The Vegas Convention

The Vegas Convention info is now online at www.summerinla.com/vegas

The wait was worth it. Thank you for your patience.

Check out our Events listing on facebook and add yourself to the invite list and Be Discovered as a friend.

www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=61824026570&ref=ts

Tabitha and Napoleon (Nappytabs) will confirm in April if they can do a Hip Hop class at the Vegas Convention. Will keep you posted. We hope to also have them at Summer in L.A.

Join our all star faculty for 2 not to be missed days of dance and 2 not to be missed shows.

Any questions? Call us toll free at 888-657-4202 ext 3 or at 416-657-4202.
You can also email is at info@summerinla.com or info@bediscovered.net

REACH FOR THE STARS WITH BE DISCOVERED!

So You Think You Can Dance Auditions

So You Think You Can Dance?

If you're in the U.S, you still have 1 more chance to audition for this hit show.

http://www.fox.com/dance/casting.htm

The Summer in LA dancers attend the taping of this show, which is one of the dancers favorite experiences.


If you're in Canada, SYTYCD Canada has just announced their workshop tour.

http://www.ctv.ca/mini/dance2008/index.html

Break a leg to all dancers auditioning~

The Vegas Convention

Next week, the Vegas Convention will have its own page here at the Summer in L.A. site.

Can't wait to have all the info for you to see. Hope you can join us.

This is an ideal add on to the Summer in LA Hip Hop Intensive as it starts the same day that Summer in LA ends, August 3.

The convention is August 3 and 4 and features classes in Hip Hop, Krump, Street Jazz (non technical), Broadway Jazz/Fosse, Contemporary/Modern, Lyrical and Tango.

Dancers will showcase the choreography learned in an informal finale showcase.

Attend Cirque show and much more.

Stay tuned for all details...coming soon.

Taking The Stage - MTV Show

Premieres March 19 on MTV.



For those in Canada, not sure when it will be airing.
Will update the blog as soon as we know.

About the Show

In the heart of Cincinnati is a place where talented kids from all walks of life come to pursue their dreams. It is the School for Creative and Performing Arts. Gaining acceptance to SCPA and Taking the Stage here is an honor and talented dancers, musicians and actors have to audition to get into the school. Once they're there, students spend most of their waking hours honing their skills for a chance to prove they've got what it takes to make it.

Kids who attend SCPA go on to study arts at prestigious universities and pursue careers on Broadway, in Hollywood and all facets of the entertainment business. Among the performers who have attended SCPA are actress Sarah Jessica Parker (Sex and the City), actor/director Todd Luiso (High Fidelity, Love Liza), actor Rocky Carroll (NCIS) and singer Nick Lachey.

Right now, five students Taking the Stage at SCPA are on the cusp of greatness:

Jasmine is a prima ballerina who dreams of dancing with the famed Alvin Ailey dance troupe. "I want to be one of the best professional dancers of my generation," she says. Jasmine hopes to attend New York performing arts conservatory Juilliard after graduating from SCPA.

Malik -- Jasmine's best friend -- leads the school's only hip-hop dance group, The Definition. "When I dance," he says, "people notice. I want to inspire." In addition to his formidable dance skills, he is also a talented choreographer and a singer/songwriter.

Shaakira is a dancer and aspiring actress. "I want to be an all-around entertainer. I have really big dreams," she says. "I will do whatever it takes to be famous." Shaakira is an accomplished ballet dancer -- one of the best SCPA has ever produced -- but prefers hip-hop dance and is an integral member of Malik's team.

Mia is a singer-songwriter whose talent is matched only by her drive. "My whole life I've had the same goal, to make music and get a record contract by the time that I'm 18," Mia says. "I know I have what it takes to make it happen."

And, finally, there's Tyler, a gifted hip-hop dancer. Along with his little brother, Chris (also a dancer), he's new to the School for Creative and Performing Arts, and he's about to shake things up. "Dancing is my world; it just comes out of me," he says. "I am hip-hop dance. Hip-hop dance is me."

Despite being in one of the most creative environments a talented kid could ask for, there are obstacles standing in between them and their dreams of Taking the Stage. In some cases, it's a focus on discipline and perfecting the skills that could lead them to professional careers in the performing arts. Because they are so focused on their goals, a lot of "normal" things like dating or even just hanging out with friends are sacrificed to make time for performances, rehearsals and hours upon hours of practice.

Still, these face the typical pitfalls of high school -- from the pressures of studying hard to making grades, to navigating the treacherous waters of attraction and young love and dealing with the same insecurities that every teenager faces -- that prove to be substantial stumbling blocks for many.

The question is, will Jasmine, Malik, Shaakira, Mia and Tyler give their all to chase their dreams? If they do, they'll be Taking the Stage with the confidence of knowing they are among the best at what they do.

http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/taking_the_stage/series.jhtml

Dancing With The Stars

Tonight is the premiere of Dancing With the Stars.

Finally, shows on TV worth watching! As America's Best Dance Crew just finished up, now dance lovers have another exciting option.

This summer, we plan to add some ballroom into Summer in LA The Dance Intensive as dancers need to be versatile. Not only do we see it on this show, but we also see it on So You Think You Can Dance.

In 2008, we had a phenomenal Salsa class taught by Nancy Paradis and her husband and JJ Villar joined in to assist the dancers as a partner.

We have just been in touch with Lacey who you will see on tonights show as we hope that she will be available for one of the group private workshops for the Summer in LA dancers.



We have also added Tango to our Vegas Convention.

www.abc.go.com/primetime/dancingwiththestars/index?pn=index

Keep dance shows coming, we love them!

New Dance Styles for The Dance Intensive

New dance styles will be offered during The Dance Intensive July 20 - July 27.

Dancers will help select the classes that they will take on their full day of privates.

With many dancers wishing to audition for shows like So You Think You Can Dance, dancers need to be versatile.

Styles like Samba will be one of the new class options for the Dance Intensive dancers as well as Salsa, which was really popular in 2008.

Ballroom dancing as we can see is also taking a forefront in dance especially with the recognition that it is getting on shows like Dancing with the Stars, so Mambo will also be an option.

The Bollywood industry is bigger than Hollywood's. Be Discovered has booked many dancers on Bollywood films. With Slumdog Millionnaire winning so many Oscars, we feel that Bollywood dancing is going to be hotter than it currently is. Bollywood will also be another option. So You Think You Can Dance also had the dancers doing this last season.

Can't wait for the summer and all the new and exciting dance styles that are a part of Summer in L.A. along with all the techiniques that are really important like Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Tap and many more...

www.SummerInLA.com

ABDC Season 3 Winner

Congratulations to Quest crew for winning America's Best Dance Crew!!!



Wish we could have been in the audience to watch the finale episode.

Diana, Summer in LA Talent Director had 2 tickets from the producer Howard but was unable to make it to L.A.

Our girls Beat Freaks are phenomenal even though they didn't win 1st, they did come in 2nd and many people feel that they were robbed.

What do you think?

We think people will always have their favorites but you do need to give credit where credit is due and recognize talent. Especially in the industry, even the most talented don't always make it or win.

You have to give it to Quest, they did pull out lots of tricks out of their hats.

Shane Sparks was interviewed the day before and was asked who he thought deserved to win and his answer was...Beat Freaks!!!

Congrats to them as well for making it this far and showing the world that female crews can do the same as the guy crews.

Can't wait to work with them this summer.

Congrats to all the crews!!!

Season 4 of the show has not yet been confirmed, there is a lot of talk that it may not be back, but hopefully it will be back so that it can help put more dancers on the map.

www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/dance_crew/series.jhtml

The Economy and the Dance/Entertainment Industry

Let's not look at this time as a time of lack of, but let's change the perspective to a time of abundance.

Many dancers and their parents worry about the state of the economy and the dance/entertainment industry.

Many more worry that dance is not a serious career and that you won't be able to make a living at it. There are many college and university grads that are unemployed even though they received an education.

Many dancers work. Look at all the concerts that still sell out that hire many dancers and all the dancers touring with shows as a result of America's Best Dance Crew, Dancing with the Stars and SYTYCD!

Although we do agree that an education is very important, being able to follow your dreams is just as important.

In the past during recessions and the great depression, entertainment and the arts always thrive.

People are always looking to be entertained and to forget and dance as well as the movies, shows and all forms of entertainment play an important role during these times.

Although it is really sad and unfortunate that many people are losing their jobs, we are very resilient and will get through tough times.

When one door closes, another opens.

Everything happens for a reason and will make us be better and stronger in the end.

The media uses a lot of fear that paralizes people from moving forward and reaching for their dreams. Don't be afraid. Things may be tough, but things will be o.k.

Losing a job is terrible but maybe as a result, people will go back to school and pursue the dreams that maybe they didn't before due to that job. The auto industry is suffering. Is this a bad thing for us a whole? Again, it is sad for those losing jobs, but less car sales means for fresh air for us and future generations to breathe.

Many things are happening so that we can better ourselves as a society and to help heal the Earth. The Earth has suffered a lot as a result of cars, industries and many of these industries are the ones suffering now.

Sometimes we need to hit rock bottom to come back on top and I think the time is here that we are starting to rebuild and get better.

Lots of people are still spending a lot of money on going to shows, concerts, events, movies and entertainment.

Maybe this is the time when dance work and work in the entertainment industry will be considered "real" jobs and not just something to do for fun.

America's Best Dance Crew

Today is the day that season 3's winner of ABDC will be announced.

2 talented crews remain:

The ladies of Beat Freaks vs The Guys of Quest

Who will be voted America's Best Dance Crew?

The polls are closed and the winner will be announced tonight!

You can still show support by checking out the site and seeing videos of talented dancers and much more.

Some of the Beat Freaks are on the Summer in LA Hip Hop faculty.

With the Hip Hop Intensive, you will also travel to Vegas to watch the World Hip Hop Championships, which is produced by America's Best Dance Crew.

We are excited that you will have the chance to work with them this summer when you join us for Summer in L.A.

If you miss tonight's MTV show or are in Canada and can't see it til Sunday and you want to know tonight or in the a.m. who the winner is, be sure to visit the ABDC site for info.

www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/dance_crew/series.jhtml

Gigi Torres workshops a success!

Thank you to Gigi Torres for some amazing Street Jazz and Hip Hop workshops in St. Catharines and Peterborough in Ontario, Canada and in Levis, Quebec, Canada.

Hundreds of dancers had the chance to work with this phenomenal teacher and choreographer whose credits include choreography on SYTYCD Scandanavia and the Ukraine, Kaba Modern, Pussy Cat Dolls and many more.

Summer in L.A. dancers will have the chance to work with Gigi and we plan to also have her at our 2 day Vegas convention as she is fabulous.

Summer in L.A. is just around the corner! Be sure to book your phone interview today.

www.summerinla.com