The Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown finished up it’s final year in Minneapolis, MN this past weekend with a great set of bands and contests which set the bar for events to come.

As a quick teaser before the review of this year’s event check out some of the great footage that is already hitting YouTube. These two clips are courtesy of Andrew Thigpen.

If you have footage of ULHS 2008 toss up a comment with a link for everyone to see.

Filed Under: Event Reviews | Tuesday, October 14th, 2008

Continuing with our introduction to Dear Casey (taken from WhiteHeat Oct.27, 2006 and Feb.04, 2007)

Dear Casey

I’ve been mulling over what to ask you. I was going to start with something lame like “As a DJ, what should I do when people ask for real swing music like BBVD or Mambo #5 and I don’t carry it in my book?”

But instead I will ask about something that is of immediate concern to me. I’ve been dating again and have been out several times over the past two months with a lovely man named ‘J’. At our last date, J told me about his dream relationship, me, him and another woman who would be our caretaker. I soundly told him off and said I wasn’t interested, and wrote him a long email listing all his faults, and not expecting to hear back from him.

Today, he writes me and wants to get back together. What should I do?
oh and Casey - J’s idea of real swing music is Kenny G, he listens to the Smooth Jazz station.

Ms. Starr (more…)

Filed Under: Dance Advice, Dear Casey | Tuesday, October 14th, 2008

This is the second part of a two-part feature with World Lindy Hop Champion and Balboa Mastermind Nick Williams. For this part, Williams, an avid “clip collector” and swing-dance historian, takes us on a brief You Tube tour of some of his favorite clips, and discusses how much of modern swing was shaped by Harlem, Hollywood, and a few jitterbugs practicing on a beach.

DAY AT THE RACES

NW. “A Day At The Races” is so significant because it’s the first time Lindy Hop from Harlem was performed in a major motion picture. If you notice the lack of aerials in the clip which is from the year 1937. It was the beginning stages of air steps in Lindy Hop. The focus is on dance and mini routines for the most part. Personally I’ve taken a lot of material and routines from this clip. I haven’t taken as much styling from this clip because it of the simplicity in this clip and the fact that I prefer how the dance developed in the next few years.

Referring to your styling comment, I’m always amazed, looking at this clip after becoming a studier of swing dance, how “raw” the dancing is, [not necessarily related to the somewhat ambiguous term "raw" style dancing.] There’s definitely a lot of refinement that happens between this and the Whitey’s dancing only a few years later.  I don’t think it’s bad dancing, it’s just fascinating to see. (more…)

Filed Under: Dance History, Dancer Interviews | Wednesday, October 8th, 2008

We’re pleased to announce the international debut of “Dear Casey”. For those unfamiliar with her column, Casey Schneider has been responding to swing dancers in an advice column format for a couple of years now on White Heat, advising Seattle dancers on everything from social dancing etiquette to bringing the grit back into Blues dancing. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be publishing ten of her most *serious* posts to introduce you to her column. Send your questions to casey@lindybloggers.com

Dear Casey,

Is there any etiquette for birthday songs or jam circles, i.e. how long to let someone dance before jumping in or priority for who gets to jump in first?

Sincerely, Waiting to Jump

Excellent question! “Improper” behavior is one of my pet peeves in RE jams of any kind.

Yes, there’s etiquette and then there’s reality. For a birthday dance, I would say etiquette - and knowledge of this dance - dictates waiting for at least a phrase in slow to mid-tempo song, and possible two if the song is very fast. Now, reality dictates that not everyone will do this, and some people are so popular that you might need to cycle through more quickly to satiate the desire of all the non-birthday dancers. But in REAL reality, none of us are that cool, so give a person a phrase, people. It’s not hard. (more…)

Filed Under: Dance Advice, Dear Casey | Monday, October 6th, 2008