Shawn’s tap dance classes in Toronto do this to your shoes.

I love love this pic. And love my tap shoes. I have 3 pairs. If they could talk, they’d probably say “Shawn’s tap dance classes work me out and scuff me up. Plus, his feet are ugly, damn son!”

Fortunately, tap shoes DON’T talk. But they DO feel the love.

- @ShawnByfield

GUESS WHAT!?

Today is National Tap Dance Day! If you didn’t know, every May 25th tap dancers around the world celebrate the art form of tap dance. This day marks the birthday of famous black tap dance legend Bill “Bojangles” Robinson.

Another name for tap dancers is “hoofers.” We have metal under our feet, and make rhythms with our shoes. Just like a horse does with their hoof.

Speaking of Bojangles: he wrote you something special! Yes he did:

Read this wild & crazy message from Bill Robinson

National Tap Dance Day message from Bojangles

There you’ll find a VERY special, VIP membership for 25 days of TAP DANCE at a jaw-dropping rate, to one of the top-ranked studios in Toronto. Guess where?

You’ve never seen anything like this.

This is PERFECT if you haven’t tap danced in a while and need to get your butt back to class (not for newbies who never tap danced before.) Especially good for:

*- College students who just finished exams & need to tap
*- University students who dance & are back in Toronto
*- Theatre & industry professionals who need to maintain tap skills
*- Tap dance teachers, studio owners & your assistants
*- Lovers of challenging, inspiring tap classes
*- Overworked office people who need instant stress relief

It also makes an excellent, thoughtful gift for someone who used to tap and keeps saying

“OMG I need to tap dance!” And you say:
“OMG well why don’t you?” to which they reply
“Well I don’t know, where do I go?”

That’s when you respond with

“Here tap lover, take this and go dance your brains out.”
“OMG really? I love you!”
“Nope, I love you more!”

…You then passionately embrace like a classic MGM movie scene, right before the train leaves the station. [cue violins] Take a gander at what Bojangles wrote for you (his grammar isn’t that good, so read slowly…)

Read Bojangles’ wild and crazy message for you here

Happy National Tap Dance Day,

- Shawn B
@ShawnByfield

IMPORTANT STUFF! Click here to read it all larger…

Taking a dance class in Toronto? Here’s terrific wisdom every dancer should take to heart. Apply to not just hip hop or tap dance class, but to every dance style you do.

Get Info On Toronto’s Top Adult Dance Classes For BEGINNERS At Byfield Dance Experience

Like this article? Feel free to SHARE with those who’d appreciate the read. Don’t forget to leave your comments.

- @ShawnByfield

Hip Hop Dance Classes in Toronto

Just a quick update to punch in your phone: THIS SATURDAY May 5th we only have the FIRST TWO classes running. That’s the:

*– 10:30am Dance Workout
*– 11:15am Beginner Hip Hop Choreography

Those are running as usual, with Hollywood teaching both classes. BDX is CLOSED rest of the day. Also…

…The Victoria Day long weekend we’re CLOSED. That’s May 19th – 21st. Save that on your phone calendar.

RANDOM: Remember those leather daytimer agenda thingys? Who still uses those? Last I checked (on my phone) it was 2012. Tell your friends to upgrade. =)

Anyway.

Punch those deets in your smart phone (aka Android or iPhone) right now. BEFORE Saturday. And spread the word will ya?

Because there’s always somebody out to lunch who DIDN’T read this email, and shows up when there’s nobody at the studio. Sheesh! Some people.

Yours in DANCE,

- Shawn B

PS: Make sure to get your regular BDX updates on Twitter:
–> http://www.twitter.com/BDXstudio
Even if you’re not on Twitter, you can go to that link and see what’s up. See? Pretty cool huh? I know… =P

[Shawn Byfield's Toronto dance email update April 3rd, 2012]

Happy April!

Spring has officially arrived. Did it hit you like it hit me? Because just the other day I had a “holy eff” moment- “It’s already April? I swear it was just New Years…”

Yup, we’ve all been busy, I haven’t even written to you in a while. And look- that sneaky Spring showed up right under our nose. In a few days, charming tulips & roses will wink at us to stop by for a whiff. Which leads me into this thought:

Success starts with showing up.

If you haven’t been “showing up” because of [insert excuse here] then take a minute to yourself right now. Inhale, and smell the roses. Got some food for your thoughts below, and it starts with:

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – -

“Why Do So Many Say YES To Drugs? So They Can Get Uncontrollably Hooked On DANCE- WITHOUT Fear Of Intervention”

Rick James once said: “Cocaine is a hell of a drug.”

Call me your pusher, man, ’cause DANCE is a hell of a drug. Once it grips you, that’s it. You’re IN. Flying high… And when that dance hit starts to disappear from your life, you pretty much get the same withdrawal symptoms as those crackheads on Intervention.

Shhhh. Come closer…

How does a year supply of dance sound? Get yourself a quick, three-pay plan for an annual membership that costs less than the “insurance” you pay your neighbourhood thug.

Go on, take it. This link gives you 365 day access to some good stuff:

–> http://www.BDXstudio.com/get-your-pass

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“All Dance Monsters Should Pay Attention: Here’s GOOD NEWS That Can Cure Any Bad Romance”

Did you tune in? LADY GAGA’s choreographer and artistic director Laurieann Gibson was teaching at BDX recently? Sweet Judas! Did you know Gibson was born this way? As in Toronto?

BDX & Gaga are definitely a GOOD romance. Here’s the news segment:

–> http://bit.ly/HQj0X6

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – -

“How To Turn Your Flabby Arms Into Sculpted Works Of Art That Make Michelangelo Weep With Jealousy”

Yeah, I said it. If you’re sitting at home wondering how to fix that damn flab where your tricep should be, then I suggest- no, I URGE you to get into our Dance Workout classes. Here’s why…

In the Dance Workout classes I personally taught last week, we focused on some serious arm toning exercises. Sure, lot’s of bitchin’ and whining from my students ’cause it felt like burning. But guess what I tell ‘em?

I tell ‘em: “You’re not gonna die from carving out a sexier body.” You’re a beautiful piece of art under that excess marble. Train for your summer! Train for your future. Come sculpt those arms. 5 Dance Workout classes weekly! Schedule:

–> http://www.BDXstudio.com/schedule

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PSA’s (Public Service Announcements)

** BYFIELD DANCE EXPERIENCE is CLOSED Easter Monday April 9th

** Our FACEBOOK PAGE is on the new Timeline, check the new stuff

** Delicious & healthy GRANOLA BARS are back, on sale very soon made exclusively by Jenna Sweetcakes for BDX

** NEW TEACHERS will be added regularly, stay tuned

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – -

“Who Could Say No To The Nicholas Brothers? — And Why You Should NEVER Put This Kind Of Fire Out”

Now THIS is a good post. Check out the videos too, that’s all I’m gonna say. Want to learn how to TAP DANCE starting from scratch? Let me know TODAY, because I can make it happen for you in a few weeks:

 –> http://wp.me/p4VXs-sD

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – -

So there you have it. This should be more than enough here to turbocharge your season and get you fired up! I’ll send you more news as it comes.

Comment? Tweet me at http://www.Twitter.com/ShawnByfield. It’s really ME replying, no trained monkeys here.

Spring into action!

- Shawn B

The Nicholas Brothers tap dance duo

Who could say no to The Nicholas Brothers? Fayard and Harold are firecrackers. I mean, they LITERALLY explode off the screen, inextinguishable in every performance.

I was just thinking of how as Black performers, because of racial inequality, our ancestors didn’t have many opportunities to perform on stage or film 60, 70, 80 years ago… Can you imagine a film director, producer or theatre director saying “Sorry boys, there’s no need for you in this show” to THESE guys? Regardless of colour?

If they did, we wouldn’t have this:

C’mon, tell me that’s not a fire! And they were rejected many times. Could you imagine if they cut this from the movie? The two Black boys who could out perform ANYBODY?

Anyway, this post isn’t about race or colour. Not today.

It’s about loving the world tap dance has opened up for me. My life completely transformed, because of a fellow hoofer Gregory Hines. If I didn’t see him explode on TV when I was six, I might not be in entertainment at all. I might not have learned to tap dance or develop a love for performing…

…Which lead me to teach thousands of students, travel internationally, perform and choreograph for stage,  film and television, and own a remarkable dance studio in downtown Toronto.

It’s amazing what those Nicholas Brothers did for thousands of people worldwide. They most likely had a huge impact on Gregory, which inspired him to do his tap dance, which inspired me to do MY thang…

Tell me that’s not inspiring!

I’m sure you’ll agree: Sometimes it only takes one spark to completely light up the path in your life. And that spark can ignite a wildfire of creativity and influence. We need MORE fires like this in our daily lives!

Who’s YOUR spark? Eleanor Powell? Gene Kelly? Your Aunt & Uncle? Buster Brown?

And are you interested in learning to tap dance? Because as you know, that’s what we do every day at Byfield Dance Experience. We give you the tools to develop your passion for dance. But watch out! Tap dance is addictive. =) When you start from scratch, you actually have unlimited potential.

So. Do me a favour and leave a comment below. Tell me today about YOUR spark and if you’re interested in learning beginner tap dance. We’ll have another 8 week session starting April 22nd if enough peeps want it. Word?

- @ShawnByfield

DANCERS: How To NOT Be Boring Like Everyone Else

TIP: Students that dance regularly in different styles are more versatile & learn quicker than those who only take the same class weekly. Moral of the story:

Expand your skills by expanding your thinking & take a variety of dance classes weekly. Don’t stick to the same stuff! Because if you do, you’ll end up doing the same, looking the same… & being the same as everyone else. Is that really what you want?

I hope not.

I may not know much, but I know a thing or two about where to find Toronto dance classes that will teach you how to stand out from the rest.

- @ShawnByfield

Canada’s leading tap dance instructor & tap choreographer Shawn Byfield with dancers at Byfield Dance Experience demonstrate beginner tap dance steps on Toronto’s most popular morning news show. Live on air, Byfield shows Canadian viewers how fun tap dancing is, and how adults of all ages can learn.

http://www.BDXstudio.com | http://www.ShawnByfield.com

Shawn’s No-Nonsense Ninja UPDATE:

1.) Adult Beginner Tap Dance sessions start THIS Sunday…
http://BDXstudio.com/beginner-tap-dance/

2.) Join me in a basic “tap/steppin” class TOMORROW…
http://www.danceimmersion.ca/iabd/iabd.html

3.) Make 2012 INCREDIBLE! Last chance Annual Memberships to BDX…
http://ShawnByfield.com/signup.htm
Read more…

- – - – GO Ninja GO Ninja GO – - – -

* 1.) Adult Beginner Tap Dance sessions start THIS Sunday at BDX! 3pm – 4pm. Now here’s my insights:

I’m gonna be blunt today. Like it or not, this year is gonna zoom by, just like yours did last year. Did you do half the stuff you said you wanted to do last year? Or did you wait until it was “the right time” and ended up “waiting” your year away?

If you’ve been “humming and hawing” or “sitting on the fence” trying to decide what to do with your life… NOTHING will happen if you just sit on your duff. If you really want to learn something, then stop talking, get involved today and learn from the best.

Wanna learn to tap?
Guess what we do at my school?
WE TEACH YOU HOW TO TAP.

Surprise!

You’ve seen pics. You’ve watched videos. Heck, even Breakfast Television was live at our studio Wednesday morning because even THEY know the absolute best place to learn to dance is our place, right here in Toronto. What else do you need?

If Zeus launched a flaming trident from the heavens attached with a hand-written note in parchment saying “Michelle, This is your sign. Now go and dance already…” would THAT convince you?

You’re smart enough that won’t happen. Zeus doesn’t use tridents. Poseidon does. So for heaven’s sake, get your excuses out of the way and get to that beginner tap session. Hurry!

Only TWO DAYS LEFT:

http://BDXstudio.com/beginner-tap-dance/

Byfield Dance Experience dance classes on Breakfast Television

- – - – GO Ninja GO Ninja GO – - – -

* 2.) Join me in a basic “tap/steppin” class TOMORROW morning (Saturday) 10:30am. This week is the International Association of Blacks in Dance Festival and Conference. Funny story:

I performed last night. Did a tap solo to “Funkin’ For Jamaica” a favourite chune of mine I recently used at the #BDX2 showcase. While in my excitement on stage, I broke my right heel tap. Think it flew at somebody in the front row. If that was you, I hope it didn’t ninja-star you in the retina… Sit in the 3rd row next time. (And thanks for watching BTW)

Anyway, I’m teaching a beginner tap/steppin’ class open to everyone. Yes, everyone. No, you don’t need experience or tap shoes. What’s steppin’? Show up tomorrow and you’ll see for yourself! You MUST register in advance:

http://www.danceimmersion.ca/iabd/iabd.html

- – - – GO Ninja GO Ninja GO – - – -

* 3.) Make 2012 INCREDIBLE! Last chance Annual Memberships to BDX because our schedule format changes February 1st. Now there’s even MORE offered at the studio and it’s exciting stuff. Just so you know:

If you want to have dramatically better health AND better dance moves this year, re-read 1.) above and then, DO SOMETHING that will make your dreams come true.

Speaking of dreams…

I can’t speak for everyone, but I DO know many of our students have noticed better flexibility, improved memory, can touch their toes without grunting, can do handstands again, lost weight in their thighs, stomach and heaven forbid- their ass, just from hanging with us a couple times a week.

You don’t have to be at BDX every day. Just twice a week. You’re at work five days a week and it makes you irritable. Two days with us and your jeans fit again… Wouldn’t it make sense to make a choice that benefits your health AND your sanity?

Here’s where to get your mojo back:

http://ShawnByfield.com/signup.htm

- – - – GO Ninja GO Ninja GO – - – -

This Ninja’s out, like a street light in a horror movie.

Do something for YOU today. Sending you Hiii-YA! energy to knock 2012′s lights out,

- @ShawnByfield