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

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