J Fresh's Journal

I have been taking a LOT of classes over the last month. I have continued with my Pure Barre classes. My studio has been teaching on FB Live. I like to say hi to my barre friends and keep connected with that community. They do the class live twice a day with two different teachers. Doing a live class makes me feel more connected. It is something I hold onto from the past, from the normal days.

I have also been doing YYOGA at home with my friend Carrie over Face time at the same time. She is my best friend and having something that we do everyday together is a time to look forward to. After yoga, we play Mario Kart on the app with Biggy in multiplayer mode. Carrie always gets first but has had to let Biggy win a few times. When he wins he does happy dances and trash talks everyone else, but when he lose he gets mad at ME and doesn't want to play anymore. I guess that sums up seven years old.

It was on my to-do list to take a Kirsten Wicklund yoga class at YYoga in Kits for... two years. I saw that she was teaching online. Her first class was on IG live. Now she is using Zoom. I have taken two classes so far, but I think I will continue with her class once a week on Thursdays at 9am. I donate $10 to her GoFundMe every time I take class. It is pretty awesome to have such an amazing Ballet BC dancer leading you through a yoga class in your own home. Sweet.

Another favourite human of mine is Mari Dickey. I haven't taken her yoga class online yet - but it is in my to do list. It is time. I need some Mari yoga. Every time I take one of her classes, I always leave having learned something new about my practice.

I have been going through the Sugar Foot Therapy classes on their website. I got a year subscription when I did the teacher training in February and now I have the time to really get into it. I plan on making some warm-up videos for my students using these exercises designed by a physiotherapist and a dancer. These are the exercises you should be doing before you start dancing to make you stronger and help you prevent being injured.

I have taken a ballet class on my patio taught by my friend Stephanie in the Dominican Republic. She is teaching through an Facebook Group Live. I plan on taking more of her classes as it warms up and I can use my patio railing as a barre.

I have just started to take more dance classes online. As I do, I write a little bit about each. Maybe you will find one that you want to try.


April 8, 2020
Class: Chris Bonus, Justin Beiber: Intentions
Style: Hip Hop
Level: 2/3 (Intermediate/Advanced)

I really enjoyed this class. The video is only seventeen minutes long. It is taught in three sections. I paused at the end of each second, went back and reviewed, then ran it over and over, until it was solid in my brain. There is no cheating your brain when you are dancing alone on your patio. There is no one in class to peek at. YOU have to remember the moves and put them in your brain. So pause. Go back. Make up names for the moves in your head or say right and left, clap clap, play the guitar. Make it make sense to you.

Chris Bonus is an awesome teacher. He once collaborated on a dance team piece for Frank Hurt. I bet you didn't know that. Yes, back in the Simonne, Andrew, Dream Dance days - we had Chris and I can't remember the name of the other teacher - but I can see his face in my mind - really nice human - they taught a piece for our senior team. That was a great year. Good memories.

I recommend this class to anyone who has been taking hip hop for a while. This one is great to make your brain work. I was sweating and smiling at the end of it... and I don't even particularly like JB - but I got into this song. If you are newer to hip hop, you could still try it, just learn one chunk at a time and repeat it over and over. Cool Beans? Chris also says, "cool beans," in the video. Let me know if you try this class and what you think.


April 9 & 10, 2020
Class: Jojo Diggs | Fallen - Ike Release
Where: Steezy
Style: House
Level: Advanced

This class wasn't too difficult to learn. It is taught in four parts. I did part 1 & 2 the first day and parts 3 & 4 the second day. The sections are easy to remember because there are repeating patterns. However, it is quick. You really have to let yourself get into the jack and groove. You need to stay loose to stay in time. There is one tricky spot where I needed to practice the transition a few times to get through it. The spot I found tricky was after the single skates, back in, hop, turn - head head. This will make sense if you take the class too. Let me know if you find it tricky as well.

I have never taken a class by this teacher before. Jojo is a beautiful mover and she shares a lot of information about house dance and her choreography. Do listen to her. When I wanted to just repeat the choreo, I used the chapters in the top right corner to skip to running it with the music.

I recommend this class to anyone who is interested in a challenging and fun footwork class. This class is also for people who like to explore the music in different ways accenting different parts of the music with different moves. Even though this class is fast, you could use the slow down buttons in Steezy to make it more accessible.

Steezy has a 7 day free trial and it also has some free intro classes. If you get the free trial make sure to use it everyday - get the most out of it. There are so many different classes you can try and the platform lets you slow it down, view from the front or from the back. It is really awesome.


April 14, 2020
Class: Ballet 2/3 with Beverly Bagg
Where: Harbour Dance Centre Live through Zoom
Level: Intermediate/Advanced

First let me preface: I LOVE BEVERLY. She is an amazing ballet teacher. She doesn't let you get away with anything and should does with sternness and a smile. She watches the Zoom video windows and gives us feedback. She demonstrates and explains the exercise before you start and there is a dancer at the barre doing it with the music if you forget what you are doing.

I danced on my patio. It was a little chilly at the start but the sun came out a crack for the second half. The only problem is the tile is abrasive and made holes in my socks. (there were already holes because I knew it was going to do that... but still, my big toe was poking out. So, I took them off.) Next time, I will wear two pairs of old socks.

We did barre and in the centre we did an adage, tendu, and reverence. It was only an hour and went by really quick.

I would recommend this class to any experienced ballet dancer who is looking to stay connected, stay in shape, and get some good feedback. I would not recommend this to someone new to ballet.


April 19-26 2020
Class: Archie Saquilabon | Ante Up Remix - M.O.P.
Where: Steezy
Style: Krump
Level: Advanced
I had my first bad mood, sad day on Sunday. I got up and started learning this choreo. I wasn't really into it but at least I got up and started moving. I lOVE this song - so that really helped. I have good memories from when I was young with this song - it was on a mix tape and played in the clubs all time - everyone would go wild. Then, it came back with the Break class and team, so it is a double good memory. Another memory that comes is when they have the jabs in this choreo and it reminds me of when Rajan and Teg would teach krump in class.

Oh my goodness. It is April 23rd now. I just finished part four. I have to let that last part soak in over night and then I am going to do it ALL again tomorrow. It is so fast. I am always shocked when choreo soaks in over night - even though it happens to me all the time. How is that possible? What magic is this? Tomorrow - I will video!

I made a video. When I watch the video I see mistakes. I want to make another video but I also wanted to free myself to work on the House challenge. So, I will film this one again sometime... I think.


April 21, 2020
Class: Ballet with Sarah Brewer
Where: Open Zoom Classes with SBC
Level: Intermediate/Advanced

Sarah was in the class above me at Ms. Cameron's. She used to help me clean my festival dances and prepare for exams. I had her as a professor at SFU for ballet. Since then, (1994??) I have seen her at Harbour and once on the street. She has recently started sharing on Soundcloud and through that she has been traveling with me in my car. Now, she was on my patio this morning with her adorable daughter (Kira?).

It was lovely to hear her explain the body and movement. A one-legged person and elastic in your bones are a couple of stories that come to mind. I was reminded of how much I loved Sarah adages while dealing with very little space. How nice it will be to move in a studio again.

We did a barre and in the centre we did a tendu and adagi-port de bras.

I recommend this class to anyone who already takes ballet because you have to be able to remember the exercises to do them on the other side. Sarah will watch the Zoom boxes and give you feedback. The classes are free now and through May. After that they will be $5 a class.


April 27-29th 2020
Class: Class list below
Where: Steezy
Style: House Challenge
Level: Beginner to Advanced
I starting this challenge but I only have three more days before it is over... but I can make it!

Bored in the house and you're in the house bored?
...Time for a HOUSE CHALLENGE! 🏠

Welcome to the April House Challenge! We want you to check out these sweet House moves:

Then make them your own! Here's the challenge:
  • Use 3 or more moves in either a freestyle or piece you choreograph yourself! ⚡️
  • Post your video with the hashtag #HouseChallenge by April 30th (PST)! 🏠
  • One winner will be chosen at random to get a STEEZY Shirt!! 💙

May 1, 2020
Class: TrybeVybe - Konkrete
Where: Steezy
Style: Animation/Popping
Level: Advanced

This is a 30 minute class that took me an hour to learn and film a video. This is soooo not my forte... but... FUN. I don't think it was that hard. This is not as hard as Ante Up. I think most of my kids could learn this one. The sections are short and there are only three. He goes slowly enough so that you can pick up the details.

I recommend this class to anyone who wants to dance like a robot. And really, who doesn't like dancing like a robot? Give this one a try and let me know what you think.

May 5, 2020
Class: Back by Poppers Demand Part 1 - Bougito Fonkmaker - Slim Boogie
Where: Steezy
Style: Popping
Level: Intermediate

I needed to close my rings. This class is twenty three minutes. It is short and quick. I learned and played around with it. I am used to doing longer Steezy dances - so this was a nice little break. I made a video but I haven't posted it yet.

I would recommend this class to any of my students that are into popping.

May 6 & 7, 2020
Class: CJ Salvador - Sou Sou
Where: Steezy
Style: Urban
Level: Advanced

This is an hour class in three parts. It is fun. I really like CJ. He is personable, funny, and explains moves with images. He gives you the moves and explains the rhythm of them. This one is flowy and has some spots where you can add in your own freezes and freestyles.

If you do this one slowly - and just keep repeating - I think all of our kids could get it - even though it says advanced. Just take your time and use the chapter menu to go back and review.

May 14 &15, 2020
Class: David Lee- Highest in the Room
Where: Steezy
Style: Urban
Level: Intermediate

I started this one yesterday evening after Biggy has his shower. I needed something to close my rings. (I didn't close them the day before but I had closed them 40 days in a row.. I have a slight problem becoming addicted to closing my rings... I am fine!) Anyways - it is really easy and short. There isn't a lot to remember. David teaches very clearly and slowy with many repetitions. He gives analogies and links you back to clues in the music so you can do some fine tuning.

I recommend this one to all my Killa Beez - especially if you want something that is not too hard and not too long.

May 16, 2020
Class: Marie Poppins - Tutting Concepts
Where: Steezy
Style: Tutting
Level: Intermediate

Steezy app has this new calendar where you can organize the classes you want to take or have them choose for you. I was playing with it and this is the class it chose for me.

I did this one really quick. It is a fun tutting drill you can practice. She does it with one arm, then the other, then both together. Give it a try!

May 17, 2020
Class: Bianca Vallar: Monestary, Clamshells, Slides
Where: Steezy
Style: Grooves
Level: Beginner

Same - I was playing with the new calendar. These are the classes it gave me today. It is kind of interesting to learn how someone else teaches grooves. I like learning all different ways to teach... whatever I am teaching - you never know what might click for a student. All of my students should take some time to go back and get into their grooves and all their foundational moves. Let's go!

May 18, 2020
Nike Run Club
Half Marathon Training
I started Nike Run Club Apps My Coach training program for a half marathon. I have always enjoyed sticking to a run program. I like the way you get to do all different kinds of runs to improve your overall training. Sometimes I look forward to the long runs because you don't have to run as hard and fast as a shorter run. When I just run for me, I don't mix it up as much - this training will keep me going until July 13th. I will be ready to quarantine for two weeks in Korea after that long run. (If we are still going.)

June 6&7, 2020
Class: Brian Puspos: Would You - Pink Sweat$
Where: Steezy
Level Advanced

Wow, I haven't taken a class in a while. They added a new feature to Steezy. I haven't tried it out but it looks really cool - it is called: Start a Party. I am going to try it with Menelaine on Monday. Anyways... I just did part one and two of this routine. It is intricate but not too bad. The sections are short. Or I feel like they are going fast. OR... maybe I am getting used to BP's moves or the way he teaches. He is funny. He makes me laugh and then Biggy stares at me... because I have my head phones on and am laughing at my computer on the patio.

I will write more about this one tomorrow when I finish it...
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