Ummm....your links don't work. : (

Yeah, the links are just to the homepage and I had to do a search but I found the dancers if not the specific videos you are looking at.

Personally I think your best bet is to attend lots of all-day or weekend workshops with big name dancers. BDSS is far from the only source. There are literally 100s of truly top dancers. Pick up some GOOD videos and attend workshops to learn new moves and techniques. Then pick and choose what works best for you to create your own look and style. Adopting someone else's style never works out as well as you hope.

Reading the subject of this topic, "Searching for that special something out there...", prompts me with a different answer for that question: "that special something out there" you are searching for is *your self.* You are searching for your own inner urge to create, to find that urge embodied in dance, but as the old wisdom says, if you don't find it within, you will never find it without.

Someone along time ago, I don't recall who it was at the moment, said that a writer is really looking for something she really wants to read. And this is true I think of all artists -- we have some urge, impetus, daemon, that is just itching to take form. We search around for books, poems, paintings, sculptures, dances, songs, that are going to reflect that urge within ourselves to find some means of expression, and we find examples, they are close... but... not 100%.

So we look at some kick-ass dancers... different styles... Cabaret has some maybe, or maybe ATS or fusion really rocks our boats... but then maybe something is missing too... Because what we are looking for is really what it is we need to create! And until we do, it will not exist, because the universe is waiting for us to create it. We learn dance as a child to learns to speak... grammar, vocabulary, and so forth, prose or poetry, becoming literate, but then through it all it is up to her to say what it is that *she* has to say. No one else can say it for her.

Here is something I come back to, from time to time, as an important message for life in general and at the moment for dance in specific -- for me to hear again as well: "For millions of years," Irish poet and philosopher John O'Donohue writes, "before you arrived here, the dream of your individuality was carefully prepared....Each of us has something to do here that can be done by no one else. If someone else could fulfill your destiny, then they would be in your place, and you would not be here. It is in the depths of your life that you will discover the invisible necessity that has brought you here. When you begin to decipher this, your gift and geftedness come alive. Your heart quickens and the urgency of living rekindles your creativity."

A different answer perhaps! ;)

Thank you everyone for your replies :)

Karen, your reply touched me deeply. And it makes so much sense now that I think about it. I need to look within for inspiration, not search for it on youtube... although that does help a lot lol But I want to especially thank you for taking the time to post. That really made a difference :)

Karen's description is lovely! I agree with many of the recommendations already mentioned, for example WORKSHOPS!! Take as many as you can from various teachers, and I'm sure they will inspire you in many ways. Some of my favorite youtube clips feature UNMATA from Sacramento and Circus Tribal from Ashland-check 'em out! Of course, there are MANY more...

Kaveri... it would be my suggestion that the title of this post be changed to "Searching for that special something within myself..."

The most rewarding finds in life are always inside of ourselves. We search everywhere outside and when the discovery happens we are surprised to find it inside... there it was all along. IT is always in you waiting for you to get to a point where you are ready for it. Then you miraculously find it. Whether IT is strength, talent, knowledge, compassion, empathy, love, acceptance, adventure, spirit or whatever else you're searching for, there it is, waiting patiently for you. Self discovery is the most rewarding experience in life.

Good Luck on this journey of discovery. The Goddess of Dance awaits within.