Anthony King review by Rebecca Rose

Published: September 5 2009 01:58 | Last updated: September 5 2009 01:58

“Everyone needs a signature dance move. I discovered this recently at a friend’s wedding when an impromptu circle formed on the dance floor, and reveller after reveller stepped into the ring. Break-dancing, body-popping, tap, jive, Charlston… I felt a gentle sweat coming on – I couldn’t reveal the fruits of belly-dancing lessons at university over a decade ago. Afterwards, I resolved never to put myself in that position again. I would learn to dance like Michael Jackson instead.

Pineapple Studios was the grooviest place to flex your Lycra in the 1980s. Since the passing of the King of Pop (and the return of Lycra) it is enjoying a renaissance. This is partly thanks to the popularity of choreographer Anthony King’s regular Michael Jackson dance classes. On a Wednesday night at 6pm, the rather warm Covent Garden dance studio is packed with Jackson fans in tour T-shirts and sweat gear, getting acquainted with the man in the mirror. I feel intimidated, but I’m soon distracted by King’s infectious energy and snake-hipped charisma. We begin with “Wanna Be Starting Something”. Wrist-flicking, leg-shaking, body-pumping, air-punching – and that’s only the first 1.5 seconds. We try it to music twice, and proceed to the next sequence, which involves unladylike thrusting. This I find embarrassing, especially as I’m positioned next to the window of our street-level studio.

“Shamone!” a class member exclaims triumphantly as we put the whole routine together. By the end of the hour I’m feeling so limber, I could almost perform in the piazza itself. So that’s why the class has a “do not come dressed as Michael Jackson” dress code! After all, there can only be one King of Pop – well, two actually.”

Click here to read the full article!

Anthony receives lots and lots of reviews and messages from wonderful people from all over the world, he appreciates them all. We thought we would post this one on Anthony’s blog, as it has already been posted online and it is quite touching. Thank you Sanja. It came through this morning and gives a detailed insight into what he does. A Croatian new Anthony King student wrote her thoughts down….here they are…

“The dancer of the dreamShare

Today at 4:15am

Praising people is always risky business. As a rule, almost, much is assumed and then the assumptions color the perception of the praise so heavily it falls upon mishearing ears. As though praising signifies weakness or inferiority, instead of the opposite - standing tall among midgets will never make for an accomplishment.

Even if I had an agenda, please read and learn, for what I have to say is a reflection of the truth against the mirror that is me. I want you to have a glance at him through my eyes as I am hoping he might, perhaps, serve you as a guideline in some random tomorrow. And that makes for a privilege.

We were supposed to go to the coast last weekend, my sister and I, but as the forecasts threatened with rain Maja thought out loud:

“How about we take a dance class instead?”

“Dance class! Dance class! Yey!” I said, “Even better!”

“There’s a dance studio in London, quite famous, they’re said to be really good. Pineapple it’s called…”

“Hah, Pineapple!” goofy name for a studio, I thought.

In the Pub the next day…

“I’m going to a Michael Jackson Style dance class! Tomorrow!” I said, clapping, in relation to nothing whatsoever during a conversation over drinks in a pub. But these were MJ fans so the sudden excitement struck no one as odd.

“Oh cool? You’re going to the Anthony King’s class?” asked Michelle.

“Ha? Who? Dunno. It’s in Pineapple studios.” I said. The name ‘Pineapple studios’ amused me.

“Yea, he’s really great. He’s a very nice guy.”

…I made a mental note that this anthonykingguy was perhaps a celebrity and an eye candy which automatically sent him to the “uninteresting” part of the scale. If there even was one. People do love dancers so it was to be expected that he would be gazed at hungrily during his classes, especially by women around. I sensed their excitement in the changing room and it amused me. For a second, though, because, doh, I’m going to his MJ Style dance class. In five minutes! Who cares about the petty hormones.

I passed by two studios on my way from the changing room and stared at anther two before the class actually started. Squealing mutely I soaked it all in. The prospect of being in a dance studio of this size and reputation, or of LIVING in a world where that, to some, is a regular thing blew my mind away. The six year old in my head that never got to have that was on her knees. She’d have devoured it, she’d have jumped on it as on a spring board to her future with no time for fear or buts/ifs or doubts. To the stage. She would have had her wings spread and with pride. With absolute undying lust for life.

Am I at the right place?, I thought looking around, checking my watch, have I lost track of time?, I checked over and over, just to make sure. I’m late for everything so often I get nervous by default even when I’m early.

The guys occupying the studio No. 2 started heading out and this meant we were to get in. Eager students, or rude people? (like in trams, you know, is it always the same everywhere, aarh those people!), sqeezed in before the guys ever got to get out. Fighting for the spot.. Always the same drill. Chasing the spot in front of the mirror.

Right.

I found my place somewhere, not being too sure if it was already “reserved”. I stood there with my MJ shirt on and the converses on my feet (cuz the jazz sneakers were left at home, of course, to collect summer dust - converses on my feet!! seriously!? what a no-no, it’s beyond ridiculous) checking faces for possible frowns reagrding my claimed position. No one seemed to mind. Cool.

In came the teacher and I felt like letting out a big “YAY!” for I was going to be a part of the - the - dance class, I was going to see it all happen right there in front of me. Refusing to check if he was one of those man-I-love-my-mirror-reflection type of teachers or even to pay attention to his looks, egos, vibes, whatevers. None of it mattered, I was here for too short a while to be bothered. The fact that he does what he does was enough for me to respect him immensely and the gift of his was what I was there for, hoping I might decrypt some of the much loved and well known moves. The familiar beats filled my brain and I was on a high. After the short warmup started the introduction to the Smooth Criminal choreography.

See, now - there - right there, for the very first time in my life I witnessed a move be literally disected right to the basics. The alphabet. Left leg does this, right does that and again, and again. For just one simple move. He was adamant that everyone follows. There was simply no way that a student wouldn’t get it. He simplified the simple move so much I didn’t recognize it at first. Because it contained different elements, which, in my mind, how I imitated it were all just ONE element.

Wow, I thought, interesting!

One after another after another and there we were doing it. At least we all knew what it was that we were to do. It goes without saying that it was up to each of us to make perfect by practicing. The purpose of the class, I realized shocked, was that students leave it knowing what it really was that they were supposed to practice at home. There was no “imitation” to be dealt with, there was the real thing, the ABC of the moves to be learned and made comprehensive and recognizable and then, prehaps, interpreted in accordance with our own inner energies.

See, from my experience, dance classes often leave one as clueless as a singer trying to learn a song sang in a foreign language. It doesn’t matter how many times the teacher repeats the tune if the student doesn’t have the words in front or knows their meaning. And more often than not, the teacher won’t be bothered repeating - the students are to “pick it up” and if they fail to do so in a given time, well then, that calls for certain conclusions. This I was never aware of back in the time when dancing was still a tolerated activity for me. But since I gave into it again (weaknesses are weaknesses are strenghts) and since I am reintroducing myself with the logics of movement and am desperate to unlock my self-awarenesses and self-scornings in order to break free and live again, I must admit that for the first time I understand what it means to simply not be able to “pick it up”.

Anthony held nothing back. And he eagle-eyed the students. Supportive, powerful and demanding with a smile on his face. This is why he was here. For us. “Listen and follow and you will get there. You CAN get there!” was what his eyes, voice and involvement translated into. And no, he wasn’t one of those man-I-love-my-mirrored-reflection kind of teachers. But he burned through the beats so obviously he had to let it out now and then. And I understood, painfully. I wished to be as free and was reminded of my random pirouettes on tennis courts back in the day. “Consciousness expresses itself…”

It mattered not where one stood. He was all over the place and seamlessly so. Never failing to compliment for an effort or progress, I felt like he was making us all inhale this thick encouraging happy atmosphere.

At some point he directed his eyes towards the doors. An adorable little boy with a fedora on his head and an adult that accompanied him stood there, just like I did moments ago, gazing inside awestruck. The teacher invited them in, pulled chairs for them to make them comfortable, paying special attention to the interested kid. Encouragement, again.

This becomes especially remarkable during the following classes when he does what he can to protect the students form the interested random onlookers outside the studio. The students are not to be intimidated or distracted. His is to make it a safe place for them - or us. But kids, kids with this flame for dancing visible in their every blink, they are to be made to feel it flow right into their cores. Because they are the ones freed of, or unknowing of, any boundaries an adult mind may be burdened with. They are the Dancers, the leapers to the stage, to the ability to make their bodies express finesses better than any set of vocabularies can. That is when a dream dancer lifts of.

To become Anthony.

He mentioned his web page during the class that we should check out. Needless to say, I did so. There I found written and recorded descriptions of the dance.

I also found this there:

“I want all of my students to feel better about themselves than when they arrived and leave with a smile. I want every one of my students to feel part of the class, appreciated and have the best time while learning some really funky routines and take part in the baddest dance class around!
I have designed my class to be different from the conventional…I’m fed up of dance classes with 4 or 5, amazing looking dancers at the front of class (always the same people) and everybody else, seemingly forgotten, struggling behind fighting to keep up and leaving at the end feeling dejected and discouraged. In my opinion this is a failing on the teacher’s part for not doing there job which is to…teach!”

I was super glad to have seen it after the actual class, because that was exactly how he proved to do things before I even knew who he really was, let alone how he advertised himself.

But beyond all this, Anthony King is a profound, philosophical soul. He is one of the rare who feels thougths and contemplates emotions - the very incarnation of harmony - he preaches harmony between the mind, the body and the soul. He backs it all up with words choreographed in a fitting sense, with knowledge of the ancient and eagerness for the contemporary. He dances in the Now with his very essence surfacing through, from what I’ve seen (and I admit I saw little, could take but a peak), each aspect of existing. While, I assume, knowing that the Now is but a, well, harmony between the past and future, i.e. between different perceptions on the dance that is life.

I stand applauding full-heartedly and am thankful for the opportunity to have my spirits lifted and faith in people recuperated.

He lives my dream. Just seeing that makes me that much happier a person. It can be done.

He is the dancer of the dream. This guy, right there, ladies and gentlemen.
http://anthony-king.com/

(do read:)
http://www.anthonykingblog.com/2009/06/21/anthony-king-in-depth-interview-learning-dance-and-creativity/

Written by Sanja, a Croatian Anthony King student

For the quickest, accurate and up to date Anthony King’s Michael Jackson dance class London updates as well as Michael Jackson news, moves and lessons (like his free How to learn the moonwalk online tutorial which has been viewed over 5 million times!), you can now connect with Anthony on FACEBOOK!

Click on the link’s above for Anthony’s page or you can add his tag at facebook, which is: anthonykingdance

When you do, please send a quick message saying “hi!” and where you are from, so that he knows who you are!

See you soon!

You can follow Anthony on Twitter here:

@anthonyking1

We’re just trying to work it out!

www.anthony-king.com

Anthony King featured in todays Huffington Post and you can read all about it, his views on Michael’s THIS IS IT tour as well as about him his class and his Michael Jackson moves, by clicking the link below:

“Anthony King, founder and teacher of the Michael Jackson dance Style class at the famous Pineapple dance studios in Covent Garden - London, argues that despite the fact that ‘Michael has to start training for his shows like any other entertainer ‘, he stresses the fact that the pop star’s age will not be an obstacle. “Fred Astaire did his best dancing way over the age of 50, the same applies to James Brown” says King, whose classes were endoursed by the King of Pop’s website…”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

The original place to learn Michael Jackson dance style! Click here for Michael Jackson dance style DVD!

Wednesday August 27th class will be free!

There will be no class charge but you will still have to pay the nominal pineapple entry fee as usual to get in the building….it will be a classic.

Please note: LONDON LITE NEWSPAPER will be in attendance with a photographer so look good…..in fact….80’s gear please!!!!!!!!!

We’ll be doing a classic, so see you then!

Day: Wednesday 27th August

Time: 6pm - 7pm, Pineapple dance studio, Covent Garden

Attire: 80’s gear please!

See you then!

Anthony

SEPTEMBER

Saturday’s (Studio 5)

8th: Dangerous (jazzy version)
15th: Dangerous (verse/slide start)
22st: Scream
29th: You rock my world

Monday’s (Studio 4)

10nd: Another part of me
17th: Smooth Criminal (chorus)
24th: Beat it

Wednesday’s (Studio 2)

12th: Bad
19th: Jam (version 2)
26th: Smooth Criminal (full ending)

OCTOBER

Saturday’s (Studio 5)

6th: Thriller
13th: Thriller (chorus)
20th: Blood on the dancefloor
27th: Captain Eo inspired routine

Monday’s (Studio 4)

1st: Don’t stop til you get enough
8th: The way you make me feel (jazz)
15th: Billie Jean (classic!)
22nd: They don’t care about us
29th: Wanna be startin somethin

Wednesday’s (Studio 2)

1st: Bad
8th: Beat it
15th: Jam (rap)
22nd: Ghosts P.1
29th: Ghosts P.2

So, there you go for September and October! There some funky routines and songs and some amazing classic choreography! Some notes: Each routine and class is self contained….you can just turn up and go from there, and you don’t need any training or preparation at all. Obviously, all of the above is subject to change at any time. Please go to my website as well as Pineapple’s, as they have been designed to answer your questions (www.anthony-king.com and www.pineapple.uk.com).

Channel Four’s Hit show: “Big Brotherhas confiscated Anthony King’s Dance DVD off one of the contestants and shown it on the Big Brother commentary show BBLB!

Housemate Shabnam tried smuggling in Anthony’s DVD which was swiftly confiscated and shown on the show by Davina Mccall!

The Daily Mirror also brought up an interesting point!

“Shabnam…tried to smuggle in a teach yourself to Moonwalk Masterclass DVD (as you do). Even though the house does not have a DVD player….Cunning.

Good Luck Shabnam!

Anthony King has teamed up with Rimmel London, the UK’s number one make up brand, on their stylish website which highlights the hottest new things and coolest things to do in the trendiest city in the World: London town! This time it was the hottest in London Dance and they chose to interview one of his students to see what all the hype was about first hand!

Rimmel London sent their resident photographer, the world famous Rebecca Lewis to shoot Anthony’s class in Londons trendy Covent Garden as well as interviewing his students including, “Natasha Wright…a devotee of celebrity choreographer Anthony King”….

The feature also includes Anthony teaching the Rimmellondon.com readers 4 of his favourite top dance steps so that they can get their groove on at home too!