A friend sent along the news that MC Hammer is heading up a new dance-oriented website called DanceJam.com: Drawing upon the popularity of reality shows like "Dancing With The Stars," DanceJam will stage head-to-head competitions where contestants submit videos that will be judged by viewers. The site also will provide demonstrations and information about a…
Category: Dancing / Music
Engagement Jam for PinkieLou and Par (video)
Here’s a fun video of local lindy hoppers PinkieLou and Par celebrating their engagement with a lindy jam at last night’s Frim Fram dance. That’s Lou in the (duh) pink dress and Par in the gray sweatshirt. The awesome song is "Gangbusters" by Cats and a Fiddle (1937). Congrats, guys! I took this with my…
Yehoodi Talk Show #503: The Rave Dance Episode
The Yehoodi Talk Show video podcast Episode #503 is now available for your viewing pleasure. The Yehoodi Talk Show is a biweekly podcast hosted by myself and my buddy Spuds where we discuss what’s new in the world of lindy hop, swing dancing and whatever else we feel like throwing in. This is a very…
YouTube Battle
True story: At our family Christmas party, my sister Cori is talking to my cousin Rafael, who’s a university student in California. She asks Rafael what he is up to. He mentions that he is part of a hip hop dance group. "Oh, my brother is in a breakdance group, too. You guys should battle!"…
My top 10 dances of 2007
By photographer Laura Hanifin This year has been a remarkable one for dancing. Here are my top ten dances of 2007: Dancing at the Apollo with Sharon Jones (perhaps #1 for LIFE) Breaking with my breakdance group at PMT Studios Fall Showcase Performing with the Brooklyn Bombshells group at the Mermaid Parade Lindy hopping to…
Chicago Tribune on Stepping
The Chicago Tribune has a very sweet story about the phenomenon of stepping, a vernacular African-american social dance very closely related to lindy hop. Typically danced to soul and R&B music, stepping is a much more smoothed out and relaxed dance with a looser connection between the lead and follow. As the Tribune describes it:…
“Wild Style” and the roots of hip-hop dance
I finally got around to watching the 1982 hip-hop classic movie "Wild Style" featuring a number of legends from the rap, graffiti, and b-boy worlds. If you call yourself a fan of hip-hop culture, you need to see this movie. Forget the terrible acting or the almost non-existent plot, it’s all about getting a flavor…
Blue Vipers interviewed and performing on WNYC
My pals in the awesome swing band the Blue Vipers have a cool interview on the WNYC radio show "Soundcheck" that aired December 10. They sound really great performing on the show and Billy the guitar player was a hoot. "You see a lot of things in New Orleans." The Blue Vipers also have a…
Charleston e-card starring YOU
Don’t send a lame Starring You! eCard. Try JibJab Sendables! My friend Atalanta posted that the website JibJab has a fun vintage-y charleston e-card that you can put your own face on. Who knew I looked so good in a flapper dress? I love it!
Swinging to the sounds of Motown
I just got home from the "Swing and Soul" party weekend in Atlanta Georgia. It was basically a three-day celebration of the sounds of Motown, with 300-some lindy hoppers from all over the United States dancing their hearts out to great music all day and night. I’ve always loved soul music, from Marvin to Diana…