Tribute to Whitney Houston

This coming Saturday (October 19, 2024) 10am central I will be revisiting a movement experience I created back in 2012 (when Whitney Houston died). The moves are adapted from a Nia Routine called Birth. Class is available ONLINE and via 24HR Replay. Usual class rates apply.

Here’s some mini clips of the movements (recorded back in 2020 before Soma Ranch had the pavilion!), information about the playlist and more.

After listening/researching many Whitney Houston Albums I found all the tracks for this play list from Whitney - The Greatest Hits
Other than “who do you love” from my very first Nia routine “Commitments”

The Nia choreography from the recent Nia routine “Birth” lends itself very well to this music. Great upbeat, disco, invigorating tunes.

Let me know if you play with this play list - I’d love to hear how it goes :-)

This is also a super play list for general listening,
I’ve been LOVING driving, singing along to these tunes.
Whitney was a remarkable singer, I adore how her music lives on.

  1. Greatest Love of All 4:49

  2. So Emotional (Dave Morales Mix) 3:57

  3. Who Do You Love 3:55

  4. I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Junior’s Happy Handbag Mix) 4:25

  5. How Will I Know (Junior Vasquez Club Mix) 4:10

  6. I Will Always Love You (Hex Hector Radio Mix - Remastered) 4:51

  7. Queen of the Night (CJ’s Single Edit) 3:46

  8. I’m Every Woman (C + C Club Mix) [Radio Edit] 4:31

  9. Could I Have This Kiss Forever (Metro Mix - Remastered) 3:56

  10. Run to You 4:24

  11. I Have Nothing (Remastered)4:48

  12. I Will Always Love You 4:24

    Helen created a "Tribute to Whitney Houston" Nia experience. Adapted from the Nia Routine Birth. Here's a series of 7 mini clips helping you to play with learning the moves.  If you are interested in attending a workshop on how to adapt a Nia routine or would like to experience this class email helen@somaranch.com for more details.

Clip 1 "L arms, rotate across, draw circles"

Greatest Love of All 4:49

Focus on the 3 planes of movement (Low, Middle, High), exploring the vertical, horizontal and rotational lines. The intent is by the end of class you will feel taller, with a relaxed spine and enhanced sense of spacial awareness.

Clip 2 "Get moving HML, flamenco turn"

So Emotional (Dave Morales Mix) 3:57

  1. Fast clock step 12-3-6 High, Middle, Low with Hands up, Elbows out, Arms Down/Back.

  2. Add "L arms" pulse in preparation for

  3. optional turn in place with small steps

 

Clip 3 "Blade hand, cross arms, roll shoulder"

I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Junior’s Happy Handbag Mix) 4:25

  1. A stance, "blades" hands in pockets,

  2. Cat stance with inward block (Lean)

  3. A stance roll shoulders

  4. add downward alt block "blades"

 

Clip 4 "TID pump and swirl arms"

How Will I Know (Junior Vasquez Club Mix) 4:10

  1. Travel in directions (TID) forwards with cha cha cha base and fist hands. Then TID backwards weave hands (R/L)

  2. Add option of turning while traveling towards the back (R/L) then (L/R)

 

Clip 5 "SPT wipe & clap with FC 12 3 6"

  1. sink & pivot table wipe

  2. add clap

  3. add clock step 12 3 6 to SPTW

  4. choose how low to step out

 

Clip 6 "Sneaky Fast clock remember corner"

I Will Always Love You (Hex Hector Radio Mix - Remastered) 4:51

  1. Fast Clock (FC) 12, 3, 2* Cross Behind (XB). Releve when you step to the corner (2*) 

  2. A stance, cross midline w/ blade arms

  3. choose how low to cross arms

 

Clip 7 "Heal lead with 180 turns to back wall"

Queen of the Night (CJ’s Single Edit) 3:46

  1. Heal lead in your Fast clock 12/6 x 4

  2. 180' turn to face the back wall

  3. 4 heal leads FC facing back wall

  4. 180' turn to face front wall

  5. Repeat pattern with 2 Heal leads

  6. Cross Front (XF), cha cha cha (CCC)