Category: blog

This is my general blog category.

Most entries, that are not part of the documentaion of my work, are going here. Therefore you find a collection of different topics. You can further refine the shown topics with the use of tags.

#blog

Categories
blog dance

Breakdance at the Olympic Games 2024

AI artwork created by FraGue Moser-Kindler with Leonardo.ai in October 2023

On December 7, 2020, the IOC officially approved breaking as a discipline at the Olympic Games in Paris 2024. That was exciting news for competitive breaking, but the dance scene was ambivalent about it. There was widespread concern that the essence of our dance might get lost once it gets drawn into the world of sports.

Now that the Olympic Games are over, I perceive them as a net positive. But before we dive deeper into the matter, let’s check what people were worried about.

Disclaimer: I know it’s not called Breakdance in the scene, but I also want to reach people who don’t know that.

The risk of breakdance being part of the Olympic Games

The biggest fear in the dance scene is that breaking will become detached from its cultural roots, and the bigger part of the world will perceive it as an acrobatic form of sports instead of an art form that goes hand in hand with cultural values. There is nothing we can say to debunk this claim, and many people who perceived breaking through a classical sports lens did not understand why dancers freestyled to the music instead of preparing a fixed routine like floor gymnasts.

The advantages of breaking at Olympia

With breaking becoming an Olympic discipline, its exposure is now much bigger. The bigger exposure will create a lot of opportunities for dancers to earn more money and educate the public (if they choose to do so). The older generation will be able to judge and share their view about dance and culture. The young generation will have an additional platform to test their skills. This attention will lead to even more brands and sponsors come on-board for breaking, which opens up opportunities for people to make a living from breaking.

Will breaking change because of its inclusion in the Olympic Games?

Yes and No. We will see an increased focus on the athletic aspects of the dance. The young generation is already pushing the boundaries of what can be done. Olympia will only speed up this development, but it is not its sole reason. Breaking has always been a phenomenon living in the twilight between art and sports, and the aspect that caught people’s initial attention was the acrobatics. This will not change.

The jams, battles and gatherings where we celebrate the culture will not go away just because there is an additional platform. Underground events that are true to the culture will still be around, and they are not competing with sports competitions. It will be in the power and responsibility of all the b-girls and b-boys participating in significant sports events, like Olympia, to represent our culture appropriately. This includes competitors, judges, consultants, and even visitors familiar with the culture.

Manny talked to Red Bull BC One 2020 E-Battle Champ and World Final Runner-Up Madmax about the balance between being an athlete and an artist. Also, Tracy interviewed Ayane, talking about her point of view when thinking about Paris 2024. I highly recommend you read them both.

What happened with Breaking in the Olympic Games 2024?

First off, we had some amazing battles with more eyeballs than we are used to. B-Girl Ami, from Japan, won the gold medal with Nicka, from Lithuania, and 671, from China, coming in second and third. Phil Wizard, from Canada, took the win in the b-boy category, with Dany Dan, from France, and Victor, from the USA, taking silver and bronze.

The dancers enjoyed the music provided by DJs Fleg and Plash and gave their best. There was some controversy about B-Girl Raygun from Australia, who presented a more originality-based approach to the dance, which was not well-perceived by the uninitiated part of the audience. To be honest, it was to be expected that something like this might happen. Raygun did an amazing job, but one can’t please everyone.

I’d like to paraphrase Theodore Rosevelt here and leave it at that.

It is not the critic who counts; not the one who points out how the strong one stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the one who is actually in the arena.

Theodore Rosevelt

The battles were great, the dancers performed like crazy and some unsung heroes from the scene stepped up to take care of the many tasks needed to make the event happen.

I call that a win.

Dig deeper into breaking at the Olympic Games

Here are some links to stuff others had to say.

Categories
blog dance

Between Breaths & Beats: The Life Journey of FraGue

FraGue looking to the right side of the Screen
FraGue at HallStädter See

From the logical corridors of software engineering to the rhythmic pulse of dance floors, from martial arts mats to meditative stillness, follow me on my journey that blurs the lines between discipline, art, and personal growth.

1. From Code to Choreography

It’s probably an unexpected start, but my first professional steps echoed with the clicks of keyboards rather than dance shoes. Taking after my father, I ventured into the engineering world and earned the title of software engineer. I transitioned away from this lonesome field in which your only friend is the screen to chase a more profound sense of fulfilment. But the logical lens I developed during my programming days remains deeply ingrained – for which I am eternally grateful. Now, I perceive the world through a unique fusion of artistry and structured logic, seeing patterns, algorithms, and sequences not just in code but in the ebb and flow of life itself.

Start your research online and then move whereever it leads you
Photo by Linus Strandholm on Scopio

For those who are interested, here is the nitty-gritty of my engineering career: I learned programming and logic at HTBLA Salzburg and worked in this field for four and a half years. My primary programming languages were C++, Java and a little bit of C#. I wrote applications for logistics and time management at a company called MECS. I am also decent with PHP, Javascript, HTML and CSS. But, I won’t go back into software development.

2. Martial Arts – FraGue’s Dojo of Discipline and Determination

My introduction to discipline (or getting shit done – as I prefer to call it) began on the mats of Judo, in my teen years. What started as a youthful hobby evolved into a competitive pursuit, with a few national-level youth accolades to my name. But as the competitive nature of the sport started to dominate, my appreciation of it faded away. Yet, the discipline and physicality rooted themselves deep within. Later, decades on, I felt the familiar pull of martial arts and stepped back into the realm with a fresh perspective. I first came across Kickboxing and later Tai Chi Chuan, Wing Tsun and Eskrima, but sadly time constraints shorted those journeys. Immersing myself in ancient Kung Fu traditions, I now learn at the International Lau Family Hung Kuen Kung Fu Academy in Salzburg.

Old boxing gloves hanging on the wall

3. Beat by Beat: FraGue’s Dance Evolution

The rhythm first found me in 1999 at Tanzschule Seifert in Salzburg. Ballroom dancing was my first love, and I even tried my hand at some competitions. But the real transformation came when I chanced upon a breaking class. The allure of acrobatic moves and street style was irresistible. Before I knew it, the ballroom took a backseat. An injury once paused my dance journey, pushing me towards hip-hop, house, and krumping. This diversified my dance palette, later leading me to dance in theatre productions with dance troupes like Nobulus and Hungry Sharks.

4. From Passion to Profession: The Rookies at Work Story

2014 was a hallmark year. Alongside Mike Tike and Cosmic, I founded Rookies at Work GmbH, a venture born from our shared passion for breaking. Our flagship event, Circle Industry, soon became the biggest international breaking battle in Austria. Being the agency doing the Red Bull BC One Cyphers in Austria and later Red Bull Dance Your Style Austria added more feathers to our cap. With time, our repertoire expanded to encompass social media and advertising. But there came a time when stepped back to prioritize my art. Today, I’ve rejoined the ranks, albeit in a different capacity – speaking as a regular employee instead of a shareholder, ensuring I’m grounded at home for my young daughter and wife. More about this part of the journey will follow later.

5. An Affair with Fantasy – RPGs and LARPs

Way before dance took over, role-playing games (RPGs) dominated my leisure hours. DSA, Shadowrun, and Vampire: The Masquerade were my gateways to otherworldly realms. LARPs, akin to improv theatre without an audience, followed suit. Organizing a few LARPs, I unearthed my interest for orchestrating stories, a passion that probably sowed the seeds for my theatre and film projects later.

FraGue as an undead archer at Conquest of Mythodea

6. Telling Stories on Stages and Screens

Throughout my creative journey – alongside my wonderful wife, I’ve crafted multiple pieces for the theatre stage and short films, using dance as the core medium to tell stories. For me, movement goes beyond aesthetics – it’s a language capable of expressing emotions and narratives in ways that words can’t. Each production, whether on stage or on screen, allowed me to dive deep into storytelling through choreography, creating worlds where the body speaks. It’s a process that continuously challenges and excites me, blending raw emotion with the precision of movement to communicate with audiences on a visceral level.

Pied Piper Reloaded is the first of our dance shorts. Check out the trailer above.

7. Twirling Torches: Merging Martial Arts with Mesmerizing Moves

Swirling weapons have a meditative charm, blending the finesse of dance with martial prowess. This synergy of my twin passions – dance and martial arts – feels like home. And what’s more exhilarating than setting the props aflame? My go-tos for a fiery spectacle are the Nunchucks and the staff, but when not burning, I sometimes indulge in fluid routines with short sticks and knives. Someday, I will also learn rope darts or meteor hammers.

8. Artfeeders – The Quest for Artistic Sustainability

Alongside my better half, I embarked on a mission: founding an association dedicated to the cause of freelance artists. We’re committed to uncovering and imparting methods enabling artists to sustainably monetize their talents without burning out.

The association continues under the name Artfeeders, which was originally the project name of our productions. Since the name perfectly suits the association’s topic, we decided to stick with it.

9. Life’s Most Rewarding Challenge

Today, two roles define me profoundly – being a husband and a father. Navigating these roles, ensuring I’m present, supportive, and nurturing, all while staying true to my essence, is both the most challenging and rewarding endeavor of my life.

Part of this challenge is also staying on top of potentially harmful developments in our society and ensuring I am ready to deal with them if the need to protect the family arises.

10. From Footwork to Footnotes: FraGue’s shift into writing

When the beats of fatherhood started playing, the need to be around my daughter took center stage. The tours, the travel, the on-the-road lifestyle weren’t conducive to the nurturing environment I wanted to provide. And thus, pivoting from the stage’s spotlight to the soft glow of my laptop, I began to craft sentences and paragraphs instead of steps and choreographies. I already ran a blog before that, so the transition was not a hard one.

I published Dance Smart and, together with Da Bürgermasta, Performance Skills. These are not only manuals or guides but a glimpse into my view of the art that defined me. Already stepping into this field, the opportunity to join the editorial team of one of the biggest brands in dance came up, and I took the leap of faith into yet uncharted territory. Somehow it worked.

Dance Smart at the Open Qualifier for Circle Industry 2020. Photo: Christian Poschner

I realized that stories, like dance routines, can inspire, educate, and evoke emotions. While the pivot was initially due to the circumstances, it made me appreciate the beauty of expressing through words. My daughter’s giggles while hearing some of my hilarious rhymes or her joyous dances that never follow the guidance I offer reassured me – sometimes, life’s unforeseen pivots lead to the most harmonious tunes.

Speaking about tunes, there’s another one incoming.

11. Sonic Sketches: Drawing Tunes from a Dancer’s Heart

When I was young I played a little bit guitar and the keys. Sadly, I didn’t persist. But the allure of music is still too potent to resist. The Cajon resonates with my rhythms, and my attempts with the guitar and Ableton Live bring joy. Under the moniker Moskin Tribe, I’ve embarked on a musical voyage. While I did not release much, there are some pieces you can listen to below.

And sometimes, I play the supporting act, mixing and mastering the superior musical compositions of my wife.

12. Raw Realities: FraGue is chasing the Unadulterated Truth

Remember ‘The Matrix’? I’ve always been a Red Pill kind of person. I have an insatiable hunger to discern the truth, to confront unsettling realities over comforting delusions. This journey of discovery means I’ve often revisited and reshaped my beliefs. When I stand by an opinion, know that I thought it through.

I also think speaking the truth is more important than not offending people and that being offended is our choice. Most of the time, being offended is a bad choice.

But I still have a sense of humour and can laugh about a good meme.

13. Inner Echelons: Navigating Meditation and the Mysteries of Qi Gong

The frenetic pace of parenthood made me cherish the serenity of meditation, taming my restless mind – a prerequisite to functioning and staying on top of my responsibilities. My spiritual quest and search for more ways to stay in shape introduced me to Qi Gong, which is currently the biggest thing in my life after my family. Since January 2024, I am sharing what I learned on my Qi Gong journey at the International Lau Family Hung Kuen Kung Fu Academy in Salzburg.

This is, in short, my story until today. But there’s more to come.

Categories
blog mindset

No common ground: the hidden issue with values in society

A political statement on a wall

When we look around in our social circles, around our friends and even in families, many of us perceive that we are divided on multiple fronts and often seem to have no common ground, even with people we once were close to. This gets even more obvious when we see there is more and more activism, as people try to support or spread their values. The issue, in my opinion, is that those values are so manifold and diverse as if they were just opinions.

How do we want to live our lives?

What is this all about? What should be the fundamentals of our social structures and our communities? What should be the rules we live by? The diverse answers to these questions reveal a missing understanding of the complex interrelations beneath our society’s surface and deep insecurities.

The answers reach from the classics, like freedom or safety, over equality or equity, to more trendy answers, like diversity and sustainability. Sounds like we have our values there. But sadly, this is not the case.

A thousand tongues: different meanings of the same words

We mean different things while using the same words. My understanding of freedom may differ from the next person’s. For one of us, freedom might be the state of being able to do what she wants. For another, it can just be that he is not imprisoned. Often we hear, “your freedom ends where mine begins.” Depending on our understanding of freedom, this can resonate with us or make absolutely no sense.

Equality is another hot topic. Do we talk about equal chances or equal results? Do we consider it problematic when the free choices of individuals lead to inequality? If so, do we want to regulate people – means take away their free decision – into doing things they disagree with to reach a state of equality?

Already these different interpretations of the same terms make reaching consent on related topics challenging, but there is more trouble along the road.

The reason I talk to myself is because I’m the only one whose answers I accept.

George Carlin

Double standards: inconsistency in applying so-called values

Besides having different values and not being able to reach consent on what they actually represent, we have a considerable amount of people who only apply their so-called values in some circumstances – meaning only when it suits their own bias. There are many examples, with the most prominent one being supportive of “my body, my choice” when it comes to abortions but not when talking about vaccine mandates.

When we assume that the decision for physical autonomy is based on moral values and not something else, it has to apply in both or neither case. Of course, these discussions are far deeper, faceted and not necessarily connected but pretending “my body, my choice” needs to be holy and agreeing on mandating a vaccine to someone does not go along. In that case, finding another foundation for those choices would make more sense.

It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets.

Voltaire

But why?

I assume the reasons for that are based on the diversity of leadership and information. Nowadays, everyone has a chance to find role models and information on many different platforms and places. Back in the days, education, thoughts and opinions were regionally consistent. When most people were religious – not only on paper – the core values of that religion were generally agreed upon. Opinion leaders would influence a group of people exposed to them – but limited to those in their surroundings.

Today the same processes apply, but the sources are diverse. Your parents might be only religious on paper, but you are attending religious education in school, and your friends are becoming engineers and think logic is the only way. You learn about generational tyranny based on race, gender and religion on social media or in your social circles. So your personal view of the world might be very different from the person beside you.

There is no general difference in how we form our opinion to back in the days as our opinion and worldview still reflect the worldview of the people we spend the most time with. But today, we can pick anybody to be a part of the people who influence our thoughts and beliefs. And no matter if we pick people around us or strangers on social media, sometimes it is for the better and sometimes for the worse.

Finding out if you are in a good spot is no easy task. Regularly trying to understand people who disagree and checking if your answers to them would make sense, with brutal honesty, is a good start to avoid becoming part of an army of brainless zombies that simply repeat what they hear from others instead of using their own brains.

Categories
blog listicles

Best Christmas Presents for Dancers in 2023

A person tying a red gift box for christmas

Check out our list of suggestions for Christmas presents and gifts specifically for your dancer friends.

It is that time of the year again. The months before Christmas, when we start wondering about the presents, we can gift our friends or kids. I’ll refer to friends for the rest of this page. Dancers tend to care a lot more about their skills and motivation to practise instead of material things, so it’s often hard to find the perfect thing. But no worries, I got you covered in case you are lacking inspiration yourself.

1. Workshops and classes

Did I mention that dancers often care about their skills? They really do. Most dancers will be delighted to take an additional class with their favourite teacher or a workshop with a pioneer or expert in their specific dance style. You might need to do a little bit of research to find out which class or teacher is the right one. If there is a name popping up regularly, you know who to pick.

A gift certificate or voucher is the easiest way to package a workshop or class. If you are design-savvy, you will have an easy time making it happen. Otherwise, you can pick up a voucher template and customize it.

2. Workout gear or tools

An essential part of being prepared to dance as good as possible is to keep the body in shape. Some dancers rely on dancing only, but the majority work out in addition.

Tools that almost all dancers can apply in their training are Resistance Bands or a Deuserband. Both are made from elastic rubber-like fabric, and both can be applied in stretching or strength training.

In case your dancer friend is specifically into strength training, you could also pick up a kettlebell, which is simply a big weight with a handle. There are tons of exercises you can do with them, and there are hundreds of tutorials on Youtube to get started.

Got a friend who suffers from unnecessary body tension? Grab a Blackroll or another tool for fascia relief.

3. Books

There is a plethora of books that would make a good gift for your dancer friends. This can be books about the dance itself and how to improve your skills, but it could also be about the history of the dance, the scene the dance originates from or a photography collection.

Here are some recommendations:

4. Event tickets or travel expenses

Dancers love travelling to dance events all around the globe. Often these travels have to happen on a budget. If you can provide the event tickets or pay for some of the travel expenses, your friends will surely be happy.

If the event tickets are not yet available, you can, once again, go for a voucher.

5. Fresh gear or apparel

The term style usually means the individual interpretation of the dance, but there is also style in fashion and gear. Looking fresh is an essential part of most freestyle dances, and many dancers elevate the curation of their outfits into an art form.

The number one spot in the gear section is the sneaker. The variety of available shoes and personal taste makes it difficult to shoot from the hip, but you will get an idea of their preferred model if you take a look at their existing sneaker collection. The best-case scenario is probably taking the trip to the sneaker store together.

In my opinion, the second best guess is either headgear or accessories. Watch how your friend dresses at events, and you will know which one it is. Not going to dance events with your friend? A swipe through their social media might help as well.

6. Wall art

If nothing else seems to fit, you might want to consider some kind of poster. It can be a fantastic dance image, a motivational quote or a combination of both. Maybe it is a really big print of their favourite dance photo of themselves.

Many options are available for the seeker of presents. Depending on your budget, you can go for a digital download to print at home, for a framed museum-quality print or anything in between.

If you have additional ideas, meaning more Christmas presents for dancers, let us know in the comments.

The links in this article contain affiliate links which take you to amazon or etsy stores.

Categories
blog

Your Art is NOT the Issue

Many artists and content creators struggle with monetizing their work. They are confronted with biases and self-doubt. More often than not, they think the problem is that their art is just not good enough. In the majority of cases, this is not true.

Being an artist and the ability to earn money from your art are two entirely different animals. Turning your art into a sustainable business needs an entrepreneur’s mindset. More important, mediocre art can thrive, if paired with a viable marketing approach.

The main issues why artists fail to generate income with their work are:

As an artist, we don’t have to take care of everything on our own but can trust others with taking care of those things for us. I still recommend doing everything yourself for a short amount of time, so you know what these tasks are about.

As you see, I am back at writing. Let’s dive deeper into these topics in the near future.

Categories
blog listicles martial arts

Amazing Christmas Gifts and Presents for Martial Artists and Fighters

Old boxing gloves hanging on the wall

Finding the perfect gifts or presents for your martial-arts-obsessed friends, kids or spouse can be a serious pain in the ass. Worry not, I have some suggestions that might help you out.

1. Workshops and classes

Martial artists care for their personal skill development. So naturally, working on those comes first. If you totally run out of ideas, you can always pay for their regular classes or book them a workshop with their favourite sifu or sensei.

A gift certificate or voucher is the easiest way to package a workshop or class. Many schools offer these, especially around Christmas. If they don’t you can create one on your own when you are design-savvy or simply use a template.

2. Workout gear or tools

An essential part of being prepared to fight (be it in a cage, harder sparring or in self-defense situations) is to keep your body in shape. Some martial artists only rely on their practice, but most of the work out too.

A jump rope (better a speed jump rope) is essential for boxing and kickboxing but will be helpful with most modern fighting sports. Even though traditional martial arts rarely use them, the strength, coordination and stamina they build are helpful for all martial arts practitioners.

A new contender in the ring is the Octomoves Flow Rope, which feels like a jump rope without jumping. It works the core, the back, the arms and the shoulders and has some similar techniques to traditional weapons like the rope dart or meteor hammer. If your friends are into flow exercises with any martial arts weapon, they will love this thing.

Almost all fighters can apply rubber bands in their training. Common ones are Resistance Bands or a Deuserband, which support numerous higher kicks and stretching exercises. The resistance bands can be used to work on your punches as well.

A kettlebell, which is simply a big weight with a handle, is also a very versatile tool. There are tons of exercises you can do with them, and there are hundreds of tutorials on Youtube to get started.

Got a friend who suffers from unnecessary body tension? Grab a Blackroll or another tool for fascia relief.

3. Books

A plethora of books would make a good gift for your fighter friends. This can be books about their preferred fighting style, about some fighting-related philosophy or about known martial artists.

Here are some recommendations:

4. Weapons or Fighting Gear

Many traditional martial arts use weapons like the staff, sticks or knives. There are also fancier ones like the chain whip, three-section staff or nunchucks. Find out which ones they want, before buying.

Boxing Gloves, Pads or a Heavy Bag might also be the right thing.

Also, if you have a specialised store in town where you can get good customer service, prefer this one over ordering from the internet.

5. Wall art

If nothing else seems to fit, you might want to consider some kind of poster. It can be a fantastic fighting image, a motivational quote or a combination of both.

Many options are available for the seeker of presents. Depending on your budget, you can go for a digital download to print at home, a framed museum-quality print or anything in between.

If you have additional ideas, meaning more Christmas presents for fighters, let us know in the comments.

The links in this article are affiliate links which take you to Amazon or Etsy.

Categories
blog

Jasmin Rituper in Tanzcafé #8

Tamzcafe Cover - Jasmin Rituper

In another episode of Tanzcafé, I sat down with the prolific performer and content-creator Jasmin Rituper. She is a dancer but prefers to call herself a movement artist, to avoid labels and prejudice.

She trained many styles and worked in Austria, Amsterdam, New York, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. All of her experiences as a dancer, as well as a spiritual being, led to the creation of her own movement method, called Mechanimal Movement.

Check out her story in Tanzcafé #8, as usual for the podcast – in German language.

Find or share this episode:

Categories
blog mindset

Messy beginnings: Be brave and early

“Messy beginnings:” Doing something that has never been done, or at least has never been done in a specific context. Infrastructure is missing, issues are fixed with patches and bandages. The result is a patchwork from a few or many enthusiastic people that work towards a common goal.

Different people bring different experiences and different opinions, which often leads to disagreements on how to do things. That is the hard part of being first in a new space. But it is also the beauty of the process. Different brains on the same topic, give the option to do things better than in streamlined environments, where we have a “correct” way of doing things.

Working in a new, messy environment gives us room for innovation. That is what’s happening right now with Breaking at Olympia. It is also what is happening with NFTs. Both are messy beginnings and have massive potential to change breaking and business with breaking forever.

Don’t ignore things, just because they are messy. Innovation always is.

Categories
blog

Let’s find new ways to do business with art

A road ahead. Ai created image by FraGue Moser-Kindler with Leonardo.ai

2020 and 2021 taught me that doing business with art in the way we did relies way too much on things that I can’t control. I also learned that I absolutely detest that. So what can one do, who spent half of his life dancing, teaching, and producing dance. Doing something else is not an option. Honestly, it would be too easy.

From now on, I will embark on a journey to find new ways to work with art. Ways that are more self-sufficient and less reliable on existing structures or gate-keepers.

In the tech world, decentralization is the buzzword that promises solutions to issues that only arise because we gave too much control to people who only care for profits, and not for the art. We can do the same in art. Finding alternative places to show what we do, move even more in the public space and at the same time in the digital realm. There are new distribution models that promise proof of ownership and direct compensation flowing from the audience to the artist, without being eaten up by middlemen.

I am excited to take a deep dive into these new opportunities. Let’s see what the future brings.

Categories
blog documentation tanzcafe

Tanzcafé with Olivia, Sina, Jaekwon and Chris Cross

In the last weeks, life was a roller coaster. I neglected writing for the blog, the newsletter and promoting the new podcast episodes. Despite not promoting them, I recorded and published. As life is getting a little bit more stable again, meet the Tanzcafé episodes 2-5 with the amazing Olivia, Sina, Jaekwon and Chris Cross.