The New York Times has been doing these wonderful 3600 videos on a variety of subjects. A recent series focused on dancers over 60, showing them dance while they talk about their philosophies of movement. Really moving and inspiring, particularly for me as an older dancer. Featured artists: Eiko Otake Gus Solomon, Jr Brenda Bufalino Douglas…
Category: Dancing / Music
My 2017 Year in Review: Pies, Dancing, Safaris, Pastries, and More Dancing!
Okay I am WAY late to this, but I felt compelled to throw something together tonight. Here’s my 2017 year in review. Quick 2017 Stats Freestyle Dance Videos Shot: 7 Number of Marches and Protests: 3 Number of Pies Baked: 5 New Hobbies Acquired: 1 (rock climbing) Dance Competitions Entered: 5 Countries Visited: 1 (South…
Jamming to “Lunceford Special” at Lindy Focus!
I spent the last week in Asheville, North Carolina at one of my favorite dance events in the world, Lindy Focus. Focus is a seven day celebration of swing jazz and lindy hop held in a hotel just outside of downtown Asheville. Some of the best swing musicians and dancers in the world gather with…
Josephine Baker Was a Badass
I stumbled upon this clip of jazz dancer Josephine Baker in the Huntley Archives, dated sometime in the 1920s. For those who don't know, Josephine Baker was a legendary American artist and performer who gained her fame in France, primarily as a jazz dancer. Baker was the first person of color to become a world-famous entertainer…
How to Exercise: Keep Moving, Do What You Love
I realize that I haven't written much about my exercise practices, as much as I write about food choices and diet. Obviously exercise is as important to health as diet. (But diet is much more important than exercise for weight control.) Here's what a typical week looks like for me these days. I don't have…
Why I Need Lindy Hop
Voon and Veronica at Central Park Swings, 2008 Every once in awhile I feel guilty about all the time and energy I spend on dancing, when I could be out fighting injustice, building homes for the poor or lobbying Congress more. And then I finish a kick-ass dance weekend and head off to my job…
Millie Bobby Brown rapping is everything I need right now
Millie Bobby Brown rapping a recap of Season 1 of Stranger Things is on repeat for me. Just because of the world. Lyrics below: Let's go back to Indiana, circa Nineteen Eighty-ThreeJust four boys in the basement chillin' playin' D&DThere was Lucas there was Willy Will and Dustin, there was MikeBut one night Will goes…
The Stretch Suit: Initial Impressions
So in late June, I started seeing social media ads and videos for “The Stretch Suit,” billed as “the world’s most comfortable suit.” Supposedly designed to look good while doing all sorts of extreme activities, it seemed ambitious and kind of cool. Nice ad, but this was just a crowdfunding campaign, so who knew if…
Odd Sweet: Solo Jazz + House at Paris Jazz Roots Fest
Loving this video by mixed styles dancer Odd Sweet of Paris, doing a showcase at the Jazz Roots Festival last April. Apparently this performance won the showcase division, for good reason. So much character, musicality, and unique style. Odd Sweet is teaching workshops next week in SF. Excited to learn and dance with him! Here’s…
Taiwanese Kid Waackers Just Slay this Janet Jackson Tribute!
I just saw Janet Jackson in concert. And then this comes across my feed, from the incomparable Taiwanese waacker Akuma Diva. These are 11-15 year old students of Akuma's. I just can't….