Category Archives: lindy hop and other dances

Weekend of fun

This weekend looks like fun.

First:

Geoff Bull and the Finer Cuts are doing their first explicitly-for-dancers gig at the Performance ball on Saturday. SQUEE (linky)

Second:

The Speakeasy is on again after the ball, and that will be FUNTIMES as they are doing the usual excellence, but also including a jam style battle. There aren’t any rules for this battle, really. You go in as an individual, as a lindy hop partnership, as a solo partnership, and you dance what you need to dance, then you get out. There are real prizes and everything. I have no idea how it’s actually judged, but as per usual Speakeasy style, audience participation and general enthusiasm will no doubt be deciding factors.

I’m DJing a set at the Speakeasy in the main lindy hop part of the space, and I’m really looking forward to that. FUNTIMES.
(linky).

The details:

Performance Ball
– Saturday 25 August, doors open 7.30pm, close at 11.15pm
– Free class with Sam (aka me) and Alice from 8pm
– Balmain Town Hall
– $25 online purchase or $30 at the door
– Featuring live music by Geoff Bull & The Finer Cuts and live dance performances.
http://www.facebook.com/events/253921514713395/

and then

Speakeasy Late Night Party
– Saturday 25 August, doors open 11.30pm, close _very late_
– Entry $10
– Crossover Dance Studios, level 1, 22 Goulburn St CBD
– DJed music for srs party time dancing (2 rooms of music)
– lots of (free) cakes, snacks and goodies
– late night jam-style battle (open to and welcoming all solo and partner dancers)
http://www.facebook.com/events/201612056634174/

NB: if you’re short of cash or want a chance to meet some peeps, both events love volunteers and comp them with free entry.

blackface


blackface.com is a useful resource for people who’re into African American dance and music of the early 20th Century (ie, us).
If you’re thinking about using some characters from 1930s or 40s films for your choreography, you may want to read up and avoid offending folk and looking like an insensitive (ignorant) clod.

(NB this image is the logo for the blackface.com website)

small group time

I love small swing groups, and Riverwalk Jazz are doing a show on them this week called Goodman, Shaw & Dorsey: Big Band Leaders and Their Small Combos. It features a few of my favourite small groups, most of which make for good (though fairly precise, and dare I say it, uptight) dancing.

That Riverwalk Jazz show reminded me of an 8tracks I did a while ago, which is mostly small groups. I’m really a fool for a small group, I think mostly because I dance to small groups more often IRL. But also because I like the way you can hear every instrument in a small band, and the smaller format lets musicians work together in a team, yet still as individuals:

songs by singers with small bands from dogpossum on 8tracks.

The Riverwalk Jazz discussion of small groups has also made me think about the Ozcats, who’re a very good Bob Crosby and the Bob Cats tribute band in Sydney. I’ve only seen them play twice, and not for over a year, but they were the best Australian band I’ve ever danced to. A heap of older blokes staring at their scores from seats on the stage, rocking out. I’d love to have them at a dance event again. They play this sort of music:

(linky)