Dear Casey is a satirical twist on the advice columns found in news media. Send your questions to casey@lindybloggers.com

Dear Casey,

I am very fond of swing dance events, whether it be exchanges, workshops or camps,unfortunately my bank account is not! Do you know a way to make some cash to go to the gazillions of events throughout North America and why not the world.

Thanks
Lindy-Globe-trotter-wannabe.

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Filed Under: Dear Casey, Travel Advice | Friday, August 21st, 2009

Dear Casey is a satirical twist on the advice columns found in news media. Send your questions to casey@lindybloggers.com

Dear Casey,

Please give me advice on how to win!
Jaded competitor

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Filed Under: Competition Advice, Dance Advice, Dear Casey | Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009

Dear Casey is a satirical twist on the advice columns found in news media. Here’s a recent question answered on WhiteHeat. Send your questions to casey@lindybloggers.com

Hey Casey,

I have a question under the general topic of “Dance Floor Etiquette” (which really deserves it’s own thread, methinks!).

A friend of mine who works in IT support was recently complaining about how many of his friends/family ask him to “just take a quick look” at their computer issues when he’s on his off-time. It got me to thinking about people who make their living teaching Lindy Hop/Swing dancing and how there are no distinct lines between what kind of feedback/help it’s appropriate to solicit on the social floor (after a class, when you have not paid for it) versus when you should think of getting a private lesson. It seems many lindy hop instructors are friendly folks and are happy to answer questions, but I’ve also seen some being “cornered” at dances by people asking lots of detailed questions that turn into a little mini-private lesson, which usually might cost something like $75/hour from the best instructors. It’s such a unique situation because what many dancers choose to do in their free time is, of course, dance, so the line between what is done for a living and for free time is not as distinct as, say, an IT professional who works at an office and then does other stuff in free time. What are your thoughts on this, as someone who makes a portion of her income through your teaching/dancing expertise?

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Filed Under: Dance Advice, Dear Casey | Friday, March 13th, 2009

Dear Casey is a satirical twist on the advice columns found in news media. During the past months, we introduced her column through archived articles from WhiteHeat. It’s now time to send in your questions - please do so at casey@lindybloggers.com

Dear Casey,

Lately, I’ve been reading about dancers moving to greener pastures for dancing. Specifically, there have been two threads on Yehoodi with people chiming in about “Pick up and move for dancing” and the “Next big dance scene“.

Many people say that Seattle is the top destination to move to. Since you live in Seattle, I thought I’d ask you for your opinion. What do you think about this discussion, and would you recommend that dancers move to a better dance scene in order to improve?

Itching to move,
Seattle Fanboy
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Filed Under: Dance Advice, Dear Casey, Travel Advice | Friday, February 27th, 2009

Dear Casey is a satirical twist on the advice columns found in news media. During the past months, we introduced her column through archived articles from WhiteHeat. It’s now time to send in your questions - please do so at casey@lindybloggers.com

Dear Casey,

Coming from a different continent I have encountered many cultural shocks while living in North America. There is one particular thing that I still don’t quite understand in the context of social dancing which is the “hugging system”. In my country we don’t hug, we kiss cheeks to greet or say goodbye to people. So how exactly does it work and what is a “half hug”? If I dare to throw in a second question when is it ok to ask for a second dance? Since again europeans and americans seem to diverge on this too.

Thank you,
Lost-in-translation
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Filed Under: Dance Advice, Dear Casey | Friday, February 13th, 2009

Dear Casey is a satirical twist on the advice columns found in news media. During the past months, we introduced her column through archived articles from WhiteHeat. It’s now time to send in your questions - please do so at casey@lindybloggers.com

Dear Casey,

Lindy hop is a wonderful social dance which makes many different people come together for a few hours of fun and enjoyment. However all good things have a dark side; and there is one particular subject on which i would like your advice. During classes or social dances there are always a few people who seem to be oblivious to basic hygiene and prefer to harbor their natural scent to the pleasure or displeasure of others. Do you have any subtle ways to deal with this kind of situations?
Thank you,
Sensitive-Nose (more…)

Filed Under: Dance Advice, Dear Casey, Travel Advice | Friday, February 6th, 2009

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

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

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.

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

Continuing with our introduction to Dear Casey (taken from WhiteHeat May 20th, 2007 and August 8th, 2007)

Dear Casey,

With camp jitterbug coming up this weekend, I pose 2 important questions:

1) If you are hosting someone, is it inappropriate to try and make out with them?
2) Conversely, is it inappropriate for guests to try and make out with their host? What if doing allows you to sleep in a bed instead of on the floor?

Preparing for the best/worst,
Swing Girl

Dear Swing Girl,

You have a knack for asking questions that aim right at the slutty core of lindy hop. Well done. (more…)

Filed Under: Dance Advice, Dear Casey, Travel Advice | Tuesday, November 25th, 2008