The End of the Beginning?????? (Reflection)

THE BUILDUP

"They ask you how you are, and you just have to say you’re fine when you’re not really fine, but you just can’t get into it, because they would never understand."

-Katy Perry

Spoken by the true queen herself, this accurately described me a few days before my presentation. The culminating TedTalk kinda completely took over my life, and it was everything I thought about. And I guess I really acted different from my goofy self, because a bunch of my friends decided to ask me if I was fine and I had to say I was fine when I was not really fine... Katy gets me. 

It didn't help either that I had a serious track meet the day before my presentation. I needed to rehearse, rehearse, and rehearse, but instead I was Running Away from My Responsibilities (The Blog). Surprisingly I ran my best half mile time ever at that meet even though my mind was in a completely different place. I was stressed about my presentation, and I guess I released all that stress in a sick 2:06 half mile eyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy. 

Photo of Ahmed Shamsi after breaking half mile world record

I got home at like 7:30 pm and I was like oh lord have mercy on my soul cuz I was definitely less prepared than I wanted to be. But honestly, I wasn't as anxious as I thought. I spent most of the night rehearsing my presentation and routine and got a somewhat decent amount of sleep. 

THE PRESENTATION 

The worst thing that you can do in a presentation is make it boring. Even with a topic that seems boring, there is a way to make the presentation interesting. Now my topic is far from boring, so if a made the presentation boring, it would be the most underwhelming thing ever. So I wanted to keep the audience entertained throughout. I couldn't breakdance the entire time though, so I decided to add short clips about my experience that would hopefully get the audience smiling. 

My breakdancing routine on stage was probably the most stressful thing when I practiced my presentation. No, I wasn't scared of messing up because all those moves were cakework, but even doing a 30 second routine gets you sooo tired. And I made the mistake of making it one of the first parts of my presentation, so I had to try talking while being out of breath. So there was like a minute of my presentation where I was just suffering. Luckily, I planned a short video to show the audience of me doing a headstand after my routine so I could start breathing normally again. 

If you wanted to see my work of genius here ya go

Click dis link right hee

THE FUTURE

Yeah I'm totally doing this in the future are you kidding me?  I may tone it down a bit, because I plan on not learning too many moves, but learning the few hardest ones possible. Some of these include moves such as the windmill and flare which automatically make you the coolest person in the room. I mean, I have a whole app that I have only scraped the surface of that will teach me EVERYTHING. Why not use it? Maybe I'll even update my blog as I keep learning moves, so stay tuned folks and watch me "break" a leg. Sorry that was a bad note to end on. cyaaaaaaaaa.

Vloggin Yo

Alright I thought this week was pretty progressive. As you'll see in my vlog I basically learned three new moves this week, I really just have to perfect them. What really fascinated me in these few days was how easy I could take these moves and connect them together and form a combo. It really seems like all the moves I learned were made to be paired with others moves. For my remaining time, I plan on utilizing my time to combine my moves seamlessly which should not be too hard.

https://vimeo.com/209855009

Real Breakdancers have at least 3 pairs of shades with one being swimming goggles

Interview with a Close Friend

After countless hours and countless emails made, I realized nobody really wanted to spend the time to answer me :( Or maybe they're just too rich and famous to respond. I mean the buhl who I tried to interview only gets like 60 likes on his facebook videos (Not trying to throw shade though he is pretty cool). Other dude I tried to interview has like 200,000 subscribers on YouTube so he probably gets emails like these on the daily. Finally I came to the realization that if I wanted any sort of response, I would have to search local. And it really didn't long to find an expert. Her name is Iqra Siddiqui, a family friend who has some serious dancing skills. She's only 19, but works as the assistant teacher at a dance school in New Jersey called Mokshaa. While she primarily studies Indian dance, her knowledge and ability to dance many styles was really impressive.

She was the one to choreograph the whole dance that I would be participating in for a Pakistani-American convention.

Dancers from left to right: Ahmed Shamsi, Iqra Siddiqui (Leader), 

Slan, Palvashe Jamale, My Bro

When I began breakdancing, there really wasn't a strong inspiration pushing me to do it. I asked Iqra about her inspirations, and it was clear that she was raised in a community of skilled dancers.
She said, "My dad always knew had to dance and it inspired me to start learning. My friend, Paromeeta, runs a dance class over the weekends and she asked me to come to the class with her and watch it. The next thing I knew I started to co-teach with her." With all these inspirations, it's obvious how she became such an experienced dancer.

However, it wasn't the pressures of her parents or friends that made her want to pursue dancing. Dancing had something that really drew her in. I asked her what positive effects dancing had on her life, and she responded with, "Dancing is a way to relax after a long week of school, it puts my mind to ease." This statement as dancing being a major stress reliever has really related to my position as well. It is quite possibly the most rewarding feeling when a new move is learned or when there is improvement seen. While with breakdancing, injuries or sore muscles can really dampen the mood, when they are avoided, the experience is a thrill.

While I believe she is a truly experienced dancer, Iqra is still seeking for more and more improvement. She still faces through many obstacles and has future goals. Her main goal it to " officially teach dance to little kids on (her) own. As for right now, (her) friend helps (her) teach and train (her) into becoming an even more experienced dancer." 

This interview has really opened my eyes on why I even began starting this journey in the first place. I wanted to turn all the energy I had into something positive that I could pursue for many years, and breakdancing was this positive experience for me. In that way, both Iqra and I have found an activity to resolve our stresses in the world. 

Switching Up Styles (Additional Blog)

When first starting this project, my idea was that I would become a master at breakdancing. Well, an opportunity came along the way for me to dance in front of hundreds of people. I was like, "Ok I'll just bust some b-boy moves and get the crowd rollin" but that was not the genre of dance intended. Instead, it was more like this: 

One of my mom's friends is an organizer for APPNA or  Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America. A few weeks ago, she called my parents and my other Pakistani friends' parents in need of some kids to dance at one of these events. My older brother enthusiastically said yes, so I let him take the dance. Truth be told, I REALLY did not want to embarrass myself in front of a bunch of people. But I guess my mom felt bad that so she decided to put me in it too without even asking me. Aside from my brother and I, there is another kid in the dance who y'all might know. His name is Rich Homie Slan and he's just as enthusiastic as I am. Here is a video from one of our first practices. 

We have been meeting every weekend to practice one Sindhi dance and one Balochi dance, and I guess we're getting a bit better. Still kinda hurts to watch though. This Friday, we plan on performing at the event, and I would be lying if I said we were fully prepared. All I know is that we will be looking pretty swag with our outfits.

I look like a Jedi

It is really surprising to switch from such a physical dance like breakdancing, and switch styles into something slower, less demanding, but much more elegant. The fast and robotic movements in B-boy don't exactly mix well with the fluid motions in Indian dances. I guess one could appreciate both styles of dancing, (my parents definitely appreciate the more cultural dancing)  but I think I'll stay with hip hop. Peace y'all 

 

I Wish I Could Have Done More (Blog 4)

After last week's burst of new moves I learned, I was pretty disappointed about my progress this week. While I spent much of my time RESEARCHING potential moves to learn, I didn't put much time into actually PERFORMING them. Welp I tried my best, and this is what I got:

Three Step

I put a lot of time and research into understanding all the different steps that could be done on the floor. For example, after looking at many tutorials from this dope dude on YouTube named VincaniTV, I got a basic understanding of the 2-step, 3-step, 4-step, 6-step, 7-step, 8-step, and 12-step. Notice how I said basic understanding because I have no time whatsoever to learn all of these. What really interested me was that all these footwork steps were really just variations of the fundamental six-step. If you do not know what the six-step looks like, you gotta check out my previous blog. According to that logic, it means that the three step should be pretty simple for me to learn right? Wrong. It is so much harder than the six step its actually crazy. This is because the less steps there are, the more you need to swing your body in each of those steps. So yes my three step looks ugly but I'll perfect it.

Knee Drop/ Pin Drop

This move is classified as a "Go Down" or transition move from your standing moves to your footwork. I think I put a little "twist" on it. In fact I legit just added a twist to it. See, this move is supposed to get you done to the ground where you can start your footwork, but there is a variation where you twist right back up, and I think it looks pretty dope. I learned this from another homedawg on YouTube called MihranTV. These people really like to put TV at the end of their names lol.

To get into the pin drop, I started with a pretty simple Top-Rock move called the salsa step and dropped from there. You can really start the pin drop from any standing position though, so it is pretty easy to flow with.

Future Goals

There is still a lot on my plate that I want to get through for my breakdancing experience. First off, I just want to perfect the moves that I have just learned. Then I will try to perform a few more footwork moves such as the 2 step and 4 step. It wouldn't hurt to learn a new freeze as well such as the shoulder freeze or maybe the headstand. What I find most important though, is learning at least ONE power move. Power moves such as the windmill or flares. Yes these are insanely hard and will most probably hurt, but I am willing to withstand that pain. I didn't do much dancing this week, but maybe it was for the best. I feel much less sore, and am ready to start the next week with enthusiasm.

My Moves are FINALLY Coming Together! (Blog 3)

Learning, Refining, and Combining

Y'know, I really have a love-hate relationship when it comes to breakdancing. It is probably one of the most addicting and rewarding types of exercise I have ever done, but oh lord that jawn hurts. Every time I try to learn a new move, another part of my body aches like crazy. First my quads, then my wrists, then my ankles, then my hamstrings, then my shoulders, then my calves, and lastly my heart.  Maybe I should tone it down a little bit...naaah. Speaking of learning new moves, I got some new moves under my belt. But mostly this week was for refining and combining. I know, that was pretty good rhyming. I also got pretty gucci at dancing WITH music. Yeah dancing with music is crazy I know. 

Six Step

I know what your wondering, why is this move called the six step?! Well... it has six different steps. In the combination of these six steps, you makes a full 360 degree rotation. The six step is a footwork routine which means it is in the same category as the Coffee Grinder if you watched my previous blog. You better have watched my previous blog. Anyways, there is a possibility to do a bunch of six steps in a row, and it looks sick if you can pull it off. I am telling you though, this move is INSANELY hard to get perfect, for my anyway. I had to watch like 5 different tutorials from YouTube and the website I signed up for and they ALL told me different things. At the end, I kinda made a combination of what I learned. I don't know if I pulled it off, but maybe y'all can let me know. 

Baby Freeze

I know what your wondering, why is this move called the baby freeze?! Well I seriously have NO FRICKEN CLUE. Like it could be called the "adult freeze" or the "teen freeze" or the "elder" freeze, but they had to go with baby freeze. I do understand what freeze means though. A freeze is usually done at the end of the routine where you "freeze" in a cool position to end with a bang. In this freeze you use your head and hand to keep both your legs in the air. One leg rests on your elbow, and the other is raised in the air. Lemme show you how it looks. 

Learning How to "Flow"

I watched a few tutorials online on how to "flow" or combine moves and I think I came up with a pretty mediocre and quick routine. Basically the formula to a solid breakdance routine is a Toprock variation then to a Go Down, then to a footwork variation, and lastly a freeze. In this routine, I started with the Kick and Twist, a fundamental Toprock move. Next, I do a Jump Down, which is a transition from my Toprocks to my footwork. After that, I attempt to do a six step right into a coffee grinder. Finally, I end with a super simple freeze with my legs hooked and my hand in a salute position. I actually used music with this routine and it ended up pretty sloppy to be honest. I have faith that I can get better at dancing to music though. 

I need all you viewers to wish me luck for the next week. I am starting my Spring Track season and I have not run and have just been breakdancing this entire time. Oops. 

Breakin' Progress (Blog 2)

Hey I'm Improving!

Wow I progressed a lot through this week! I mean, I faced some serious setbacks, but i'll get into that later on. First let me show you just a couple of the moves I've learned. While they may look amateur (They really are), they serve as fundamental moves that I will need to advance later on.

Indian Step/ Kick and Twist 

There are essentially five categories to Breakdancing: Top Rocks or standing moves, Go Downs or transitions, Footwork, Freezes, and the dopest one of all... power moves.

The Indian Step/ Kick and Twist is one of the starting Top Rocks to learn. While there are a few simpler Top Rocks, this one combined simplicity and the cool factor. I intend to practice this move enough so that I can speed it up as much as possible.

Coffee Grinder

The Coffee Grinder was my first introduction into footwork. It is a really quick move that involves getting your leg around your whole body in a 360 motion. While it is a quick move, you end up in the same position that you start. This allows you to repeat this move over and over for a cool look. This move involves a little more flexibility than I previously thought which really made me understand the importance of stretching. Unfortunately, did not realize this before it was too late and I am SO sore now.

My Legs Feel Like Crap

I DEFINITELY OVER TRAINED THIS WEEK. I tried to manage my daily running life and my breakdancing life and it just did not work out. First things first, I run about 7 miles every day to make sure I stay in shape for spring track. Usually I stretch for a few minutes after and rest. NOT THIS TIME. Now I would run and about an hour later start breakdancing. Before breakdancing, instructors say it is essential to stretch. Well, I thought that took too long, and went straight to breakin'. BAD IDEA. Now my quads and knees are actually killing me and I am really sore. However, I still feel like breakin' it down, so I will cut back on the running for now. 

Finding A Program 

 I came across this site called Udemy while gaining information on the history of breakdance. It was perfect. It had a 4 week schedule showing my potential progress, a highly talented instructor who could teach well, and showed all the moves I could ever want to know. One problem though... I needed to pay. Well not much, just $20, but it would still take some persuasion to get my mother on board. I did end up getting her on my side though by showing how much of a bargain it really was. Now I have a pretty much perfect schedule to insure that I become a master at my craft. 

Some Cool History

Not only did I learn about breakdancing in terms of its certain styles and moves, but also a lot about its history. Breakdancing started in South Bronx, NYC back in the 1970's. What really interested me was that gangs used to have battles over turf not with violence, BUT BREAKDANCING! They would get their best members to have a breakdance battle and whoever did the sickest moves would win. If only gangs were like that now.