she’s a freakin’ gun

Apparently Sylvia Sykes is coming to Sydney (and Perth – but that’s far away) in February (23rd, 24th and 25th to be exact). That’s a bit exciting. I’m seriously considering going, and trying desperately to find a way to afford it.
See this clip below? That’s Manu (my lead-hero and one of my favourite teachers) dancing with her in a Jack and Jill in 2002. In a J&J you’re paired up with a partner on the spot – so it’s all improvised, all made up, and you often don’t know your partner or have never danced with them before (though in a pro J&J, that’s not always the case. Pro J&J’s are really good fun to watch. See Manu’s response to discovering he’s dancing with Sylvia? That’s how everyone would feel – this chick’s a freakin’ gun.

Sylvia is one of the original revivalist dancers, a serious balboa specialist (check her out here, dancing balboa with the partner who’s coming to Australia with her) and all round blow-your-pants-off amazing dancer. She is a Hollywood style lindy hopper (or was – now she’s just dah bomb), and I amn’t, but I’m really keen on learning from her. When she writes on her site that she is a ‘teacher’s teacher’, it’s true – she’s the person teachers learn from. There’s been a ripple of interest all over Melbourne, and even hardcore un-balboa people are interested. Even Frankie* wants to dance with her.
Thing is, watching her, you mightn’t think she was all that, especially compared to the flashier, younger doods. But she’s a crafts(wo)man. That’s some freakin’ amazing technical action.
*Frankie Manning is in his 90s now (!!!). He’s one of the most famous choreographers/dancers/performers from the 30/40s and you can see him in Hellzapoppin’ (in the routine he choreographed – I think he did… I forget…) in a pair of overalls. He likes the ladies.
Sometimes when I’m thinking ‘dang, I’m too old for this lindy shit’, I think of Frankie and realise I have about 60 years to go before I can claim I’m too old for lindy. And even then…
…I have to add, all the clips in this post feature unchoreographed dancing… Sylvia is just following, and following three blokes with completely different styles.