Here’s a short choreo piece I created to the wonderful song “Puttin on the Ritz” by Fred Astaire. So much fun to do!
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Homemade Pancakes with Whipped Cream and Bacon
I don’t think I’ve ever made straight-up pancakes from scratch before? I used the Martha Stewart recipe, which I just a decent job of. They weren’t very pretty and didn’t rise very much. But very tasty! I topped them with whipped cream that I whipped myself. It’s so easy to do, and really only takes…
Swingin’ at the Savoy, Norma Miller’s Memoirs as a Lindy Hopper
I finally got around to reading Norma Miller’s Swingin’ at the Savoy: The Memoir of a Jazz Dancer (1996). I don’t know why it took me so long to get to this book. I should have read it years and years ago. Norma recounts her incredible life as a dancer and an entertainer, from first…
Joe Williams on Playing Music for Dancers
“When the band would see real fine dancers, the musicians would try to become a part of what they were doing. Really, the dancers inspired the musicians and vice versa. If the musicians did something exceptional, it inspired the dancers to do something exceptional, and then the dancers would inspire the musicians to do even…
My Interview with “Crazy Rich Asians” Singer Jasmine Chen!
I’m so delighted to have had the opportunity to interview Shanghai-based jazz singer Jasmine Chen for “SwingNation” the other day. An innovative musician who fuses traditional Chinese folk traditions with jazz inflections, Jasmine rose to international attention recently when her music was featured on the “Crazy Rich Asians” soundtrack and she appeared in two scenes…
What Caused California’s Housing Crisis? Sophie Breaks It Down.
My friend Sophie Rubin created this super helpful video that breaks down clearly and succinctly all the factors that play into why California, particularly the San Francisco Bay Area, has such a problem with affordable housing. I knew some of these things going into the video, but was totally floored by all the tax policy…
Bloc Party at Planet Granite: My First Bouldering Competition!
I’ve been bouldering for about a year, and feel like I’m making decent progress and more importantly having a really fun time. Today was my first time participating in a bouldering competition at my gym, Planet Granite. Bloc Party is an annual contest that invites all boulderers, from beginners to advanced, to compete in a…
Today’s Jam: Janet Jackson’s “Made For Now”
I have no idea who this Daddy Yankee person is. But I’m all in for everything else about this video: Miss Jackson + New York City + funky fashion + lots of POC dancers. Let’s go! And gotta love her first TV performance of this single on the “Tonight Show” with Jimmy Fallon. That urban…
Irina and Anthony at ILHC 2018: The Joy and Romance of Lindy Hop
When strangers ask me about learning lindy hop, they often say that it must be hard to “throw my partner around” or “dance so fast.” I think the popular impression of lindy hop is that it’s full of crazy airsteps and really fast dancing. The classic clips that we often send around of Whitey’s Lindy…
The Corpse Flower Blooms!
I have been hearing about the wonders of the “Corpse Flower” (Amorphophallus titanum) for years, but never had a chance to experience it until last night. My friend Diane posted on her Facebook wall that she was going that night to catch the extremely rare Corpse Flower blooming event at the San Francisco Conservatory of…