Sarah Warny Berg created this wonderful photo essay about some of the darker feelings and thoughts experienced during the Herräng Dance Camp. Obviously this isn't exclusive to this camp or these people, but touches on some universal experiences we all go through but don't express often. I can totally relate to many of the sentiments…
Category: Dancing / Music
Herrang 2016: Solo Jazz, the “Bus Stop,” and Swedish Pancakes
I’ve been at the Herrang International Dance Camp — “The Home of the Happiest Feet” — for the past week and a half, along with hundreds of lindy hoppers from all over the world. It’s billed as the “most comprehensive and exciting dance camp focusing on African-American jazz dances from the Golden Era of jazz.”…
Off to the Herrang Dance Camp Tomorrow!
Tomorrow afternoon, I'm headed off to Europe for the Herrang Dance Camp, which I call the Burning Man for lindy hoppers. It's a five week intensive, chaotic gathering of thousands of lindy hoppers from all over the world for workshops, social dancing, performances, parties, socializing and much much more. Being there is like being transported to…
“Swing” – Beautiful mini-documentary about two swing dancers
Watch "SWING" a lyrical documentary about swing dancing. Get ready for all the feels. From the description: "It portrays the relationship between two brilliant dance partners, and between them and the dance itself. Michaela and Rupert talk about how the dance changed their lives and brought out their real selves." A Film by Anna Franzén…
Classic Clip of Filipinos Lindy Hopping on Film!
Check out this classic clip of Filipinos dancing lindy hop on film! Not sure what the name of this film is, but the principal dancers are Dolphy and Teroy de Guzman. I'm stealing ALL OF THESE MOVES. UPDATE 7/22/16: Reportedly the film is called "Sa isang sulyap mo Tita" dated 1952.
Watch SwingNation #74: Frankie’s Google Doodle & the Bachelorette Swings
This month on SwingNation , I'm back in front of the camera, with my friend Ellen Huffman this time! This show's featured stories: Frankie Manning gets a Google Doodle! Lindy Hoppers appear on ABC's "The Bachelorette". Juan Villafane and the Buenos Aires Lindy Hop scene. Watch it all below!
On Waacking and the Gap between Taste and Ability
I've been practicing waacking for about six weeks now, and I've gotten to the painful, long stage of the art-making process that I'll call "The Gap" for lack of a better term. The Gap refers to when you know enough about some art form to be able to distinguish good, bad and amazing. But your ability to practice…
SF Lindy Hoppers Recreate Classic Frankie Manning Videos Live!
On May 26, 2016, the 9:20 Special dance in San Francisco held a special celebration for the late Frankie Manning, legendary lindy hopper and overall mensch of a human being. The highlight of the evening's program were several performances re-creating classic clips of Frankie performed alongside the original clips that projected behind the dancers. I did…
Second Lining at Frankie95 Celebration in NYC
Embed from Getty Images I found this fun pic of me dancing in the second line celebration of Frankie Manning during the Frankie95 celebration in New York City in 2009. From Getty Images.
Salman Rushdie: To Stop Terrorism, Dance, Make Love, Eat Bacon Sandwiches
The words of Salman Rushdie need to be remembered particularly today, the day after a dreadful massacre in Florida, but really, everyday: “The fundamentalist seeks to bring down a great deal more than buildings. Such people are against, to offer just a brief list, freedom of speech, a multi-party political system, universal adult suffrage, accountable…