Ok, so I’ve been working on the tranky doo for about a month (or three weeks – I can’t remember which). Even for as slow a learner as I, that’s sufficient time to ….
look, why can’t I write in English today?
….anyway, I’ve pretty much learnt the Tranky Doo now. There are a couple of bits where I’m not exactly sure of the timing (is it 2 or 4 repeats of the ‘ooh-aah’ towards the end there?), but I have ironed out some confusions (Dan suggests doing left-right-left-right rather than triple step at the end of the second fall off the log in the first phrase to stop me being early). I can do it at full speed (192bpm) quite happily.
I’ve also discovered it’s being taught here in March. Dang. But I’m hoping it’s the Hot Shots part of the teaching team – Hannah and Matthias – teaching it so I can get their super styling happening.
Or, as I’ve pointed out to Dan, we need to strut this baby old school before that weekend so we can get maximum show-off value for our effort.
At any rate, the Tranky Doo no longer holds sufficient appeal for the hour of practice I’m doing every day (yes, it’s true – but I’d like to be able to walk without falling over, and dancing helps with that). I have decided the next stop on my Tour of Venerable Jazz Routines will be the Big Apple:
Mostly because I’ve been writing about the way the Big Apple incorporated bits of the Tranky Doo (we love you Frankie). But also because it’s a fricking KICK ARSE routine!
I’ve also just realised that I’ve failed to mention (in that paper) that there’ve been at least two bands who’ve recreated the arrangements of the nameless (and fairly ordinary) song in that clip. That fascinates me – not only are dancers recreating routines from archival footage, but musicians are recreating music from the footage. And it’s important to remember that the arrangement of a particular song (ie writing out all the parts of all the instruments) is often ‘ear marked’ by particular bands. So each great band leader would have a particular take on a big song, marked by their arrangement.
Some of these arrangements suck arse. Some rock. And this is where you realise that a truly great big band was more than its leader or soloists or rhythm section or vocalists – it was also about the arranger(s) and composer(s).
I will report back on the Big Apple and let you know how I’m going. If I can ever get up the guts I’ll film myself so you can all have a good laugh.
But here’s pic of some Australian (and New Zealand) dancers doing the routine to tide you over:
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Sorry, personal rant… It’s a small thing but it always bugs me: Can we start calling it the “Keep Punchin Big Apple Routine” or the “Whitey’s Big Apple” or something because i’m not sure if many dancers today even know that the “Big Apple” is actually an improvised (not choreographed) dance (not a routine) where the dancers respond to the shouts of the caller. So in future when someone says they are “learing the Big Apple” they are learning jazz steps that they can bust out when called. Pleeese! for me? You know I love you :)
Oh, I should have added “well done on learning the Tranky Doo!!”, coz that is some tricky stuff!
Sure, Trev. I kind of took it as given that it was clear I was embarking on the Big Apple Routine Choreographed By Frankie Manning And Featured In The Film ‘Keep Punchin”.
No one in Melbourne does called Big Apples. There are a few people who’ll do a ‘social big apple’ (where people will take turns ‘leading’ a step), but no competitive big apple action. Sob. If there were, there’d no doubt be a ruckus over what to call what moves – and I’d write a paper called “Instutional power of naming in contemporary swing dance culture: how’s you like dem apples?’
There were a heap of Big Apple routines (and pieces of music) created during this moment in history, which I’m sure only adds to your frustration as you could, if you were being anally technical, say you’re learning ‘a’ big apple routine.
Perhaps we should make like the Japanese and localise our apples – the fuji apple.
And of course, the only possible name for a Tasmanian lindy exchange would _be_ the Frickin’ Big Apple. Or perhaps ‘thank heavens for little apples’.
I think I’m going to call this one ‘Frankie’s Big Apple’ because he choreographed it (no doubt with the assistance of other dancers) and because he calls it incorrectly in the ‘Keep Punchin’ clip. I think I’m calling it the Frankie Gets It Wrong Big Apple, actually.
Incidentally, do you know any other routines called tranky doo, or any other big apples from the 30s/40s?
I think, in the spirit of my dogpossum-learns-all-Frankie’s-early-work I should next learn the Lindy Chorus, followed by the Hellzapoppin’ routine and then the even-earlier Manning routines.
I will, of course, learn and perform all these as solo works. In the spirit of 21st century feminist lindy hopping arse kicking.
I look forward to seeing your solo interpretation of the Hellzapoppin routine!
…and your Big Apple Routine Choreographed By Frankie Manning And Featured In The Film ‘Keep Punchin'(now colloquially referred to as BARCBFMAFITFKP)
..and i can help you with that Lindy Chorus if needed :)
I don’t know of other tranky doos or big apples tho.
I am thinking of getting sponsorship and performing at the MSF weekend, in some sort of prominent time slot so I can best flaunt my skills.
I am _totally_ going to kick 20-year-old ARSE!
…on a side-note, after a bit of work this afternoon, the BARCBFMAFITFKP is far easier to learn than the cranky poo. But that could be because I am now a jazz routine demon. In fact, on weight of my recent performances, I have been asked to teach a solo jazz/solo lindy stream at MSF. But I’ve decided to keep all my dancing mojo for myself – I ain’t giving away valuable competition stunts.