We know we’ve been silent for awhile now, and we apologize for that. There have been many conversations behind the scenes as to what is next for Lindybloggers.com , and we’ll be revealing the fruit of these secret meetings soon. In the meantime, if you’re anxious to write and produce material for us, contact: info@lindybloggers.com

For those waiting for the final P-Lindy-X before & after pictures and videos by Bobby White - they are coming up next!

And for those of you going, see you at Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown in New Orleans.

Dear Casey,

I am very fond of swing dance events, whether it be exchanges, workshops or camps,unfortunately my bank account is not! Do you know a way to make some cash to go to the gazillions of events throughout North America and why not the world.

Thanks
Lindy-Globe-trotter-wannabe.

Dear Hot to Trot,

Well, isn’t that the case for nearly all of us? Too many events, and too little money (and time). The easiest cost saver is volunteering. I do this all the time at events in my hometown. Sure, you sacrifice some of your hours, but there’s nothing like hearing five great bands in three days for nothin’ (plug: Seattle Lindy Exchange). Several events accept volunteers from outside of the city in which they’re located, especially if you’ve come in the past as a paying registrant and show some loyalty to the event. Get in touch with the volunteer organizer and see what you can do.

That won’t cover your travel costs, so for that I suggest looking to other dancers for examples:

• Become a decently well-paid consultant for one of the big national firms. You have to be willing to live in the city where they assign you, but then you can usually use your ticket “back home” at the end of the week to get to the next big event. I’ve known two people that do this quite successfully. Of course, it also means that you probably have no time during the week for anything other than work, and it could backfire if you get assigned to say, Elbow Bend, North Dakota (OK, I made that name up). It also assumes that you’re fairly bright and skilled at the topic of your employment. (Surprisingly few and far between.)
• Become a commercial long-haul pilot. You have to be willing to go through years of training and making your way up the industry ladder, but you then get flights for free wherever your airline goes. The downsides are flying in hostile airspace and hoping that 97 year-old man in seat 29F doesn’t go into cardiac arrest, but that also keeps things interesting. You should also be willing to become Scottish and adopt an sexy accent, because let’s face it, that will get you further in life in general. I know one person that meets these qualifications, and dare I say that it also pays to be his girlfriend.
• Be willing to be poor and sacrifice your future financial stability. This is the route that most lindy hoppers seem to take. I’d advise against this, because, well, I’d rather stab myself in the forward with a giant fork than to live hand-to-mouth and risk living off of the federal government when I’m seventy. (Oh yeah, if you’re not American, then this issue may not exist for you, since you’re government probably cares about your long-term well being.) Hey, but that’s just me. I like stability and security, and would rather not hit up some lindy hop event if it meant paying my bills and meeting my monthly savings goal. Call me old fashioned.

The reality is that, unless you luck out on the lotto, you won’t get to go to every event you want to. That’s cool though, because it means that you’ll more acutely appreciate the ones you do attend. AND, there’s ALWAYS another lindy hop event. Ahem, I remember the days when having one event a month was pretty busy, and now we’re lucky to find a weekend that doesn’t have 2-3 events. If one feels badly about missing event, then one feels badly all the time.

Choose wisely,
Casey

Send your questions to casey@lindybloggers.com and read her previous post Dear Casey: Are choreographed sequences acceptable during a dance contest to live music?

Originally taught as a workshop class by Bethany Powell at Midwest Lindy Fest 2009 in Minneapolis, MN, we last saw this memorable routine at Camp Jitterbug 2009. The  routine takes on a new look with some special guests taking turns filling in the role of Beyonce.

Check it out - it’s hot!

This amazing soundgasm is sure to knock your socks off. Enjoy world.

Davis is currently attending the world famous Herrang Dance camp in Sweden. Thanks Dax & Davis!

DAY 77

At the writing of this post, I began the third week of my final month of P90X, which starts off with a First Month workout week, followed by a Second Month work out week, and then repeats that two-week chunk, ending with a final recovery week.

Over the past few weeks, a few important things have happened. First, I was shopping in the grocery store, about to pick up my favorite $1 food, a box of Swiss Cake Rolls. Over the past year, it has been a ritual that every few weeks I get a box and I was long overdue. But I suddenly thought to myself. “No, I’d rather have a healthy, great-looking body than a Swiss Cake Roll.” It sounds silly, even melodramatic; but anyone who knows what it felt like to say that knows what an important step that was. To celebrate, I got a box of Swiss Cake Rolls. (Just kidding).

The next important thing to happen to me was that certain foods or drinks have become undesirable. My taste buds, now used to other things, find them too surgery, too fattening, or just not at all what my body wants. I’m like this with empty carbs now. Potato chips, fries, and pizza crust seem like they’re just a waste of taste.

Finally, on the workout side of things, my body is now finding exercises not as much of a chore. Perhaps I’m just used to the burn, or getting over the “Oh, crap, I have to workout now!” state-of-mind. I find myself calmly pushing play now, as if it’s just another part of the day.

So, even if my physical results are not through the roof, I am, without a doubt, changing. And that’s pretty nice to feel.

Workout breakdown: CARDIO X

Cardio X is a collection of all the low-impact cardio exercises from the rest of P90X, and the whimsical backup music that comes with them. You’ve got your warrior one through three yoga, a collection of Kenpo moves, a collection of the small jump plyo moves, and a core-synergistics finale. The only new move is Whacky Jacks (“ ‘cause they’re wacky”), but those are pretty fun if no one is watching. All in all, a mild cardio workout. Over the 36 minutes of non-yoga work out, I averaged 130 heart rate, and sometimes got it into the 150s, a pretty good zone for fat burning. But, it’s not anything more impressive than a thirty minute jog—more muscle groups, maybe, but less scenery.

Special Note: There’s a version of P90X called doubles where you add the cardio workout three times a week in the final two months of the program.

X-TREME COSTS

Only protein this week $50

TOTAL COST SO FAR: Approx. $1,455

“SEA JAM 2009 in Singapore”, SEA = South East Asia

A few facts about David:

• Owner of Lindyhopper.ca : the Canadian forum for swing dancers
• He operates a professional entertainment business for weddings and corporate events, and has graciously offered these services to  dance exchanges and camps (such as Herrang)
• Dance trainer for the Waterloo Swing Crew, a performance team in the Waterloo region

I interviewed David on his objectives for this documentary, and here’s his response: “I’ve seen, lived and experienced the incredible energy in the Orient with swing dancing, so this project’s goal is to inform the Lindy Hop community that there is indeed swing dancing all across Asia, and not just in hot spots like Seoul, Korea. The project would also inspire dancers who are considering moving or traveling to countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore or other lesser known swing dancing destinations. Finally, I’d like to share my findings and experiences and show that swing communities are waiting to embrace dancers from anywhere.”

Here’s a symbolic picture taken during David’s trip.

“This was the first time, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Vietnam’s swing troupe all got together and performed the california routine at SEAJAM. This picture was the pep talk I gave the 10 couples who were just about to hit the stage. To them, it was one of the most memorable performance experience in their lives. For me, it captures the spirit of these new and emerging swing dance communities.”

Swing Dancing Across Asia 2009 is a wonderful project that shows that swing dancing knows no borders, race or age and that it brings joy to all who participate. So feel free to send questions or info directly to Dave at davidtrinh@lindyhopper.ca to help him with this documentary. As well, you can join his Facebook group Swing Dancing Across Asia 2009 to keep updated on the project.

Song: Tattersfield Stomp
Album: Swingin’ at The Chatterbox
Artist: Count Basie & His Orchestra

My song of the week is Tattersfield Stomp by Count Basie & His Orchestra. It’s a fast hard-swinging track that Basie only recorded once in 1937 live at a dance gig at the Chatterbox Cafe, Pittsburgh. The recording quality is quite poor, but there’s enough there to tell that they were really loose, wild and swinging it! A different band, Ambrose & His Orchestra, originally recorded the same tune as Streamline Strut two years earlier. These are the only recordings I have found of this song so if anyone knows of another version I’d love to hear it! Check out the awesome Basie version on the CD “Swingin’ at The Chatterbox”!

Thanks Trevor!

DAY 70

At the writing of this post, I began the second week of my final month of P90X, which starts off with a First Month workout week, followed by a Second Month work out week, and then repeats that two-week chunk, ending with a final recovery week.

This weekend, one of my closest friends, Andrew Thigpen, came to visit, and jumped in on a few exercise days. Having him present turned on the testosterone-fueled male mindset of me of trying to impress him with how hard I work. The result was the best Plyometrics workout I’ve done yet. I worked so hard I felt like I was going to throw up afterwords…so maybe I worked too hard. But at least I know I can work too hard, you know?

Anyway, as Tony mentions in the videos, having friends around helps a lot in a workout—you give each other support, you have a healthy competition that helps each of you push yourselves, and you share in the post-workout exhaustion of having worked hard and accomplished something. I had that experience with only a few workouts with a friend; I can only imagine what its like with, for instance, people in the armed forces who go through boot camp, and perhaps combat, with each other.

Workout breakdown: GUNS (BACK AND BICEPS)

This is probably the least exhausting workout in the series, at least for everything but your biceps. It introduces some new pull-ups, like the Corn-cob pull-up and the towel pull-up, but otherwise, it’s almost all curls. It’s a nice mid-week break.

STATS
Total abs ripped: 8,376

X-TREME COSTS
For the final month, I’ll be completing most of my protein regimen to the GNC brand Wheybolic Extreme 60 Shake (which is rated below.) The final phase of P90X cuts the protein regimen in half, I believe in order to stop adding mass and shape up the available mass into lean attractive muscles for the after pictures. So, I’ll get most of my daily dose with this expensive protein shake. $50

Last week, at a Balboa workshop, I had to get a taxi to and from a gym to work out so that I could get my hand on some weights. And this time I was pumping iron in loafers in front of a bunch of non-dancers. $30.

My Other Personal Trainer, Nick Williams, showed me his trick for traveling; he put all of his p90X onto his ipod, and bought an athletic arm strap. He then just listens to the exercises being called off, and if he needs to see what they are, he just looks at his arm. In order to test this, I needed to go to the Apple store to get an arm band for my ipod. I had a gift card, which apparently they could only run off in this one register. That register, however, was occupied for the next fifteen minutes because someone was paying with a check, and the Apple store isn’t apparently ready for that kind of technology yet. The piece of elastic and Velcro cost me. $35.

TOTAL COST SO FAR: Approx. $1,405

X-TREME EPICURISM:

GNC WHEYBOLIC 60 EXTREME (CHOCOLATE). After my last experience with powdered whey beverages with the words “extreme” in the title, I was very hesitant to try this particular brand recommended to me at GNC. It’s expensive, looks like a computer in Sweden designed it, clumps in milk, and is actually pretty damn good. Also, it packs in 60g of protein into one drink, and apparently that’s a special kind of protein.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Music: DJed Music
Class Levels: Beginner, Intermediate/Advanced, Balboa, WCS
Competitions: Strictly Lindy, Strictly Balboa, Jack & Jills
Venue Floors: Portable Ballroom Floors

Tea Party is probably one of the most successful crossover events in the U.S.  It has exceptional competitors from both the Lindy Hop and the West Coast Swing scene, talented DJs and a host of great instructors on site.

This year a large majority of the Lindy Bloggers team was in attendance and we got a few group pictures snapped and some of their highlights and opinions on this years BTP.

Boston Tea Party is organized by Steve and Rebecca (last name unspeakable by normal man) in Danvers, MA.  It kicked off on March 26th and lasted till the 29th (yes this review is quite delayed).

I arrived Friday afternoon and settled into my room.  Having attended BTP for a number of years now I see many familiar faces from all over, it is a social event for many dancers as well as a dance event.  We dine, relax in the hot tubs, work out (P90X it), and party together on top of all the dancing.  Hotel events definitely enable this mingling atmosphere.

Friday night is the prelims for the Strictly (west coast and lindy hop) and the Invitational Strictly.  I appreciate how the Invitational Strictly is the prelims for the Invitational Crossover Jack & Jill which is one thing that makes BTP truly stand apart from other events.

Social dancing at Tea Party is, in my opinion, quite exceptional since it draws so many high level dancers.  This year though the crossover room was relatively empty when I made my way back there despite it being one of the most popular rooms last year.

The DJs that they hire for the event are top notch and help keep the energy going throughout the evening and late into the morning.  Yet as any lindy hopper I crave live music and many national events are featuring not just social dancing to exceptional bands (like the Boilermaker Jazz Band) but competition finals to live music.  While live music doesn’t really fill the westie need it is as much part of lindy hop as the swingout.

If we really want to show the Westies what lindy hop is about we need a live band to drive our swingouts in the finals.

Saturday held more classes and I volunteered throughout the morning so I got to peek in a bit.  The classes, as always, are packed at BTP which I think is sort of unfortunate as teaching 150 people definitely flattens out the level of material.  It might also appeal to advanced dancers to offer a small selection of masters classes (like other events are doing).

Saturday afternoon held the prelims for all of the Jack & Jills.  This took a great deal of time and it might be nice if they cut off registration earlier to limit the numbers.  The Advanced Jack & Jill only had 1 heat and the entire floor was packed with dancers.  I’m all for a full floor but it might be a bit easier to split it up into 2 heats, I wouldn’t have wanted to be a judge during those prelims.

The Strictly finals were in the evening.  Each year the Strictly Lindy finals at BTP are a showcase of some of the best dancers throwing it out there to be judged.  In a way the format is a little dry, there is a song to warmup, then a fast song with jams followed by an all-skate and potentially a second all-skate to an even faster song.  While it’s great to really cut it up and blazing tempos, a Strictly competition shouldn’t just be about fast dancing.  It would be nice to see a spotlight format where each couple gets a minute and a half of a clear midtempo song to showcase their dancing.  There can still be Hand Clappin’ at the end.

Lastly on Saturday is the Crossover Jack & Jill.  The highlight of BTP where the best Westies and Lindy Hoppers pair up to bring us shocking inter-dance-style greatness.  There is only so much you can say about a competition where Tatiana dresses up like Two Face (as a lindy/westie crossbreed), Peter Strom pitches a faux aerial into the ground then rolls around, and Arjay … (never mind, you had to be there).  My advice, if you haven’t been to BTP and you need a reason this is it.

The weekend wrapped up with the Jack & Jill finals and people saying their farewells alongside the awards ceremony.

So for some finals thoughts, here is Aba with some lovely words to leave off this review.

Boston Tea Party.

Although it conjures either thoughts of doilies, finger sandwiches, cubes of sugar and steamed milk or masquerading revolution, BTP, as a Swing event, encapsulated the beauty of both traditions.  A highlight of the former being, of course, the midnight buffet of crisped bacon, eggs, fruit, and a myriad of carbohydrates that would upset Atkins himself.  Why was this one of the highlights of the weekend?   Well, when the midnight buffet came around, it was a time that everyone paused for a minute, shared a bagel, and shared time with the scattered constellation of friends we’ve acquired from around the globe.  Those shimmering moments of refueling, dance and non-dance talk, laughter and universal quotations were at the essence of this particular event.  The mature and foundling friendships fostered great dancing all weekend, and whether masquerading as a Westie or cruising in the Lindy Living room, I was happy to take a moment to love my friends and love my bacon.

And, while winning competitions is always a rewarding tangible value, taking pictures with your fellow dancers, friends and LindyBloggers holds a different but similar type of achievement.

As a summation of these thoughts, I’ll end on a quote from Sir Francis Bacon: “Overt and apparent virtues bring forth praise; but there be secret and hidden virtues that bring forth fortune; certain deliveries of a man’s self, which have no name.”

Dear Casey,

Please give me advice on how to win!
Jaded competitor

Dear Jaded,

A timely question… Over the last 7 years or so, I’ve observed a distinct trend toward highly choreographed sequences in competitions. I am generally supportive and happy for this, because executing choreography well requires practice and practice makes for better execution and therefore better and more entertaining competitions. Generally, it’s been a win-win. And, as you point out, when a lead is throwing a follower through the air, practical safety concerns necessitate that elements of air steps (i.e. at least the entry) are planned. Not having bloodied, mangled bodies littering the dance floor is also generally a win-win. Thankfully, gladitorial style lindy hop hasn’t caught on. Lastly, as a bit of a purist myself, I hearken back to the grand ol’ daddy of competitions - the Harvest Moon Ball. Those dancers definitely executed choreographies and what’s good enough for a Harvest Moon Ball winner is good enough for me.

That said, there is a fine line between preparedness and over-choreographing. Sequences that demonstrate little to no relationship to common swing music song structures will seem forced and unnatural. For example, a choreographic idea will make more sense if it resolves or culminates at the end of the phrase (read: an air step will generally look more appropriate at the end of a phrase than anywhere else).

I also enjoy some good old fashioned social dancing in a competition. This allows for the truly special and spontaneous moments between dancers and the music where the elements of our art form in a perfect way. (Wow, that was a little touchy-feely. Pardon me. That’s what she said.) The best competitive dancers understand their dance and the music so well, that these moments can and do occur. (Notice I said “best” - IMO, of course - and not most successful.)

Enough of my soap box - you need recommendations. Since I haven’t danced in a strictly in over two years, take this for what it’s worth (although I did win it, so this shouldn’t be totally douchey advice):

1. Prepare choregraphic sequences, but make them short. There’s nothing wrong with longer sequences, but shorter ones are more flexible depending on what type of format you’re given. Whether in an all skate or a spot light, you can easily “plug in” these sequences. You can link them together or separate them with non-choreographed dancing.

2. Do a few things differently. If you’re in spot light format you get the bridge of a song, dance differently than the other competitors that got the A sections (or from how you danced in the A section). The band is doing something different; shouldn’t the dancers? This shows you’re listening to the music. Also, try swinging out on 7. You’ll be amazed at how much of your regular “social” dancing moves hit something in the music without any effort.

3. Dress the part. For better or worse, we’re visual creatures. When I’m judging, my eye naturally tends towards the more attractive and put together couples. This is certainly not to say that I’d advance or place them based on appearance, but when your one couple of 10 (or dear god, 35 at Camp Jitterbug) on the floor in a pre-lim, your primary goal should be getting as much of the judges’ “eye time” as possible.

4. Bribery. I don’t accept sexual favors, but I do take money and chocolate. Email me and I’ll give you my address.

Try not to be jaded. This is just swing dancing. It’s fun. (Remember, many of the top competitors need to compete to keep their names in the public consciousness so that they can continue to be hired and paid to teach and perform. There’s nothing wrong with this at all, but competing is therefore also a business decision for those that rely on dance as their primary source of income.)

Good luck,
Casey

Send your questions to casey@lindybloggers.com and read her previous post Dear Casey: When is it appropriate to ask instructors and professional dancers for advice