Kungfu Hip-hop

[GeneChing]

I gotta forward this one to the RZA (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=50884).... :p


Dancer Tackles Kungfu (http://english.cri.cn/3086/2008/06/28/1221s374489.htm)
2008-06-28 15:07:07
By Wang Jie

Hong Kong pop singer Jordan Chan was in Shanghai for the premiere of his new film "Kungfu Hip-hop."

Starring with Chinese mainland sweetheart Fan Bingbing, Chan practiced many difficult kungfu moves blended with hip-hop dancing in the movie.

"I did 90 percent of all the kungfu action," Chan told the media.

Born in Hong Kong in 1964, Chan got his start by enrolling in a dancing class in 1985. Soon he joined dancing troupes that accompanied pop stars such as Alan Tam, Leslie Cheong and Anita Mui before a producer encouraged him to make a record of his own.

In 1994, he made his film debut, but really made his name with "Young and Dangerous" in 1996, still regarded as a classic tale of triad gangsters.

Like his movie characters, Chan is a bit of a rebel in real life, and is notorious for refusing to cooperate with interviewers. After dating Cecilia Chung, he is now going out with young actress Cherrie Ying and plans to marry her soon.

[GeneChing]

Kung Fu Hip Hop trailer (http://youtube.com/watch?v=mVanlTwB990&feature=related)
There are more on youtube, but I just couldn't bring myself to watch them. Perhaps one of you can surf through them and dig out some gems, if there are any.

Is it just me or do the Chinese just not get hip hop? :rolleyes:

[doug maverick]

i have to agree with you gene. the japanese understand it better. the hip hop scene in japan goes back to the 80's so they get it more so. have you ever heard chinese rap? to say it sucks is an understatement. horrible its worsdt then canto pop.

as for the trailer i couldn't watch it all cause that song was ****ing horrid. but i saw some good dancing. poping, some good flares even a "which-ways".

[GeneChing]

Li Bingbing was ranked #9 in China's most powerful celebrities (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51397). She was also in Forbidden Kingdom (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=42599). See Li Bingbing here (http://english.people.com.cn/200509/27/eng20050927_211225.html).

Fan Bingbing is also starring in the upcoming film Jing Wu Men (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=49953). See Fan Bingbing here (http://ahotgirl.blogspot.com/2007/12/chinese-movie-star-fan-bingbing.html) (note that this site appeared SFW at a quick glance, but it's links probably go NSFW pretty quick. My apologies if you get distracted. You're only 3 clicks away from NSFW almost everywhere on the web.)


The Bingbing dynasty (http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2008-06/28/content_6802459.htm)
By Chen Nan (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-06-28 07:22

Dreamworks' animated feature Kung Fu Panda seems to have sparked off a spate of films inspired by Chinese kungfu. Kungfu Hip Hop, which opens at cinemas citywide this weekend, is as absorbing as its Hollywood cousin but also includes dazzling hip-hop sequences choreographed by Dave Scotts, who once worked with Michael Jackson, and superb kungfu moves.

This inspiring movie is the creation of popular comedy writer Ning Caishen. Starring Hong Kong actor Jordan Chan and former dancer and mainland beauty Fan Bingbing, Kungfu Hip Hop tells the story of three talented young men. One is Chu Dong (Jordan Chan), a child with innate dancing talent who competes in a street dancing contest in order to be able to pay for his sister's medication. With the help of Tina, sexy resident contest DJ (Fan Bingbing), Chu combines Chinese kungfu with Western street dancing to triumph over Zhong Shaoxiong, the reigning dance champion.

Olympic gymnastics champion Xing Aowei, short-track speed skating champion Yang Yang and diving champion Gao Min take cameo roles as three veterans who agree to train and help Chu Dong beat his rival in the dance competition.

The Fourth Beijing International Sports Film Festival, precursor to the upcoming Olympic Games, opens this weekend. It comprises 23 films from China and 18 films from Great Britain, Greece, Italy and Spain. The Chinese films include The One Man Olympics; Mai Mai Ti's 2008; Slam; and Dream Team. Screenings are at the China Film Archive, Wanda, Star City and other major cinemas.

Dream Weavers 2008, the documentary featuring star hurdler Liu Xiang that chronicles Beijing's preparations for the Olympics, opens this weekend. This 90-minute film took director Gu Jun seven years to make. It gives panoramic glimpses of a nation on track for the biggest sporting event on the planet. Liu Xiang's path to success is one of the film's five interdependent stories. The other four focus on construction of the Bird's Nest -- main Beijing Olympics venue; on the everyday life of a local family; on three young gymnasts in training; and the Olympic security guard team training schedule.

[GeneChing]

Follow the link for vids.

Hip Hop Kung Fu (http://asiasociety.org/calendars/hip-hop-kung-fu)
August 3, 2011 - 8:00pm - 9:30pm
New York
725 Park Ave at 70th St

Presented with Dancing in the Streets

Through a juxtaposition of Shaolin Wushu and Tai Chi, and Krumping, Vogueing, Waacking, Locking and Freestyle, this interdisciplinary work explores the reciprocal influences of Asian culture — particularly martial arts — on hip hop, and the influence of hip hop on Asian culture.

Featuring an international ensemble of dancers, drummers and martial artists, the work is choreographed by Emilio "Buddha Stretch" Austin Jr with Valerie "Ms. Vee" Ho and Michele Byrd McPhee.

Emilio "Buddha Stretch" Austin Jr. is a roving ambassador of hip hop dance who travels the world as a choreographer, dancer, teacher and competition judge. He has been a seminal influence on the development of hip hop dance in Taiwan, South Korea and Japan. Michele Bryd McPhee is a choreographer, dancer and Founding Artistic Director of Ladies of Hip Hop, an annual festival that is dedicated to preserving and redefining women's role in hip hop.
Hip Hop Kung Fu is co-presented by Dancing in the Streets and Casita Maria Center for Arts in Education as part of HIP HOP GENERATION NEXT: From the South Bronx to East Asia. www.dancinginthestreets.org

[doug maverick]

i totally forgot about it too...i may go check it out.

[GeneChing]

Vogueing, Krumping and Tai Chi at the Asia Society (http://culture.wnyc.org/articles/features/2011/aug/03/vogueing-krumping-kung-fu/)
Wednesday, August 03, 2011
By Erica Getto

With today’s weather forecast, you may just be able to get away with singing in the rain. But what about dancing in the streets? Rain or shine, an international ensemble of dancers, drummers and martial artists are set to perform at the Asia Society's "Hip Hop Kung Fu" event on Wednesday.

http://media40.wnyc.net/media/photologue/photos/cache/ValerieHo_long_image.jpg
Valerie “Ms. Vee” Ho was one of the choreographers of "Hip Hop Kung Fu." (Photo by Linda Gunther)

Wednesday night's mash-up performance, presented by the Asia Society, Dancing in the Streets and the Casita Maria Center for Arts in Education, explores signature styles of hip-hop and martial arts, including Shaolin wushu and tai chi, krumping, vogueing, waacking, locking and freestyle.

Following the world-premiere performance, there will be a Q&A with the event's choreographer and director, Emilio "Buddha Stretch" Austin Jr., and some of the dancers.

Adesola Osakalumi, Valerie “Ms. Vee” Ho and Michele Byrd McPhee worked with Buddha Stretch on "Hip Hop Kung Fu." The performance is part of a larger Dancing in the Streets series called "Hip Hop Generation Next: From the South Bronx to East Asia," presented with the Casita Maria Center for Arts in Education.

"Hip Hop Kung Fu" is free and starts at the Asia Society at 8 P.M. Seating is first come, first served. Reserve tickets will also be held until 7:45 P.M. If you can't make the performance, you can watch it live online.Anyone in striking distance of this who wants to report 'officially' should email me.

[doug maverick]

to bad i cant make it to this.

[GeneChing]

Where Hip-Hop Meets the Martial Arts (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/06/arts/dance/hip-hop-kung-fu-at-asia-society-review.html)
Ian Douglas for The New York Times

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2011/08/06/arts/hipHop-4/hipHop-4-articleLarge.jpg
Jason Ng, nicknamed Chem, left, and Eddie Yoo, known as Lilfoot, perform “Power Breakerz!”
By GIA KOURLAS
Published: August 5, 2011

What do you get when you mix the formality of martial arts with the brashness of hip-hop? In “Hip Hop Kung Fu,” at Asia Society on Wednesday night, it was an amateurish display that shed only a superficial light on the relationship between hip-hop and Asian cultures. (It is a worthy topic.) As part of Hip Hop Generation Next: From the South Bronx to East Asia, a festival organized by Dancing in the Streets and Casita Maria Center for Arts and Education, this evening-length show, also presented by Asia Society, sampled a range of styles from both sides of the world.

Rachel Cooper, Asia Society’s director for cultural programs and performing arts, introduced the evening with a short speech about hip-hop’s global appeal. Of the artists, she said, “They’re taking it from the streets, and we’re trying to be a street.” It was fitting that she acknowledged the quandary of putting dance that originated outside of a theater into one, but that didn’t make up for the general awkwardness.

In “Hip Hop Kung Fu,” directed, choreographed and conceived by Emilio Austin Jr., known as Buddha Stretch, with artistic direction by Adesola Osakalumi — he is currently playing the lead role in the British tour of “Fela!” — the overall aridity may have stemmed from having too many artistic honchos at the top. Michele Byrd-McPhee was co-director and assistant choreographer, and Val Ho, who calls herself Ms. Vee, was also an assistant choreographer.

The show began with a clip from “Karate Kid” — mind you, the remake — that demonstrated a quick lesson about the discipline and honor of martial arts. In the choreographed numbers that followed, with pun-friendly titles like “Krump-Fu” and “Strike a Vogue,” it’s hardly a surprise that such rigor was missing onstage.

There were mash-ups of styles, including kung fu and tai chi, as well as krumping, voguing, waacking, popping and locking, yet the unison choreographic renderings were tepid, and the dancers seemed lost on the stage. Furtive glances showed their insecurity over the available space, which was a tight fit: the near-collisions made you wince.

For the opening “Tai-Chi,” choreographed by Ms. Ho, two hip-hop dancers stood on the side of the stage, skeptically watching martial artists before trying to mimic their moves. In the hokey “Smell No Evil,” Ms. Ho did her best to distract the others from their tai chi practice with a bout of apparent flatulence, and in “What’s Poppin!,” by Mr. Austin, the stage came alive with black-and-white-clad robots.

Mr. Austin also contributed “Power Breakerz!,” for three men dressed as Power Rangers (yes, really) and “The Rock-Lock,” which turned out to be the least distracting dance on the program. Here, arms wove through the air as if propelled by magnets, and the dancers were dressed as ninjas. It also helped that their faces were partly covered. Throughout the evening, their expressions were wildly disparate: one dancer looked confused, while another grinned avidly.

Like many martial arts movies, “Hip Hop Kung Fu” saved the good stuff for the end. All the dancers performed solos, which allowed them to show off their individuality and escape the show’s constrictions. They finally had a fighting chance.

Hip Hop Generation Next: From the South Bronx to East Asia concludes on Saturday with a block party on Simpson Street between 163rd and Barretto Streets, Hunts Point, the Bronx; (718) 589-2230 or dancinginthestreets.org.
tai chi & flatulence...:rolleyes: