As a swing dancer and a hip-hop dancer I'm ambivalent about how hip-hop music is used in West Coast Swing. On the one hand, I'm impressed with the difficulty in the choreography and cleverness of the moves. But on the other hand, I find the "up"-ness of WCS and the smoothness of the movement…
Category: Dancing / Music
Lindy Hop, Hip Hop and More in Capital Cities Music Vid
Happy Saturday! Check out this fun music video featuring a number of lindy hoppers, as well as hip-hop, ballroom, disco skaters and more. The band is LA-based alt-dance duoCapital Cities, performing their song "Safe and Sound." According to Capt Morgan, dancers include Mikey Pedroza, Nikki Marvin, Marshall Watson, Minn Vo, Nick Williams, Stefanie Klausmann, and Lou…
Watch Nashville’s “I Charleston” Video and Get Happy!
The "I Charleston" phenomenon is one of my favorite swing memes, if I can call it that. Started by some Frenchy lindy hoppers, basically any swing scene in the world can create an "I Charleston" video showing their local dancers charlestoning and doing solo jazz in notables spots in their city and put it online…
“Re/Genesis” Dance Show: Post-Script
We did it! After months of work, Freeplay and Prince on Point dance crews pulled off an ambitious and demanding dance show this weekend. "Re/Genesis" was for me a very personal project that grew out of something in my own heart and has blossomed into this colorful quilt of dance pieces. It was really only…
“Re/Genesis” Debuts Tonight!
It's showtime! The Freeplay Dance Crew and Prince on Point collaboration "Re/Genesis" debuts tonight at 8pm at the Garage Theater in San Francisco. It's been a long, sometimes difficult, even painful, creation process. But reviewing video of our final rehearsal last night, I'm blown away by all that we've accomplished together. And I can't wait to share…
SwingNation Ep 18: Cubes, hats and chickens, oh my! (video)
Here's the latest episode of "SwingNation," the world's only livestreamed talk show on lindy hop. This week, Spuds, Zuckerpunch and I talk about awesome plans afoot for Frankie Manning's 99th birthday, watch some dancing cubes, a solo jazz chicken, and some cool swing hat tricks. Check it all out here.
OMG, “Re/Genesis” Show is This Weekend!
I can't believe that after months of work, we are just days away from my dance crew's show "Re/Genesis" April 12 and 13 in San Francisco. It's been an incredible journey for me, as the original instigator of this show with my piece "The Message" that I created a year and a half ago. A…
SwingNation Ep 17: 90s Swing All-star Steve Bailey, Adorable Swing Kids in Kiev, & More Tips for Swing Teachers (video)
For "SwingNation" episode 17, Spuds , Zuckerpunch and I go back to the beginning of the neo-swing era to chat with 90s swing all-star Steve Bailey. We also gush over Cheryl Crow's latest list of tips for swing dance teachers and show some ridiculously cute Ukrainian kids lindy hopping. Enjoy!
SwingNation Ep 16: Herrang Championships, Rare Frankie Clip & Zuckerpunch Killin It (video)
Check out the latest episode of "SwingNation" (episode 16), starring Zuckerpunch, Spuds and yours truly. It's the internet's only regular talk show on swing dancing and lindy hop. It's the best 30 minutes of fake television you are going to see this week.
Justin Timberlake Killin It on SNL
I love so much about this performance: Justin's style, the awesome choreo, the live band, the grown-up outfits. And ladies in suits are so dope.