This is the kind of stuff that makes me remember why I love the Herrang Dance Camp so much. This was my final class of the week with Lennert (director of the camp) and his partner W. Toward the end of the class, a swing band marched through and began playing for us, followed…
Let’s Put on a Show!: Swing Kids Perform and Cabaret Night
Last night was one of my favorite events at the Herrang Dance Camp: Cabaret Night. It's the time when people bust out their best usually non-swing-related talents to share with the camp. With some of the most gifted dancers in the world in Herrang, you know they have many other tricks up their sleeve!…
Herrang Day 3: Challenging Assumptions and the Dreaded Slow Drag
So starting the second day, my body started pushing back, telling me, "Rik, you aren't 25 anymore." I was falling asleep all day and night, during class, during the dances, during the camp meeting… basically all the time. My dancing has certainly not in top form, but I pushed through the fatigue. That must mean…
Herrang Day 2: A Mellower Dance Camp Experience
It's been a different experience being here Week Two of the Herrang Dance Camp rather than Week Four or Five, when I have come in the past. This camp is a lot less intense so far than previous times I've been here. And for the most part, that is a good thing. Herrang in total…
Learning Again and Again the Art of Partner Dancing
It's the first real day of the Herrang Dance Camp for me. Today the advanced group had three classes with just one teaching couple: Jo Hoffberg and Kevin Saint Laurent. They taught something both totally simple and exceedingly difficult: how to lead and follow your partner. The concept was to lead precisely very simple figures…
Off to Herrang Dance Camp for a Couple Weeks
Starting on Saturday, I will be — for the third time! — at the Herrang International Dance Camp, in the quaint northern Swedish town of Herrang. I'm looking forward to being with the hundreds and hundreds of lindy hop afficionados from around the world that converge on Herrang. And lots of good friends will be…
Kim Nalley sings Nina Simone… for Dancers!
Last night I had the pleasure of catching local jazz diva Kim Nalley play a divine set of Nina Simone songs in the elegant and intimate Rrazz Room at the Hotel Nikko in SF. Kim has been doing her tribute to the great Nina Simone from mid-June, finishing up on July 17. What made last…
Lindy Hoppers Ryan François and Remy Kouame in Slow Club Music Video “Two Cousins” (video)
Check out this awesome music video by the band Slow Club for their new single "Two Cousins." It features lindy hoppers Ryan François and Remy Kouakou Kouame doing an homage to legendary dancers Al Minns and Leon James. I love it, even if their dancing doesn't really go with the music.
I’m older today….
… but probably not any wiser. 😮 ;-)
Jazz Mafia Free 10 Year Anniversary CD: Bring the Brass, Bows and Beats!
For you jazz heads and hip-hop heads, check out this awesome free music compilation by the incomparable Jazz Mafia, which I've got playing out of my speakers right now! Just head to their website for instructions on how you can download it. I know I am like 10 years too late to the party….