Here's another great video for "Frankie Week" created by those awesome folks in the San Francisco lindy scene. Set in front of the very picturesque Golden Gate Bridge, they really nail the movements and fun vibe of the Shim Sham. And then… well, watch the video… More Shim Sham videos for Frankie week can be…
Frankie Week Day Six: Chicago Shim Shams Live on the Web!
More cool submissions are coming in for the Frankie Week "Global Shim Sham" video project! Those clever cats in Chicago organized at their Tuesday night dance last night a Shim Sham for Frankie Week. Not content to merely video record the whole thing, they also broadcast it live on the web! Here's what Nuprin writes:…
The Southwest Lindyfest: junior jitterbugs, soaring Canadians, and Frankie Manning! (video)
I just got home from an exhausting, amazing weekend in Houston for the Southwest Lindyfest, put on by the Houston Swing Dance Society. Lindyfest, now in its 13th year, is one of the most successful lindy hop camps in the country, drawing hundreds of swing dance enthusiasts from all over the US. The four day …
Korean lindy hoppers perform Shim Sham to traditional song “Arirang” (video)
This video is so many kinds of awesome, I don't know where to start. Korean lindy hoppers perform their version of the "Shim Sham" swing line dance for legendary lindy hopper Frankie Manning's 95th birthday. Instead of one of the standard swing tunes, these Korean dancers chose to do a modified version of the routine…
Pappas: Tasty, cheap Texas-style barbecue in Houston
People know that I'm pretty passionate about really good barbecue. While in Houston for the Southwest Lindyfest, I got to have dinner at one of the many Pappas barbecue establishments in the city. For a chain restaurant, it's surprisingly good 'cue at a reasonable price. My buddy Eli and I shared the 3-pound special, which…
IJCentral.org: New online center for action on the International Criminal Court
The filmmakers behind "The Reckoning," the new documentary about the International Criminal Court, have launched an associated online clearinghouse to support education and outreach about ICC. Called "IJ Central," it promises to : integrate a multi-platform citizen engagement strategy using online mapping technology to visualize the global justice network through SMS text messaging, aggregating blogs,…
Lindy hoppers around the world creating photos & videos for Frankie’s 95th birthday!
Frankie Manning leading the Shim Sham at the NYSDS dance, December 2008. Video courtesy of vwluong. Today is the first day of "Frankie Week," taking place from March 12-22 — eleven days for lindy hop scenes from around the world to create social media to get them excited about Frankie Manning's 95th birthday in May….
ENGAGE Expo 2009: From brand placement to youth development
Ted Tagami of Small Worlds demoing to Joyce, Barry and GK youth Chanel at ENGAGE. I just back to the office from the ENGAGE Expo, which took place March 10-11 at the Jacob Javitz Center in Manhattan. I have to say that I was a bit pessimistic going in about what I was going to…
Buckminster Fuller Institute looking for coordinator of $100K global solution prize
Man, if I didn't already have an awesome position, I would be applying for this dream job: Program Coordinator of the Buckminster Fuller Challenge. Essentially you get to give out $100,000 to someone who has come up with a strategy to solve one of humanity's greatest challenges. You pay people to save the planet. That's…
Two legends of hip-hop in one day: Ken Swift and DMC!
Today was one of those days I just love living in New York. In the morning I got to interview hip-hop legend DMC (of Run DMC) at the ENGAGE Expo at Javitz Center. Then in the evening I got to take a fundamentals of breaking class with legendary b-boy Ken Swift. I love my crazy…