"Good Bye, Francie."
Tonight, DJ Andy Reid
Will give you what you need. Also, tonight is a very special occasion, as one of our very own Jam Cellar organizers and founders Naomi Uyama will be packing up her bags, moving to New York, and throwing her beret into the air by the weekend.
Naomi has been with the Jam Cellar since the beginning, and has been a crucial part of putting Washington DC on the map of modern swing dance history. It has, however, always been her dream to live in New York, and we're all really excited she's going to be living that dream. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (but she probably won't see it as she'll be living in the village.) Thank you for everything, Naomi!
Naomi worked very hard for the Jam Cellar each week, so now would be a great time to ask for volunteers to help at the Jam Cellar. Setting up and closing down volunteering includes 15-20 minutes of carrying not-so-heavy things a distance of twenty feet. Door volunteering includes the ability to count and not steal our (very little) money. Inquire further at huh@thejamcellar.com
THE JAM CELLAR TOWN HALL MEETING OF AUGHT TEN (Feb 2)
Fine ladies and Gentlemen. And cattle. Those who love Jam Cellar, and those who don't but want to, are invited to the Jam Cellar Town Hall meeting from 9:30 to 10 p.m. on Feb. 2nd. We'll discuss the past, present, and future of Jam Cellar, and we want to know what all our patrons think about Jam Cellar's atmosphere, events, music, etc. Please come armed with suggestions and comments, or, failing that, pistols. (Pistols will be collected at the door). And yes, we will have refreshments. If you will not be there, please feel free to send comments for discussion before hand to huh@thejamcellar.com.
Just Announced: BROOKS TEGLER big band AND small combo Jan 30
We're proud to announce that our Glen Echo dance this month will include not only Brooks Tegler's Big Band, but also his small combo. What makes that so special? First off, it's old school Benny Goodman style. Second of all, it was one of the greatest nights of music we had at the Jam Cellar last year, which is saying something. Thirdly, Brooks Teglar has floppy hair.
S0, mark your calendar, we're starting off 2010 right. And please help us share it on Facebook. $15 Admission, Beginner Swing Lesson @ 8PM (Free with admission), Dance From 9PM 12PM. Glen Echo Park Park Spanish Ballroom, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, Maryland. Presented in cooperation with the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts & Culture, Inc., the National Park Service and Montgomery County, MD.
JAN and FEBs Class: Lindy Hop Performance CHOREOGRAPHY!
Our Jam Cellar Crew will spend 8-full weeks teaching a performance choreography complete with fancy moves. Drop-ins only allowed for partners who will not rotate during class.
A Year in Clips #3: Todd and Naomi's routine at ULHS 2005
This is the third part of an installment where we here at Jam Cellar (and Swungover) discuss a dance clip from the archives of past and present swing dance, the current goal to do so regularly for a year. Feel free to discuss your thoughts in the comments section of our Jam Cellar Blog on the website or over at Swungover
For our third clip, we'll watch what I consider one of the most influential modern Lindy Hop showcase performances: Todd and Naomi's 2005 ULHS performance. And, coincidentally, I wrote this piece awhile back, before I knew tonight would be Naomi's last night. Let's watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hs9gN0M8XlY
In the world of art, there are certain things that we watch once or twice, and get our maximum enjoyment out of it, like a summer Blockbuster movie. Then there are occasionally things we see that grow on us. It might not sink in at first, but something keeps us coming back to it. Then, over time, we are officially blown-away. Those are rare moments, and it takes a real dancer, not just a performer, to allow those moments to come out naturally in something as structured and performance-oriented as creating a choreography.
What came naturally out of Todd and Naomi for their showcase routine in 2005 embodied the direction Lindy was about to take nationwide. How many moves in the routine were common place on the dance floors for the next three years? How much has early jazz and Charleston/Swing transitional music taken over the dance floors of major events and small city clubs? Before it, how long had it been since top dancers had done moves like points, mini-dips, mess-arounds, and other Harlem style moves in a routine?
But this routine isn't about the trends it helped start. It's about two dancers dancing their own dance, showing off their own personalities. For instance, I'd like to personally nominate Naomi's nonchalant theatricality in this routine as a model for dancers wondering how they can perform without plastering a giant smile on their face and making large expressions and making judges sick. Naomi is simply having a great time doing this routine and allows it to show on her face, which is a large part of it. For the rest, it's the little personality she puts into everything that adds to it. Look at the subtle motions she adds throughout the routine: The hand flick she does before going into a swivel side-pass. The swimming she does when on Todd's back. The slap on Todd's butt on beat to the music after he puts her down.
She keeps her head and shoulders up, she dances like it's nothing, and she has a great time. You don't need anything else for great performance theatricality. Well, except yourself. Naomi almost always adds that in her performances, when a lot of other dancers forget to.
Coupled with Todd's great styling, moves, and lines, and how well they dance together in this routine, and the fact that every move goes so well with the music and flows naturally out of and into the other moves, it's no wonder this is a routine with lasting power.
Oh, and they also get points for not using a song from the Swing Kids soundtrack.