The Incredible History of Paul the First of Russia
This Week, DJ Luke Albao
But you know him as Ralph Machio. Also, it is the day that celebrates/mourns the assassination of Emperror Paul 1 of Russia, the third most powerful man with mother issues in world history.
Paul 1 is born, grows up
Paul is born to Emperor Peter and his wife, Catherine in 1754. However, almost from the beginning, Catherine implies that Paul is not Peter's son, but the son of one of her lovers. It is believed to be a rumor she spread to lay doubt on his claim to the throne to support her own claim. As a boy, he was known to be intelligent and good looking, but an episode of Typhus left him with a pug nose throughout his adult life.
March's Inter/Adv Classes (March 2-March 23) HOLLYWOOD AND HARLEM:
Classic Moves and Styling
Tonight is the final class of this exciting series. Drop-ins welcome . 8:30 p.m. $15. Students should be comfortable with all the material in our Building Your Basics series.
Paul 1's early life
Paul's mother arranges two marriages for Paul; the first wife dies in childbirth. Paul soon becomes paranoid people are trying to kill him, even openly accusing his mother of putting broken glass in his food. It was around this time that Pugachev, a commander in the Russian Army, claimed he was the actual Peter I, and raised an army to go after the throne. This made Catherine, who was ruling the country, strongly reactionary, and not very well-liked by the peasants.
March 30– AERIAL TASTER CLASS
Are you a guy who doesn't know how to pick up a girl? Are you a girl who doesn't know if she wants to be thrown? Now's your chance to try it out, as a little taste before our month-long aerial series coming this summer. We'll learn a basic aerial or two, to get you used to the idea. This class is specifically geared towards creating good aerial posture, attitude, and practicing technique. $15 gets you into the class and dance. 8:30 p.m. March 30. Partners recommended, but not necessary. However, we do recommend comfortable clothing and sneakers for both boys and girls. (Practicing aerials can be a work out.)
Paul 1 gets a throne
Paul's mother died of a stroke in 1796. Pauls' first action was to destroy her will, which attempted to give the throne to her grandson. During his first year, he reverses many of the harsh acts his other passed, he noticed the Russian nobles were corrupt and began punishing them for their corruption, and ordered the bones of his mother's favorite lover dug up and scattered.
April series: ROOTS AND OFFSHOOTS
We're bringing back one of the most popular classes we've done in the history of Jam Cellar, complete with the original staff: a celebration of dances that inspired Lindy Hop, and dances Lindy Hop inspired. We've got two weeks of Hand Dancing with Markus and Trendlyon (April 6, 13), a week of Tap with Heidi Schultz(April 20), and a week of African Dance with Chanda Lupunga Phillips (April 27). $55 for entire series; $15 drop-ins.
Paul 1 is assassinated
Paul had alienated many powerful people with his attempts to demand chivalry from his nobility. His decisions in war were questioned, as well. On the night of May 23, 1801, Paul was in his bedroom when a group of drunken, discharged soldiers, hired to assassinate him, entered his room. They stabbed him, then strangled him, and finally trampled him to death, apparently not being very good at assassinating people. (or perhaps too good.)
DCLX bands
Touche', DCLX: Jonathan Stout, The Boilermakers, The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn, and the Red Hot Rhythm Chiefs. Still the best dance bang for your Lindy Exchange buck, the DC Lindy Exchange is almost here.