Community: Dancers from Carnival, aka The Choreographer's Ball

In the early 2000s, there was no hotter spot than the Key Club on the last Wednesday night of every month. You had to be at the Carnival - otherwise known as the Choreographer's Ball - which was a showcase of up-and-coming choreographers and entertainers. The Key Club is a small venue so a crowd would assemble early, maybe around 10pm, and cyphers would be going off before the show started close to midnight. There was an innocence back then, which can't be found at the higher profile Carnival which exists today at the Avalon in Hollywood. But what started as a small community of professional dancers and aspiring dancers has exploded into a wider network.

At Carnival, the saying was that "anything goes." And things certainly did. Some showcase pieces weren't family friendly, incorporating adult and sexual content. At the same time, there were daring, creative pieces that pushed the envelope of choreography. Every Carnival was special in its unique lineup of talent. The JabbaWocKeez made an appearance at Carnival long before America's Best Dance Crew was even a reality. And members of the Groovaloos were commanding the cyphers before their stage show was realized at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood. Being at Carnival was like seeing the early years of today's defining dancers and crews in the Los Angeles scene.

The community has grown since then and continues to develop. Now, street dancers have taken notice and are performing on stage at Carnival. Young choreographers from the collegiate choreo scene are seeing Carnival as a way to showcase their talents and book gigs after performing. Carnival isn't just about hip hop - it's embracing of all dance styles and performance tastes so the umbrella is very inclusive.

Maybe that's what makes it so special as a phenomenon in the LA dance world. Other cities have taken on the Carnival model including New York and Houston. But the Los Angeles Carnival will always be near the epicenter of what's happening in the different dance scenes thriving across the Southland. You have to be there at the next Carnival to see it for yourself.