I'm not really the audience for this kind of modern dance in this TED Talk by choreographer Wayne McGregor. But I really enjoyed what McGregor had to say about choreography as "shared cognition" among the choreographer, the dancers, the musicians, visual artists, designers, even scientists. This is so far beyond what most people think of…
Heidi and I Charlestoning at the Gatsby Summer Afternoon (pic)
Here's a fun pic from the Gatsby Summer Afternoon a couple of weekends ago in Oakland. That's my friend Heidi from NY and I in the charleston contest. Full picture here, by Marianme. Used with permission.
SwingNation #3: Lindy Hop Score Geekery, Chazz’s 80th, & Cute Kids Swinging!
We just finished episode #3 of "SwingNation", the internet's only live swing dance talk show. My co-hosts Spuds, Zuckerpunch and I had a great time putting on this episode last night. We hope our audience enjoys our banter, news, interviews and video clips that we show. In this show, we feature a conversation with…
Me Getting in the Way of a Fantastic Shot of Kevin & Jo Dancing (pic)
Here's a fun pic of me being a jerk while Jo and Kevin dance their hearts out behind me at the Gatsby Lawn Party in Oakland a couple of weekends ago. Actually I'm playing a bit part in their routine, as the lout who tries to steal Jo away. Such a cute dance! Photo…
Chinese Dragon Charleston Battle: #4wordsyouneverthoughtyoudseetogether (video)
I really don't know what to make of this. It is both really terrible and kind of awesome.
Gordon Webster: Swing Bandleader, Supreme Coffee Geek
Of all the things I expected to be doing last night, making espresso shots at 2am with one of the most popular lindy hop bandleaders in the country was not what I anticipated. Gordon Webster is a much celebrated swing bandleader based in New Jersey who travels the world sharing his unique take on swing…
The Best Seat in the House: Building a Virtual Audience for a Swing Dance Competition
A few months ago my team at Yehoodi.com began an audacious plan to broadcast live on the internet the International Lindy Hop Championships in DC, the most prestigious dance competition in the lindy hop world. This was a big first for the swing dance community. While other lindy dance contests have been live streamed before (notably…
Barry Joseph Leaving Global Kids, Leading Digital Learning at American Museum of Natural History
I'm excited to share the news that my friend, mentor and former boss at Global Kids, Mr. Barry Joseph, will be leaving his post after 12 years to take on the position of Associate Director of Digital Learning at the American Museum of Natural History in NYC. I could not be happier for him. Barry being…
Watch this Youth-produced Video on Coral Reef Bleaching from the Cal Academy! (video)
I invite you to check out this short science video produced by a group of teenagers during a program that I co-facilitated at the California Academy of Sciences called the "Science in Action Summer Intensive." Entitled "Fading Jewels of the Sea," this is the first of three science videos our team of 10 students produced…
The Gatsby Summer Afternoon: Visiting a World without Plastic
The Gatsby Summer Afternoon is a lavish 1920s era lawn party put on by the Art Deco Society of California. Hundreds of vintage hounds gathered yesterday on the lawn of the elegant Dunmuir estate in Oakland to be transported briefly into another time, bathed in warm sunshine and fresh air. I've been to "prohibition-era"…