s work.

I planned to review the ‘hip hop dance’ competition, For The Love Of The Stage which was held at Rosehill Racecourse, Sydney, which was held as part of a car show. There’s not much I can say since I was told by someone who was there, not to bother. That would’ve been the end of it, except I was curious and asked those who went, about what happened. Turns out there was a lot of miscommunication amongst the organisers themselves and third parties who they thought were helping them out, so with no one knowing what was going on, Luke from SKB started telling everyone how it should be run, and chose himself and two others to judge the battles then ran a round-robin for the three crews that entered the battle competition. He wasn’t the only one who happened to be there and put their hand up to contribute to the comp. From that, the content of the battles were hype enough for them to recount with wild eyes, the amazing feat of low-key young crew Buoyan over the more established Justice Crew.

In the past, if an event like this came up, I would completely diss the organisers and rant about how wack everyone is and how they are detrimental to the local Hip Hop dance scene. Well I’ve done that many times, and got some really good things out of it like some new friends who are prominent dancers in Australia and in the world, and got better at identifying empty threats. But now, I’m not in the mood to hate, lots of things went wrong, people messed up – what I will take from what happened are two things:

1. Buoyan is a new and crazy crew that has established members of the SKB crew raving about how they are the top of their generation and are at the top of freestyle dancers in Australia
2. It is so great to see people who are truly in the Hip Hop and dance scenes in Sydney just unite and take over situations because they won’t give up so easily and will run things if needed. So props to Luke, David Tang and Leizel for stepping up.

There’s no videos up that I know of, but if anyone has any, hit me up.

Trina

Continue Reading