Our site stats have shown how many people have been looking for Mark Calape's website recently (seriously, if it wasn't for the interest in him we'd probably get half the visits to the blog that we get in a day!).
Until recently a website for Calape didn't exist. Animaineaxs.com is currently under construction. So what do you do in the mean time? Start up your own website (that's how we started)!
I'd say it's a work in progress at the moment, but already full of (deliberate?) typos and information about the Animaineax that nearly every media outlet has ignored in its coverage, plus personal photos from his tour with Jay Sean, Pink Mafia, Boy Blue and Zoonation and appearances with personalities like, oh, I don't know, Nelson Mandela!
The blog should also pick up eventually, although there are only two posts at the moment, but to make up for it the video page is full of YouTube clips from the recent TV appearances on So You Think You Can Dance and Move Like Michael Jackson.
I personally recommend Swarf's Cinema page with the overly dramatic video of him doing hat tricks!
Site speed is a bit of an issue at the moment (maybe I've a bad connection?) but it will be the place to be to pick up information straight from the source (I'm guessing updates will be posted on Mark's fan page).
Click to visit Mark Swarf Calape's website
Join one of the best choreographers in the business, Mark "Swarf" Calape (founder of Animaneax dance crew) and learn to dance like Michael Jackson PLUS gain FREE entry to Michael Jackson - The official exhibition! (Exhibition tickets usually £15.00)
Taking place at indigO2 and lasting a total of 60 minutes, these workshops for all ages will be aimed at both beginners and those with some dance experience to learn and perform some of Michael Jackson's signature moves, with one of the UK's most recognised dance teachers from BBC television shows Move Like Michael Jackson and So You Think You Can Dance.
Charlie Bruce and Tommy Franzen performing jazz pop
Choreographer: Frank Gatson Song: JLS - Everybody In Love Outstanding moment: Turns to the floor and air freeze, 53sec.
Originally in the behind-the-scenes footage, Tommy expressed he feared he wasn't pulling his weight enough in this routine. Considering Tommy's dance training, though, things didn't look so bad. The introduction as he walks on stage had swagger, and the smoothness of his hips was enough to woo judge Arlene Philips and establish a reputation of a lady's man!
How much it looked like the choreographer I don't know, as the footage isn't available, but it was enough to fool the punters.
Although the routine centred around the girl character, Tommy provided the support and pulled off the lifts perfectly. Terrible choice of music must be noted - stop playing up to the audience, especially by choosing a talent show winner's song for another talent show.
Lizzie Gough and Mark Calape performing Viennese waltz
This is another routine that proves that Mark Calape really wants to prove he can do more than just street dance. It's only week two, but already he's managed to blag a traditional style of dance by jumping into the character of a regal and proud Viennese dancer with strong, fluid arms and confident movement. Lizzie Gough, who has been classically trained, would play the character of the noble sweetheart going to the ball with him.
Despite a broken finger (a "blinger," bandage complete with diamontés) he was able to execute lifting her without any visible pain and dance the entire routine with a smile on his face.
His "isn't that a kind of biscuit?" about the Viennese waltz will go down in dance history.
Yanet Fuentes and Robbie White performing hip hop
Choreographer: Kenrick Sandy Song: Black Eyed Peas - Boom Boom Pow Outstanding moment: The opening routine up until the floorwork
Kenrick, choreographer for Boy Blue, choreographed a killer routine reminiscent of some of his work for Pied Piper for Latin dancer Yanet and contemporary dancer Robbie, but they weren't quite able to nail it.
At first glance its okay as a duet, but as it moves on to the solos you see they're not quite as strong as individuals.
Credit has to be given to Kenrick for squeezing in a six step into the choreography, although he should have really drilled Robbie's Zulu spins!
Our favourite routine: Hayley Newton and Drew McOnie performing contemporary
Okay, I realise this isn't hip hop (and who said it had to be?), but it was the most outstanding routine of the week. Choreographed by Rafael Bonachela it was moving and told a gripping story of two lovers.
To favourite a contemporary routine says a lot for someone who doesn't usually like contemporary. Watch it and be humbled by it.
If you'd like to see Bonachela, he is coming to the Artsdepot, Finchley in February, click here for more information.
You can leave your comments below! Also check out our other SYTYCD blogs and fan us on Facebook for more street dance updates!
Choreographer: Simeon Qsyea of Birdgang Song: Timbaland - The Way I Are Outstanding moment: Knee drop (30sec); The tutting section (1min 17sec)
Tommy and Charlie's routine had some moves that reflect Simeon's style in the choreography with plenty of 'and' counts, although considering Charlie's main style isn't hip hop, reproduction of it was a little under par (but not bad considering - if Simeon can turn around JLS' talents, think what he can do with a developing jazz dancer).
With a bench prop the routine worked well to include levels, a meeting point for the dancers, as well as a stage to pull off moves, which worked to Tommy's strengths as a b-boy. Of both hip hop partner routines, I preferred this one.
Mark Calape and Lizzie Gough Choreographer: Kate Prince of Zoonation Song: Rihanna - Take A Bow Outstanding moment: Hat and kneeslide (30sec) - slick
A big NO to the choice of song, considering Take A Bow is so often a sending home song on X Factor! I wasn't feeling Kate Prince's routine last week in the choreography camp, considering it was labelled 'hip hop' when it was actually a) not to a hip hop song, and b) a fusion with hip hop styles but not specifically hip hop - don't be misled.
The style of the routine (lyrical hip hop) was a wink in the direction of her Into The Hoodsproduction, which included full props and costume, with big smiles and jazz hands. Both Mark and Lizzie performed the routine as it was intended to look, although it was nothing they wouldn't have been capable of, so it was a lucky pairing of styles and dancers.
Lizzie and Tommy are both starring in Blaze at the Peacock Theatre in March - click here to buy tickets!
What did you think? Which do you think was the better hip hop routine on So You Think You Can Dance? You can comment below!
Mark Calape, aka Swarf Mafia is one of the Animaineax, whose group profile is really high since winning Move Like Michael Jackson, and our site statistics reflect their popularity at the moment!
I met Calape briefly last January at Funk Physics' We-R-One celebration after the main show to commend him on the group's original set. He was very humble about it all and he told me Animaineax had a lot in store for 2009. He wasn't wrong about that!
The way he picks up the different layers of the music when choreographing is what makes Calape, and indeed the Animaineax stand out, and is probably due to his "dance is a feeling, not just a routine" mantra.
Anyway, for the Mark 'Swarf' Calape fans here's a little more about the nonconformist Filipino allstar from Milton Keynes. First, to set the tone here's the Swarf Mafia showreel:
A couple of facts about Calape include his background in skateboarding. His YouTube includes videos of scoring some good air to pull off grinds on hand rails, shot skater style with full soundtrack and camera filters. Also, if you're wondering where he cops his clothing from, try Kaveman Clothing, where he's a member of the team (so are other members of the Animaineax if you were wondering where they get their clothes)
As a choreographer, Calape is very fortunate to get to travel the world to teach, judge and battle. Better yet for his fans, he's a keen YouTuber, cutting together videos of his adventures for people to watch. The video below shows him travelling Estonia, Korea, Vietnam, and others. It also has the début of the Man In The Mirror routine from Move Like Michael Jackson.
Let's get this out of the way too, ladies: Calape is a proud father, as you can tell how he signs off the above video.
His background in dance includes being the guy behind the dance group Pink Mafia (you can see him rocking the shirt in some of the videos), although before this he danced with a group Culture Shock Dance Troupe (I picked up that fact here), part of iDance.
Calape has also danced with a lot of the major street dance companies like Boy Blue in their Pied Pipertour last year, and a run in last season's Into The Hoods as well.
The music video résumé is healthy too. His most recent appearance included Jay Sean's Down video with Lil Wayne. It's been watched 29 million times, but you can probably spot Calape in one.
We believe its his relaxed attitude and quirky persona that will make Calape popular. Although he's out of his comfort zone in anything that isn't street dance or breaking, he's fared well so far in styles he's not trained in.
Same as with Tommy Franzén, being a street dancer we wish Mark Calape the best of luck in So You Think You Can Dance.
You can comment and share your thoughts about Mark Calape below, or share this page on your social network. Also, if you linked over from Mark's fan page, don't forget to 'fan' us too, so we can keep you up to date with hip hop and street dance news and more!
