The Jam Cellar || Swing Dance and Lindy Hop

Dear Jam Cellar Readers:

Dear Jam Cellar Readers: We received news recently that the small, unstable livestock-cargo plane carrying Jam Cellar organizesr and world-class Swing dance instructors Naomi Uyama and Nina Gilkenson to Herrang has disappeared over the Swedish Alps. It is believed the dance camp booked the two on a livestock transport plane to cut down on travel costs for the instructors. Though smaller than the Swiss Alps, the Swedish mountain range is still a dangerous terrain full of feral reindeer, freezing temperatures, and petit, blonde-haired mountain men who haven't seen a woman for years. However, in a bizarre streak of luck, Nina's Iphone still picks up a signal, and she has sent us an update to let us know that she and Naomi appear uninjured, and are going to attempt to make their way back to civilization. Because many of you are friends with them, I have included their first correspondence at the end of this email. –R.W.

Otherwise, it's a party tonight at the Jam Cellar!!!

Intro to Balboa (Week 2 of 5)!

More of that incredible dance that's sweeping a small portion of the nation. Learn why the California swing dance has such a large cult following in the swing dance scene. Drop-ins for tonight's class only for people who know the balboa basic and the come-around. Taught by international Balboa instructors Bobby un Kate.

Intro to Lindy (week 2 of 6)

Learn all about the original intricate swing dance that started it all.

Sign up for the 1-Minute Showcase (August 12)

Do you love watching incredible dance choreography, but the thought of spending three minutes in front of hundreds of people in the middle of a contest makes you curl into the fetal position? Then this is the perfect event for you! It's the one-minute showcase, inspired by a similar event at the great Lindy Hop camp called the Inspiration Weekend (see how inspiring it is?). Basically, you sign up, you come up with one minute of choreography (partnered dance or solo jazz) to a song of your choice, and you perform it along with others Aug. 12. You even get in free to that dance. Sign up downstairs, and members of the Jam Cellar crew will be on hand throughout the month to help you with anything you need.

2 Summer mini-workshops at Glen Echo!

Bobby and Kate and the Jam Cellar will be offering two different two-hour workshops at Glen Echo this July for your quick fix needs. Balboa Bootcamp (8 to 10 p.m. July 17) will breeze you through the fundamentals of Balboa at a lightening pace, while Beginning Uptempo Lindy (8 to 10 p.m. July 24) will breeze you through lightening lindy hop at a fundamental pace. Each workshop is $22 per person. Presented in cooperation with the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts & Culture, Inc., the National Park Service and Montgomery County, MD.

Email from Nina Gilkenson
Subject: We're okay, but please send help to the plane crash site as soon as possible.

Dear Bobby,

If you are getting this email, it is because my Iphone F-ing rocks. Also, our plane went down and we're stranded on a mountain. Somewhere in Sweden, I'm guessing, since even the animals are thin and have blue eyes. I don't remember much about the accident, but Naomi says that's because I sacrificed myself to protect a rabbit in the crash.

There is no sign of the pilot, which might have been why the plane crashed. It seems like all the livestock animals they were transporting were fine, except that most of their cages were destroyed in the crash, and so now they're trying to eat each other. We did manage to save the rabbit. We've decided to call him Fluffle McChitter.

It's very cold here, and Naomi and I have put on every piece of clothing in our suitcases to stay warm. It worked out for the best, because we noticed several things we had borrowed from each other and forgotten about. Tonight, at least, we have the burning wreckage to keep us warm. However, the snow is starting to fall, and I don't think the fire will last long. So tomorrow, Naomi, Fluffle and I will have to begin looking for civilization.

Anyway, I was mainly writing to see if you could put in your rent check.

Love,
Neeners.

Nina has promised to keep in touch, and so I promise to keep you in touch as events unfold.

The January of the second half of the year! The coldest month in Australia! Named for Julius Caesar, who was born on July 1st, along with Canada Day, where we celebrate our shy, easygoing neighbor to the north, the ones who didn't rebel against the British, causing generations of awkward silence between the two countries! Yes, July!

To celebrate the month that will take us 30 days closer to our deaths, live life to the fullest by coming to tonight's Jam Cellar, where we have all sorts of new beginnings taking place. DJ Lee Tucker will show you why we call his DJ style tuckin'

Intro to Lindy Hop starts tonight!

"Damn you, elusive Lindy Hop! Are you eight counts, or six? Are you open or closed? How can I maneuver your confinement, yet what do I do with the great burden of all your freedom?" If you say this weekly, perhaps with clinched fists in the rain, then what you need is an "Intro to lindy hop series." And you can't get a much better one than our famous "Intro to Lindy" series, which begins today.

Intro to Balboa starts tonight!

Impress members of the opposite sex with Balboa, a swing dance that allows one to dance to swing music in really tight spaces with no loss in speed. It's the lap top of Lindy Hop. With its own slightly different styling and ideals, it still encompasses the fundamental lead and following skills inherent in all good swing dancing. Four week-introduction series begins this week.

The 1-Minute Showcase Showcase August 12

We're so proud of you Jam Cellar dancers that we want you to have a showcase for your talent. We're announcing a one-minute-showcase showcase for August 12 If you'd like to get some experience performing, or basically just have a little fun (one minute's worth), we invite you , or you and a partner, to come up with one minute of choreography to perform for your friends at the Jam Cellar in August. It can be Lindy, Balboa, Solo Charleston, step, clowning, anything. This is NOT a contest, no one will be judged. Everyone's doing it, you should too. Bobby and Kate and other Jam Cellar organizers will be on hand every Tuesday to help out if you need it. Sign up at the Jam Cellar.

2 Summer mini-workshops at Glen Echo!

Bobby and Kate and the Jam Cellar will be offering two different two-hour workshops at Glen Echo this July for your quick fix needs. Balboa Bootcamp (8 to 10 p.m. July 17) will breeze you through the fundamentals of Balboa at a lightening pace, while Beginning Uptempo Lindy (8 to 10 p.m. July 24) will breeze you through lightening lindy hop at a fundamental pace. Each workshop is $22 per person. Presented in cooperation with the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts & Culture, Inc., the National Park Service and Montgomery County, MD.

I am Twenties, Hear Me Roar

Tonight is Roaring Twenties Night at the Mansion of Jam, and who knows what debauchery is in store. Be sure to bring your monocles and spats in full force, that's right, I'm talking to you Monopoly Man. Anyone who comes in costume tonight gets $1 off admission, and if you win our fabulous costume contest you get one month of Jam Cellar for FREE*

Its our last night of the Don't Try This At Home series. Drop-ins are welcome but Dropp-ing- not welcome at all. We'll also be having a one time Shim Sham Class for those of you who t'aint know whatcha do when certain songs get played at dances.

Beginning Lindy Hop starts July 1

Get your friends hooked on the dance craze that's sweeping the hmmm.. county.. and perhaps the outerlying suburbs. Tell them to come learn the Lindy Hop, 6 count, and Charleston in our comprehensive beginner course. Six weeks for just $60 (dances included)- The best deal in town. Find out more here

July Series: Intro to Balboa

You may think balboa is great for fast tunes but can be danced at all tempos, you may think you get to press up to people real nice and close, you may think its purty, and well- you may be right. Come learn Balboa from the ground up with resident Bal champs and fancy teachers Bobby and Kate. Five weeks for $60 (dances included). Pre-Req: It is strongly recommended students have previous partner dance experience and don't mind touching others.

Are you a poor lindy hopper?

Of course you are. Do you want to get in free to the best dance in DC? Of course you do.

Be a Jam Cellar Volunteer and help make our dance happen! We are especially looking for people to help with closing, and a street team who wants to get the word out. Contact Naomi at naomi@thejamcellar.com

*Only for dances, fool. So stop trying to come and take our classes for free. What, you think knowledge is free? You're sounding a little pinko to me. Next you'll tell me you support crazy notions like "libraries" and "public schools". We carefully guard our secrets of technique and skill. Now scram, and go spend a couple hours on our youtube vlog compliments of us here at the Jam Cellar.

New Blood Night!

On this day in 1462, Vlad the Impaler attacked an ottoman camp at night in an attempt to have somewhere to rest his feet. He was named "The Impaler" because of his habit of greeting people by impaling them. Most of these stories, however, are merely propaganda. For instance, he was just as likely to boil you alive, or feed you to your relatives for dinner.

To commemorate this historical event, we will be having New Blood Night tonight, and all people new to the jam cellar will get in free, along with those who bring them. We will also have Kabobs. Andy Reid will DJ.

Upcoming this week…

Tonight is the third week of Don't try this at home. Also, Wednesday night is "Jam Cellar" Night at K2, which is a dance club located at the top of the 495 loop. This Saturday is the last night of K2, where the Hot Club of Jam Cellar will play some of the 4 songs they know.

Jam Cellar "Bootlegger's Ball" June 24

Usher in the next depression with our special speak-easy night next week. Wear your best 1920s clothes, dust off your finest pencil-thin mustache, and disillusion yourself that your carefree extravagant lifestyle will never have any costly repercussions. The secret password is OLD SPORT. Also, we'll have a SHIM SHAM class for all dancers in place of our beginner lesson.

Beginning Lindy Hop starts July 1

Invite your new dancers to learn the Lindy Hop from the basic step and up in this six-seek course geared to give you all the fundamental info you need. Find out more here

Intro to Balboa starts July 1

Balboa: It's not just "that dance to fast music." It's a sibling to Lindy Hop, complete with its own outlook, style, and openings for creativity an expression. Learn some this July.

After the Hot Hot Event this weekend…

My company decided to have a picnic outside all day Monday. Since then, my brain has sort of shut down. I stare drooling at air conditioners. I lie around humming the theme song to "Sanford and Son." I forget to write Jam cellar emails.

This week, DJ Glenn Scales. And tonight, the second week of Don't try this at home.

New Blood Night Next Tuesday!

People new to Jam Cellar get in for free. People who bring new people to Jam Cellar get in for free. Free super-beginner lesson at 9 p.m.

Jam Cellar "Bootlegger's Ball" June 24

This is a special speak-easy night in the spirit of the roaring twenties. Wear your best 1920s clothes, dust off your finest pencil-thin mustache, and disillusion yourself that your carefree extravagant lifestyle will never have any costly repercussions. Listen for the secret password. Also, we'll have a SHIM SHAM class for all dancers in place of our beginner lesson.

Beginning Lindy Hop starts July 1

Invite your new dancer friends to learn the Lindy Hop from the basic step and up in this six-seek course.

The Hot Club de Jam Cellar will be performing a few songs at the late night at K2 on Friday evening, so come on out for one of the last opportunities to dance at K2 all night long.

Also don’t forget that the final dance of the weekend is at K2 on Sunday night!

Saturday night at Glen Echo will be packed, so show up early if you don’t already have a pass. You’ve been warned.

Individual classes are available! If you don’t have the time to take a whole weekend of classes, then for a mere $15.00 you can drop in on a class.

Learn Peabody from Chad and Midori

Check out Mike and Casey performing with Jam Cellar alums Stefan Durham Bethany Powell at ULHS 2007.

Here’s Peter and Ramona performing in Korea with the Silver Shadows including Jam Cellar crew members Naomi, Nina, and Andy and another alum, Skye Humphries.

Swing will rise from the West with The Solomon Douglas Swingtet and set in the East with The Boilermaker Jazz Band by way of the South and the Russ Wilson Swingtet.

Our instructors will impart knowledge and wisdom from Seattle, Minneapolis, and New York City!

There are over 150 people registered to take classes and dance all weekend from 18 states and four continents!

It’s not just any event. It’s The Big Big Event!

And it starts TONIGHT!

If you caught the latest edition of "Hey, Mr. Jesse" then you know that Yehoodi Radio is keeping Jam Cellar on the air every Thursday in June!

So tune in to Yehoodi Radio and get ready for The Big Big Event this weekend which will include an all Jam Cellar DJ line up and a live performance by the Hot Club de Jam Cellar!

*If you received a blank email earlier today, we apologize. Our web server reset some important settings without notifying us, and it caused some malfunctions. *

Today marks the day…

…the French Philosopher-Theologian Abelard was condemned for heresy, which was what all the cool kids were doing in the 12th century. He was also castrated in his sleep by the uncle of his student and lover, as well you know.***

To mark this occasion, all those coming to Jam Cellar tonight will debate on the conflict of realism versus nominalism, and Andy Reid will make castration puns all night. Also, DJ Allen Kerrwill condemn everyone to heresy. A wonderful, beautiful heresy, where Chick Webb plays drums.

It also marks the last Jam Cellar before the Big Big Event, where the Russ Wilson Orchestra will take the stage alongside The Boilermaker Jazz Band. Incredible instructors, incredible out-of-town guests, incredible music. The last day to register is tomorrow.

Here's what's happening tonight:

Don't Try This At Home Starts Tonight!

Our four-week series on the art of throwing women starts tonight, with special guest instructors Kenneth and Helena from Sweden! Partners only! 8:30 p.m.

New Blood Night June 17

Bring a newbie and you and your newb get in free. Or come to Jam Cellar if you've never been before, and you'll get in free! Then join the next Beginning Lindy Hop series starting July 1

Speakeasy Night June 24

Usher in the next depression with our Speakeasy Night June 24. We'll have a Jack-and-Jill contest, a bar in the back, and the foreboding and intoxicating air of a callously-indulgent prosperity without consequences. But, more importantly, a bar in the back. Dress for the 1920s. Call everyone "Old Sport." Listen to announcements at Jam Cellar for the secret password.

*** Abelard was famous for his great debate tactics, and used them to win the heart of his fourteen-year-old student Heloise ("So, Heloise, you ever, like, think about God?"). She got pregnant and they secretly married. Unfortunately, a misunderstanding lead Heloise's uncle to castrate Abelard in his sleep. This, ironically, ended his chances of promotion in the Medieval church. Heloise became a nun, which all the girlfriends of bad-boys were doing in those days. Abelard became a monk, but continued to teach and was many years later tried in Rome for treason for preaching philosophies that questioned unswerving faith. However, Abelard, always the incredible debater, died before the trial. He is supposedly buried next to Heloise in Paris.

Don’t worry because you can immerse yourself in an entire weekend of Jam Cellar goodness at The Big Big Event just a little over a week away. There you can hear recorded music played by the Jam Cellar DJ’s in person!

If that wasn’t enough, actual live music will be provided by The Solomon Douglas Swingtet on June 6th and a double bill featuring The Russ Wilson Swingtet and The Boilermaker Jazz Band on June 7th. And somewhere in there will be the live debut of The Hot Club de Jam Cellar!

Register now at www.TheBigBigEvent.com!

Listen this Thursday at Yehoodi.com

Until then, we leave with you with the Dj’s in their own word (with some heavy and often unnecessary editing.)

Luke Albao was born on his birthday, currently resides in Baltimore, and will die on an undisclosed date. Flowers are appreciated.

Jerry Almonte has been dancing, teaching, organizing events and DJ’ing in the DC area since 2001. He loves DJ’ing around DC because the dancers will get down to whatever style and era of jazz and blues (and the more than occasional soul tune) that strikes his fancy on any given night.

Kate Hedin fell into DJing, in 2003, at the legendary Spy Bar in Cleveland, Ohio –usually filling in last minute when Marty & Valerie forgot they were out of town. Because of her passion as a balboa dancer, Kate has also become know for her tunes at balboa events

Allen Kerr strives to get people excited about the music they're dancing too. The music needs to be interesting and have the energy that makes for great dancing. Trying to avoid those overplayed tunes, Allen tries his best to find those hidden gems that keep the dance fresh and exciting.

Betsy Kipperman has been Lindy-hopping for almost ten years. As a music teacher and working musician she has been collecting all kinds of music for a long time. She is partial to all things jazz, but in particular has loved dance music from the '30's and '40's. She is always looking for music that will energize and inspire great dancing.

Mike Marcotte has been DJ'ing in the Washington D.C. area for the past seven years, whether it has been as the house DJ at K2 Dance Studio, putting together Sunday Blues at Glen Echo with his partner Donna Barker, to The Jam Cellar and beyond. The Boilermakers love him, and he wishes he could travel with them spinning their every break.

Andy Reid has dedicated most of his life to listening to, dancing to, promoting, and playing music (poorly). He's more known for his dancing - which he happens to do all over the world - but he also sometimes likes to play his favorite music for dancers, but, truth be told, he'd rather dance or hang out most of the time.

Glenn Scales can be heard regularly around the DC area mostly at The Jam Cellar and Chevy Chase Ballroom. In addition to DJ'ing at DCLX and other various workshop weekends and lindy exchanges, he has manned the DJ booth for several Lindy Hop and Balboa competitions.

Lee Tucker's first exposure to the Lindy Hop occurred at a high school assembly in Ithaca, NY sometime around 1999. To the best of his knowledge, members of Minnie's Moochers taught his high school chorus to do the Charleston, but somehow none of them has yet owned up to taking the gig. Since he moved to DC in 2006, Lee has remained an active DJ and social dancer. His music has been known to cause spontaneous vernacular jazz dancing.

Naomi Uyama discovered lindy hop in her hometown of Washington DC over ten years ago. When she's not traveling in the name of triple steps, decorating cakes, or loving libraries, Naomi lives in D.C. and spends most of her life not being Nina Gilkenson, despite the large amounts of people that think she is.

Okay, Memorial Day is over.

No excuses. Time to work off those tofu burgers and all that whey bacon. What? You used real meat? Do you have any idea how many calories are in that? And Glucotomosic Inhibitors? Well, time to get back on that horse. Here's your new workout regiment.

First off, ride your bike tonight to Jam Cellar, or put it on your shoulders and run with it if you want to show extreme. And go up the big hill as fast as you can. Either way, you'll get a free water bottle . Don't forget your recovery drink. Second, dance all night to DJ Kate Hedin who will regulate your heart rate between relaxed and pumpin'. Wear a monitor. Then do three sets of each:

31 Flavors Workout

Tonight, Bobby and Kate will take you through the final variations for the 31 Flavors series, where we'll do 31 reps of 31 swing exercises. Walk –ins welcome. Run-ins, carrying bikes, even more so.

Don't Try This At Home Workout

Beginning next week, get crazy with four weeks of aerials, drops, pops, and whops. This exercise regiment includes picking up women, crunches, pulls-ups, core-work, and putting down women. First week taught by personal Swedish trainers Kenneth and Helena. I know it burns.

Big Big Event two-day workout series June 6-8

We've got personal trainers from across the country coming in, showing you how to flex your core swing muscles. Plus, three nights of live music and incredible DJs. Also, if you can house an out-of-town guest, and let them uses your home equipment, please let us know at huh@thejamcellar.com, and at www.SwingOutDC.com You'll want to be there, or else everyone else is suddenly going to be ripped except for you. And swing-dance bathing suit season is coming up.

New Blood Night Ripper June 17

Invite friends for an introductory trial period to try out Jam Cellar X, our 52-week extreme swing dance workout. They'll get in free if they've never been before. And if you bring 'em, you'll get in free, too. And if you can bench-press them, we'll give you $6.

X,

Tony Horton

Jam Cellar Class Organizer.