Derek rocks…

The past few months I’ve been working with Lina Andersson – to prep the NIKE BLAST, and I’ve especially helped her to suggest presenters, book them – and some other admin stuff.

One of the US dance presenters I suggested to her for this year, is Derek Mitchell.
He’s teaching at Broadway Dance Centre and Steps – and at Crunch.

He’s an amazing dancer, choreographer and teacher.
I like teachers that actually teach – and are good at it (and not ‘only’ are awesome dancers) and I think he is.

I took his street jazz class today and we did Ke$ha’s Die Young (that I actually also have a choreo too)
Here you can check his version out.

Derek teaches at the NIKE BLAST, saturday 12.00 contemporary move and sunday 14.00 street move.

A strong day!

Thursday I boarded on my fav flight and headed to NYC for a week of energizing, refilling and Åsa-boosting.

The new semester have just started – and I have a spring season filled with a lot of different work, pretty much all through, which I’m very excited about.
Maybe it wasn’t the very best timing to leave right in the start of everything – with only 2 weeks left to NIKE BLAST as well, but yet – the best I could do.

My admin work – I can do from here (I’m feeling very Carrie-like hanging out on the coffee shop writing on my laptop – even though it’s not a sex column or a book) and for the rest of the time I’ve taken classes, had exciting meetings and inspiring moments just to take in and enjoy.
I like the feel of not having to much planned.
It gives me time with my own thoughts and to reflect – and often – to see things clearer that’s hard to do when you’re in the middle of it yourself.

You know I’ve never been a fan of the word of wisdoms or quotes – but I’m kind of ready to take that back just a bit. (Casue yes, stuff like that you can take back – whenever you please)
In the middle of the abundance – there are some statements that gives me comfort and strenght to move forward everyday, and reminds me of my core values and my truth. (not necessary the same as yours though, but that’s the beauty of it, right?)

I still have a few days left here and I’m gonna soak it all in – and preserve all the energy for a rainy day, or for sharing it with someone in need. 🙂

Have a strong day people, in every way!

AfHo® – din nya grej?

Since this post is aiming to the swedish GF-market – it will be in SWE. (sorry about that international readers)

Som jag skrev häromdagen så kommer en hel del att hända med min AfHo® under 2013.
Det kommer att bli utbildningar för den som vill börja instruera AfHo® själv.
Utbildningar som är ‘öppna’ för alla – men självklart kan även en anläggning köpa in utbildningen, exklusivt för sin personal och passa på att utbilda alla som vill gå.

Bakgrund:
Jag undervisade från början i vanlig ‘afro’ som gruppträningsform. Inget speciellt koncept – utan min egna variant, som jag även hållit instruktörsutbildningar i på ett flertal träningsanläggningar, till exempel på Träna i Ljungby för att nämna en.

Successivt så började inslag av house att smyga sig in, först musikmässigt – och sen i rörelser och koreografi, vilket kändes bra ihop.
Afrons stora, dynamiska, frigörande rörelser som involverar framförallt överkroppen i kombination med housens snabba fotarbete och ‘gung’ (jacking) blev en skön fusion som kändes naturlig för mig.

2008-09 bodde jag sex månader i New York och undervisade på bland annat Crunch gym. Redan då började jag pusha för min Afro House – och etablera idén hos träningsanvariga för hela New York City.
När jag kom tillbaka till NYC i maj 09 – så fick jag lansera klassen under namnet ‘Tribal House Party’ som en nyhet i Crunch sommarutbud.
Det kändes otroligt stort – och är fortfarande en av de coolaste saker jag åstakommit (om jag får säga det själv)
Jag instruerade klassen på olika anläggningar med totalt olika deltagare (lärde mig massor själv) allt från downtown till uptown till Brooklyn, och utbildade även andra instruktörer.
Klassen var även en av de som valdes ut att promotas på Summer Streets NYC som är ett utomhusevent som arrangeras varje sommar, där Crunch är med och visar upp sina nyheter.

När jag kom tillbaka till NYC sommaren-10 för ytterligare sju månader i äpplet så fortsatte jag instruera klassen, som fortfarande var omtyckt hos medlemmarna.
Nu när jag hade lite stammisar så tog jag chansen att verkligen experimentera, testa och leka med klassen. Jag började blanda upp lite med olika dansstilar – och började forma som ett ‘undertema’ på varje koreografi.

Under 2011 så gick mitt jobbvisum ut – och då bestämde jag mig för att satsa lite mer här hemma i Sverige. Jag har presenterat klassen på ett flertal event, Nike touren, Gerdahallens inspirationsdag, Blogger Boot Camp, Workout Åre,  SATS Nordic Convention samt Nike Blast både i Finland, Norge och förra året i Stockholm.
Tribal House har blivit AfHo® och varje koreografi (release) har ett sub-theme, som tex.
AfHo® Tropical, AfHo® Underground etc.
Kolla gärna min youtube-kanal för att se klipp från olika events.

Klassupplägg:
Min tanke med den här klassen är att det inte behöver vara så avancerat – stegmässigt, utan fokus ligger på känslan, på att skapa energi och att få deltagarna att röja järnet, utan prestige.

Klassen är inte förkoreograferad och satt exakt till musiken, som tex Les Mills programmen är – utan du som instruktör får under utbildningen en koreografi där du kan använda hela som den är, eller delar av den.
Du kommer också att få en övningsbank att utgå ifrån om du vill ha lite större frihet.
Var fjärde månad kommer en ny koreografi, och en ny spellista – som passar bra att använda till releasen.
Utbildningen är en heldag, en konceptutbildning, och riktar sig till dig som redan har vana av att instruera.

Några av fördelarna med AfHo®: grym konditionsträning, rörlighetsträning, ökad kroppskontroll, bättre hållning.

Kostnad för utbildning:
2 995 sek (ex moms)
Är ditt gym intresserade av att köra en ‘in house-utbildning’ så blir det ett annat pris. Kontakta mig för mer info.

GODKÄND = licensierad.
Antingen blir du godkänd direkt efter utbildning, eller om du behöver mer tid att hitta rätt stil och känsla, så kompletterar du med en film och skickar in i efterhand.
För att behålla din licens – kunna fortsätta instruera klassen  – och få tillgång till de nya koreografierna betalar du 500 sek (ex moms) var fjärde månad (3 ggr om året) i samband med nytt material.
Licensen är alltså knuten direkt till instruktören – så det går bra att instruera klassen vart som helst.

Om du vill bredda din repertoir som instruktör, gillar uptempo-dansklasser och gillar att träna samtidigt som du dansar så är det här definitivt en klass för dig.
Hoppas vi ses!

 

Make room for some new experiences…with me!

So, I passed the annual summary of the year-post this year.
Just did a quiet one for me only.
Instead I would like to enhance a few of the events that are already booked and planned for 2013 – at least for the first quarterly of the year – and share it with you guys.
Maybe we’ll see each other at any of these awesome occasions. Hope so, for sure.

I’m sure you haven’t missed it – how could you;
NIKE BLAST feb 2nd-3rd in the Globe (Globen)
In this very moment it’s 1896 people that have signed up, and since it’s a month left I’m sure there will be even a few more added to that.
This is my 11th year as a presenter at this awesome event that kicks off the training year every year with a boom.
I’ll present three classes:
Sassy Jazz sunday morning, 8.30 am in the dance studio.
BODYBALANCE® 60 along with my fellow Les Mills trainers, Anna & Kristin. Saturday 1.45 pm on the big main stage.
SH’JAM also at the big stage, saturday 5 pm (last class of the day) together with the nordic BODYJAM® and SH’BAM® trainers: Åsa E, Dorre, Sarah and Kimmo.

From the NIKE BLAST-12.

Exciting news, from w. 2 (january 7th) I’ll teach my own AfHo® class/concept at House of Shapes for 4 weeks.

Wednesday’s 11.45-12.45, starting january 9th and ending jan 30th.
How ever, if it goes well, you might find this concept as a regular class at HoS in the future.
So, spread the word and bring your friends.
Email me if you wanna try it out as my guest.
If you want to read more about this class – there will be a AfHo® blog post tomorrow, friday.
For, during 2013 – I’ll also hold my first instructors trainings in AfHo®.

The clip is from my AfHo®class at the NIKE BLAST-12.

I love to collaborate with awesome people. It’s fun when you have someone to work with, and often really great ideas are born when you get to brief and juggle with other like-minded people.
So therefore – me and my homie Jonas are gonna do two kick ass training trips during february and march 2o13.
I’ll be mostly involved in the second one that goes to New York – of natural reasons – but I will host both of them along with him.
Feb. 15th – 24th Miami
March 20th – 31st New York City

 

There will be scheduled classes with us every day – exclusively for the group that travels, and in addition to that there will be special event classes with local rockstar-instructors and we’re also working on to get a good deal with a local studio. So you get the feel of how it is to hang out with the natives.
Besides that, there are even more activities you can choose to add on if you like that.  Or you can just take our classes and then do what ever you would like to do for the rest of the time. You chose for yourself.
If you have thought about going on a training trip but would like to get a bit more action that “just” the training and the hotel – this is it.  Or if you’ve been dreaming of taking classes in NYC, and pay with your sweat – but haven’t had anyone to go with… This is it! 
Like the page on facebook – or check out the website. 


♥ NYC!

Last year I did these inspirational workshops at SATS; Choreo Boost, that was aimed to the instructors that teaches dance classes and wanted to experiment a bit with the choreo-making.
As an extension of that I’ll hold a new workshop this year in Stockholm, Göteborg and Malmö – an updated version with a slightly different twist on it.
So, SATS-co workers – looking forward to dance with you again.

Awesome Choreo Boosters Sthlm 2012.

Last but not least – during the first quarterly of 2013 I’ll hold an initial training module in BODYJAM®, in Göteborg, february 8th-10th.

If you’ve been thinking about becoming an instructor in BODYJAM® this is a great opportunity. Early in the semester – with a great release to be trained in.
Questions about that – email Lena@lesmills.net

Of course there will be plenty of other stuff going on as well – all my weekly classes for example, but I figured there events above is a fun way to start the year, and I’d love for you to come join me. In real life – or here.

Hope to see you!

2013 = Inspiration!

January 1st.
What a beautiful day to be born at.
You’ll forever be no 1. (you january kids you know what I’m talking about)

Did you make any new year’s resolutions this year?
For me – that’s a waste of time. It’s better to just do the things you wanna do – and pass the things you don’t want to do.
For example;
If you’re a creative person that have a lot of ideas and thoughts – but maybe not as much of a “doer” I don’t think a resolution will help you to enforce the ideas more efficient.

How ever – if you get some help from another person that help you to focus and be more on to it – it will. Like a coach or a therapist, for example.

OR – if you’re a principled and energetic person – that takes pride in always pursuing things – but perhaps you’re a bit stuck in your way of thinking and see things. Then go for a person that can help you change perspective, turn your mind up side down and maybe even question you for a bit.

I believe a lot more in stuff like that rather than make up a bunch of promises that last for a week – or a month.

And, never ever forget – inspiration is everywhere, so is magic. You just have to open up. Your eyes, attitude, mind and mindset.
Instead of taking a picture of a moment and post it – LIVE it!

Happy 2013!

 

Stretch ftw.

Sore is the word of the day.
Sore neck is a common thing for me – hardly think about it anymore.
When I woke up friday morning I did thought of it though, and thought that it was from my jazz class thursday night – even though that seemed odd since it’s not excessively many head or neck rolls in this choreo.

But then – when I ran through the jam, I felt where it came from; the 1-2-3-1-2-3 drop.

And, after the jam-explosion yesterday, I can feel it in the neck, and a bit all over actually.
Love that feeling though.

But some warm up before class today won’t hurt.
Especially not since we live in the north pole at the moment… crazy cold!

Enjoy your sunday and 1st of advent people!

Hardcore-jammers

Like I told the jam-group this afternoon: it’s always fun to do quarterlies (otherwise I wouldn’t keep doing it, obviously) but despite that I sometimes tend to get a tiny bit of anxiety before the very first qw of a round.
But when I sat today at the train earlier – heading to Göteborg – I didn’t feel any anxiety, at all.
All I felt was a longing to push play and GO!
So I did.
It may have been a tiny crowd (only 10 people) but did they danced? Oh yes baby! Danced and shared great energy and their passion for music and BODYJAM®.

Stockholm – if you’re gonna beat today’s feel, you’re gonna have to werk it, and bring it, and werk it. 😉

Grateful and blissed for a happy day!

Gbg-in-n-out!

Just arrived in Gothenburg (to my foreign readers –  Gbg is a smaller city, the second biggest city in Sweden located on the west coast. Stockholm is on the east coast. = Today’s geography lesson)  and at Sportlife Majorna – who actually used to be my favorite gym in Gbg, back in the days when Anchi ruled the house.
This is where I held my first initial training in Sweden back in 2006 – which was the second one I did on my on my very own. (the very first one was in Finland)

It doesn’t look the same [at all] now though – but still a cozy gym.
This is an additional quarterly that was added after the original schedule was sent out to all instructors, and it’s a rather tiny crowd of 16 ppl that’s gonna shake their asses with me this afternoon.

BODYJAM®63! What I can say about the release?!
The music is AWESOME!
Since this is a rather mainstream and easygoing class where the focus not at all is on doing advance choreo or tricky moves – it’s all about the music (and feel)
And, this time, it’s a big YES from me.
It’s made to play really (really really) LOUD!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91wrfeeScj0

My homie Mysti is one of the dvd-presenters.. and she’s a rockstar, of course. But I knew that already.

In 2 h…

…it’s time for my thursday jazz class, at SATS Odenplan!

Last week I got disgustingly sick in the very last minute so they had to put in a zumba (yep, I know) instead of my class, which is a totally different kind of class and training, so it’s gonna be exciting to see how it goes today.
It looks pretty ok at the moment though…

New routine for the week;
http://youtu.be/g7AdXAgw_5M

INSPIRATION!

About my previous post today… I quite often get the question; what inspires me?
From participants, students – from the organizers at the events I’m presenting at (for the presenter’s info)
When I got the Q today – this was my answer:
– MUSIC
– Love
– Self-confident, real & energetic people
– New York City (especially in the dusk)
– Pop culture

Obviously there are a lot more things that inspires me as well… but today – this is it!
To me – it’s an amazing state of mind to feel inspired.

What would your answer be – today?!