November 14, 2011
Madonna's Exchange Project...The Winner!
JC Alvarez READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Madonna gave eager fans a preview of what's to come on Saturday, Nov. 12 night at the legendary Roseland Ballroom in New York City. The Queen of Pop hosted the Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project - an international dance competition that criss-crossed over 50 countries, 5 continents culminating in a dance competition to find the latest recruit for her upcoming 2012 Summer tour.
Amidst a room full of her biggest fans - all special guests granted exclusive access to the evening, including celebrity appearances from drag royalty Lady Bunny, fashion's wild child Christian Siriano and UK songstress Natasha Bedingfield, Madonna introduced the audience to the hand-picked 11 finalists representing every corner of the globe.
The Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project proved an ambitions endeavor celebrating nightlife culture on a global level through the enhancement of dance - a unifying concept that transcends cultural and political boundaries. Who a better authority on the dance culture than Madonna herself, who is still dominating the scene with an impressive 3 decade career in popular music and the world's biggest music icon.
And You Can Dance...
Choreographed by lead dancer Shay Normann and assisted by Rich & Tone, all members of Madonna's tour ensemble, the team of finalist danced as a unit, properly introducing Madonna who rose onto the battle field where the talented performers fought it out for the coveted position. It was anyone's golden ring to win, but in the end Madonna chose 23-year old 'Lil Buck from Memphis.
The professional dancer, who migrated himself out of the Memphis to LA and pursued his dreams to dance on an international stage, was overwhelmed. "This doesn't happen to people like me...and now here I am," he said happily about his win. Soon 'Lil Buck will be performing with Madonna who will be hitting the road on what is sure to be another sold out set of dates across the world. "It'll be best tour ever," added Shay Normann. "It's Madonna. The next is always better than the last."
Super-producer Martin Solveig who is also working alongside Madonna on her next album project, played the gathered masses into a thrilling club set - this certainly the first of many pocket events of the season that will be promoting Madonna's next anticipated re-invention.
The Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project was a sponsored event in concert with Madonna and for more information goto www.smirnoff.com
Native New Yorker JC Alvarez is a pop-culture enthusiast and the nightlife chronicler of the club scene and its celebrity denizens from coast-to-coast. He is the on-air host of the nationally syndicated radio show "Out Loud & Live!" and is also on the panel of the local-access talk show "Talking About".
