Soujia Boy Dance 2007--Breakdown of the Steps

This new hip-hop line dance was popular in this year (2007), and was even introduced in the 2007 American Music Awards...

It is a line dance of 32 steps in 32 counts, that has a few advanced hip-hop elements but it is still easy to learn.

Steps 1-2 are called the Kris Kross.

Steps 3-4 are called a reverse form of the Slap Leather,

  and Steps 9-10, the regular Slap Leather.

Steps 5-6 are called the Wave.

Steps 12-13 is called the Cross-Tap and Uncross from Tap.

Steps 13-16 are called the "Superman."

Steps 17-24 and 25-32 are Boxer Hops.

This is a four-wall line dance. For the breakdown of the steps, it is assumed that you use the north wall to start.

After the 32 steps are repeated, the dance is repeated on the next wall, counterclockwise, and so on (so, for example, the first repeat of the steps, if starting on the north wall first, will be facing the west wall, and then, on the second repeat, will be facing the south wall, and so on.)

Use these imaginary walls as a guide to utilizing this dance:

                       North Wall

West Wall                                    East Wall

                      South Wall

Soujia Boy--Breakdown of the Steps

Start in loose 1st position (LF and RF are about a hand-width apart), starting with the north wall.

1. Jump on both feet; land so RF crosses over LF       1  

2. Jump again on both feet so that RF uncrosses,         2

   ending with both feet back in loose 1st position

3. Flick LF back and touch that LF with RH                3

   (RH should touch L heel)

4. Land LF back to loose 1st position                         4

5. Pull out whole R arm outside and inside                   5

   in a wave action (like in breakdancing), feet

   remain in place

6. Pull out whole L arm outside and inside                   6

   also in wave action (like in breakdancing), feet

   still remain in place

7. Turning your body 1/4 L, forward LF to lunge on     7

   LF, with a slight pivot L on other foot (RF); now

   you are facing the west wall

8. Hold position for one count more                             8

9. On a diagonal direction to the northeast wall, and     9

   holding body position still on west wall, cross

   RF (tap) over LF

10.Now, turning your body 1/4 R to face original       10

   wall (north), step back on RF (tap) again to

   uncross, ending in loose 2nd position

11.Now, do a slight knee lift on R leg (LF remains      11

   in place) and touch RH on R knee on lift

12.Land RF with full weight, ending in loose 2nd         12

   position

13.Now turning 1/4 to the L again to face west wall     13

   again, Hop on LF and land with LF lunge, and

   extend the R leg back away from you, horizontal

   with the floor (thus the RF is about 5 inches from

   the floor but it can vary); at the same time,

   extend both arms straight out and forward, also

   horizontal with the floor (the "Superman")

14.Hold position for one count more                      14    

15.Now, turning 1/4 to R to face original                 15

   wall again, land RF and recover body from

   "Superman" to regain normal standing position;

   feet should be in loose 2nd position; upon

   landing, change to equal weight on both feet

16.Hold position for one count more              16 .

17. Slight hop on both feet going to L                     17

18.Slight hop on both feet going slightly to L again   18

19.Slight hop on both feet going slightly to L again   19

20.Now hop on both feet slightly, but in place         20

21 Slight hop on both feet going slightly to R           21

22.Slight hop on both feet going slightly to R again   22

23.Slight hop on both feet going slightly to R again   23

24.Now hop on both feet slightly, but in place         24

25.Slight hop on both feet going slightly to L            25

26.Slight hop on both feet going slightly to L again   26

27.Slight hop on both feet going slightly to L again   27

28.Now hop on both feet slightly, but in place         28

29.Slight hop on both feet going slightly to R         29

30.Slight hop on both feet going slightly to R again   30

31.Slight hop on both feet going slightly to R again   31

32.Now hop on both feet slightly, but in place         32

Additional Notes

For the "boxer hops" (steps 17-32), be sure that your feet position remain as long as possible in loose 2nd position.

And also, "slightly to L" and "slightly to R" is done with

no turn....you just go down to the L side of a straight line or the R side of the straight line still facing the original wall or the other wall. Think of a Cartesian plane

(remember that in geometry or algebra?) and you are on the x-axis, and you go to the left of the x-axis on steps 17-24, and to the right of the x-axis on steps 25-32. This will help you.

Turn 1/4 L counterclockwise after step 32 to repeat the 32 steps on the next wall.

It is also possible, if not repeating on a different wall, to repeat the steps, but with opposite footwork and armwork as already described as above (that is, "reverse the steps").

  

Charles Joseph Smith

"The Little Lily of Dancing"

Sample Outline for a 15-Week Course on American Popular Music from the 1970s to the 1980s

Because mainstream popular music's repertory in America equals that of classical music,
it is probably important to cover all of the important pop/rock hits for two semesters,
not just one.

The weeks cover some of the main songs that everyone grew up in the 1970s or 1980s.
Under the weeks covered are the song titles first, then the original artist or artists
(indicated in the parenteses), and then the date the song was released.

Week 1--Monday
"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (Diana Ross)--1970
"Evil Ways" (Santana)--1970
"Let It Be" (The Beatles)--1970
"Mama Told Me (Not To Come)" (Three Dog Night)--1970

Week 1--Wednesday
"Knock Three Times" (Tony Orlando and Dawn)--1971
"Mercy, Mercy Me" (Marvin Gaye)--1971
"What's Goin' On?" (Marvin Gaye)--1971

Week 1--Friday

"Don't Anyone Really Know What Time It Is?" (Chicago)--1972
"I'd Like To Teach The World to Sing" (New Seekers)--1972
"Saturday In The Park" (Chicago)--1972

Week 2--Wednesday

"Dancing Machine" (Michael Jackson)--1972
"Hot Butter" (Popcorn)--1972
"Twenty-Five Or Six-To-Four" (Chicago)--1972

Week 3--Monday

"Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown" (Jim Croce)--1973
"Killing Me Softly With His Song" (Roberta Flack)--1973
"Let's Get It On" (Marvin Gaye)--1973

Week 3--Wednesday

"Long Train Running" (Dobbie Brothers)--1973
"Love Train" (The O'Jays)--1973
"Monster Mash" (Bobby "Bones" Pickett and the Crypt Kickers)--1973

Week 3--Friday

"Smoke in the Water" (Deep Purple)--1973
"Supersition" (Stevie Wonder)--1973
"Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Ole Oak Tree" (Tony Orlando and Dawn)--1973

Week 4--Monday

"Dancing Machine" (Jackson 5)--1974
"Love's Theme" (The Love Unlimited Orchestra)--1974

Review for Quiz 1

Week 4--Wednesday

Quiz 1

Week 4--Friday

"Get Down Tonight" (KC and the Sunshine Band)--1975
"Love Will Keep Us Together" (Captain and Tennille)--1975
"More, More, More" (The Andrea True Connection)--1975

Week 5--Monday

"Boogie Fever" (The Sylvers)--1976
"You Should Be Dancing" (The Bee Gees)--1976

Week 5--Wednesday

"Got To Give It Up" (Marvin Gaye)--1977
"Southern Nights" (Glen Campbell)--1977
"You Light Up My Life" (Debbie Boone)--1977

Week 5--Friday

"Boogie Oogie Oogie" (A Taste of Honey)--1978
"Copacabana" (Barry Manilow)--1978
"Got To Be Real" (Cheryl Lynn)--1978

Week 6--Monday

"Hot Child In the City" (Nick Gilder)--1978
"I Love The Nightlife" (Alicia Bridges)--1978
"If I Can't Have You" (Yvonne Elliman)--1978

Week 6--Wednesday
"Kiss You All Over" (Exile)--1978
"Last Dance" (Donna Summer)--1978
"My Life" (Billy Joel)--1978

Week 6--Friday

"Shake Your Groove Thing" (Peaches and Herb)--1978
"We Are The Champions" (Queen)--1978
"Y.M.C.A." (The Village People)--1978

Week 7--Monday

Review for Midterm Exam

Week 7--Wednesday

Review for Midterm Exam

Week 7--Friday

Midterm Exam covering Weeks 1-6
Week 8--Monday

"Heart of Glass" (Blondie)--1979
"Hot Stuff" (Donna Summer)--1979
"Le Freak" (Chick)--1979

Week 8--Wednesday

"Another Brick in the Wall" (Pink Floyd)--1980
"Call Me" (Blondie)--1980
"Do That To Me One More Time" (Captain and Tennille)--1980

Week 8--Friday

"Endless Love" -(Diana Ross and Lionel Richie)--1981
"Jessie's Girl" (Rick Springfield)--1981
"Nine To Five" (Dolly Parton)--1981

Week 9, Monday

"I Love Rock and Roll" (Joan Jett and the Blackhearts)--1982
"Rosanna" (Toto)--1982
"Tainted Love" (Soft Cell)--1982

Week 9, Wednesday

"Billie Jean" (Michael Jackson)--1983
"Maneater" (Daryl Hall and John Oates)--1983
"Sweet Dreams (Are Made of These)" (Eurythmics)--1983

Week 9, Friday

"All Night Long (All Night)" (Lionel Richie)--1984
"Ghostbusters" (Ray Parker Jr.)--1984
"When Doves Cry" (Prince)--1984

Week 10--Monday

"Like a Virgin" (Madonna)--1985
"Part-Time Lover" (Stevie Wonder)--1985
"Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" (Wham!)--1985

Week 10--Wednesday

"Addicted to Love" (Robert Palmer)--1986
"Conga" (Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine)--1986
"Kiss" (Prince and the Revolution)--1986

Week 10--Friday

"La Bamba" (Los Lobos)--1987
"La Isla Bonita" (Madonna)--1987
"I Wanna Dance With Somebody)--1987

Week 11--Monday

"The Lady in Red" (Chris De Burgh)--1987
"Rhythm Is Gonna Get You" (Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine)--1987
"Walk Like An Egyptian" (The Bangles)--1987

Week 11--Wednesday

Review for Quiz 2

Week 11--Friday

Quiz 2

Week 12--Monday

"Don't Worry, Be Happy" (Bobby McFerrin)--1988
"I Don't Want To Live Without You" (Foreigner)--1988
"Man in the Mirror" (Michael Jackson)--1988

Week 12--Wednesday

"One-Two-Three" (Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine)--1988
"Sign Your Name" (Terence Trent d'Arby)--1988
"Simply Irrestistible" (Robert Palmer)--1988

Week 12--Friday

"The Way You Make Me Feel" (Michael Jackson)---1988
"Wild, Wild, West" (The Escape Club)--1988

Week 13--Monday

"Eternal Flame" (The Bangles)--1989
"Express Yourself" (Madonna)--1989
"Giving You The Best That I've Got" (Anita Baker)--1989

Week 13--Wednesday

"Like a Prayer" (Madonna)--1989
"Love Shack" (The B-52s)--1989
"Wild Thing" (Tone Loc)--1989

Week 14--Monday

Review for Final Exam--Part 1

Week 14--Wednesday

Review for Final Exam--Part 2

Week 14--Friday

Review for Final Exam--Part 3

Week 15--Monday

Final Exam

Week 15--Wednesday

Makeups for Final Exam

Week 15--Friday

Makeups for Final Exam

Lessons Learned From the Eventual Farewell of the Original Evergreen Plaza

It is hitting hard on those who loved a shopping center that has ran for 60 years. And it includes me. And for a few other people, very hard. Almost everyone in the Beverly and Morgan Park neighborhoods knew that shopping center.

I also knew it too. But now almost everyone is hurt about what is going to happen to the old Evergreen Plaza, which was often nicknamed "The Plaza". After May 31st, this iconic shopping mall will be no more...it is going to be razed and re-built as a smaller mall, but not the old Evergreen Plaza a lot of past generations of Plaza shoppers all know (of course, "as we know it").

I remember in the 1970s when this place called Evergreen Plaza had almost all of the bells and whistles that had customers keep coming back:

1. It had almost every store you wanted to go to and most likely the place you can get your shopping done...even if it does not have "groceries" on your shopping list. You can get clothes that you want in a few clothing stores like Carson's, then eat something for a shopping break, and continue shopping for things like jewelry, or shoes, or even appliances (of course, you may remember the Montgomery Ward department store that was there for a long time in the mall) until you finish doing it. When I first came to the store, I can remember that there was a Walgreen's at one end (the north) and the Carson Pirie Scott and Co. store on the other side (the south end). The eateries (restaurants, cafes, coffee shops) were focused mainly in the middle but not too much, and some eateries are spread out along the long corridors of the mall.

2. In the 1980s, they had an arcade-game facility that was located on the south wing of the mall. I remember that on my school field-trips there. Yes, pinball machines and video games galore, and it included race games such as Pole Position.

3. I used to go to its adjacent movie-theater complex, and saw some pretty good movies there, such as "The Red Stallion" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark". A lot of other people who are movie-goers liked their free parking lot that was just outside the theater, to steer away from the heavy Western Avenue traffic.

4. The place had a double-decker parking lot facility for a time, but when the upper deck was decided to be razed in order to save money, I did not know at first that it was going to be the start of the demise of the mall.

My analysis of the reasons why Evergreen Plaza decided to end its 60-year run was this......I researched a bit through the Internet and also my knowledge of this shopping mall from going there for about several hundred times........

1. People are shopping on the Internet right now, and they are loving it so much. Yes, welcome to cyberspace--also known as online shopping. This is how they are trying to cut back on the usual expense related to shopping, which is gasoline prices. Sure, even with new sales taxes that are slapped on the Internet, and shipping and handling costs, still, the added expenses will be much less, and the ploy of "free deliveries" make Internet shopping a lot more.

2. Closing the movie theater complex that was adjacent to the mall (this happened in the 1990s) as a cost-cutting move instead caused a major loss in the mall's revenue, because the mall could not depend any more on ticket admission prices to keep up with some of the revenue expenses to run the mall.

3. The closing of the Drury Lane Martinique theater and the sprawl of a new shopping center complex just across the plaza just north on 95th street, which included the Sam's Club store, accelerated the Plaza's demise. I am guessing that in the 1970s, some people go to the Plaza to get their shopping done before they go see a theatrical performance at Drury Lane. But when Drury Lane was razed, this has an indirect effect on the Plaza I guess...forcing people to go somewhere a bit far to see a theatrical performance.

4. Then there was the housing crisis, which was worsened by the Great Recession of 2008. (You probably know about the so-called "subprime mortgages" which were partially to blame for the 2008 financial disaster.) With that, rent defaults on some of the Plaza stores went up as a result, resulting in shutdowns and/or foreclosures, and I had witnessed the consequences of that first-hand when I went to the Plaza in the new millennium....I saw empty and shut-down stores, and what used to be Plaza stores are now just steel locking, metal doors, and metal covers with no inventory or merchandise at all. This hit especially the discount businesses in the Plaza, including Payless Shoe Source, and you probably know all of this when they announce "Going Out Of Business" sales. An explosion of these "Going Out of Business" sales then spread to over half of the stores in the Plaza.....This meant a further loss of tenants, and that meant a major loss in rent revenues. And just like that, the 60-year party for the Plaza had no choice but to end. McDonald's used to be at the Plaza, and used to be its staple at the mall, but the focus on healthy eating caused McDonald's to first move to a different area where different restaurants were joined with them, and then, it was no longer there. I am guessing that the loss of McDonald's also slightly speeded up the end of the Plaza.

So the lesson here is this....I only hope that other existing shopping malls learn from the end of what we know as Evergreen Plaza, and do whatever they can to keep these malls from coming to their end just like what is going to happen to the aforementioned.

Classical Music Appreciation--The Messiah

THE MESSIAH An oratorio by George Frederic Handel composed in 1741 that uses a chorus, an orchestra, and soloists (bass, tenor, alto, and soprano). It is often used in big-scale and small-scale performances near and at Christmastime. It is now common tradition for the audience to be the chorus with no chorus in the back of the orchestra in some of the Messiah performances---the concept in this case is the Do-It-Yourself Messiah, which is a tradition especially in the Civic Opera House in Chicago. Wikipedia’s concept of Messiah: “In English today, in religious contexts, it is used in two major contexts: the anticipated saviour of the Jews, which has to come in the future to bring ultimate peace on earth. And secondly, the one who is anticipated as, regarded as, or professes to be a saviour or liberator.” (Wikipedia 2007) A Summary of the Messiah Oratorio First part focuses on the birth of Jesus. Examples: “Pastoral Symphony” (for orchestra alone, key of C major) ---this instrumental depicts the Biblical story of the shepherds who use instruments to announce that Jesus was born “For Onto Us a Child is Born” (chorus, key of G major) ---this chorus focuses on melismatic runs, that is, a cascade of running notes usually on one syllable or word (in this case, mostly on the word “born”) Second Part focuses mainly on the Passion of Jesus (the last seven days leading to his arrest and crucifixion) as well as his Resurrection. Examples: “Behold the Lamb of God (chorus in G minor) --a pathetic, slow moving description probably announcing Jesus’s suffering and death on the cross, which resulted in the cleansing of the sins of humankind. “Hallelujah Chorus” (chorus in D major) --it is now common tradition in a Messiah concert performance that the audience stand up during the chorus. This is because the text of that chorus announces that Jesus has risen from the dead. (“Hallelujah” is standard Hebrew for “Let us praise”) [This was because King George II rose up to his feet during the chorus, although not certain that he did it.] --the chorus is the most popular chorus in the oratorio Third Part----focuses on part of the Biblical events after Jesus’ Ascension Examples: “I Know That My Redeemer Liveth” (for soprano and orchestra, E major) ---depicts a witness who felt the presence of Jesus going into heaven “The Trumpet Shall Sound” (for bass and orchestra, D major) ---a great example of word painting. It is a triple meter piece of praise using only one herald trumpet in the background with the orchestra. The piece depicts that the dead will be resurrected to heaven with a clean slate of mind.