Things we're still learning about swing
Tonight: DJ Glen Scales
Tonight, the Final Week of How to Make Jam!
Your Jam Cellar instructors will go boot camp style and show you how to jam, dance in front of your friends, reach unheard of levels of confidence, and then drill, drill, drill it by having lots of jams in class. Students in this class will then be prepared to put the Jam back in Jam Cellar.
*** Things I'm Still Learning About Swing: By Naomi Uyama
That I have to use my legs. really.
That the pie is big enough for everyone to have a piece.
That teaching and spreading it can be more than a selfish aspiration, that doing so may be bigger than just me.
That it brings people together.
Clean-up Volunteers needed!
For just fifteen minutes of moderate cardiovascular labor at the end of Jam Cellar, you can receive free admission as well as the love and affection of the Jam Cellar Organization staff, the admiration of all your peers, and an increased prowess among the opposite/same sex. If interested in helping out tonight, contact us.
***Things I'm Still Learning About Swing: By Gretta Thorn
The best dances for me are those where the partners play off each other like a conversation. I'm still learning how to do this well. I try to respond here and there to something my partner is doing, to take a movement or rhythm and add my own twist. I try to do this without missing a beat and it doesn't always work, but when it does it's worth all the not so pretty attempts!
Inter/Adv Lindy Hop Boot Camp! Sunday, Dec. 19ALL THE DETAILS!
This is a special 2-hour intense experience that intermediate and advanced Lindy Hoppers have never had before. Run by fancy world traveling swing dance instructors Bobby and Kate, we'll play rhythm games, we'll show you how to critique your own dancing, and talk about the heart of great dancing, things that are rarely done in classes. We'll do drills of all sorts; speed drills, creative drills, aerial drills. We'll show you how to be a better solo dancer, and how to work in a team. We'll show you how to practice on your own, and with a partner. Our goal is to basically make you improve so much during a two-hour group practice session, that you won't be able to wipe the smile from your next partner's face. Saturday, Dec 19, 2-4 p.m. at the DC Dance Collective (4908 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016right down the street from Chevy Chase Ballroom. AND BE AWARE, THE STUDIO'S SIGN IS HARD TO SEE AND IT'S ENTRANCE IS BELOW STREET LEVEL. IT'S JUST A FEW DOORS DOWN FROM THE GAS STATION) . Price is $20 per student. If the students can comfortably hang at the inter/adv Jam Cellar classes, they will be perfect for this class. We will NOT be covering swing-out technique, except where it applies to other areas of our discussion. If you plan on attending, email him (robertwhiteiii AT gmail DOT com, you will have to reformat for your email) or sign up at the Jam Cellar.
*** Things I'm Still Learning About Swing: By Lee Tucker
The better I learn dance 'rules' the better I get at breaking them to do what I really want how I really want. Breaking rules is a lot more fun when you do it well.
Just because something I feel in a dance can't easily be described in words doesn't mean it isn't really there. English and Lindy Hop are languages that don't always need to translate.
Tuesday, Dec. 22 Holiday Party with Jerry Almonte!
One of your favorite DJs and Dance historians is throwing a party at the Jam Cellar! He'll be playing some of his favorite swing clips and talking about them. He then will play some of his favorite Golden Girls moments, and talk about them. You are welcome to bring snacks and drinks (even adult beverages; but drink responsibly). This will be followed by
***Things I'm Still Learning About Swing: By Bobby White
As with mastering any artform, you're never going to climb to the top of a hill and not see another five hills in front of you. So it's not all about the top of the hill, most of it's about the climb.
While dancing, if you always strive to work with your partner, the whole will be greater than the sum of its parts.
Rhythm and pulse will help each other and have no end of help for your dancing.
Boilermaker Holiday Dance! Tuesday, Dec. 22
When making your holiday plans this year, you might want to stick around till Wednesday morning because the Boilermaker Jazz Band will be playing a special holiday show in our very own Jam Cellar. Jerry's Xmas Swing Video Presentation will preceed the dance at 8:30. $10 Admission.
***Things I'm Still Learning About Swing: By Ann Mony
You can't imitate individuality. The best way for you to dance is to dance like you.
The best jazz dancing is a little bit raw.
Modern dancers dancing an old dance will always produce some measure of dissonance. And that's ok.
Like you really need 3 more blogs to keep track of.
This is a shameless plug for a new blog I've (Bobby) set up for my swing dance writing, swungover.wordpress.com. It will basically be a storehouse for all the swing dance writings I've done in the past, present, and future. I'll be adding a lot of my old jam cellar newsletter content as well as new material. From there, you can also visit my other writing websites, www.robertwhite.wordpress.com, and www.jackthevampire.wordpress.com .
***Things I'm Still Learning About Swing: By Andy Reid
As with everything, complexity can move you, simplicity will sooth you.