Tap dance footage from Samba Squad Show

Just some footage of me tap dancing with aka Subliminal and Samba Squad. Which turned out to be the most energetic, extremely musical, nearly 4 hour show!

- Shawn Byfield

Tap Dance Meets Samba Rhythms

The percussive energy of latin drumming and tap dance rhythms collide!

I’ll be joining SAMBA SQUAD this Friday May 22 at Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto, to celebrate the squad’s 10 year anniversary.  Led by master percussionist Rick Lazar, this group is a non-stop powerhouse of energizing samba, salsa, funk, cuban and more rhythms.

My tap shoes will play with the latin percussion, and I’m excited to share the stage with aka Subliminal, Canada’s finest and only Soul-hop emcee, beat boxer and more. 

We’ll be celebrating with Samba Squad though a blend of scatting, tap dancing, beat boxing and all round musical fun. Support! Bring a friend! Show starts at 10 pm, and there’s a whole roster of other talented artists performing in the show.

Visit the Samba Squad website for info, and make sure to bring yo’ dancin’ shoes!

- Shawn B

www.ShawnByfield.com

Tap Dance Lesson on TV

Want to learn how to tap dance? Here’s  a tap dance lesson from a television show I was on. The hosts had no tap dance training or experience, just a desire to learn!

I taught the hosts a very basic tap dance routine, and man, they were a blast. I literally taught this tap dance routine live on air, no pre-rehearsal. Fun times! Feel free to use the tap steps, and leave your comments on the video.

- Shawn Byfield

PS: Looking for tap dance lessons in person? Go here:

www.ShawnByfield.com/tapdance.htm

Tap Dance Tips: Amazingly Simple Technique To Cleaner Pickups

“The Amazingly Simple Technique To Cleaner Pickups… And Why You Should ERASE What Your Tap Dance Teacher Taught You”

Gettin' ready to tap dance!

For most of us, a Pickup (also known as pull backs) is a light, hopping step that has two sounds, done on the ball of the foot. For standard pickups, both feet take off with a brush back. Then you land on the balls of your feet at the same time. With practice, a pickup can also be done standing on one foot.

There are variations of the step of course, just like any step in tap dance. Four count (I’ve also heard them called delayed pickups) happen when one foot makes a brush, followed by the other. You then land on the first foot, and the other quickly lands after it.

However, you’ll discover the above technique has two major flaws.

The first problem? That brush back adds a “scrapey” sound. If you’ve been tap dancing for a while, you know the difference between a clear brush and a scrape. Listen to your shuffles; Your taps should resonate with a crisp sound.

The second problem?

Psychologically speaking, once you brush back, your body wants to put the foot down BEHIND you, instead of landing on your start position. This makes you travel backward (ever learned pickups traveling across the floor?) and makes it much more difficult to stay on the spot.

So how to avoid traveling, and make cleaner pickups? Follow these three steps:

• FIRST: Take lift off. JUMP. Don’t even think about the brush back. Spring off the balls of your feet, and only jump straight up in the air.

• SECOND: Once you’re in mid air, quickly tap on the way DOWN. You need to time that split second before gravity pulls you back down. Tap in the space before you land.

• LASTLY: Land on balls of your feet, making sure to bend your knees. NO HEELS! Always keep your weight on your toes.

This most likely involves reprogramming the physics that you’ve learned from previous teachers. Because tapping on the way DOWN requires a bit more stomach, thigh and shin muscle strength, as well as perfect timing. But it can be done.

Try this today, and make it a habit from now on.

The best way to perfect this is to sit in a chair, lift your feet off the floor by pushing off the balls of your feet, then tap, then land. Repeat. Once you get it, you’ll immediately hear and feel the difference in your technique.

Congratulations!

© 2008 Shawn Byfield

About The Author:

Shawn Byfield (www.ShawnByfield.com) is an award winning choreographer, show director and a leading expert in dance lessons and industry advice. His extremely fun approach to learning is a must for anyone looking to achieve their highest potential through dance.

Will Season Two of SYTYCD Canada Beat Season One?

Why no tap dance in SYTYCD Canada?

Yesterday, I was in the studio working on tap dance choreography, creating a competition solo for a very talented teen tap dancer, Mike. We used a Linkin Park tune, some hard core rock tap dancing. Gonna be sweet when we’re done.

After rehearsal, Mike, his mom and I talked about things that frustrated us about So You Think You Can Dance Canada. Like, that fact that there was no TAP dance anywhere in the show.

Yes, we know tap dance is hard to learn in such a limited time period. But come on… you mean to tell me CTV couldn’t find one tap dance video to show? Or they couldn’t have a tap dance number open just one elimination show?

I’m STILL wondering if the voting REALLY matters… because, well no offense to any dancers, but Izaak and Tamina were not technically as strong as some of the others. But they were on forever. Both Breanne and Romina were voted off way too early…

I don’t think cameras were rehearsed enough to truly showcase the choreography… and I don’t think all the judges had enough constructive feedback for the contestants.

But I DO think Leah looked fabulous! Girl, WERRK those heels and dresses. Call me… =)

By the way, you can read the  first press release for Season Two of So You Think You Can Dance Canada here.

Anyway. There were a lot of things I loved about SYTYCD Canada (yes Nico DOES rock), but I feel a few choices could have made our production much better.

What do you think? What you think was lacking in our first season? Do you think it was inspiring? Do you think the show could improve on stuff?

Let’s discuss. Or praise, or rant, or whatever…

- Shawn B

Shim Sham Tap Dancing Mummies

Just a snippet from a tap dance gig I did a while back. Nothing technically amazing here, just a bunch of mummies doing the shim sham.

Just showing my funny tap dance choreography side. Maybe this will give people some good halloween tap show ideas?

- Shawn B

Adult Tap Dance Class Toronto

I think every grown adult that’s considering adding dance to their lifestyle (but thinks they’re too old)  should watch this video:

I made this video a few weekends ago. It’s a look behind the scenes of my adult hip hop and tap dance classes.

A new TV reality show that focuses on women in their 40’s was considering hiring me as their adult dance expert, and had sent my assistant a few q’s for me to answer. So this is also my video interview.

What you think?

- Shawn Byfield

Fulfill Your Goals- Starting TODAY!

“How To Listen To Your Gut, Follow Your Dreams And Finally Fulfill Your Deepest Desires- Starting TODAY”

Happy New Year! Now that I got the formality out of the way, let me go out on a limb. I’m willing to bet that this new year is no different than last.

Correct me if I’m wrong… but I’m sure I can safely say you started out with goals and aspirations. Which probably started out ok, until those dreams got sidetracked with family issues, insecurities, debt and roller coaster rides.

Hey, that’s part of life. We all experience the ups and downs, and that’s ok too!

But let me get right to the point: Don’t EVER doubt the potential of your dreams. I’m telling you, don’t do it.

Listen. I’m not a motivational speaker. I’m not a psychologist or Dr. Phil. I dance for a living. But because of my profession and experience, I’m 100% qualified to tell you this:

“Yes, you can absolutely, totally do whatever you want. And you CAN achieve whatever your heart desires!”

It’s true. Now as an entrepreneur, here’s my reality check for you. I call it “tough love…”

Nothing in life is predictable. We don’t know what’s going to happen one day to the next. Even science is made up of “theories” that hold their ground, until the next theory replaces it.

And in our lives, there’s an infinite amount of possibilities on what could happen to us tomorrow. That’s reality. We don’t know what will happen tomorrow.

But the “bumpy roller coaster of life” is a guaranteed experience. You can always say with confidence that you WILL have some sort of drama, emergency, and upset that throws you off course. There has never, and I mean NEVER- been a human being on this planet that had a completely smooth, hassle-free, life long journey.

So if you want to sit there and whine “poor me… why me?…” then guess what? The rest of the world is going through it too.

So what makes YOU different?

My friend, here’s the most amazing, life changing advice I can offer. Brian Tracy (yes, THE Brian Tracy) shared this with me and some colleagues last year:

“The most important part of today is what you do afterwards.”

Listen. We ALL have a purpose. We ALL have big dreams, passions, and adventures we want to experience. What makes you different is what you DO afterwards…

Will you end today without taking action? Or are you going to end today by listening to that inner voice telling you it’s ok to take a step, and just go for it?

I hope you choose the latter!

Here’s another thing not in my skill set: I’m no psychic. But I CAN promise you this: If you keep doing what you’re always doing, you’ll keep getting what you’ve always got.

In science, every stimulus needs a response. In the words of Einstein:

“Nothing happens until something moves.”

This year, I encourage you to MOVE. That’s all. JUST MOVE. Just by taking one small step, you’re not standing still.

If you take just one small step every day, you build your confidence as you gain momentum. Imagine how much closer to your goals you can be one year from now!

I believe ANYONE CAN DANCE. I’ve always believed that, and that’s what I do. I teach anyone to dance, and let them know it’s totally ok to make mistakes. That’s how we learn to do things better.

Do I have ups and downs? Absolutely. Every week. Sometimes every day. But I keep moving forward, and I urge you to do the same. Trust yourself, take the leap, and ask the Universe for guidance.

What do you believe in? What do you want to do? What do you need more of?

Some people want, and need, to dance… Turns out that I’m qualified to help!

Others want a new job, more money, want to travel to Cambodia, learn to cook, become a model, be a public speaker, graduate, learn kung-fu, get a new certification, become the boss, write a book, backpack across Europe, sail around the world, work for themselves, aid the poor, raise healthy children… and a million other things that make us feel appreciated, empowered and valuable.

If you want to reap the rewards of believing in yourself, you must take a step TODAY.

Start by listening to your gut. Stop tuning out that inner voice. It’s YOUR VOICE, so listen to it. Yes, you CAN have whatever you want out of life this year. MOVE towards getting it, and you just might amaze yourself.

I wish you a wildly successful and adventurous New Year! And remember to enjoy the roller coaster ride.

- Shawn Byfield

© 2008 Shawn Byfield

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About The Author:

Shawn Byfield (www.ShawnByfield.com) is an award winning choreographer, show director and a leading expert in dance lessons and industry advice. His extremely fun approach to learning is a must for anyone looking to achieve their highest potential through dance.