The Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s fascinating and beautifully shot Birds of Paradise project is seriously addictive stuff. The birds-of-paradise are 39 different species of birds that live in New Guinea and the surrounding islands. They are colorful, unusually plumed birds that have complex mating rituals that include dancing and posing. 

After we saw this introduction, we watched how they make sounds, dance, shapeshift… Happily there are quite a few videos. Here are a few to start with:

Bonus: There’s a sound gallery.

Has the kid seen windless kite flying?

Member of Team iQuad and recognized as one of the top Rev pilots in the world, Spencer Watson flew this winning indoor kite competition performance at the 2013 Windless Kite Festival in Long Beach, WA… he is flying an Indoor Rev.

via Kottke.

“I.O.U.” by British dance music group Freeez is a) great for remembering vowels, b) a video time capsule of what was what in 1983, c) sung often in our house or d) all of the above. Bonus: some seriously ’80s dance moves. 

via @jennikholder.

Learn how to arm wave with Hip Hop dancer and choreographer Matt Steffanina. Then make it look smooth with lots of practice!

Noreen Corcoran sings “Life Has Its Funny Little Ups And Downs” to Donald O’Connor from the 1953 movie, I Love Melvin. Not only does it feature this catchy little song, but it includes Donald tap dancing on his roller skates, which starts up and ends… perhaps not down, but definitely with a smash.

Some of the best dancing from the archives: phenomenal swing and lindy hopping, the Haka Dance and, of course, the not-to-be-missed Nicholas Brothers.