My fantastic hip-hop teachers Pavan Thimmaiah and Alan Watson will be teaching dance workshops on Saturday September 19 in Washington DC. If you are in the area, this is a great opportunity to learn street dance from two great instructors. Pavan and Alan will be teaching Hip Hop Dance, Breakin' and Poppin' and end the…
Category: Dancing / Music
California Rolls “Love Me or Leave Me” routine at ILHC and why it rocked (video)
At 3am Sunday night / Monday morning, the 2nd annual International Lindy Hop Championships came to a rousing close in Washington DC. It was an incredible weekend of lindy hop competition, social dancing, live music, workshops, and socializing with dancers from around the US and all over the world. One of my fondest memories from…
Evita & Mike dance to “Singin in the Rain” (video)
Last night at ILHC, Evita Arce and Mike Jaeger performed an incredibly beautiful routine to “Singin in the Rain” in the Cabaret Division. I was filming it from the back, and I still get verklempt watching it, trying to hold my hand steady. Others I talked to felt the same. This is why I go…
Jack & Jill competitions at ILHC: the true test of the lindy hopper (video)
I just finished competing in the Advanced Jack and Jill competition at the International Lindy Hop Championships. It was a really fun experience, dancing with a ridiculously talented field of 40-50 lindy hoppers from around the world. Many lindy hoppers think of Jack & Jills as the true test of a dancer. Most other competition…
Finding inspiration at the International Lindy Hop Championships in DC
I’m in Washington DC for the second annual International Lindy Hop Championships, one of my favorite swing dance events of the year. A few hundred of the best lindy hoppers from around the United States and from countries from around the world are gathered for a fun competition and dance weekend at the Crystal City…
Vogue Evolution pushing the boundaries of urban dance on America’s Best Dance Crew
The MTV television show "America's Best Dance Crew" took a bold step in showcasing the flamboyantly gay dance crew Vogue Evolution. Not only are Vogue Evolution representing a dance form — Vogueing — that isn't any easy fit with the street dance-oriented competition. Not only is one of their members on the bigger side. But…
The Louis Armstrong Museum: a jazz treasure in Queens
Yesterday, I trekked out to Corona, Queens to join 50 or so folks for a garden jazz party at the Louis Armstrong House Museum. I've known about the Armstrong House for years but never got around to visiting for some dumb reason or another. Tin Pan Blues Band were the featured performers at the party,…
Reuters on Swing dancing in Russia
Here's a Reuter's story on swing dancing in Russia. There are some great lindy hop dancers that have come out of Russia that I've met at the Herrang Swing Dance Camp a couple of years ago. So I don't think it's such a new phenomenon. Still, a cute story.
“Burn the Floor” review: cheesy latin dancing goodness
Apparently I was destined to see the Broadway show "Burn the Floor" because I've had two people offer me free tickets to see it. Tonight, I finally caught the dance-oriented show, due to fortuitous circumstances, and I'm glad I did. (Thanks, Carla!) "Burn the Floor" has gotten some scorching reviews from the NY Times and…
Lindy hop in the news in Iceland (video)
Here's a news story on Iceland television about the Arctic Lindy Exchange, a week-long dance event in Reykjavik which just finished. I love the extended dance footage, but I wonder why it goes on for so long? Anyone who speaks Icelandic want to translate for me?