Yesterday night, I and the FreePlay Dance Crew did a really fun gig at Club Vertigo in downtown San Francisco to benefit the YMCA. We chose a spy-themed routine, the "Shadows" conspiring against the "Light" team to get the mysterious package. But what was really so valuable? It was a fun, crazy night performing in…
Category: Dancing / Music
Check out swing dancer Heidi’s 13 vintage outfits on The Chic Index! (pics)
I'm happy to spread the word that my friend Heidi Rosenau (aka "Frick & Frack" on Yehoodi) is the featured style maven on "The Chic Index" blog this month. Heidi is a vintage swing dancer from New York City who dances lindy, balboa, collegiate shag and charleston. And by day, she works at one of the…
Ford Commercial features Canadian Lindy Hop couple (video)
This commercial for Ford Canada tells a very sweet story of lindy hop-dancing couple Aimee and Alex… interspersed with shots of them with their shiny red Ford. Very cute. I wish there were other products that could feature lindy hoppers. Maybe shoes, clothing, energy drinks, power bars, airlines… [Hat tip, Capt Morgan!]
FreePlay Dance Crew performing for YMCA Youth Chance High School this Saturday!
I'm excited to announce that my hip-hop dance crew FreePlay is doing a special performance this Saturday November 12, as a fundraiser for a great cause: the YMCA Youth Chance High School. Youth Chance is a special school for teens who have dropped out of other schools and are given special help and attention so that they…
“Swing Dance Memes” : My New Favorite Thread on Yehoodi
The always funny Capt Morgan started an inspired discussion thread on Yehoodi last week called "Swing Dance Memes," combining various meme-arific pictures with inspired, swing-related slogans. Since then, many, many others have chimed in with their own memes, using memegenerator.net and www.quickmeme.com, among other services. Here are some of my faves….
Joseph Gordon Levitt’s homage to Donald O’Conner: “Make ’em Laugh!”
Not long ago, Joseph Gordon Levitt on Saturday Night Live did an admirable homage to the great dancer / performer Donald O'Conner. Of course O'Conner's "Make em Laugh!" is revered as one of the finest comic dance performances ever captured on film. I really liked the JGL version though, particularly the awesome stunt at the end….
New Chick Webb Documentary Needs Funds!
My friend Judy Prichett shared with me this appeal for funding for a new documentary about legendary band leader Chick Webb: There is a fantastic new documentary about to be released: "The Savoy King: Chick Webb & the Music That Changed America". It tells the important story of the birth of swing dancing at…
“Freak Dance” : A dance movie parody I might actually see (video)
I'm not a big dance movie parody fan. But I have to admit, I laugh every time I watch this trailer for "Freak Dance." The Upright Citizens Brigade know how to bring the funny. Oh and it looks like Quest Crew makes an appearance. So it can't be that bad. I'll at least watch it…
FreePlay Dance Crew in the Castro… and my wardrobe malfunction
I had a blast dancing with my FreePlay Dance Crew this weekend at the Castro Street Fair. It was a huge event with thousands of people milling about, so definitely performance anxiety was high for a lot of us. And we had a ton of new material to work through in our 40 minute set….
Watch Online the Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown Live this Saturday from NOLA! (video)
The Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown in New Orleans is one of those epic dance events that I have somehow never managed to attend. Everyone I know who has attended tells me that it hosts the most blazingly awesome lindy hop dancing you will ever see, plus social dancing all over this greatest of jazz cities….