Had a surprisingly good climbing day today. Without really intending to, I managed to scend my first V4 problem! I also made some good progress on this V5.
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Switching as Another Level of Dancing
The Switch Workshop I took at the end of July has got me thinking more deeply about what switching brings to lindy hop. I realize now that lead/ follow switching adds a whole new level of possibilities for musicality, collaboration, and instant communication. As an example, check out this instance of switching that Irina Amzashvili and Matt Richey shared…
Dancing Gig at a Casino: The Joys of Dancing with Older Folks
I haven’t done too many paid gigs in my dancing career. It just hasn’t been something that I’ve been interested in doing. Performing, working on routines, marketing myself, have the right “look”, finding a partner, and hustling for gigs just sounds like a drag. This weekend my friend Shannon convinced me to partner with her…
Rock Climbing as Everyone Versus the Wall
As a newbie climber, I can fall into the trap of continually comparing myself to other, more experienced climbers. From this perspective, other climbers are the competition, and their successes make me look like a worse climber in comparison. I’d see someone scend a hard route and think, “I will never be that good.” Not…
Bo Burnham on the Internet: “It’s people talking to nobody.”
Director of the outstanding new film Eighth Grade Bo Burnham had some powerful things to say about what he sees on the internet. As a former YouTube celebrity, I think he knows what he’s talking about. I’ve been mulling over his words for the past couple of days. “I was interested in talking about people on the…
The Jazz Vault: Dreaming of a Home for Lindy Hop / Vernacular Jazz
It might be that I’m sick and somewhat addled, but I’ve been dreaming about what it might look like for lindy hoppers in my community to have a place we could call our own. The San Francisco Bay Area is one of the most expensive places in the United States to live and run a…
Disney, Cultural Connections and Common Ground
Last night I was flying back from my latest trip to Disneyland, tired but happy. Our small commuter plane wasn’t able to hook up directly to the terminal at SFO, so we had to walk down the stairs to a waiting bus. The bus took quite a long time to get to our final terminal,…
“Rather Be” by Clean Bandit: Waacking Freestyle
It was a chilly morning at Ocean Beach today. I’m happier with how my waacking throws and grabs are looking. And my hairbrushes are pretty decent here.
Fun Times at Disney California Adventure
I have long thought of Disney California Adventure (DCA) as the inferior little brother to Disneyland. I grew up going to Disneyland Anaheim. It has layers and layers of history, tradition, and memories for me. That is hard to top. In contrast, California Adventure has only been around since 2001. I never thought of it…
Health Update: Back in Shape, Staying Active
I haven’t done a health update in awhile. I’m happy to report that being on sabbatical has not meant that I’ve become a lazy sloth. In fact, I’ve been probably more active than when I was working. After gaining a bunch of weight from my Asia trip a month ago, I am now back to…