April 19th was OPEN FLOOR NIGHT! We started having these once a month to give everyone a chance to practice what we learn in class. Personally, I'd like to encourage everyone to really USE these nights, because if the group tends to just stand around talking, I assume we'll lose the chance to practice this way. OFNs are a good time to ask one of the teachers to review something with you, ask more experienced dancers to practice with you, and work on drills that you need to improve. There's a lot you can do with the hour, if you try.
On April 26th, we got back to work! Sonya took the beginners and worked on fundamentals. Evan taught the intermediate class a series of moves that I'm too lazy to describe in this post. We connected the moves together in a sort of mini-routine, then ramped up the speed of the music to test our abilities to pull it off. The advanced class worked on different styles of swingouts, comparing what we'll call the "Pedroza" style to the "Max" style of swingout.
We're getting closer to buying that video camera so that I can post videos and be even lazier than I am now. To bring that day a little bit closer, please remember to PAY if you haven't for the month of April. Also PROMOTE our group like crazy, and attend events like Swing on This!
See you next week!
Oh PS, here's the video Evan showed at the beginning of class last night:
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
April 5th and April 12th Lesson Recaps
Hello Dancers!
Apologies for never posting a lesson recap last week. Still, better late than never!
APRIL 5th:
Beginner/Intermediate: We reviewed three of the basic Lindy Hop Turns (6-count inside, 8-count inside, and 8-count outside). Then we added a jazz step variation onto each:
-6-count inside into the lead doing Susie Q's, leading the follow along beside him as she styles however she wants to
-8-count inside turn into Shorty Georges for both partners
-8-count outside turn into Rusty Dusty's
Advanced: It was the first Monday of the month, and that means one thing: AUDITIONS! Congratulations to Elaine for making it into the Advanced class this month!
April 12th:
Beginner/Intermediate: Evan taught a series of moves with a laid back, smooth theme. When it's done right, this style of dancing is one of my absolute favorites! Here's my best attempt to verbally describe the moves: (Where's that video camera when we need it?)
-Start off in closed and lead an 8-count inside turn. Catch the follow on count 4, "stealing" her momentum to propel yourself through a turn under your own arm during counts 5-8. You should end in open, having passed your follow.
-From open, lead a 6-count "thrust pass" (not as exciting as it sounds). Start your follow moving forward on counts 1 and 2, similar to a swingout or regular 6-count pass. Then, in the neighborhood of count 3, "thrust" with your leading hand as if you're challenging someone to a sword fight, let go of your follow and turn over your own right shoulder. The effect SHOULD be that she turns over her left shoulder in a free spin before you catch in open (follow having passed across the lead) in the neighborhood of counts 5 and 6. Catch her left with your right.
-Still in open, lead a Hollywood Pass. It's just like a vanilla 6-count pass, except you should start perpendicular to your follow, not facing her dead on. You can switch hands as she goes by or not. For our purposes last night, we did not.
-Still in open, lead a circular rock step on 1-2 and bring your follow in, as if for a 6-count free spin on 3. On 4, however, catch her wrist from above with your right hand (it should still be free, we've been leading with our left since the thrust pass). Reverse the direction of her spin with your right hand, and stay with her through counts 5 and 6. End back in closed. Rinse and repeat if desired.
Hopefully that's enough description to get you through the moves if you were IN class to see them.
REMINDERS:
Promote, promote, promote, ESPECIALLY to new follows :-) The more people we have, the more awesome stuff we can do.
Swing on This!!! is coming up in just a couple of weeks! April 24th, for 30$, you can get 4 Lindy Hop classes (choose from beginner or experienced levels) and a night of swing dancing. The fun starts at Old Town Ballroom at high noon. Pay at the door.
Benny Goodman Tribute Concert: Saturday, May 1 at the Century II Performing Arts & Convention Center (225 West Douglas Avenue) there will be a tribute to Benny Goodman starting at 8:00 PM. Some of your Lindy Bomber teammates will be there to get the dancing started, and it should be a great time!
Upcoming Road Trips: If you feel like dancing in a new scene, join your fellow Lindy Bombers and Wichita Swing Dance Society members on one of our upcoming road trips! A few of us will be heading to Kansas City to dance at their weekly shindig on May 1, and later this summer we'd like to make trips to Tulsa and Emporia. Getting out of town and representing the 'ta help bring new dancers to our events, and it's a great way to test your social dancing ability!
The Rhythm is Jumpin' Sort of like Kansas City's version of our Sunflower Swing, TRIJ is a yearly event that pulls dancers from all over the Midwest. Wichita has a history of being well represented, and we don't plan on breaking that tradition! If you're interested in going, talk to Oscar Hampton at Swing on This!!!, he might just sell you a pass at the early-bird rate.
Sunflower Swing: It's coming up quicker than you think! Registration has already jumped from 40$ to 50$, so if you've been procrastinating, it's time to get on that.
Are you even still reading? I think this is the longest LB blog post ever! Thanks for being a trooper. See you next week for OPEN FLOOR NIGHT!
~Chelsea
Apologies for never posting a lesson recap last week. Still, better late than never!
APRIL 5th:
Beginner/Intermediate: We reviewed three of the basic Lindy Hop Turns (6-count inside, 8-count inside, and 8-count outside). Then we added a jazz step variation onto each:
-6-count inside into the lead doing Susie Q's, leading the follow along beside him as she styles however she wants to
-8-count inside turn into Shorty Georges for both partners
-8-count outside turn into Rusty Dusty's
Advanced: It was the first Monday of the month, and that means one thing: AUDITIONS! Congratulations to Elaine for making it into the Advanced class this month!
April 12th:
Beginner/Intermediate: Evan taught a series of moves with a laid back, smooth theme. When it's done right, this style of dancing is one of my absolute favorites! Here's my best attempt to verbally describe the moves: (Where's that video camera when we need it?)
-Start off in closed and lead an 8-count inside turn. Catch the follow on count 4, "stealing" her momentum to propel yourself through a turn under your own arm during counts 5-8. You should end in open, having passed your follow.
-From open, lead a 6-count "thrust pass" (not as exciting as it sounds). Start your follow moving forward on counts 1 and 2, similar to a swingout or regular 6-count pass. Then, in the neighborhood of count 3, "thrust" with your leading hand as if you're challenging someone to a sword fight, let go of your follow and turn over your own right shoulder. The effect SHOULD be that she turns over her left shoulder in a free spin before you catch in open (follow having passed across the lead) in the neighborhood of counts 5 and 6. Catch her left with your right.
-Still in open, lead a Hollywood Pass. It's just like a vanilla 6-count pass, except you should start perpendicular to your follow, not facing her dead on. You can switch hands as she goes by or not. For our purposes last night, we did not.
-Still in open, lead a circular rock step on 1-2 and bring your follow in, as if for a 6-count free spin on 3. On 4, however, catch her wrist from above with your right hand (it should still be free, we've been leading with our left since the thrust pass). Reverse the direction of her spin with your right hand, and stay with her through counts 5 and 6. End back in closed. Rinse and repeat if desired.
Hopefully that's enough description to get you through the moves if you were IN class to see them.
REMINDERS:
Promote, promote, promote, ESPECIALLY to new follows :-) The more people we have, the more awesome stuff we can do.
Swing on This!!! is coming up in just a couple of weeks! April 24th, for 30$, you can get 4 Lindy Hop classes (choose from beginner or experienced levels) and a night of swing dancing. The fun starts at Old Town Ballroom at high noon. Pay at the door.
Benny Goodman Tribute Concert: Saturday, May 1 at the Century II Performing Arts & Convention Center (225 West Douglas Avenue) there will be a tribute to Benny Goodman starting at 8:00 PM. Some of your Lindy Bomber teammates will be there to get the dancing started, and it should be a great time!
Upcoming Road Trips: If you feel like dancing in a new scene, join your fellow Lindy Bombers and Wichita Swing Dance Society members on one of our upcoming road trips! A few of us will be heading to Kansas City to dance at their weekly shindig on May 1, and later this summer we'd like to make trips to Tulsa and Emporia. Getting out of town and representing the 'ta help bring new dancers to our events, and it's a great way to test your social dancing ability!
The Rhythm is Jumpin' Sort of like Kansas City's version of our Sunflower Swing, TRIJ is a yearly event that pulls dancers from all over the Midwest. Wichita has a history of being well represented, and we don't plan on breaking that tradition! If you're interested in going, talk to Oscar Hampton at Swing on This!!!, he might just sell you a pass at the early-bird rate.
Sunflower Swing: It's coming up quicker than you think! Registration has already jumped from 40$ to 50$, so if you've been procrastinating, it's time to get on that.
Are you even still reading? I think this is the longest LB blog post ever! Thanks for being a trooper. See you next week for OPEN FLOOR NIGHT!
~Chelsea
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