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 …
Tag: lindy hop
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…
Top 10 mistakes made by newbie lindy hoppers
[Me in my early years of lindy hopping way back in 2002. Yes, my partner and I had the same blonde streak in our hair.] I've been dancing lindy hop for over ten years. And in that time, I've seen my share of what can only be called swing dance douchery. I like to think…
Cali Lindy Hoppers unite for 24 Hour Cancer Dance-a-Thon
I love hearing about lindy hoppers using their skills to help a worthy cause. I got news that a 24 Hour Cancer Dance-a-thon, is happening from March 5-9 in Orange County, California: The Dance-a-thon is a 24 hour swing dance in Orange County, CA. Its mission is to raise funds for cancer research and treatment…
Legendary lindy hopper Norma Miller on TODAY show talking about Obama and swing as a unifying force
Here's a neat clip of pioneering lindy hopper Ms. Norma Miller on the TODAY show on NBC from a couple of days ago. Norma talks about how historic Barack Obama's presidency is and how swing has always brought people of different races together in harmony. Norma at 90 years young continues to perform and appear…
$6 Inaugural swing ball at DC’s Jam Cellar on Tuesday!
Here's another tip for those of you headed to Washington DC for the Presidential Inauguration this Tuesday: The evening of January 20 is full of pricey inaugural balls starting at $150 and up. Well if you have forgotten to pack your ball gown or your wallet is feeling a bit light, you might want to…
Swinging into the Metaverse: the “Slindy Hop” dance animation
From my friends at SLCN.tv: SLindy Hop is a Second Life couples' dance animation by Maar Auer. It was released July 2008 in SLCN.TV's Live Tonight Show by Paisley Beebe. You can watch the entire episode here. This is just a cut from that show, showing only the SLindy Hop. Dancer's outfits were generously sponsored…
George Gee’s “Sleigh Bells Swing” at Edison Ballroom (video)
Here's a clip of lindy hoppers Maggie Moon, Jennifer Jones, Eden Atencio, Mike Jaeger, Dave Graybill and Roddy Caravella performing in the "Sleigh Bells Swing" musical revue. Choreography by Evita Arce. I had a wonderful night at "Sleigh Bells Swing" with a bunch of friends at the elegant Edison Ballroom in Times Square. The evening…
Katy Perry video features LA lindy hoppers
I don't know a thing about singer Katy Perry. But her recent video for her song "Thinking of You" features a number of LA-based lindy hoppers, including Minn Vo, Shesha Marvin, Nick Williams, and several others. Gotta love Katy's period costumes and the general vintage look of the video. And that's a real jazz band…
Lindy hop & big band swing music on NY1!
Here's a fun story about the local big band Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks on local news station NY1. My friends Frick & Frack, Evita and Nathan are shown lindy hopping and doing balboa in the clip. Don't miss the appearance by Benny Goodman's brother Gene!