Introducing Andy from SUDC 22nd May 2007 Andy - Director / choreographer/ Performer DOB: born sept 74 Height: 6ft Martial status: Single Occupation: Exporting Manager/ Dance instructor Hobbies/Interests: Dancing, windsurfing RYA I/ II, climbing, Kayaking RYA I/ II, playing piano and guitar, mountain boarding, martial arts, teaching dance, qualified aerobic instructor RSE, first aid trained, PPC checked Dance styles: Salsa, hip-hop, Tango, street How did I get into dancing? Well I think in my teenage year was when I was first introduced to dancing after watching Michael Jacksons Thriller and thought wow that was amazing and back then though in the South East but unfortunate back then there really was no street dance classes about. I can remember getting this very cheap glove and cutting off the fingers and sticking 4 stars on it like Michael Jackson and I even both the hat haha! Scary to think looking back but even then I had no clue in how to dance well. So basically Michael Jackson was my first introduction to seeing dancing that inspired me. Roll on a few years to when I was 20 I saw an advert in the local paper for the Harlequin theatre in Redhill and it had an advert say "Day of Dance" TRY OUT DIFFERENT DANCE STYLES. So I thought what an opportunity to try out different things and see what I like. When it came to the day there was lots of different dances from Lindy hop, to salsa, ballroom, River dance and Line dancing. Funnily enough line dancing had just come into the UK and on that day the line dancing crowd were young and the teacher Lisa from Boot Scoot were full of energy. So there you go the next week I started going to line dancing which was great fun for a time and the person I was seeing at the time was a pro dancer so we were constantly in competition with each other after a time of who could turn faster. Well I stayed on the line scene for about a year and did some teaching along the way and even got through to the line dancing UK semi final championships. But sadly like alot of dance scenes it all changed and the person I was with we had split and so things moved on. Anyways after a short period of time I went and saw an event at the Hawth in Crawley for a night of Latin Salsa music with live band. I had already taken an evening class of salsa probably about 3 months before and arrogantly thought "oh yeah I can dance salsa" (Hey I was young,lol). So anyways I trotted off to the salsa nite and the music was vibrant and the atmosphere was amazing and I saw these two guys dancing (Who later I would teach for) who were to be Richard and Paul Marcel dancing with these young ladies and they were amazing and this was one of the very few times over the years I have been inspired. At that point I thought " I sooooo cannot dance salsa". So the next week I signed myself up with Richard and Paul and started salsa lessons, I have to say that no way was I a natural dancer and my god I found the rhythm so har dto listen to back then but I was determined to learn the dance and after several month I was dancing 4 times a week from Guildford to Croydon to Crawley. Those were some of the most amazing times for sure. Anyways at the back end of 2000 I was going through a very hard time of going out with someone for a short time of 3 months who was physically abusive and managed to get myself moving in with her after 3 months (I WAS NAIVE AND MAD I SWEAR) and to cut a long story short after the abuse and stress I left but managed to get caught in a rent contract leaving me losing 6k and with someone over 5 months giving me abuse at work. Anyways thankfully after the contract was up with a lighter wallet and ill for 18 months after with stress a friend of mine Aneta helped me pick myself up again and said why dont you start your own Salsa company up. So there you go in 2001 Salsa Latina UK was born. Back then I didnt have much know how and business sense but it was fun and after a time a london Salsa promoter Salsa Uk asked me to join there teaching team as they were one of the biggest salsa promoters in the UK. There you go my teaching career was born and I started in the w-orse possible area to teach.........Brixton. I tell you the first time I went up there I was scared but over 2years I spent up there I never had any trouble. After a while Salsa UK had me teaching all over the South of London in Croydon, Bromley and even had the opportunity of teaching at the very first UK Salsa Congress in Bognor Regus which was a fantastic experience. In 2001 and 2002 I took myself off to the LA salsa congresses which again was an amazing experience but very experience. I mean these events attract 10,000 salsa dancers from around the globe for 3 days of parties and workshops, amazing!!! So yes the years rolled by with the teaching and teaching at major events and working with other people and promoters and I met some amazing people and then a goof friend of mine Helen said why don't you come up to Pineapple dance studios in London and try out some of the hip hop classes. I was a little dubious about being taken out of my comfort zone but Im always up for new challenges. So there we went up to London and oh my god the classes were sooooooo hard! I mean going from Salsa to hip hop is like going from driving a car to flying an aeroplane. Seriously my coordination was so bad but I still carried on and I thought these dancers in the class started some where so its going to be hard but thats the challenge. So every week on a Saturday I sue to trot up to Pineapple and take 3 classes and then come back home aching and and feeling alot of pain in my knees and butt. But hey slowly I got better and then became addicted to watching choreography from all over the worked on utube. Anyways at the back end of 2004 Salsa uk clubs were starting to close down one by one and then one Novemeber afternoon 5hrs before I was suppose to teach in Bromley I was told I wasnt needed anymore after 3yrs of teaching! At that point I was pretty annoyed especially after all the hard work id done but you know it was a good thing it taught me a) not to rely on other people b) to make an opportunity for myself and also to take myself out of my comfort zone. So within a few days I set about starting up my own street dance classes in Horley! and so SUDC was born Jan 2005. Street Urban Dance company first classes were started in the OAkwood sports centre and slowly over 2005 I opened in Sutton, Farnham and Tunbridge wells and by the back end of 2005 I had 5 classes running and a dance team. Looking back that was an achievement especially from someone who never went to dance school when they were younger. But the secret is determination and a little passion and luck of course. 2005 was a great year since I also put on my own "Day of Dance " in the Oakwood sports centre putting on over 12 hours of dance workshops in Salsa, hip hop, Street, Ballroom tango, ceroc and bachata. From concept to the actual day it was amazing that it all went so smoothly and everything ran on time and I think by the end of the day we had over 150 people turn up so ok I didn't make loads of money but hopefully people had a great time. Maybe in the future il do it again we shall see. Thats the thing people assume or think I have a team of people doing the website or promoting but no everything is done by me which is cool but also hard work sometimes. So what are your plans for the future and your goals?? Well I love coming with different ideas and at present I want to do more performing. I have about 3 different groups doing various bits of choregraphy so it would be good to get them out performing together but we shall see. I find it interesting how the brain works though I mean I have no trouble talking and teaching to 1200 people but when it comes to perfroming a piece in front of that many people I use to feel anxious but these days slowly im getting over that. Its all good funa nd again if you make some laugh when teaching or inspire just one person in the crowd then brilliant my job is done.. So do you have free time? What's that again!! haha, no I don't have loadsa free time due to dance but you know I love dancing and love teaching to so you know its a social thing to meeting people with the same interest and passion. but in my spare time I do the usual things everyone else does, see friends, chill watch dvds or sometimes nip down the cinema ask me about any film I dare you hha, i have the worlds largest DVD collection since I never see normal tv i usual end up buying way to many dvds and cd. One of these days I will listen to all my CDs . So do you go to gym keep fit and eat special diet food OH YES I eat fruit and veg all the time, haha...erm actually I'm terrible when it comes to food sure I don't eat chips and lots of fast food but cakes are definitely something I love....gimme a Danish pastry anyday. Well I've probably stayed in good nick over the years since I've never smoked and I don't drink either well unless maybe with a meal now and again. But yes I don't go to gyms or do any other exercise apart from dancing and the usual push ups etc. you do at home. Like anything the more you put into your activity the fitter you get and when I dance I'm totally full on giving 120%.. If you have a question you would like to ask please email streeturbandance74@yahoo.co.uk