The Lindy Roll

Bobby White performs a solo dance at Lindy Focus IX. I love...

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 08:31:06 -0700

Bobby White performs a solo dance at Lindy Focus IX.

I love reading about how choreographies came together, and Bobby put up a great post about this one’s genesis and evolution.

Dancers: Bobby White.

Kevin & Jo in a social dance demo at a workshop weekend in...

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 08:30:05 -0700

Kevin & Jo in a social dance demo at a workshop weekend in Toronto.

According to her blog, this is one of Jo’s favorite social dances with Kevin on video.

Dancers: Jo Hoffberg, Kevin St. Laurent.

Juan, Max and Dax in the Cabaret at ESDC 2011. Great solo...

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 08:31:06 -0700

Juan, Max and Dax in the Cabaret at ESDC 2011.

Great solo dancing.

And great suits. This is why I always say a black suit is almost only appropriate for funerals (and working in the Secret Service). Check out how much character their brown, navy, and mid-gray suits give them.

Dancers: Juan Villafañe, Max Pitruzella, Dax Hock.

Peter & Alice in a showcase at Camp Hollywood 2011. Great...

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 08:31:06 -0700

Peter & Alice in a showcase at Camp Hollywood 2011.

Great acting and great dancing. They look like they’re having a lot of fun here.

Dancers: Alice Pye, Peter Kertzner.

Max & Annie in the Invitational Strictly finals at ESCD...

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 08:30:06 -0700

Max & Annie in the Invitational Strictly finals at ESCD 2011.

I am usually not a fan of pre-choreographed segments in Strictlys, but Max and Annie pull them off so well here. And each bit looks like it could have been socially led (which, in my opinion, follows the spirit of a Strictly competition).

They also do a wonderful job of switching up their tone and tension, sometimes multiple times within only a few counts. I feel like Max’s extremely granular control somehow continues to improve.

Dancers: Annie Trudeau, Max Pitruzella.

Michael & Ann in the Slow Dance finals at Lindy Focus...

Wed, 25 May 2011 08:30:06 -0700

Michael & Ann in the Slow Dance finals at Lindy Focus IX.

Crowd favorite, both in prelims and finals. Michael plays his calm to Ann’s crazy perfectly.

Dancers: Ann Mony, Michael Seguin.

Dax & Sarah performing a social demo at GNSH 2011. The...

Tue, 24 May 2011 08:30:06 -0700

Dax & Sarah performing a social demo at GNSH 2011.

The quality and lighting of this video make it a joy to watch—not to mention the dancing. Crank the resolution up, full-screen it, and enjoy.

Dancers: Sarah Breck, Dax Hock.

Instructor Jam at 505 Stomp 2011. I love instructor jams because...

Mon, 23 May 2011 08:30:06 -0700

Instructor Jam at 505 Stomp 2011.

I love instructor jams because they put amazing dancers in the unique position of improvising a non-judged performance—it seems to bring out really entertaining but relaxed dances.

Dancers: Naomi Uyama, Peter Strom, Laura Glaess, Mike Roberts, Nina Gilkenson, Andy Reid.

Scott & Laura in the Invitational Jack & Jill at Midwest...

Mon, 16 May 2011 00:07:34 -0700

Scott & Laura in the Invitational Jack & Jill at Midwest Lindyfest 2011.

MWLF was an amazing event for many reasons, but the one that stands out to me is its size: it’s a relatively small, extremely approachable and manageable weekend. During the Invitational Jack & Jill, it was easy to feel like you were part of the action, and not simply watching a performance (check out the heckling from the crowd during the intro to this video).

I’m normally not a fan of beginning a social dance with swing-outs, especially with a good 90 seconds for the piece, but Scott makes it work well here: some relaxed no-triple-step swing-outs to complement the main melodic line of “I Found a New Baby”, and then he moves on to other ideas. After the B section (where they make great use of the space), he swings out again—a bit more intensely this time—as the melody returns.

I love how Laura takes the loose pop turn at 1:10 and starts rocking out to the violin pattern, followed by some really badass camel walks. This entire dance is great, but the solo part really stands out for me.

Dancers: Laura Glaess, Scott Angelius.

Todd & Nina performing at the Midwest Lindyfest Show...

Fri, 06 May 2011 11:25:58 -0700

Todd & Nina performing at the Midwest Lindyfest Show 2010.

The Show is tonight, and I couldn’t be more excited. This is my favorite performance from last year.

Dancers: Nina Gilkenson, Todd Yannacone.

Midwest Lindyfest 2010 Invitational Jack & Jill Part 2. And...

Thu, 05 May 2011 08:30:06 -0700

Midwest Lindyfest 2010 Invitational Jack & Jill Part 2.

And part 2.

Dancers: bunches (announced in the video).

Midwest Lindyfest 2010 Invitational Jack & Jill Part 1. In...

Wed, 04 May 2011 08:30:06 -0700

Midwest Lindyfest 2010 Invitational Jack & Jill Part 1.

In honor of my first MWLF this weekend, here’s the first part of last year’s Jack & Jill. Lotsa awesome here.

Dancers: bunches (announced in the video).

Demo at barSWINGona 2011. Calm, relaxed, effortless. Dancers:...

Sun, 01 May 2011 02:13:02 -0700

Demo at barSWINGona 2011.

Calm, relaxed, effortless.

Dancers: Naomi Uyama, Skye Humphries, Laura Glaess, Peter Strom.

Mike & Laura perform a choreography at Lindyfest 2011 in...

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 10:05:36 -0700

Mike & Laura perform a choreography at Lindyfest 2011 in Houston.

I’m always blown away by the musicality and character in Mike and Laura’s choreographies. My favorite parts are the beginning, 0:45, 1:35, and 2:00. I’ve definitely watched this four or five times now.

Dancers: Laura Glaess and Mike Roberts.

Kirk & Ann recapping a class for the 9:20 Special in San...

Sat, 26 Mar 2011 15:52:58 -0700

Kirk & Ann recapping a class for the 9:20 Special in San Francisco.

Class recaps can be funny too (it’s in the beginning).

Dancers: Ann Mony and Kirk Tarou.

Thomas & Alice doing a social dance demo at Frim Fram in New...

Sat, 19 Mar 2011 16:58:09 -0700

Thomas & Alice doing a social dance demo at Frim Fram in New York.

The usual slow lindy amazing.

Last one of these two for a while, but only because I can’t find any more and I have a backlog of Lindyfest videos to post. They’ll be back on here soon.

Dancers: Alice Mei and Thomas Blacharz.

Thomas & Alice doing a social dance demo at the Prague Swing...

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 00:04:21 -0700

Thomas & Alice doing a social dance demo at the Prague Swing Spring Festival.

Slow Lindy is one of my recent obsessions—that’s why I was so glad that Lindy Focus had a slow dance division (more on that in another post). Here you can see Thomas and Alice using all of that extra time between the beats to superb effect.

Dancers: Alice Mei and Thomas Blacharz.

Thomas & Alice doing a social dance demo at the Superheros...

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 23:42:28 -0700

Thomas & Alice doing a social dance demo at the Superheros Workshop in Berlin.

I really like this song for social dancing. Thomas is also a master of that swingout variation that he leads with (about 0:14)—I’ve seen it all over the place recently but none quite as good as his.

Dancers: Alice Mei and Thomas Blacharz.

Thomas & Alice doing a social dance demo at Gypsy Jam...

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 23:27:21 -0800

Thomas & Alice doing a social dance demo at Gypsy Jam Weekend 2010.

The first in a bunch of Thomas + Alice social dance demos. Love watching them—they’re so creative!

Dancers: Alice Mei and Thomas Blacharz.

Peter & Naomi dancing at the Leapin’ Lindy Berne Show...

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 23:50:09 -0800

Peter & Naomi dancing at the Leapin’ Lindy Berne Show 2011.

Digging Peter’s swivels, as usual.

Dancers: Naomi Uyama and Peter Strom.