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MICHAEL JACKSON, THIS IS IT!

Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures

Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures

OMG!!!!!!! THIS IS IT is FANTASTIC. MICHAEL JACKSON is ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. I went to the premiere and I am still buzzing.

The film is a unique look at behind the scenes footage of Michael Jackson and his team of performers in rehearsal for the THIS IS IT live show.
I really want to urge you to get tickets pronto and see this before the limited run closes. It is utterly inspiring and has you dancing and singing along in your seats.

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tags Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap, Modern, Broadway, Ballroom, Teacher, Enthusiast, Parent, Retailer, Studio, Competitions & Conventions, Performance, Summer Study, Michael Jackson, This Is It (all tags)

My trip to Neverland

Pop 'N' Taco left of Michael Jackson in Smooth Criminal video.

Pop 'N' Taco left of Michael Jackson in Smooth Criminal video.

I first met Michael back when I was around 12 years old. The entire Jackson crew spent a few precious minutes with me and my family after a fantastic show in Vegas that is still etched on my mind ("Dancing Machine!", oh-my-goodness!). It was the first time our family saw other people wear full sweat suits like normal clothes. Funny how I remember that, it seemed so weird at the time. (LOL).

l went to Michael's concerts as I grew up. I remember the BAD tour with that ridiculously enormous mind-blowing lighted screen! First you heard thunderous footsteps, then you saw these GIANT feet walk out, do the backslide, spin, and rise up on their toes as lights exploded everywhere! Then, there he was alone, doing his thing. Just awesome. And of course I fondly recall our family and friends gathered around the TV watching The Motown 25th Anniversary Special where, after rocking with his brothers, Michael did the solo performance of a lifetime that launched him into the stratosphere, backsliding himself into history. (Whoa! - just got chills:)

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tags Hip Hop, breaking, dance, groovaloos, locking, michael jackson, popping (all tags)

Top 5 Live Performances of the 1990s

Keeping in Laura's "top 5" theme, I thought I would create my own list. For some reason I was thinking about the '90s this morning (and getting slightly nostalgic in the process), recalling how much more dancing there was in live performances back then.

There are a few performances I remember watching on television as a kid... they had such a lasting impression on me, some even facilitating my desire to become an entertainer myself.

Watch my top 5 favorite live performances from the 90s after the jump!

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tags Performance, 1990s, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Nsync, Paula Abdul, Pop culture (all tags)

Jack Black's "Beat It" Walk--Break It Down, Break It Down, Broken Down

My last blog entry focused on Jack Black and his comical rendition of Michael Jackson's "Beat It" walk in School of Rock. So, let's break it down, break it down, break it down.

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tags Jazz, Modern, Teacher, Enthusiast, Studio, Performance, Beat It, Jack Black, John Belushi, Michael Jackson, School of Rock (all tags)

School of Rock and the "Beat It" Walk

Suddenly Jack Black...

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tags Enthusiast, Beat It, Fleetwood Mac, Jack Black, Joan Cusack, Michael Jackson, School of Rock, Stevie Nicks, everyday people (all tags)