For four hours non-stop the Just Jhoom! team including instructors, Va Va Jhoom! and the founders Beccy and Shalini Jhoomed with Ben. We were joined by tourists in London, office workers and other Free to Dance members.

We are pleased to say that on Sunday 16 October Ben successfully finished his non-stop stint of dancing – totalling a mind-boggling 135 hours!

We hope Ben raised loads of money for the children of Burma and look forward to collaborating with him again soon.

Beccy is aiming to raise £10,000 which will be divided between Mind and Cancer Research UK and Just Jhoom! is supporting her every step of the way. We will be organising Just Jhoom! events across the country to help raise awareness and funds for these great charities and are hoping to get as many instructors involved as possible. If you would also like to go and run with Beccy for a section of her journey, no matter how small then she would love the company!

For more information you can read her blog http://jhoomingjogle.blogspot.com/ which contains information about how to donate and how to get in touch if you would like to run with her.

You can also join the Jhooming Jogle facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Beccy-Davis-Jhooming-Jogle-2012/292940944049367 for updates on how the training and planning of the event are going. We hope to get as many people involved as possible to help make the Jhooming JOGLE a huge success!

This year 5000 young people competed for a place in the final which took place at the O2 in London in July. Over 400 young finalists from all over the UK, showcasing numerous different genres, and with varying abilities, performed to a hugely receptive and appreciative audience of 2000.

Dance for Life was the vision of Laura Deacon, a keen and passionate dancer who saw this as a way of engaging local young people in the work of the Red Cross in a new, fun way whilst also raising money for all the great work the charity does all around the world. In its short life, around 30,000 young people have taken part in Dance for Life whilst raising £250,000 for the Red Cross.

In July, Laura was awarded a Badge of Honour for Devoted Service an award given to staff who have demonstrated their personal commitment and involvement beyond the call of duty to the Red Cross and its work. When asked what she was most proud of about Dance for Life, Laura stated “The Dance for Life family we have built and the thousands of young people that have worked so hard to promote the amazing work of the charity and have produced some of the most emotive and thought provoking dances.”

Ever modest, when speaking to Laura she mentioned that she would have been unable to achieve what she has without the help of all the other stakeholders involved in this event – including participants, teachers, choreographers and of course Red Cross staff and volunteers. This may be so, but without one person taking the initiative, and galvanising others, life-changing events like this would not happen.

And it is indeed life-changing. On so many levels. Not only for the participants taking part – imagine performing at the O2 – but also the lives changed from the money raised by this event. The Red Cross continues to work in parts of the world that is affected by drought, famine, earthquakes and other natural disasters. Without its work, and the money raised to keep it going, many more would die. So, when those young people take to the stage at the O2, having fund-raised money as part of this journey, they are literally Dancing for Life – for the lives of others. And what could be more enriching and satisfying than that?

Va Va Jhoom at the O2

We at Just Jhoom!were lucky to meet Ben when he came to a Just Jhoom! class here in Guildford. The session was the very first leg of his 131-day “Funkathon” during which time Ben will dance with 131,000 people around the country. Ben has set up Free to Dance, a national charity campaign in aid of his charity LearnBurma: dedicated to opening the eyes of young people to the story of Burma.

Free to Jhoom!

Ben says: “Free to Dance is about using the freedom we enjoy here in Britain to support those without freedom in Burma. And dance is the perfect vehicle to do it – it’s fun, motivating and there’s no better way of expressing freedom!”

In October he hopes to break the world record for the world’s longest ever dance– 131 hours – taking place from 11th to 16th October at The Scoop at More London on the banks of the River Thames.

Ben absolutely loved Just Jhoom! “I was really excited to be visiting Just Jhoom! for the first dance of my tour. It’s the perfect mix of dance, exercise and fun, so for someone like me who isn’t the best dancer it’s a confidence-boosting way to kick off my training. I really enjoyed trying out some iconic Bollywood and yoga moves. It’s brilliant that Just Jhoom! invited me along and are so supportive of what I’m doing – I hope I did them proud during the class!” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtyVrRVU7Mc

It was fantastic having Ben Jhoom! with us – and we had a lot of fun. But, it did get me thinking about the wider issues that Ben was raising – namely FREEDOM.

I remember a few months back watching a documentary on Channel 4 called the Dancing Boys of Afghanistan. I won’t go into the details here, the programme is widely available online to watch – and read about and I have blogged about it before http://justjhoom.wordpress.com/2010/10/11/the-dancing-boys-of-afghanistan/ 
but in a nutshell, Bacha Bazi – or ‘Boy Play’ is a tradition that was outlawed by the Taliban and has since re-emerged in the Afghan society. The boys are taken from their families when they are about ten or eleven, with families being paid to let the boys go. The families are often so poor that they feel they have no choice and think that the boys will get better lives with these rich men looking after them. The boys learn dance and music for a year before they are then thrown into a room full of men for whom they dance – and then are used for other sexual activities. The boys lose their childhood, their innocence and their freedom. They are sexual slaves kept as status symbols.

Dance is my life and I’m very lucky that my passion is what I make my living through. But when I come across a story like the one about the young Afghan boys it fills me with despair. I think it is important to be reminded of stories like this because it shows those of us who live in a free society how lucky we are.

By choosing dance as a means of expression, Ben Hammond has indeed chosen an excellent vehicle to spread his message about freedom.

Dancing can be a joyous thing. It can be positively life-changing. So once again, I urge you to turn up the music, come to a Just Jhoom! dance session or put on a dance DVD  and let yourself go! Dance with no inhibitions, dance as if your life depended on it – dance with freedom – and spare a thought for those people who aren’t as lucky as us.

For more info on Free to Dance visit www.free2dance.com

First Birthday!

On 27 May 2011, we celebrated our first successful year of Jhooming with a special preview of the Just Jhoom! Dance-Fitness DVD and a first birthday party at the fabulous Surrey Sports Park.

So much has happened in the last 12 months – and here are some of the highlights that we would like to share with you.

Dancing at the 2010 Launch Party

27 May 2010 – at 11am Just Jhoom! was launched simultaneously at Cranleigh Arts Centre, online at www.justjhoom.co.uk and on Body In Balance TV.

In June 2010 we ran a competition on Facebook asking people to send us their interpretation of a Just Jhoom! dance to the Just Jhoom! theme song – we got entries from all over the world including one from Australia. Check out the winners on http://www.justjhoom.co.uk/node/31

Accreditation

In July 2010 we got accreditation from REPs for our main instructor training course – making the Just Jhoom! Fitness Certification Course the first of its kind in the world!

In August we got Wigwam PR on board, and with them our media presence has gone from strength to strength with features on BBC TV South Today, BBC Look North, BBC Asian Network Radio, BBC Surrey Radio, Colourful Radio, Body In Balance, Sky Sports, Fitpro, Pulse Magazine, Surrey Advertiser, Horsham Resident, Sportsister, Asian Woman Mag, Newcastle Journal, Farnham Herald, Gravesend News Shopper to name just a few!

In September we released our first training dates and began to get enquiries from London, Kent, Cornwall,  Newcastle and Birmingham.

In October we ran our first Instructor course at the state-of-the-art Surrey Sports Park– and trained our first 11 instructors. Since then we have trained 55 instructors in all.

First Just Jhoom! Instructor

In November Hayley Crawford became our first fully fledged Just Jhoom! Instructor, doing the course and final assessment in a record 3 weeks, and Desrin Wickington starting the first Just Jhoom! class outside of Surrey in Kent.

In December we did a training session with Surrey Storm Netball team at Surrey Sports Park and subsequently were featured on SKY Sports.

Surrey Storm Team Jhooming!

In January 2011 we were invited to Newcastle to do an in-house training course for instructors up there – Just Jhoom! away for the week.

In February we shot the first ever Dance-Fitness DVD with Matt Wright from Freehand directing and producing it. Matt did all the negotiations with Yash Raj Films to ensure that this became the first DVD of its kind – the first ever to feature Bollywood music – and that too with the blessing of a huge Bollywood film production house like YRF. Please visit www.justjhoom.co.uk to order your copy!

Just Jhoom! Dance-Fitness DVD

In March we were at the Move It Dance and Vitality Shows and met so many wonderful people who were potential instructors or class Jhoomers.

In April we launched Just Jhoom! Holidays with Club Dance Holidays and you can now go on Just Jhoom! weekends where you spend all weekend Jhooming! Email info@justjhoom.co.uk for more info on how to book!

In May, we paid a visit to the fantastic Champneys Resorts and as a result our best instructors have been to invited to present Masterclasses at all the Champneys Resorts starting soon!

We started our birthday week with a visit from Ben Hammond  from Free to Dance. Ben started his Funkathon – 131 days of dancing with 131,000 people with a Just Jhoom! session. Ben will be looking to break the world record for the longest uninterrupted dance – 131 hours – taking place from 11th to 16th October at  The Scoop in London – where Just Jhoom! will be joining him. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtyVrRVU7Mc

Just Jhooming!Party time! Jhoom on!

We ended the first year, and started the second with a fabulous, Jhooming celebration at Surrey Sports Park. 75 guests ate, drank and Jhoomed – making it a very special evening indeed!

Party time! Jhoom on!

And so to the future…..we have a lot of things in the pipeline, including new workshops, new merchandise and as ever new instructors starting classes all over the UK. Stick with us as we embark on our second Jhooming year!

Just like the British, Bollywood loves a good wedding! I sat down and started writing a list of Bollywood songs that had a wedding theme and I was able to fill a page in no time at all.

 So, in the spirit of the day, here are some suggestions of some Bollywood wedding songs to take you through a typical Indian wedding….ensuring it was a Jhooming success!

Some of my favourites

Tenu Leke from Salaam-e-Ishq

Colourful, vibrant song with Salman Khan entering our screens on horseback, as a bridegroom vowing to take his bride back with him!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDcdhCZlGLI

Jis Din from Toh Baat Pakki!

I love the exuberance of this song – with the excitement and enthusiasm that Sharman Joshi has for the day that he will get married. The title of the film itself alludes to marriage “Toh Baat Pakki!” (Then It’s Settled!) being a phrase used between families when agreeing the marriage of their sons and daughters.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGSwjVcMhmw

Ainvayi Ainvayi from Band Baaja Baarat

This blockbuster hit film by Yash Raj Films is set around the world of wedding planning. Just Jhoom! is really pleased that on our first Dance-Fitness DVD we feature this funky, energetic song – both as part of the workout and also as a performance. The DVD comes out in early June.

http://www.youtube.com/user/yrf#p/u/60/-Rnfls0OqtE

Mahi Ve from Kal Ho Na Ho

An engagement party – the Punjabi way to party!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhLm_IZpnP0

Saajan Ke Ghar from Lajja

Fab song from the film Lajja – describing how the bride is ready to go to the home of her loved one…sentimental stuff!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YRrtuoz0_M&feature=fvsr

Kehta Hai Baabul – Baabul

Indian weddings are very emotional affairs. Not least when after all the ceremonies and celebrations are over it is time for the bride to leave her parental home and start a new life with her husband. This is know as Bidaai. Hence this sad, sombre song makes the list!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5eYlXjHTaE

Some classics

Mere Hathon Mein and Main Sasural Nahin Jaoongi from Chandni

Whenever I think of weddings I think of these two songs from this classic film. Sridevi dances with charisma, grace and a natural freedom that few Bollywood actresses – both past and present – are able to match.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o78U65F9hG4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLR26uiYz2w

Joote Dedo Paise Lelo from Hum Aapke Hain Kaun…!

One of the most successful films of its time. Fantastic scenes and songs depicting Indian wedding ceremonies. One of the traditions at a wedding is when the bride’s sisters and friends steal the groom’s shoes and hold them to ransom – this is shown in this song!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4U8fE2ZPp3c

Mehndi Laga Ke Rakhna from Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge

A list such as this would never be complete without this song from this mega blockbuster hit film! The man tells the woman to put henna on her hands and prepare to be taken away as a bride, whilst the woman tells the man to arrive as a groom – she will be there!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NhoeyoR_XA&feature=fvsr

Some more suggestions from recent films:

Gal Meethi Meethi Bol from Aisha

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBWMTpWa9yI

Saadi Gali from Tanu Weds Manu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRUxZQo6UY8&feature=related

O Jiji from Vivah

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNdLM1qXNHE

Soniye Ve from Kismat Konnection

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taX2G1X038c

Strictly Not Bollywood

Although not Bollywood productions the following songs do deserve mention.

Balle Balle from Bride and Prejudice

Perhaps the best thing about this rather mediocre film was this song which highlights the fun and entertainment that surrounds an Indian wedding.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2Qw7D23pnU

Chunari Chunari from Monsoon Wedding

Taken from a Bollywood film, this song was then used in Monsoon Wedding to show a performance at an engagement party. A wonderful film which depicts the lives of friends and family involved in a traditional Punjabi wedding inDelhi.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKsH1cPNhDw&playnext=1&list=PL57D410BCB1C4C00E

This is by no means an exhaustive list. I could spend days researching and detailing more wedding songs – but hopefully this is a good start for you to ensure you have a Jhooming! wedding day….

In July 2010 I got a blast from the past! Matt Wright from Freehand where I had briefly worked nearly 10 years before contacted me to see if I would be interested in a joint venture – a Just Jhoom! Dance-Fitness DVD. Little did he know what a can of worms he was opening! Matt came to see one of the Just Jhoom! classes and liked what he saw and we decided that yes – this was a real possibility – a fun project that both Freehand and Just Jhoom! could work on.

Our biggest issue was music. I was adamant that any DVD we produced would have to have Bollywood music – not copyright free music that seems to be the staple of most Bollywood DVDs on the market – but proper music from Bollywood films. I knew this was going to be a challenge, because until now no one in the UK had ever managed to secure music rights from a film company in India to use on a dance-fitness DVD. We approached a few music distribution companies in India and the UK, a British Asian musician, wrote numerous emails to music artists in India – nothing was working!

Then suddenly, out of the blue, around mid-August a reply from Yash Raj Films. They wanted to talk. Yash Raj are one of the biggest and most respected Bollywood film production companies in India. Yash Raj also held the license to the song Jhoom from the film Jhoom Baraber Jhoom – and this is a song that we use to start all Just Jhoom! classes up and down the country.

And so the negotiations began. And, I have to hand it to Matt, he really stuck to it. He and Rohit (from Yash Raj Films) thrashed out the details – and finally in January 2011, 5 months after negotiations started, an agreement was reached. Yash Raj Films had kindly given us permission to use seven tracks from a variety of their films to use in the DVD. We were ecstatic! This really was exciting. We were using songs from blockbuster hits like Chak De India and the more recent Band Baaja Baarat. There was a song to suit all tastes! We are really grateful to Yash Raj Films for this opportunity! And so preparations began in earnest. We needed to find a venue, choreograph the dance routines, find dancers, design the set and outfits, organise cameras….it was full steam ahead.

On Thursday 24 February at 7am a team of 4 camera crew, 6 fitness dancers, 2 make-up artists, a photographer and 3 stage crew descended on the beautiful Barn at Bury Court in Surrey. Later that day we were also joined by the Bollywood Dance London troupe who I had invited to perform a routine on the DVD.

It was intense, we were focused, it was fabulous fun!!

At 6pm that evening when Matt said “It’s a wrap!” there were cheers, a few tears – and an enormous sense of relief. We had just filmed the first ever Just Jhoom! Dance-Fitness DVD – and everyone from Matt and his team, the Just Jhoom! dancers, the Just Jhoom! behind-the-scenes crew to the BDL dancers had put 101% effort into this day.

When I got home that evening, I thought – wow it’s all over! In reality, this was just the beginning. Matt and his team will now spend hours going through all the footage captured by the 4 cameras. They will spend days editing – and then I will get to see the rough cut and give feedback! By the end of March we hope to have the DVD on its way to being ready to launch in May when it goes on general release in the UK.

In the next few weeks we will be able to share some snippets of the forthcoming DVD, and also show you the behind the scenes “Making of the Just Jhoom! Dance-Fitness DVD”. So, watch this space….

James Snider – one half of the duet – contacted Just Jhoom! in late January 2011 to see if we could provide some Bollywood dancing to the duet’s fantastic track Diamonds. Diamonds is a track that is written with Greg Fitzgerald (he has written for Kylie Minogue, Jessica Simpson etc).  Having listened to it, I was immediately inspired to choreograph the dance using a mixture of Bharata Natyam (South Indian Classical Dance), Bollywood moves and also got the dancers to create some of the contemporary motifs.

The idea for the Diamonds video was to shoot a number of dancers performing to the song. This would then be edited into one video so essentially there would be a montage of dancers.  So for example, there will be a ballet dancer, break dancer, street dance group, modern dancer, figure skater, hip hop dancer and now Just Jhoom! Bollywood Dance!

James-Honey are currently working with Freedom music management to launch them. Freedom has looked after the likes of Gary Barlow as well as JLS and Eliza Doolittle’s song writers.  

With James, Honey and their parents watching proceedings, the dancers performed the routine whilst Graham from Freedom music management filmed them. The dancers also produced individual pieces to the duet’s Haunted Room track.

The duet is hoping that the video will have a ‘viral’ effect online (people will watch it and show friends, who will show friends).

The dancers did a fantastic job – their ability to pick up choreography was really impressive – and their performance and presentation skills outstanding. James-Honey seemed really pleased with the results. I know I was – and we look forward to seeing the final music video when it goes online!
 

To find out more about James-Honey visit their Facebook Page www.facebook.com/jameshoneyofficial or website www.jameshoney.com

To find out more about Karen Clarke Theatre School visit their website www.karenclarke.co.uk