Continuing with our introduction to Dear Casey (taken from WhiteHeat June 12th, 2008). For the uninitiated, Dear Casey is a satirical twist on the advice columns found in news media. Do take every word she says seriously, as your dancing and social life depend on it.

Dear Casey,

As you probably well know being my best friend and being by my side before and after recent competitions/lindy hop performances, for some reason lately my nerves have been getting the best of me…. My stomach gets all tied up in knots and I really want to hurl, especially afterwards, even if the performance went really well!

For some reason, this only seems to happen with partner dancing, not solo dancing at all…. The strange thing is, I’ve been performing lindy hop for a little over a decade now, and it’s only been in the last year that all these feelings have been taking me over….. This is all very frustrating b/c I really want to compete and love performing… I guess you could call it “Lindy Hop Performance/Competition Stage Fright”. (more…)

Filed Under: Competition Advice, Dance Advice, Dear Casey | Thursday, January 29th, 2009

This is a guest article by Luke Albao of Washington, D.C.  He was gracious enough to do a four part series on the Boilermaker Jazz Band, one of the Lindy Hop communities best swing bands.

Introduction

A couple years ago, I met a woman who was a doctoral candidate at a university in DC. When I found out she was writing a book on jazz, I prepared to hit her with rapid-fire questions, as I tend to do when I meet experts in any subject. But, knowing that jazz is a vast category that includes (at least, according to the Library of Congress) both Jelly Roll Morton and Kenny G, I began with a necessary bit of reconnaissance: Was there a particular type of jazz she liked? She closed her eyes and smiled. “Oh, you know,” she answered. “The classics.” The classics, she said! I leaned in. She continued: “You know, Miles, Trane. The good stuff.”

Now, I have never contested the idea that Miles and Coltrane are good. It’s when people spoke of them as if they were without context, as if they popped out of thin air with nobody coming before them, that I took exception. With the righteous indignation I can only call Faltesekian, I used to bemoan such ignorance; I was genuinely sad that jazz fans neglected the genius of pre-War jazz, but this sadness was tempered by that certain feeling of superiority that comes with mistaking a subject’s unpopularity for proof of its esoteric elitism.¹

(more…)

1. The inflated language of the preceding sentence may be proof of my predisposition to esotericism. It is an embarrassing character trait, yes, and I could have just made a reference instead to Comic Book Guy, but I will let it stand, since I have done much to outgrow such douchery [except where excessive wordiness is concerned], and since I believe there might be a point to be made. [↩]

Filed Under: Band Reviews, Musician Interview | Wednesday, January 28th, 2009

Last Week’s Answer

The Savoy Ballroom. During 33 years of existence, over 250 top
bands played the Savoy, including Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman and
Cab Calloway. One night actress Lana Tuner called it the “Home of
Happy Feet”, and the nickname stuck.

And yes, it was also known as “The Track” because of its early use for dog racing. Congratulations to Eddie, Aleix and Kait for each finding part of the answer.

We’re overwhelmingly happy with the interest in our Tuesday Trivia, thank you readers! Note that we do research these trivia questions/answers, but by no means do we presume to know everything - we will make mistakes along the way. So please share with us if and when you find an inaccurate statement. Thank you Terry Monaghan for sharing your research with us on the Harvest Moon Ball answer.

This Week’s Tuesday Trivia Question: The First Lindy Hop Airstep

1. What was Shorty Snowden and his partner Big Bea’s signature show
step for competitions?
2. What was the first airstep associated with Lindy Hop executed in a
dance contest? and who were the creators of this step?

Know the answer? Let everyone know and comment.

Filed Under: Dance Trivia | Tuesday, January 27th, 2009

This week we bring you Mike Faltesek as our guest DJ.  Mike has been interviewed here in the past, teaches all over the world, and is covered in a variety of tattoos.

Song: Egyptian Ella
Artist: Fats Waller
Album: The Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2: A Handful Of Keys
Composer: Walter Doyle 1931

I have really been digging on this song lately, and almost any version of it.  Fats is the man, so I have picked his version which is really his playing with the Ted Lewis & His Orchestra and also features Mugsy Spanier.  There are some modern bands that like to kick it with this song as well.  Two of my favorites are Mora’s Modern Rhythmists and The Loose Marbles.

The song was written by Walter Doyle in 1931 and even until 1945, the lyrics were too suggestive to be included in the movie “Bring On the Girls” and were rewritten.  Here are the original lyrics to the first verse and chorus:

Ella was a dancing girl who started getting fat
Every day saw three more pounds on Ella
Until one day she found she’d lost her job because of that
And to make it worse, she’d lost her fella
She took a trip to Egypt to forget
And she made such a hit that she’s there yet …

So if you hear of a gal who can quake and shake
‘Till it makes you think of a nervous snake
They’re speakin’ … of Egyptian Ella
She weighs two-twenty but that’s O.K.
They like ‘em plenty down there that way
She has the love … of every fella
And when she shakes and when she starts
Down by the River Nile
The boys all take their old sweet-hearts
And throw them to the crocodiles
And every sheik in the audience
Jumps up and yells that “she’s immense!”
They’re cheering for Egyptian Ella.

There are a few things I love about this song.  For starters, it has a hard driving rhythm that makes you pat your foot.  The song is in a minor key, which gives it that ever so wonderful dark kind of feeling to it.  To make it sound even darker and dissonant, the chorus starts out with a chromatic descent, walking down a half step from the tonic, all the way a half step below the perfect 5th and then back up to the fifth before it resolves itself back to the tonic.  That, plus the minor key signature really helps create this steadily moving, pushing, dissonant, dirty feeling.  This is the type of song that makes you want to jump up and shout out, “mercy!”.

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You can find this song for sale on Amazon.com.

Filed Under: Song of the Week | Monday, January 26th, 2009

Continuing with our introduction to Dear Casey (taken from WhiteHeat Dec 27th, 2007 and Mar 12th, 2008) For the uninitiated, Dear Casey is a satirical twist on the advice columns found in news media. Do take every word she says seriously, as your dancing and social life depend on it.

Dear Casey,

It is far too warm during event weekends at the Century Ballroom, and while the lovely ladies prance about in their flowing skirts and spaghetti-strap tops, we men in our buttoned up suits are forced to slowly stew in our own sweatiness. I was, in the muggy depths of August, nearly ready to (excuse the pun) throw in the towel on my machismo and begin scouring eBay for plus-sized, big-boned - if you will - vintage dresses, when I found out that the latest, and assuredly the least regrettable-to-date trend in Washingtonian men’s fashion, the Utilikilt, now comes in a dapper new tuxedo cut. It seems like this would be the ideal attire for a formal evening of jumping and/or jiving, as it would serve not only to keep my special purpose cool and dry but would at least marginally decrease any communal questioning of my sexuality that might have come with donning a skirt. (more…)

Filed Under: Dance Advice, Dear Casey | Friday, January 23rd, 2009

In last week’s review of Lindy Focus VII, I went over the classes and amazing music; this week I cover the performances and atmosphere. Stay tuned for one more on the exceptional contests from the week.

Photo by Amy Sudol

The Atmosphere

What made Lindy Focus stand out was the atmosphere of the entire camp. From the first night of DJ’ed dancing as arrivals filtered in to the formal champagne toasting revel with the Firecracker Jazz Band on New Year’s Eve – Lindy Focus exuded its own savoir faire. An open and inviting scene of camaraderie with long time friends and new acquaintances resounded throughout the five days.

Pick-up jams of musicians played on-and-off in the front lobby, in the halls, or wherever musicians could prop themselves up between dancing and sleep. People watched, listened, even danced on countertops for these jam bands and many a late night was closed out with as many people in a hallway as on the dance floor.
(more…)

Filed Under: Event Reviews | Thursday, January 22nd, 2009

Photo by Peter Loggins

1.    What’s your story? Where and how did you start dancing?

My story? Okay. It was never easy for me. I was born a poor black child. I remember the days, sittin’ on the porch with my family, singin’ and dancin’ down in Mississippi. But that’s probably not the story you want to hear.

Back in 1995 a few friends of mine started talking about how they’d go out dancing to Big Bands around the LA area. It wasn’t until January of 1996 that they finally got me out to a place called the Blue Cafe in Long Beach. That’s where the Eddie Reed Big Band played once a month. These days of course he’s playing something else, but that’s another story best left untold. Having a Big Band like that packed into a tiny club was awesome, and I was hooked, so we went every month. Then we realized they had a band every Sunday, then we realized other places had bands too, and it just turned into a crack habit. Soon enough I was out dancing every night of the week, usually into the wee hours of the morning. (more…)

Filed Under: DJ Interviews | Wednesday, January 21st, 2009

Last Week’s Answer

The Harvest Moon Ball. The first event was originally
scheduled in 1927 in New York’s Central Park. However, an estimated
75,000 people showed up causing disorganization and confusion so the
contest was postponed. The first official Harvest Moon Ball took place
in 1935 in Madison Square Garden and lasted until 1984.

Collegiate Shag was featured at the Harvest Moon Ball in 1937 and 1938.

Thanks Poke Alex for the correct answer and Thane Walkup for the bonus question answer.

This Week’s Tuesday Trivia Question

“Upon entering… you climbed two mirrored flights of marble steps until you found yourself in a teeming crowd at the middle of a block-long dance floor. Directly opposite a raised double bandstand gleamed with instruments and one of two bands was up there in full swing. My first impression was that I had stepped into a different world. I had been to other ballrooms but this was different - much bigger, more glamor, real class.”

Which ballroom was Leon James referring to in this quote?

Bonus: what was it’s nickname and who originally gave it this name?

Know the answer?  Let everyone know and comment.

Filed Under: Dance Trivia | Tuesday, January 20th, 2009

This week we feature DJ Mike Thibault from Rochester, NY. Mike has been dancing and DJing for many years at events like Swing Out New Hampshire, Lindy Focus and he even helps to organize Stompology (an all solo jazz workshop).

Song: Just Squeeze Me / It Don’t Mean a Thing
Artist: Duke Ellington and His Orchestra
Album: Hot Summer Dance

I’m sneaking in two songs for my song of the week.  I don’t normally play medleys, but I make an exception for this exceptional case.  These two tunes come from a dance date that Ellington and his band played on July 22, 1960 in Sacramento, CA.  Both feature Duke’s resident trumpeter/violinist Ray Nance on vocals.  The quality of these recordings is exceptional and I highly recommend the whole album; it really showcases how tight Duke’s band was at this time.  Seeking out these great bands in live dance settings is especially rewarding for us as dancers since we can get a glimpse at how these legends would play to a crowd.  You can find this album on the cheap at Amazon.com, and it’s well worth the small price you’ll pay.

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Filed Under: Song of the Week | Monday, January 19th, 2009

Continuing with our introduction to Dear Casey (taken from WhiteHeat August 15th, 2007 and November 20th, 2007)

Dear Casey:
Do you believe in Karma? If so, when does the good stuff finally kick in after a long string of bad stuff?

Karma Chameleon
Dear Karma-C,

I would believe in Karma, but nothing THAT bad seems to have happened to George Bush, so it must not exist. Maybe he’s still on his string of bad things.

(more…)

Filed Under: Dance Advice, Dear Casey | Friday, January 16th, 2009