Hello dancers!
Thanks to all of you who came out to open floor night last night! I thought it went unusually well. I saw everyone working on technique and moves, and there was enough mixing of partners to allow some of our newer dancers a chance to learn from the more experienced ones. That's good stuff. And SPEAKING of new dancers, we've had a recent influx of them, which is awesome!
During the 2nd class, we worked on bal swing, which is a mixture of Balboa and, obviously, swing. After discussing some of the theory behind what makes bal-swing work (rotational momentum as opposed to the linear we use in lindy, for one) we did 3 versions of a throw-out: one with a left-to-right connection, one with a right-right, and another left-to-right one where the lead turns away from the follow during counts 8-3. After those, we worked on some Peter Loggins-style bal-swing basics. A rock-step-step, rock-step-step pattern is pretty adaptable for a lot of swing moves and we played with that. At the last minute, we also worked on a Texas Tommy version of a throw-out.
On a personal note, I ADORE bal-swing and I hope everyone who was there last night can put it into practice a little more. It's fun, relatively simple, versatile, and doesn't make you look like a tool. What could be better?
Here's a video, from me to you, of some bal swing from Seattle Balboa Swing Festival of 2008:
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Event Recap - The Rhythm is Jumpin'
In the spirit of "better late than never," I'm finally writing a recap of TRIJ.
This was an AWESOME almost-local event, and the Lindy Bombers represented Wichita well. The event took place in Kansas City and featured three dances (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) two full days of classes (Saturday and Sunday) and a handful of competitions and group performances. The list of instructors included the world-famous Max Petruzella and Annie Trudeau, Mike Roberts and Laura Glaess, Jason Zabinski and Stacia Martin, Oscar Hampton, and Chelsea Rodgers. Here's a video of the instrictors' jam, including everyone but Chelsea.
I had a GREAT time and I'm sure my fellow Wichita dancers did too! We had a few dancers make finals in the competitions, and everyone did a great job in the classes.
On a related note, event organizer/instructor Oscar Hampton is now IN WICHITA! You might remember him from class last night; he was the skinny black guy hovering in the background and occasionally making faces. For the foreseeable future, Oscar is splitting his time and efforts between the Wichita and Kansas City dance scenes. This is a great opportunity for us to work with a very talented dancer who hasn't spent the whole of his dance career in Wichita. I highly recommend learning all you can from him.
This was an AWESOME almost-local event, and the Lindy Bombers represented Wichita well. The event took place in Kansas City and featured three dances (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) two full days of classes (Saturday and Sunday) and a handful of competitions and group performances. The list of instructors included the world-famous Max Petruzella and Annie Trudeau, Mike Roberts and Laura Glaess, Jason Zabinski and Stacia Martin, Oscar Hampton, and Chelsea Rodgers. Here's a video of the instrictors' jam, including everyone but Chelsea.
I had a GREAT time and I'm sure my fellow Wichita dancers did too! We had a few dancers make finals in the competitions, and everyone did a great job in the classes.
On a related note, event organizer/instructor Oscar Hampton is now IN WICHITA! You might remember him from class last night; he was the skinny black guy hovering in the background and occasionally making faces. For the foreseeable future, Oscar is splitting his time and efforts between the Wichita and Kansas City dance scenes. This is a great opportunity for us to work with a very talented dancer who hasn't spent the whole of his dance career in Wichita. I highly recommend learning all you can from him.
Lesson Recaps - June 7th and June 14th
June 7th -
The beginner class worked on basics with Sonya while the intermediate class worked on strengthening technique in swingouts and lindy circles.
The Advanced class worked on some Charleston, including a move Evan saw Max and Annie do at The Rhythm is Jumpin'. It was awesome and it's one of my new favorite moves!
June 14th -
Beginners separated out from the intermediate class to work on foundation material. The intermediate class worked on one of my personal favorites, double turns! We all combined at the end for some tread milling.
The Advanced class continued working on some Max and Annie inspired Charleston moves, including getting the follow in a sort of Sweetheart position and doing the men's footwork, moving her either behind or in front of the lead's right arm, and doing Susie Qs or bal-like cross steps from any of those positions.
The beginner class worked on basics with Sonya while the intermediate class worked on strengthening technique in swingouts and lindy circles.
The Advanced class worked on some Charleston, including a move Evan saw Max and Annie do at The Rhythm is Jumpin'. It was awesome and it's one of my new favorite moves!
June 14th -
Beginners separated out from the intermediate class to work on foundation material. The intermediate class worked on one of my personal favorites, double turns! We all combined at the end for some tread milling.
The Advanced class continued working on some Max and Annie inspired Charleston moves, including getting the follow in a sort of Sweetheart position and doing the men's footwork, moving her either behind or in front of the lead's right arm, and doing Susie Qs or bal-like cross steps from any of those positions.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Lesson Recap - May 31
Hello Lindy Hoppers!
Thanks to all of you who came to class last night, even though it was a holiday! (And thanks to Evan and Ellen for sacrificing their holiday evening so Evan could teach!)
BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE - We combined everyone for the first hour and worked on different styles of musicality. It was awesome! Musicality is how you bring your own personality into your dancing and make your dances memorable. We experimented with changing footwork, dancing "big" and dancing "small," and my personal favorite, focusing on communicating with your partner through your dancing. Incorporating any or all of these techniques is an important part of taking your dancing from technically proficient to actually being entertaining to watch.
ADVANCED - We had a show-and-tell day, which I thought was very cool. Each of the 6 dancers in class for the 2nd hour presented a move or footwork variation for the others to learn. It was nice to see what everyone else is working on, and also a good chance to practice teaching, which not all of us do regularly.
It's not too late to register for The Rhythm Is Jumpin', a Lindy Hop event that's happening in Kansas City this weekend! If you've never been to an out-of-town event, I strongly recommend this one for your first. It's a fun size, lots of local dancers will be there, and you'll have a chance to learn form some very talented and recognized instructors.
Next month, the Wichita Swing Dance Society will turn 10 years old! Join the weekend-long celebration by coming to Sunflower Swing, our very own Lindy Hop Event. It's going to be a great time, and it's going to be right here in Wichita!
In other news, the Shadow, our home for free dancing two Tuesdays each month, is closing on June 19th. If you know of any other place where we can take our little heard of dancers, please contact Evan or another WSDS Board Member and let us know!
See you next Monday!
~Chelsea
Thanks to all of you who came to class last night, even though it was a holiday! (And thanks to Evan and Ellen for sacrificing their holiday evening so Evan could teach!)
BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE - We combined everyone for the first hour and worked on different styles of musicality. It was awesome! Musicality is how you bring your own personality into your dancing and make your dances memorable. We experimented with changing footwork, dancing "big" and dancing "small," and my personal favorite, focusing on communicating with your partner through your dancing. Incorporating any or all of these techniques is an important part of taking your dancing from technically proficient to actually being entertaining to watch.
ADVANCED - We had a show-and-tell day, which I thought was very cool. Each of the 6 dancers in class for the 2nd hour presented a move or footwork variation for the others to learn. It was nice to see what everyone else is working on, and also a good chance to practice teaching, which not all of us do regularly.
It's not too late to register for The Rhythm Is Jumpin', a Lindy Hop event that's happening in Kansas City this weekend! If you've never been to an out-of-town event, I strongly recommend this one for your first. It's a fun size, lots of local dancers will be there, and you'll have a chance to learn form some very talented and recognized instructors.
Next month, the Wichita Swing Dance Society will turn 10 years old! Join the weekend-long celebration by coming to Sunflower Swing, our very own Lindy Hop Event. It's going to be a great time, and it's going to be right here in Wichita!
In other news, the Shadow, our home for free dancing two Tuesdays each month, is closing on June 19th. If you know of any other place where we can take our little heard of dancers, please contact Evan or another WSDS Board Member and let us know!
See you next Monday!
~Chelsea
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