JAM CELLAR: DC Swing Dance + Lindy Hop

Jam Cellar Video: Social Moves (5/5) 6/30/09

The Jam Cellar — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:20:02 +0800

Jam Cellar Video: Basic Swing (3/6) 6/30/09

The Jam Cellar — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:08:08 +0800

Just the facts once again

Bobby White — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 01:31:24 +0800

A few things to note

Tonight's DJ is Mike Marcotte.

Tonight's the final class of Social Moves, a very successful series highlighting fancy social moves. For intermediate and Advanced students.

Next week begins a Solo Charleston series taught by guest instructor Abigail Browning. You won't want to experience July without it.

Usher in July with the Boilermakers! at Jam Cellar next week. Being Boilermakers, we will blame the hot temperature on them.

Important things to do to enjoy Jam Cellar in the summer: Our DJs tend to play slower music in the summer, in order to make it always an enjoyable dancing experience. However, the old salts of the venue know a few tricks to make it even more enjoyable: bring a sweat towel, a few changes of shirts, and a fresh one for the ride home. Pace yourselves on the dance floor, and make a summer night at the Jam Cellar a big social night to talk with good friends or make new ones.

There will be a much more interesting Jam Cellar Email Next week.

Jam Cellar Video: Basic Swing (2/6) 6/23/09

The Jam Cellar — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:52:34 +0800

Jam Cellar Video: Social Moves (4/5) 6/23/09

The Jam Cellar — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:45:17 +0800

Jam Cellar Video: Social Moves (3/5) 6/16/09

The Jam Cellar — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:35:11 +0800

Jam Cellar CORRECTION: Brooks is Saturday

Bobby White — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:50:15 +0800

We are a horrible, horrible sham.

The upcoming Brooks Teglar concert so lauded in our previous email was given the wrong date. It is this SATURDAY, June 27. 8 p.m. free lesson, 9 p.m. dancing. That is all. I will now go back to hitting my head repeatedly with my mother's journalism award.

I knew there was somethign I was forgetting

Bobby White — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:50:00 +0800

The Jam Cellar's arch nemesis,

Allen Kerr, will take over Jam Cellar tonight with his sensuous swing. We will be enslaved to his charms.

Social Moves Tonight

(Week4 of 5) Tonight, we continue our series geared towards incredible lead and follow moves. Ifn' you're an intermediate/advanced dancer, it's for you.

Brooks Teglar goes Gene Krupa all over everyone's asses

This guy bases his drumming on that of legends like Gene Krupa and Chick Webb, so you know it's gonna be tight. Glenn Echo, this Friday. Presented in cooperation with the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts & Culture, Inc., the National Park Service and Montgomery County, MD.

Next Month: Solo Charleston Routine

Next month, Jam Cellar guest teacher Abigail Browning will teach a solo Charleston routine for our Inter/adv classes.

Boilermaker Jazz Band July 7

We'll celebrate America's birthday by bringing in the Boilermaker Jazz band for our Tuesday night dance. Happy Birthday, America. We got you a tie.

Jam Cellar Video: Basic Swing (1/6) 6/16/09

The Jam Cellar — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:14:30 +0800

Jam Cellar Subject!

Bobby White — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:11:46 +0800

I apologize,

Loyal readers, but I'm so exhausted from the All Balboa Weekend that I'm just gonna give the facts today. (And, well, a little note)

BOOM. DJ Naomi Uyama,fresh from her incredible singing with the Boilermaker Band in Cleveland.

Social Move Heaven

(Week 3 of 5) Tonight, we continue our series geared towards incredible lead and follow moves. Ifn' you're an intermediate/advanced dancer, it's for you.

Brooks Teglar will drum and your soul will cry

This guy bases his drumming on that of legends like Gene Krupa and Chick Webb, so you know it's gonna be tight. Glenn Echo, June 27. Presented in cooperation with the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts & Culture, Inc., the National Park Service and Montgomery County, MD.

A Quick Note on The Balboa

Recently, I've heard a few people in the "Lindy scene" put down the "Balboa scene." There was a lot of this about five years ago, most focusing on this criticism: most Balboa dancers have a stick up a certain part of their body and are too worried about doing moves and patterns and looking like their teachers and never seem to be feeling the music or are even alive. I stopped hearing these criticisms awhile back, but now I'm afraid it is just because people don't say this stuff to my face now that I teach it.

A few years ago, this criticism made sense, and for totally understandable reasons (the scene was still really young, small, and very few people knew how to comfortably play around with the dance to the extent that they could interpret the music and express themselves). But times are changing, and recent events like this year's All Balboa Weekend are proving that Balboa is doing great work towards destroying that criticism. There were plenty examples this weekend of people dancing in the moment, feeling the music, showing off their own style, and making Balboa look damn near electric.

It makes me hope the recent complaints I've heard are merely the ghosts of old grievances-a first impression the dance has yet to shake off. If you haven't already, I hope you will see some Balboa soon that will make you to say "Damn, that was inspiring."

Jam Cellar Video: Social Moves (2/5) 6/9/09

The Jam Cellar — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 10:32:26 +0800

Madame Bovary, you strumpet!

Bobby White — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 21:42:35 +0800

Please don't forget the following�

1. Jam Cellar has a free beginner swing lesson every Tuesday at 9.
2. Our website has really exciting information. www.thejamcellar.com.
3. Every six weeks we begin either a Lindy Hop beginner series, or a building-on-your-basic Lindy Hop series.
4. Everyone is welcome to our dances and we usually have a full dance floor; there is, of course, space for one more�YOU. 5. Jerry Almonte is tonight's designated driver in the DJ booth.

Social Moves for Intermediate Advanced dancers

Hey Mr. Flash and Mrs. Trash, how'd you like to learn some incredibly attractive social dance moves? Come by tonight for week 2 of our 5 week series. Taught by all dimensions of the Jam Cellar Crew.

Beginner class begins soon

Jam Cellar's famous 6-week Beginner Lindy Hop series is starting again June 16 (next week!) Get information and tell your friends about it by clicking on the word "plagulagatious"

Brooks Teglar Drums Your Ass Off

There are only a few drummers in the world who drum in that Chick Webb big band style. We'll be having one of the best perform for us June 27 at Glen Echo. Put it on your calendars!

Old Timer Still Thinks it's 1998.

Gilfred "Legsy" McGoo, an original dancer from the Savoy era, apparently still thinks it's 1998. "I don't' like all these kids wearing bright suits and stuff, we didn't wear that to the Savoy. We wore shark skin suits. Dressed nice, Jack." He said at a recent forum.

"No one knows how to dance to the music. Not that I blame them, because the music today is all wrong. We used to dance to Chick Webb, Jack. I don't think anyone here's ever heard of him." When asked about the Zoot suits he apparently saw all over the dance floor, McGoo commented "I'd almost rather see everyone in jeans than dressed like that. No, I take that back. I hope that day never comes."

Up-and-coming follow can't wait for current teachers to get pregnant.

Linda Robinson, an up-and-coming follow from Jasper, Texas, reportedly can't wait for current teachers to get pregnant , "or, you know, quit dancing," so that she will once and for all have the opportunity to be a professional swing dance instructor and general authority on swing dancing.

"I mean, once they have kids, I figure they'll stop dancing professionally. Then it'll be time for the next generation to start teaching. And maybe then I can get a partner out of it, too."

At last count, there were approximately 63 up-and-coming follows in her peer group.

Nick Williams invents new style of swing dancing simply so that he can become world champ ion at another swing dance form

Having been awarded a World Champion in Lindy Hop, Balboa, and Collegiate Shag, Nick Williams has begun inventing a new form of swing dance he can begin competing in. "It's based on a collection of cool looking mistakes I saw people make in vintage clips." Williams told reporters. "Overall, it'll allow me to be a little more musical, I think."

Jam Cellar Video: Building Your Basics (5/6) 6/2/09

The Jam Cellar — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:21:41 +0800

Jam Cellar Video: Social Moves (1/5) 6/2/09

The Jam Cellar — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:16:39 +0800

Sac Au Lait performs tonight!

Bobby White — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:20:23 +0800

So I'm at Camp Jitterbug…

Where everyone in the city looks like a Lindy Hopper, and I'm talking to this Australian woman. She mentions that her husband was in Baltimore this last weekend. The whole reason he was in Baltimore is apparently because he loves the show The Wire so much, and he wanted to see all the landmarks in the show (BTW, if you haven't seen The Wire, but like detective or cop shows, you'd probably love it. It's amazing). So, he walks around the city, alone and without a map, which is something that only television film crews with lots of bright lights would ever do. He gets to Pratt street and suddenly is in the middle of a group of drug dealers, and seconds after that, is in the middle of a group of flashing police cars. A screaming police officer throws him against the wall, searches him, and asks what the hell he's doing walking around that part of town. "He was so happy." she said. "It was just like The Wire."

For those of you who want a glimpse into the dangerous and squallid lives of those of us who live in B'more, where we live one day at a time, bring a forty and come out to dance to the Baltimore Dixieland band Sac Au Lait. They've still got some community service left on their sentences, so they'll be playing at least two and a half hours. We also got black top, dynamite, WMD, and Wild Pony.

Social Moves for Inter/Adv starts tonight

We're going to spend the next five weeks working on the intricacies of fancy social dance moves and techniques. Drop-ins welcome for $15 (class and dance). For Int/Adv dancers. From 8:30-9:30.

New Beginner Series begins June 16!

The Jam Cellar's world renown 6 week beginner series will begin it's next run June 16. It's the perfect class for any friends of yours who wanted to learn Lindy Hop.

ILHC registration open

Don't forget, ILHC registration is open. You don't want to miss this incredible competition weekend in your won back yard. www.ilhc.com.

NEW YORK vs SEATTLE: Tourism death match

The past two weekends marked the best 11 straight days of Lindy Hop the world has seen in a long time. The first weekend was Frankie's 95, and the second was Camp Jitterbug's 10 year anniversary, which gave up its usual Memorial Day spot to Frankies. Though the events took place in one country, you can't deny that it was two different worlds.

So, how about a pointless death match contest?

WEATHER

Camp Jitterbug had some of the best weather any event has ever had ever. The entire city was room temperature with air conditioning. The days were long and there wasn't one drop of rain. Apparently this changes from June to April. New York, however, was what you'd expect from the city in summer; warm and a little muggy. The fact that Seattle wins this category is merely an anomaly. Seattle got lucky. Winner: Seattle

HOMELESS

Seattle's homeless looked alarmingly like hipster grad school students. I couldn't help but fear that my money would be used towards vinyl. One difficulty might be that it's impossible to get oneself dirty by wallowing around on Seattle streets. There's no contest here. For the good old hopped-up, apathetic, torn-up overcoat wearing schitzophrenic who smells like urine and vinegar, New York can't be beat. Winner: New York.

HOT DOGS

A New York street vendor Kosher hot dog is a cultural icon. At $3.50, a dog with everything on it and a flat coke is THE poor man's (Lindy Instructor's) s New York lunch. Since icon's have a social sacredness to them, it's not really a contest. It'd be like trying to have a contest between an elderly Norma Miller and a young champion dancer. That said, however, Seattle has answered the challenge with a black-light-lit, disco hot dog truck with 8 different super Hot Dogs, including 4 vegan choices.

Friends of ours from California took us to this joint after one of the dances, and we found it by following the techno music. The menu showed videos of pictures of the hotdogs. That sentence, though not my best, is correct. Every picture of a hot dog soon faded out and back into the exact same picture of a hot dog. I had the Texas, which was a large, juicy frank topped with pulled pork, BBQ sauce, and onions. It was delicious, but also twice as much as a New York hot dog.

While we were there, a group of girls who all shopped in the same corner of the Gap came up and asked us about the hot dogs and about ourselves. "Where are you from?" they asked.

"California and D.C." we replied.
"Oh, wow. Two of my favorite cities." No Winner. (see above.) Though it should be noted New York people would not talk to you while you're trying to eat a hot dog. And they'd probably never say California is a city. Of course, they'd never say any place is one of their favorite cities. New Yorkers live in their favorite city.

POSSIBILITY OF GETTING HIT BY A CAR

Being from Baltimore, I've gotten used to jay walking slowly across streets and staring down honest law-abiding drivers. In New York, this is a sure way to get a Taxi in the lower back. However, in Seattle, all cars in a surrounding block begin to slow down and stop, and without the slightest protest from a horn. For the most part, people in Seattle respect walkers to a noticeable degree. You have a much bigger chance of being judged by your bike choice, however. Winner: Seattle.

RANDOM TOURISM SPOTS

Considering the material New York has to work with, it's hard to imagine Seattle could even come close to beating the Metropolis in this category. Seattle seems much more a city that people live in, not a city people visit, whereas Manhattan seems like the opposite for most. While we were there, our incredible host Blake took us around to some of the city's unique wonders. First was a statue of an emo troll crushing a Volkswagon that was under a bridge. The second was a park made from an old gas work factory, and the final spot was a marsh walking trail along the shore of the sound. There is, apparently, a cool underground part of the city. But what could seriously beat the top of Rockafeller Center or a Broadway show? Winner: New York.

THAI FOOD

So, this section is really just an opportunity to tell people that if they're ever in Seattle, they must go to Thai Toms, a Thai restaurant near the university. And go during an off-hour, because the entire restaurant only seats 8. You'll be sitting next to the oven and I hope you like the smell of garlic. You'll see the chef throw fresh ingredients into four different woks and ably juggle a continuous line of orders without flinching. If the sopping-wet chef drips sweat into your bowl, don't interrupt him; it's the ingredient of love. And, it's absolutely incredible Thai food. Winner: Seattle.

Jam Cellar Video: Aerials (4/4) 5/26/09

The Jam Cellar — Thu, 28 May 2009 08:25:46 +0800

Jam Cellar Video: Building Your Basics (4/6) 5/26/09

The Jam Cellar — Wed, 27 May 2009 11:13:53 +0800

Post Frankies Weekend Boring Email

Bobby White — Tue, 26 May 2009 22:23:36 +0800

Tonight's DJ missing, presumed dead.

I'm a little swungover from the Frankie's weekend, are you? How about a little hair-of-the-dog? Come dance at the Jam Cellar.

Last Aerials class tonight!

Andy and Gretta will show you how to fly one last time before shoving you off a tree branch. It'll be fun!

Next Week: Social Moves series of June begins.

After a month of high folutten' partnered dance moves, we're going to concentrate on the magic of social dancing with this series on incredible ways to lead and follow. And, to waht extant is a Lead himself a follow? Discuss.

Next Week: Sac Au Lait performs!

The Baltimore Dixieland Sensation performs to kick off the summer.

Jam Cellar Video: The Remembers (2/2)

The Jam Cellar — Thu, 21 May 2009 10:54:35 +0800

Jam Cellar Video: The Remembers (1/2)

The Jam Cellar — Thu, 21 May 2009 10:27:41 +0800