My favorite Part of the Billboard Dance Summit was seeing all of the great live performances.  

Thursday night Kevin Aviance hosted  the showcases at Fusion.  He was fierce - performing his hit "Din Da Da" and  debuting his new single "Rhythm is My Bitch".  I loved it when he fixed his makeup on stage!!  H

K

Velocity Recording Artists Soul Dhamma took the stage and performed their unique fusion of hip hop, acid jazz, and house.  This was the first time I had heard of them and I was inspired to look for their music.

Freestyle Diva Judy Torres performed house mixes of her classics (remixed by Warren Rigg).  I found myself singing along to her club smash "Back in Your Arms Again".. what a great record.  

When I am wrong, I admit it.  When I first heard Duane Harden's single "You Don't Know Me" (produced by Armand Van Helden) - I dismissed it as standard.  I was too busy playing the Donna Giles boot of the track.  When I saw Duane's energetic performance - it totally hit me and I have been playing the song ever since.  The song is a total anthem for all of us trying to fight for our pride against those who want to hurt us with evil judgement.

Pop Tart INOJ showed us that you can make dance records that sell and become hits.  Her covers of "Time After Time" and "Love You Down"  were massive.  I was a bit disappointed because she only sang one song - "Ring My Bell."  However - she was full of energy and really had the crowd going!

You may remember Michelle Crispin as the lead singer of femdykedance band Fem II Fem. She won the New Artist Discover award, and after this performance is on her  way to becoming a "Superstar."

That voice.  Candi Staton walked up on stage and brought us to church.  I am too young to remember the songs from the first time around - but hearing her perform made me look them up.  After being covered by Hannah Jones and Kim Mazelle, "Young Hearts Run Free" rightfully returns to the original singer.  Her voice touched a generation.  I hoped her new album on React-UK will be embraced by a new generation.

That voice.  Candi Staton walked

Janice Robinson took the stage for the first time as a Warner Brothers Artist.  Y'all know her as the original vocie of Living Joy's "Dreamer".   She sang part of "Earthbeat" but for some reason the crowd didn't respond.  Is Nashville the only city where that song was big?  Look for her powerful new song "I Did What I Did" to explode really soon!

Tommy Boy recording artist Amber took the stage sharing her love with clubland - where she got her start.  "One More Night" never sounded so good.  She took a moment to explain that she wrote "Sexual" as an intelligent women's way of saying that she is in the mood.. for .. you know..  She sang another song - I think it's called "Love One Another".. hopefully that will the next single as opposed to that tragic cover of "Do That to me One More Time" that I wasted $10 on.

Choosing the pictures of Charlotte to post was really difficult.  I took about 15 and they all looked amazing - she is so photogenic.  She was in incredible voice and had the crowd singing along.   After seeing her perform "Skin" and "Someday," I have new respect for her.  She is blind in one eye, and crosseyed in the other.  That is why she always wears sunglasses.    

Chooup on stage and brought u