Toronto Dance Class Website Launched

My friends,

I’ve just launched Toronto Dance Class.com! It’s a resource dance website that lists my Toronto dance classes by your level of ability: Beginner/Newbies, Elementary/Refresher dance classes, and Intermediate/Advanced classes for more experienced dancers.

NEW: Toronto Dance Class Website is alive!

It’s an easy way to search your options. If you’re looking for a Toronto dance class and want to see your options, visit the website.

Spread the word, and let’s dance!

- Shawn B

How Often Do You Use This Dangerously Negative Word?

Have you fallen into this dangerous trap?

I’m teaching in Ottawa right now. Today I had an experience that made me want to write you. Let me share a story we can all learn from.

Tap Dancing in Canada

There’s a fun dance studio I’m working with out here, teaching tap and hip hop. Today, while working with the senior students, one of the girls blurted out:

“Uuugh! I can’t do this!” She was referring to a breakdance step I was teaching them on the floor.

“What did you just say?” I questioned her. So, me being the cool and calm guy that I am, I stopped the class.

“It’s ummm… really difficult!” She laughed back. We all had a laugh, because just yesterday, I had a chat with them. We talked about our choice of words, and that the word CAN’T doesn’t exist in my class. So I responded something like this:

“Ok guys, listen up… Because I don’t think you took me seriously yesterday. Let me tell you something.

The word “can’t” is THE most self-defeating, most negative word in the English language. It’s a dangerous word. You know why?”

No response. So I continued:

“Because that word sends a negative message to your subconscious. To the back of your head. When you hear it, your brain starts to think, Ok, maybe I can’t do this…

When your brain hears that enough times, guess what? It starts to believe it. Then it leads to a whole bunch of other things. You start to doubt yourself. You start to believe that you really can’t do something.

It gets worse. Because of that, you get frustrated. You get mad whenever there’s a challenge. Then, when your brain has heard it enough times, you get super angry and you just stop trying altogether. You quit.

And down the line, guess what happens? You quit dance. All because YOU TOLD YOURSELF I can’t.”

The room was dead silent. Just one minute before, the room was filled with laughter, energy, sweat, and moving bodies. After I said that, not one person moved.

“So here’s what we’re going to do,” I challenged them. “Starting right now, this minute. Whenever I hear the word “can’t” come from any of your mouths, every single one of you will drop down and give me 10 pushups.”

Talk about a groan! You’d think I made them eat horse dung or something!

“And… there’s more. This applies to ANYWHERE in the studio, not just in my class. Even if I hear one of you in the change room use that evil word, I’m gonna come in and say HEY! I heard that! Everyone drop down and gimme 10. I don’t care if you’re like “OMG Shawn, I’m naked”… you all drop down and gimme 10 pushups.”

Boy, that got a laugh. But they understood where I was coming from.

I told them that it doesn’t just apply to dance. As they age, they’ll run into tons of negativity from others. Toxic people saying “You can’t do this… You can’t do that.”

Learn to rule them out. It’s not true. YOU CAN. And you don’t need to ruin the situation more by being your own worst enemy.

So I wanted to share this. Because how many times do you find yourself using that word on a daily basis? And why? Yes, it can be a hard habit to beat. But it’s not impossible. It can be done.

I share this with my current tap dance and hip hop students. And you will definitely hear me share positive thinking in my new Wednesday NIGHTCLUB classes. I’ll actually be using a microphone, so you’ll be able to hear me loud and clear when I say “We DON’T use can’t here!”

Listen, I’m not the wisest man on the planet. But now that you understand the damage of that word, will you choose to think differently? Your brain will believe whatever you tell it to believe.

So why not think you CAN?

From now on, when you come to dance, rise to the challenge. Believe in yourself. Tell your brain that you are capable. Tell your brain it’s doing a good job. It will do better. YOU will do better!

Because, apparently… nobody wants to do my pushups.

- Shawn Byfield

PS: That Wednesday Nightclub class thing? Consider that as your safe zone. No toxic people, no negativity. Just people who CAN. Visit this link to find out WHY:

http://ShawnByfield.com/wednesdays.htm

Tap Dance Lesson With Bob Marley

Tap dance and Bob Marley unite! This is footage of some students tapdancing in Toronto last weekend.

Today’s video song is called Natural Mystic, from one of the most legendary singers in history: Bob Marley. The previous post has a list of other tap dancing music. Look up the songs, put yo’ tap shoes on and hit some wood.

Love the tap. Embrace the tap. Enjoy the tap!

- Shawn B

Tap Dance Lesson to Bob Marley

www.ShawnByfield.com

Tap Dance Music For Tap Class

Hey Tappers!

Shawn Byfield (me!) being crazy as usual

I’ve just compiled a list of recent tap music I’ve used in my tap dance classes lately, just in case anyone was looking for new tunes:

Get On The Boat - Prince
Bright Mississippi - Thelonious Monk
The Grand Marshall - Wynton Marsalis Septet
El Conguero - Poncho Sanchez 2 tracks
Soul Power - Maceo Parker
Gimme One Of Those - Brand New Heavies
Mr. Bojangles - Robbie Williams
Natural Mystic - Bob Marley

You can check out iTunes to see if they got ‘em. Use the music for your own tap class. I’ll keep posting more tap music periodically throughout the year. Happy hoofin!

- Shawn B

www.ShawnByfield.com

Tap Dance Love in Toronto

What an awesome weekend of tap dance love!

So, if Saturday’s awesome “Dixieland” themed tap classes weren’t enough workout for me, I had a dance related film shoot starting at 6:45 am on Sunday, right downtown Toronto all morning to afternoon. VERY fun times.

I then held an audition Sunday afternoon for a tap dance intensive I’ll be running in August.

The room was HOT and SWEATY. We had the tap audition at Metro Movement dance studio, if you’ve ever taken a dance class there you know what I mean… and the energy was great. I started with a bit of ear training, a quick tap warm up, and got right into a routine to a favourite Thelonious Monk tune of mine.

I couldn’t move my legs much last night from all the dancing… But hey, nobody said the life of a tap dancer would be an easy one!

Congrats to everyone that participated in the audition, and thank you to everyone that shared your love of tap dancing this weekend in Toronto!

- Shawn B

www.ShawnByfield.com

Finding A Toronto Tap Class

Where is a tap class in Toronto, you ask?

If you need to dance but you couldn’t find a tap dance class near downtown Toronto, you might be interested in tappin’ with us! Sorry, no tap classes for kids, as these classes are for adults 19+.

Unfortunately, there’s not many facilities to run a tap class in Toronto. =(

You will however, find teachers offer tap classes at a community centre, a church, a fitness centre, or even in their own homes. I actually rent space, and teach tap class out of Goodlife Fitness in the Eaton Centre, downtown Toronto.

But it’s not always the space that matters- it’s what you get out of the tap class!

The teacher, the music, the teacher’s experience and training, convenience of the location, and the energy the class provides all make a difference. You feelin’ me?

I’m curious- is it hard to find a class in your neighbourhood?

- Shawn B

Summer Tap Dance Camp in Toronto

Respected Tap Dancer Turns Toronto “Wannabees” Into Professional Hoofers- In Just 7 Days!

And Shares Jealously Guarded Secrets Of Successful Dance Choreographers

Toronto, ON - On Sunday July 13th, 3:00 pm at Metro Movement Dance Studio (833 Broadview Ave), the hands down favourite tap dance instructor for Toronto’s hip adults (http://www.ShawnByfield.com) will be holding an audition for his advanced tap dance program this summer.

“If dancers want to have a wildly successful career in tap dancing,” says Shawn Byfield, award winning choreographer and dance instructor, “I’ll be offering a private summer tap dance camp where I’ll turn a handful of *good* tap dancers into highly educated, awe-inspiring tap dance machines. And- I’ll teach them how to do it in just 7 days!”

With an international reputation as an encouraging instructor, Shawn has taught master classes across Canada, Israel and the UK. He was a 2007 Dora Award recipient and Gemini Award nominee, has performed alongside the late Gregory Hines in the film BOJANGLES, and appeared most recently in the blockbuster movie HAIRSPRAY.

“I don’t want everyone to know how to do what I do, or I’ll be out of work!” Laughs Shawn. “So I’m holding an audition to limit registrations. I believe I have a lot to share, so I’m only accepting the top 18 people that come to the audition.”

Shawn will give the program specifics at the audition. His summer program will not only teach incredible tap dance technique, but tap and jazz history, music theory, choreography secrets, tap improvisation and more. The main focus will be on team building, hard work, performance, and most importantly, having FUN.

“The most exciting part” explains Shawn “Is I’ll even put the select few on stage, as members of my tap dance company Funk Factory. I want them to immediately put their new skills to work, so I already have a summer performance lined up to wow audiences.”

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SUMMER TAP DANCE AUDITION:

Sunday July 13th, 3:00 pm sign in | 3:30 pm start

Metro Movement - 833 Broadview Ave, Toronto. 2nd Floor

Ages 16 and up welcome

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SUMMER TAP DANCE PROGRAM RUNS:

First week of August, 2008. You must audition for more updates.

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Toronto Tap Dance Class For Cool Adults

Hey funky friends!

Many of my Toronto tap dance students are adults who used to tap, but haven’t done it in years. That’s who I focus on, the cool people who used to tap dance and want to rekindle that passion. =)

It’s NEVER too late to grab your tap shoes. Don’t let ANYONE tell you any different.

So, if you or someone you know is looking for a tap school, and it’s been a while, don’t miss out on some fun times. Get back in some tap lessons! And hey, if you seriously want to get those feet back, you’re welcome to drop by and try out a class so we can see what level is best for you.

Drop us a line here and let’s crack a tap together!

- Shawn B

www.ShawnByfield.com