Have you ever wondered if dance is a purely human activity? Well the video below shows that it’s not! It turns out in that the animal kingdom those that have complex vocal imitation ability can dance, and those that don’t, can’t.

According to this article on Dance Evolution by the American Psychological Association, the reason that cockatoos and humans can dance, while monkeys and dogs can’t, is that we are vocal learners. That is, we hear sounds and mimic them — a skill that requires close connections between our auditory and motor circuits.

“Dance requires a brain that’s been wired up to reproduce complex sounds,” says Aniruddh Patel, a researcher at the Neurosciences Institute in San Diego. “It’s a very rare ability in nature — dolphins do it, seals do it and songbirds do it, but the vast majority of species don’t do it, including most primates.”

Thank goodness since we communicate with language, our bodies have the proper wiring to allow us to interpret music with our muscles.

So don’t let Frostie show you up, Toronto, Dance!

Not all dance couples survive the stress of dancing together, but this couple is one that thrives! Lavinia Maria and Amer Farroukh were one of the first couples in Toronto to take up Zouk dancing at Mazouka Dance just over a year ago.  Last night they pulled off an amazing routine that they choreographed themselves to take home $500 for winning the Amateur Division of the Zouk Competition of Brazil Dance World’s Brazilian Beat Dance Congress.

Will Slavic and Anna be as successful in their quest to reach the top? Tonight is the Canadian Premier of the film “Ballroom Dancer” at the Isabel Bader Theatre.  A must-see for anyone involved in partner dancing!

Links

• Ballroom Dancer at Hot Docs
• Lavinia’s Art Portfolio
• Zouk Classes in Toronto

The upcoming Toronto Hot Docs documentary film festival has programmed a film that discusses the exciting world of competitive Ballroom Dancing as seen from the point of view of a foremost competitive dance couple.

The abilities of Slavic Kryklyvyy are are legendary to this day.  As a young dancer Slavik shocked the world of Latin Dancesport when he first came onto the scene in 1997 and started winning titles all over the world. In less than a year he won two first place titles in the IDSF Open World Amateur Latin category and later in 2005 he became the top Professional Latin dancer at the UK OPEN in Bournemouth, England with partner Karina Smirnoff (now known as an instructor in the USA TV program Dancing With The Stars).

This film shows Slavic, now at the age of 34, working to reclaim his former glory with his new partner and girlfriend Anna Melnikova.  Slavic’s talent has always carried a downside that has kept him from keeping partners for any length of time.

This film provides an unprecedented bird’s-eye view into the life of  an extraordinary dancer. It is also a must-see for anyone involved in partner dancing, in particular competitive partner dancing, or anyone that has experienced or considered being in a relationship with their dance partner.  Will Slavic succeed in his dream to make it back to the top? Will Slavic and Anna survive the intensity of  their relentless rehearsals and stressful competitions?  Watch and find out!

Ballroom Dancer Trailer

Watch the trailer of this unique look into the lives of  Slavic and Anna.

About Hot Docs

Hot Docs (www.hotdocs.ca) is North America’s largest documentary festival, conference and market. From April 26 to May 6, Hot Docs’ 19th edition will present an outstanding selection of 189 documentaries from Canada and around the world to Toronto audiences and international delegates.  In partnership with Blue Ice Group, Hot Docs operates the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema , a century-old landmark located in the  Annex neighbourhood.

Ballroom Dancer Show Times

• Monday  Apr 30 9:00 PM Isabel Bader Theatre
• Tuesday May 1 3:00 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox 1
• Wednesday May 2 11:00 AM Isabel Bader Theatre

Ballroom Dancer Tickets

The Hot Docs documentary Box Office, newly located at 783 Bathurst Street, is open for advance ticket and pass sales. Tickets can be purchased in person, online at www.hotdocs.ca, or by phone at 416-637-5150.  Single tickets are $14.50  Buy here .

Student and Senior Tickets

Free tickets are available for Tuesday and Wednesday screenings of Ballroom Dancer to seniors (60+) and students with valid photo I.D. Senior and student tickets are available at the venue box offices on the day of the screening subject to availability only. (To be sure  buy your ticket in advance .)

More than 1200 pairs of dance shoes in men’s, women’s and children’s sizes will be on sale this Sunday from 10am to 6pm. Get your Salsa, Latin, Tango, Ballroom and Jazz dance shoes or dance sneakers!

There are also more than 400 items of dancewear, including skirts, tops, pants, and dance costumes. You can even get accessories such as heel protectors, fishnet tights, and shoe brushes.

All at half price! For more info, call 1-888-907-9808 or email sales@naturalspindancewear.com

Dance Shoe Sale Location

HH Dance & Fitness is located at Unit 7A, 7310 Woodbine Ave in Markham (View  Map). This is at the intersection of Woodbine and Denision within easy access of highways 404 and 401 and the Don Valley Parkway. Parking is available.

For those using TTC, the Victoria Park North bus #224 from Don Mills subway station stops very close to the studio.

• About HH Dance Studio and Natural Spin Dance Shoes

Hi-Heyters Toronto's Best High School Dance Crew 2012

Hi-Heyters from St. Mary’s Catholic Seconday School won the third round of  Toronto’s Best High School Dance Crew competition, taking home a prize of $1000. Their unique choreography answered the question “what do waiters do before the shop opens?” and the answer was hilarious and engaging.  This team made excellent use of props, and stayed in character even while taking their bows, showing a surprising amount of professionalism from a High School dance crew.

17 different High School Hip Hop dance crews participated in the finals, all to be commended for their high level of energy, skill, and dedication. One crew gave respect to a departed team member, Lesean Grant-Dizon, by bringing his cap on the stage,  and the entire audience of over 1000 dance fans took a moment of silence to remember him.

Mariano Abarca made a very entertaining host (photo left) and congratulations to Ill Skillz Director Carlos Aster Taguba (center)  for creating an exciting event that has given hundreds of high school students a venue for expressing themselves through dance.

If you missed it, chances are you can see some of these  amazing performers again at Youth Day Canada this summer at Dundas Square Sunday July 22, 2012.

Links

• Ill Skillz Productions
• Youth Day Canada
• Other Hip Hop events and classes  in Toronto

Ill Skillz Productions, an organization of young motivational speakers and urba dancers that fight alcoholism, peer pressure, and racism in schools, has created what is now the biggest high school dance competition in Canada.

After  six months and four grueling semi-final competitions all over the GTA,  17 Incredible High School Hip-Hop Teams are left standing. Watch these 17 teams battle it out at the finals on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at the Ryerson Theatre  (43 Gerard Street East) in Toronto.

Our readers say:

This is going to be an awesome event!! I’ve been to many of the competitions and the energy level is so contagious. I encourage everyone to come out and see what our young people can do on the stage.  –Phil

Always an amazing time watching these young people do what they do best!  –Yolanda

I went to this show last year and it was spectacular! Great job Ill Skillz. — Caitlyn

>> More Info and Tickets to Toronto’s Best Dance Crew 3.0

Here are some other great dance events this weekend:

• Crystal Leaf Ballroom Dancesport Championships
• Women’s Salsa Retreat
• Vida Flamenca Performance
• Zouk Crash Course

The Crystal Leaf Dancesport Championships, one of the world’s largest Pro-Am dancesport competitions, takes place this weekend at the Doubletree Hotel (655 Dixon Road).    Tickets are $40 to $100, depending on seating. A portion of the ticket sales will be donated to Sick Kids Foundation.

On Friday night there will be a show by Maurizio Vescovo, a  Blackpool Amateur Latin Champion, and his partner Andra Vaidilate of Andra Dance Studio in Toronto.  They are couple number 67 in the video below:

On Saturday night there will a show of Canadian champions that promises to be spectacular!

The event is to be covered by Rogers TV.

More info:

• Crystal Leaf Championships website
• Other Ballroom Dance events and classes in Toronto

VIDA FLAMENCA (A WAY OF LIFE) is the latest flamenco collaboration of dance and music by the Ritmo Flamenco Dance & Music Ensemble.

The Scannura family has made flamenco a way of life and are one of Canada’s principal exponents of the art form. Their commitment to flamenco lies at the heart of this production. Drawing from the family’s latest journey throughout Spain, VIDA FLAMENCA is a concert of new works reminiscent of the authentic flamenco penas (clubs) that are the breeding grounds of deep flamenco. Thee music ranges from melancholic intensity to fiery, dynamic interaction between the musicians and the company of dancers who convey the beauty and strength of flamenco at its finest.

The music is composed and performed by guitarist Roger Scannura who is joined by his ensemble of musicians.  He has headlined many music festivals in Canada and abroad, the latest being the Zihua tanejo Guitar Festival (Mexico) and the Just Strings Music Festival in Geyserville, California.

His wife, Valeria Scannura is the Artistic Director and choreographer and has been performing flamenco since 1985 and created the Toronto-based school and company in 1995. For this project, she has worked closely with daughter, 22-year old Anjelica Scannura (Co-Artistic Director, choreographer and lead dancer) who has been living and breathing flamenco her entire life. A recent Chalmers Professional Training Grant from the Ontario Arts Council allowed her to spend much time in Spain studying and performing flamenco in its purest environment.

More info at www.ritmoflamenco.ca

VIDA FLAMENCA
RITMO FLAMENCO DANCE & MUSIC ENSEMBLE
Saturday, April 21st at 8:00pm
Al Green Theatre
General Admission: $35 Advance or $40 Door
For tickets call: 416 924 6211 Ext. 0 or visit the Al Green Theatre

Here is their winning routine:

Brazilians clearly know how to dance!

Rafael and Carine will be teaching at this weekend’s Toronto Salsa Festival.

• See more Brazilians dance at the upcoming Brazilian Beat Festival
• Find  Salsa Classes in Toronto

Shiamak’s Summer Funk is a series of unique dance classes that culminate in a spectacular performance at on July 15 th 2012 at the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga.  The program gives participants, both youth and adults, a platform to experience the performing arts.

Shiamak, who says ‘Toronto has great potential. Students here have a certain energy that makes them great performers on stage!,’ has formalized several unique dance styles that are taught exclusively at his dance school.

Shiamak’s Indo-Jazz combines indo contemporary and modern movements with a strong ballet grounding and performance based visuals. Shimak’s Bollywood Jazz, a favorite amongst students’ works as a great stress buster, combines jazz technique taught to latest Bollywood songs.

Classes begin with a 15 minute dance warm-up and then 45 minutes dedicated to training in technique and learning a choreography.  Students are taught a dance routine to a particular edited song and are trained in the finer art of showmanship.  Check out some of the results in the video clip below!

There will be TWO Summer Funk Sessions of 12 classes each before the participant goes on stage. In each session particpants learn one song and thus get an opportunity to perform 2 songs on stage.  It is mandatory for the students to attened at least 9 classes out of the 12 classes. Session 1 starts this week and Session  2 will commence near the end of May. Classes are $175 for 12 classes and take place in Mississauga.

• More info about these classes and SCHEDULE
• About Shiamak Davar
• Shiamak Official Website

Don’t miss out! Call (416) 825-0643 or email toronto@shiamak.com for more information and to register.