Category Archives: Happiness

The Hobby Hoarder Breaks it Down: Breakdancing

Posted on July 11, 2012 by libs012

In 7th grade, I wanted to give a how-to lesson on breakdancing. The problem was that I didn’t really know a thing about breakdancing. The only reason I cared about it all was because the boy I had a huge crush on throughout middle school was learning all the moves–and so I thought if I knew anything about the style of dance at all–he might like me back.

It didn’t work out too well–the project–nor the crush.

So on July 8, I headed out to 5 Pointz for my first official breakdancing lesson with Kid Glyde who is an active member in the Dynamic Rockers crew.

We hit the concrete right away giving me b-girl cred–and then we broke it down–moving from our home position to our Indian steps, to six steps (helicopter) and the tornado all while the graffiti artwork served as a beautiful backdrop to our stage.

I watched as the guys who were there broke it down on cardboard boxes and I smiled at the thought that maybe one day I could stand on my head–or gl”yde” as smoothly as they did. While my moves were a bit stiff and my freezes were a bit short–I still rocked out the best I could. What’s the joy in trying if you are going to be great at it right away anyway?

This hobby just might be a keeper. Who knows–maybe one day I’ll star in Step Up the Revolution Part 12 with a Channing Tatum look alike. That.would.be.awesome.

 

 

 

 

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Kid Glyde

Check out the trailer for the Dynamic Rockers 33rd Anniversary Event:

For more information on 5 POINTZ head to 5 ptz.com 

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The Hobby Hoarder Flash Mobs

Posted on July 1, 2012 by libs012

Have you ever watched a movie and said, “Well gosh darn–How do they know all the same dance moves? I wish that was real life!”

For me, that was real life on June 30th as over 400 of us took the “stage” at Pier 84 and performed a choreographed dance that we had learned via video and in rehearsal in just under four days. The event was sponsored by UrtheCast and put together by Flash Mob America. UrtheCast is using the flash mobs as a marketing tool for their earth camera. During the twelve minute flash mob, we formed a # symbol, an @ symbol, and an infinity symbol–before lastly spelling out I ❤ NY.

From the moment I arrived at rehearsal Saturday morning, I knew I had made a great decision for this week’s hobby. People were already waiting outside and they welcomed me with 3pm smiles–when it was only 8am. It was clear that we were all excited to be there, even if it was still four hours of rehearsal away.

I met people from Denmark, Australia, Spain, and Germany. I met people who never had done a flash mob before, and I met the professionals. I met people who were nervous about dancing, and I met people who spent hours watching over the videos so they could be the first ones onto the “stage” per say come Saturday. I met Moms, I met daughters, I met friends, I met boyfriends, I met Dads, I met women, I met men, I met children, I met a multitude of people who came together to bring joy to the lives of others. I met wonderful, amazing people who came together to bring joy to themselves. And I can tell you–it’s much more enjoyable to be a part of the dance than to watch it in the movies. Everyone should do a flash mob once in their life.

Stay tuned for the helicopter camera footage this Thursday from Urthecast.com

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Flash Mob America
http://www.flashmobamerica.com

UrtheCast
http://www.urthecast.com

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The Hobby Hoarder Returns to the Subway

Posted on June 19, 2012 by libs012

On June 5, I headed out to the subway to do my first subway performance ever. I enjoyed it so much–I just had to go back. This time I was joined by my good friend Katie Haller who is a brilliant white, African, British, American Jew that does stand up comedy and improv on a regular basis. Since the next hobby isn’t until this coming Saturday (Stunt Jumping–woo), I thought I’d share this fun video.

 

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The Hobby Hoarder Performs Her Pants Off: Subway Performing

Posted on June 7, 2012 by libs012


So many times we don’t take advantage of all the things here in NYC or, really, anywhere for that matter. So I say, just go out there and do something. Surprise yourself. Surprise others. Attack a new craft. Conquer a fear. Live your life.

I didn’t go down to the subway platforms just to be a little bit ridiculous—okay well maybe I did. Every day I walk down the street, my headphones blasting in my ears, and my legs shaking with instinct to dance it out. So often, we are way too concerned with what people will think of us that we hold back. I am tired of holding back. I am tired of being afraid of people seeing what I am really wanting to do. When a tiger or a lion wants to roar—they roar. And when The Hobby Hoarder wants to sing and dance—she sings and dances.—even if it’s in her boxer briefs. When you want to do something—you should do it. Stop worrying—stop waiting—think like Nike and just do it.

Performing in a subway or on a subway platform or out on the street is sometimes referred to as busking. I see people doing this all the time. Sometimes they annoy me, sometimes they thrill me, sometimes they make me laugh, and sometimes they make me ponder. I feel as though I did all of these things for a variety of different people the other night—and it was the greatest feeling in the world. My friend and co-comedy-show-producer, who shot this escapade for me on my iPhone, said it best when he said: It’s great to see what really makes people crack a smile.

 

I hope you cracked a smile watching this. I cracked a lot of smiles—and a lot of laughs doing it.

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The Hobby Hoarder Builds a Home: Birdhouse Making (Mother’s Day Edition)

Posted on May 14, 2012 by libs012

I am pretty sure my mother and I should have our own talk show called Pillo—I mean Patio Talk. 

I’ve never been good at building things with my hands–especially those Ikea shelves, dressers, and desks. Consistently, without fail, I will normally buy a structure to build, pull out all the pieces, place them nicely on the floor, and then run screaming for help. Fortunately, in college my roommates were often able to help me. For building the birdhouse, it was just Mom and Me–the perfect Mother’s Day treat for her, and the perfect hobby of the week for me.

What do you think? Should we have our own show?

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The Hobby Hoarder Gets Jazzy with It: Jazz/Modern/Contemporary Dance

Posted on April 25, 2012 by libs012

All Choreography in video: © Joi Anissa Favor. All Rights Reserved.

Every time I try a new physical activity, I wonder how I was ever a Division 1 Varsity athlete. Between my lack of strength, my inability to follow choreographed dance steps, and my flexibility deficiency, one would think I never played sports in my life–let alone went to college for them.

As a young girl, I took ballet, but never danced my way into any other classes. I left the studio to play baseball with the boys. Over time, I continued to add more and more sports to my list including soccer, basketball, tennis, softball, and field hockey. How I even survived playing sports astounds me. Sophomore year of high school I broke both hands (not at the same time) during my spring softball season, and during field hockey camp right before college I went flying through a goal cage head first. So it doesn’t surprise me that last night I had trouble figuring out how to put my right foot over my left foot and vis versa.

As I looked at the other women in the class, I noted that I was clearly the outcast in my athletic shorts and t–while they sported leotards. Note: Add leotard to the budget. I sweated profusely through the stretching and core work, struggled through the early warm-up dance moves (in which I moved so slowly, I could be called a geriatric patient) and thought to myself–don’t leave–don’t leave: This isn’t like zumba where there’s fifty other people to hide behind. You gotta commit to this Libs…COMMIT!

And so I did.

And not before long, I was gathering the steps, following Joi, our instructor, and moving–semi-smoothly across the floor. Shaking my booty, and getting all groovy–all while singing the Will Smith tune in my head with my own words:

“Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na Getting Jazzzzzzzy with it.”

By the end, I told the girls that I was just hustling them–and that I was truly a professional 😉

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Williamsburg Movement & Arts Center
347 Grand Street
Brooklyn New York

Check out my Coach and Dance Partners
Joi Anissa Favor; Lindsey Springer; Nicky Giuland 

Check out the Facebook Page

And FourSquare

And Yelp

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The Hobby Hoarder Speed Dates: Speed Dating

Posted on March 18, 2012 by libs012

“You’re a racist.” This isn’t exactly the first thing you’d like to hear on a first date–but it’s how my seventh date, in one night, almost instantly opened up our conversation. We were twenty seconds into our five minute date and I had already wishes that I could sprint to the bell and ring it to signify next–How was I going to get through this speedy date that seemed to be going in slow motion?” -Excerpt from upcoming essay.

I went to speed-dating with three thoughts on my mind:

1. To prove that speed-dating could indeed be a hobby.

2. The rest of my life seems to be on speed (not me–my life), so maybe if I pump up the dating process and the amount of prospects, it might actually work out this time around.

3. I may find some comedy material.

And I indeed did. Here’s an excerpt from the evening:

“I am a high school teacher, guess what subject I teach…”-Male #7
“Um. Is that what you wear to teach?”-Me
“Nope.”-Male #7
“Um. Math?”
“Libby, you are such a racist–just because I am Asian…” – Male #7
::Sulks:: “I am not racist. What subject do you teach?”
“PE”-Male #7
“Oh what sports do you play?” -Me
Wait for it….

“Ping-Pong” -Male #7

“This speed dating is crazy…It’s like us males are just being served to you on a plate for you ladies to judge…It’s awful.”   -Male #12
“You mean it’s like life…”  – Me

I did, however, make a match or two. Not so bad for speed dating.

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 NY Easy Dates

A Guide to Speed Dating

Have your own speed dating experiences? Share them in the comments section.
Got tips for future speed dating adventures? Share those too.
Got a speed dating success story? Send it over!
Email thehobbyhoarder@gmail.com if you’d like a featured piece on your own speed dating experience on the site!

My best tips?
1. Dress like you. A lot of people may tell you to do yourself up, but if you do indeed hit it off with someone, they may be disappointed to find out that you were faking your style. Just be you and the rest will come.
2. Don’t talk about speed dating while speed dating. Treat it like a real date. You wouldn’t say: “Wow isn’t it crazy we are on a date right now”–unless it was absolutely crazy that you were on a date with someone you never thought you’d be on a date with.
3. Don’t call the opposite person a racist.
4. Compliment the other person the moment they sit down.
5. Don’t have expectations. Just enjoy the new company and see where it takes you.

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The Hobby Hoarder Gets her Dance On: Hip-Hop

Posted on February 22, 2012 by libs012

What does it mean to be choreographically challenged?

I’d say it means walking out of a Zumba class twice–yes that did happen. I’ve been a bit choreographically challenged since I was born. My parents always brag about me saying my first word when I was only six months old–but I’ve found I rarely–if ever–have heard them brag about my first steps. I bet I crawled until I was six.

It’s not just choreography that I couldn’t ever keep up with–it’s all forms of movement.

During a game of Truth or Dare at an 8th grade birthday party, I was humiliated as I was dared to show my “dance moves” on a chair.

“You can’t just hump the chair.” All the girls laughed at me. At the next school dance, I shook it off, and attempted to show that I truly could dance. The result wasn’t so hot. My, now best friend, laughed and said “It’ll take some work.” “Just don’t hump. Work it like this.”

I had no idea what I was doing. The word “grinding” was what my teeth did in the middle of the night.

Horrified, it took me years to feel comfortable enough to even “dance like no one was watching again.” And it took this hobby project, and two failed Zumba attempts to get back on the “choreography wagon.”

So on Tuesday February, 21 I headed to Dance New Amsterdam for an introductory hip-hop class. And it’s safe to say I think I found my rhythm–thanks to instructor Jonathan Lee.

You watched the video–what do you think?

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Meet Jonathan Lee–My instructor
Dance New Amsterdam

Dance New Amsterdam
280 Broadway
Manhattan, New York

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