Tonight my buddy Rafi and I saw "The Break/s", an amazing one-person play by Marc Bamuthi Joseph that mixes dance, spoken word, rap, turntablism, beatboxing and video art, all within a strong hip-hop framework. There’s a loose, dream-like narrative chronicling Joseph’s travels from Senegal to Paris to Tokyo to Havana as a hip-hop instructor, interweaved…
Category: Dancing / Music
Dancing ninjas, disco skaters, jitterbuggers in Central Park
Sometimes I wonder why I spend any time at all in Second Life. I get all the weirdness, crazy mash-ups, and multi-cultural mixing that I want just wandering around New York City. Yesterday in Central Park was a good example. Paolo Lanna is the organizer of Central Park Swings, an irregular swing dance in front…
My friend Veronica in the METRO newspaper today!
There’s a very cute picture of my friend Veronica dancing on Governor’s Island yesterday in the NY edition of the METRO newspaper. She’s such a ham, so it’s no wonder they used her pic. Congrats, girl! I’m kicking myself that I had to miss the second day of swinging on Governor’s Island yesterday. My friends…
Michael Arenella on Governor’s Island: Let’s Peabody! (video)
I had a really wonderful afternoon today on Governor’s Island, a tiny morsel of land just off of lower Manhattan that has only recently been opened for limited public access. Today on Governor’s Island, Michael Arenella and his Dreamland Orchestra performed 1920s-era "hot" and "sweet" jazz in a picturesque park for a friendly and all-ages…
FLYP magazine online article on legendary lindy hopper Frankie Manning
FLYP magazine has published an amazing web article about legendary lindy hopper Frankie Manning that is really worth a read. Combining a sweet tribute, photos, video and a timeline, it’s one of the best articles about Frankie that I’ve seen in awhile. I’ve been fortunate enough to take classes from this amazing dancer and call…
“Sling Shot Hip Hop” documentary on the Palestianian hip hop movement premieres in NY on Thursday
At breakdance practice last night, I was talking with Waleed, another dancer who told me about a real cool film project he is involved with. "Sling Shot Hip Hop" is a film about the role of hip hop music for Palestinians as a form of political expression: Slingshot Hip Hop braids together the stories of…
What happens at Strokerz Ball stays at Strokerz Ball (not really)
"Hi, I’m Stroker Serpentine, and I’m a pervert," announced the bald man with devil ears. So began yet another incarnation of "Strokerz Ball" at SLCC 2008. Infamous adult industry purveyor Stroker Serpentine threw another of his raunchy bachannals at the Second Life Community Convention last night, in a sweaty, dark party room in a Tampa…
Me breaking in Second Life at SLCC (sorta)
Here’s a cute picture of me doing a break freeze "in Second Life" using a green screen and a digitally super-imposed backdrop. Linden Lab set up a fun photo booth at the Second Life Community Convention where people could get their real live selves placed in a virtual background, from drinking in a pub to…
Good bye, AstroLand!
So I hear tale that "Astroland," the beloved and somewhat seedy amusement park in Coney Island, is going bye-bye very soon. This bums me out to no end, even if I have never been one of those who were big into the thrill rides or carnie games. "Astroland" is just part of what makes Coney…
Buy Swifty’s photos from ILHC – contribute to Lindy Hopper’s Fund!
My roommate Swifty has just posted a set of amazing dance photos he took at the International Lindy Hop Championships in DC a couple of weekends ago. Swifty says he will be happy to make a 5 x 7 print for anyone for $8, with all profits donated to the Lindy Hopper’s Fund. Buy a…