The year 2022 was a return to “normal” post-Pandemic life, which was wonderful. There were no major life changes, but there were a lot of wonderful moments to remember. Health I feel blessed to be in my 50s and able to do all that I do, from skating to dancing to biking everywhere. The biggest…
Category: Dancing / Music
“A Lovely Day”: Fun Dance Video Shoot with Liz!
Just for funsies, I got together with my dear friend Liz to shoot a freestyle lindy hop dance video this weekend. We agreed on a chill, bouncy song to dance to, a mashup of ”Lovely Day” by Bill Withers and ”Good as Hell” by Lizzo, performed by the band Pomplamoose. And we found three gorgeous…
Revisiting “The Message” (2011)
I have always had a really hard time watching myself dance. All I see are the mistakes, the awkwardness, the flaws. I have so many videos of me dancing on my computer that I have never looked at. I’m trying to get better at being kind and compassionate with myself, including my own artistic expression….
On Lindy Hop, Language and Declining a Dance
I’ve gotten to the age as a lindy hopper where I feel empowered to be a “swing snob.” You know the person — they only dance with certain people, maybe their regular partner and a couple of their friends. That’s a label I’m willing to bear. At this point, I’m lindy hopping maybe once or…
TRON Costume Rebooted: “I roll for the users!”
A couple of years ago, I put together a TRON costume for $60 that I was pretty proud of. I decided to enhance it for 2022, which happens to be the 40th anniversary of the original TRON movie. The most visible addition to this rebooted costume was an LED visor that definitely turned a lot…
Charlestons + Hat Tricks on a Fashion Runway
I can’t believe I just did a dance gig at a freaking fashion show where I threw down solo jazz, charleston and hat tricks?!? And I managed not to drop the hat??? It all started when Sarah Bush, a dancer / choreographer / dance troupe founder I know, contacted me about a possible gig about…
A Public Service Announcement for Skaters
Sadly, over the last few days, friends of mine have had personal property taken, been subjected to sexual harassment and even threatened with physical violence. Yes, the skating rink is generally a safe and fun place. But there are shady folks out there. So I created this little PSA as a heads up.
Just a Normal Tuesday at the Rink
For the past couple of years the Skating Place in Golden Gate Park has been my second home. Here’s a little taste of what makes it so magical. It’s a Tuesday in late August in San Francisco. It’s been annoyingly chilly the past few days, but the sun is out today! A perfect time to…
Deep and Riki’s Skate Showcase!
So last Sunday was the semi-annual Skate Showcase at the Golden Gate Park Skating Place, my second home for the past two years. This is a celebration of the SF skate community and a chance for folks to show off their skate dancing skills in a friendly and chill environment. Last year you will recall…
My Trip to Nawlins: Laissez les bons temps rouler!
At the end of June, I had the good fortune to be sent on a work trip to the great city of New Orleans, one of my favorite places in the world. After finishing a work conference, I spent a couple more days relaxing in this iconic American city. It has been at least a…