Hi Nigel, my name is Erin Lamont, and for the past 3 years I have made a reel to submit as a choreographer for SYTYCD through my agent. Each time you guys have passed on my reel.  I want some feedback! I AM going to be a choreographer for your show, it is one of my goals that I will accomplish.

That being said, here are some reasons.  I can add a less is more type of flavor to the routines. My style is not based on tricks, more the lack thereof.  I am of the theory that while competition dancers can pirouette their behind off, and illusion and catch turn like crazy, that does NOT mean that they can dance and most importantly, sell a routine.  My style emphasizes that.  Here are some links to prove it, especially check out the links section of my website, the video from my boogiezone master class. My style is one of a kind, more old school lyrical then anything else.

So Nigel, I am signed with DDO Artists Agency, look at this video, look at my website, and I look forward to being the next addition to your show! here are some links to my choreography and recent routines:

http://www.erinlamont.com/html/links.htm

http://www.erinlamont.com/html/reel.htm

Free Gigs. Are they helping or hurting?

For the past 7 years of my L.A. life, I can't even count how many gigs I have done for free. Whether choreographing to "boost my reel" when I first started out, or even dancing in numerous free shows in Hollywood and around the city.

For  the past 9 months, Lucky Plush Productions, headed by acclaimed contemporary dancer and choreographer Julia Rhoads, has been knee deep in their Punk Yankees project, exploring the subject of intellectual property rights in a digitalYouTube age. The project culminates Oct. 22-31 with performances at the Dance Center of Columbia College. In conjunction with The Punk Yankees project, LPP created the companion website, stealthisdance.com which is now hosting a choreography competition.

Show up on time choreographers! This is one thing that makes me despise the L.A dance scene. It makes me MAD. For dancers, it is hard enough to endure the endless charade of maintaining a look, a body, a wardrobe, headshots, you name it! I see people  wearing sunglasses in class, wearing skinny jeans to jazz, and my favorite, the people huddling around the water fountain name dropping a little louder so people can hear who they have worked with; and these people are my age! (not that i am by any means old, but seasoned and experienced, right??)  Come on, really? I teach at a studio in L.A , I walk in, teach my jazz class in my Target brand sweat pants, and leave quietly and quickly. But it is what it is.

I knew I wanted to dance and choreograph for the rest of my life when I took my first class at 7. I graduated high school at 17, graduated with Bachelors degrees in Marketing and Dance at 21, got my first professional dance job at 21 also, moved to L.A. at 23, and now at 28, I'm still choreographing and dancing for a living.

I find myself muttering the phrase, "You just never know" quite frequently. With the ups and downs of the industry, the auditions, the relentless hustle, the phrase is easily applied to a choreographer / dancer's life.

I would like to share an "up" as my first blog.

Hi ALL! BNC is hosting a choreography competition for professional choreographers. There are two ways to get involved (even if you aren't a choreographer)!

1. For professional choreographers - enter the competition! You can win a cash prize, a commission, and a per diem! Also, you work will be seen by some of the most influental dance makers in the country! Go here for more details - http://bncdance.com/season/08_09/dancemakers.html

2. If you aren't a professional choreographer - VOTE! Check out our youtube group and vote for your favorite piece! 25% of the vote comes from YOU! And if you live in Colorado, come to the show and vote by text message for your favorite finalist. There is an audience favorite award!!! Get more information here -http://bncdance.com/season/08_09/dancemakers.html or go to our youtube group - http://www.youtube.com/group/bncdancemakers2009

As always, check our http://www.bncdance.com/blog/index.php blog for updates!

Aside from the monumental challenge of actually creating movement, choreographers face an additional, ongoing challenge with each piece they create. They must protect their work.

All artists--writers, painters, filmmakers--work to protect their creations. But the nature of choreography makes it a little more difficult to capture and copyright.

As a dancer, you may branch into the field of choreography someday. In this post, we talk about the basics of copyrighting choreography.