This has been the most fun Lindy Hop related project that I have worked on. It’s been a huge pleasure to work with such an enthusiastic and creative group of people. I can’t tell you how cool it was to suggest idea after idea to these people, who would then jump all over it, and amazingly turned into something much better than I thought possible. I hope you get as much enjoyment out of listening to the show as we did putting it together.
Our DJ’s
I’d like to thank all the DJ’s who participated by scouring their vast music collections for their hottest tunes to put on the air. Every time I thought the music couldn’t get better, I received someone else’s submissions and got my mind blown again.
Luke Albao
Jerry Almonte
Kate Hedin
Allen Kerr
Betsy Kipperman
Mike Marcotte
Andy Reid
Glenn Scales
Lee Tucker
Naomi Uyama
The Announcers
I’d like to thank the voices of The Jam Cellar on Yehoodi Radio: Luke Albao and Bobby White who pulled triple duty writing, performing, and recording their voiceovers for the show.
There’s also a special cameo appearance by Mark Kotishon of the Boilermaker Jazz Band.
The Hot Club de Jam Cellar
For turning a throw away idea into preposterously amusing recordings.
Vocals-Naomi Uyama
Viola-Kate Hedin
Drums-Jeff Booth
Guitars-Luke Albao, Andy Reid, Bobby White
Dinah’s Southern Gentleman Friend-Bobby White
Lyrics by Luke Albao and Naomi Uyama.
Everyone else who helped out with this project
Jesse Miner at Yehoodi.com for shepherding us through this process.
Soo Clarke for taking the DJ picture.
Hyong Lee for providing the recording of the Boilermakers at DCLX 2006.
Paul Cosentino for letting us use said recording.
And of course all the great musicians, both past and present, that inspire us to dance every week.
I want to welcome a new contributer so this blog, Jerry Almonte. Jerry is a regular DJ and mainstay of the DC scene. He's kind of a silent knower of all and always has a well thought out and insightful take on pretty much everything. Jerry also always tends to have the finger on the pulse of what's going and really knows the recent history of the dance. For that reason, I thought I'd bring him on and see what he has to show us.
Jerry also helps to organize The Big Big Event coming in June 6-8, 2008. Check it out.
One of the Jam Cellar founders, Skye Humphries and his partner Frida Segerdahl doing their "24 Robbers" routine at an event in Grenoble, France not too long ago. I like watching dancers reach a comfort level with a routine that allows them to perform it with more ease and playfulness each time.
I'm happy to announce the newest installment with our very own Naomi Uyama… - Editor (Andy)
My Name: Naomi Uyama
Year I Started Swing Dancing: 1997
Where I Started Swing Dancing: Washington DC
Current Location: Washington, DC
Sing Lim
About 3 months after I started swing dance lessons I saw my first "clip", a taste of the dance world outside DC. Someone was playing the video from Can't Top the Lindy Hop and event that coincided with Frankie's 80th birthday, held in NYC '94. That's when I saw Sing dancing with Ryan Francois in the opening sequence and a guy standing next to me said "That's Sing Lim. She's the best follow in the world. They say she can follow anything." Boom, my dance universe exploded and I thought, 'that's what I want- to follow anyone doing anything at anytime." It really shaped my priorities during the sponge phase of learning to dance, and I think her influence, not so much as a literal teacher- I never took a class from her, but as an ideal really shaped my following and the focus I've always put on it. Aaaand her jam with Ryan towards the end of the vid totally stands the test of time, its amazing.
(See Sing with Ryan Francois at about 2:00 above. - ed)
Sylvia Skylar
Sylvia and Eric taught the first big workshop I ever attended (Coincidentally I believe it was the first big workshop they had taught). Before then I had just been learning the basics from local teachers. When I saw her what blew my mind is the way she was doing what she was doing. I hadn't yet realized there was more than one way of doing things, and that your basics could look stylish, with lines and grace. Not only that but their presence opened my mind to scenes outside my own, and gave me the desire to travel and dance in other places which proved invaluable in my first years of learning. Plus she's a funny lady and sews pretty things, who can beat that?
Sylvia Sykes
I remember when the lindy hoppers all adopted Sylvia as their own second mom. She had been doing her thing for years, keeping the flame alive in the shag and west coast scenes and right around 2000 came this rush of rag tag kids who all claimed her as their own. Her dancing was smooth and understated. She could do bal, west coast, shag, and goodness knows what else. She was a classy and very versatile follow which I looked up to immensely. Plus she's been dancing for decades, sometimes with a partner, sometimes without, when her style is in, or when no one had heard of it. She's a strong dedicated lady and she still shows me a path I would like to take.
Here's the first installment of those who paved by my by little old me. We'll be having all sorts of other folks doing this, so stay tuned… - Editor (Andy)
My Name: Andy Reid Year I Started Swing Dancing: 1999 Where I Started Swing Dancing: Ithaca, NY Current Location: Washington, DC My Website Address: http://www.andyandnina.com/
My name is Andy Reid. I started dancing in early 1999 in a swing dance hotspot at the time, Ithaca, NY. You couldn't walk down the street without seeing a Lindy Hopper. I started swing dancing after attending a dance with some friends and feeling like a total chump standing awkwardly against a wall for 2 hours until someone finally convinced me to dance. I felt sufficiently ashamed that I was so inept that I decided to take classes downtown. Since then, I've forgoed my roots as a hardcore kid addicted to 7″ records, to a world traveling performer and teacher.
Below you will a small sampling of folks who have paved my way as a dancer. I decided to leave out some of the 1st and 2nd generation Lindy Hoppers because you will find them all over the rest of this blog. Whitey's Lindy Hoppers - most notably Frankie Manning, Dean Collins, that tall dude from Keep Punchin' that come out first in the "contest", etc, etc. Instead, I decided to focus on the newer guard.
Inspiration 1: Bill Borgida Bill was my first teacher so it seems appropriate I start there. Bill went out of his way to support my dancing. He invited us over to show us old clips. He asked me to fill in in his classes when I started getting my chops. He consistently gave me feedback and filled me with passion from the dance. Bill drilled into our heads that nothing is more important that having solid basics and an ear for the music. He started a lot of us out and let us fly… and fly we did.
Here's Bill dancing a year or so ago with Laura Glaess, a fantastic dancer from Austin, TX.
Inspiration 2: Steven Mitchell Steven taught me how to dance from my heart. From Steven I learned how amazing it is to move with a partner. We used to follow him around the northeast (before everyone flew everywhere) and attend all his classes. Every time I saw Steven he would have a very simple, but very sage piece of advise for me. He was always very direct and very concise. I think the most notable advice I recall is when he approached me after watching me dance (during a rather wild and frantic period in my dancing). He said "I need to take you to my church." and just looked up, opened up his arms, took a breath in and, and stopped moving. I knew exactly what he meant. That comment forever changed my dancing. I've never been a religious person, but Steven introduced me to a sprit that I had never felt before.
Here's a video of Steven dancing with the legendary Dawn Hampton:
And, what the hell, he's a clip from Can't Top The Lindy Hop in 1995. Steven is in the taxi cab pants and Erin Stevens is his partner:
Inspiration 3: The Rhythm Hot Shots The Rhythm Hot Shots were a team of dancers from Sweden. These Swedish powerhouses! I remember seeing "Hellzapoppin'" for the first time and thinking… "Ain't no way I could do that." They make me think it's possible. They are still around as The Harlem Hot Shots. Check em out.
Another clip from 1995's Can't Top The Lindy Hop. I must have worn this tape out:
Inspiration 4: (The Other Members of) Minnies Moochers When I was 22, I was asked to join a dance group full of teenagers. The were the best dancers in town and I enjoyed their company. They inspired me and shaped my dancing and we all grew together. What was happening in this group was really something special and unique and I jumped in head first. We spend several days of every week in the gym in a creative frenzy and it was one of the greatest times of my life. Minnie's Moochers was, and is, Kate Engle, Lucy Engle, Caitlin George Wellman, Susan Wolff, Sylvie Ynetma, Jenna Hallas, Simnia Singer Sayada, Ramona Staffeld, Sarah Spence, Mark Eckstein, Robin Coleman, Skye Humphries, Finian Makepeace, Ben Furnas, and I.
Here we are, in 2000 at NADC:
Inspiration 5: (The Other Members of) Silver Shadows Yes. Another team I am in. This team is my family and these are the folks I look to and find the most inspiration. Silver Shadows are Nina Gilkenson, Naomi Uyama, Ramona Staffeld, Caitlin George Wellman, Frida Segerdahl, Skye Humphries, Peter Strom, Todd Yannacone, and I.
I an attempt to start generating some regular video content on this blog again, I am going to start a new feature called "Those Who Paved My Way". In this feature, many dancers that you may or may not know will be highlighting their teachers/inspirations/mentors with videos and words.
Stay tuned… The first installment will be coming soon.
Andy
PS. For those of you reading this on RSS aggregators, I have revamped the RSS feed so that it now includes the class reviews and a little better presentation. I suggest you unsubscribe and resubscribe to this url: http://feeds.feedburner.com/jamcellar
If you've been dancing for a while, you've probably heard the name Frankie Manning thrown around a bunch. Frankie was and is arguably one of the best Lindy Hoppers to ever grace the floor. This collection of clips will be testament to that.
However, aside from his dancing skill, he's is probably one of the most positive, inspirational people you will ever come across. At 92 years of age, Frankie is still dancing and teaching all over the world. After knee surgery, hip replacements and a long life, he is still one of the best dancers you'll ever see and his spunk and zest for life is infectious.
He has a book about his life coming out, 15 years in the making. It's available for pre-sale on Amazon.com. If you are a dancer, or just someone looking to hear a story from an miraculous man, pick up this book.
Now, the clips …
First, go back and watch Hellzapoppin' and Keep Punchin' from my Whitey's Lindy Hoppers post. Frankie was the lead dancer for the group and you can see him dancing in both of those clips.
Besides that…
Cottontail - Duke Ellington Soundie AKA Hot Chocolates (1941)
Frankie is wearing the trench coat.
The Spirit Moves (1950)
Here you see Frankie in a documentary called The Spirit Moves. The Spirit Moves is a documentary done by a Russian Ballet dancer named Mura Dehn. Six hours of awesome dancing. Wear out your copy like we've all done.
Frankie in the 1980s
Here you see Frankie, in his 70s, getting down. This clip rules. Excuse the outfits… it was the 80s.
Frankie Show Us How It's Done (2005)
This clip was taken at a dance two years ago here in DC. You might recognize some faces. He was 90 in this clip.
Also, check out this week's Yehoodi Talk Show. Frankie is interviewed.
Frankie still teaches all over the world. If you ever get a chance, don't pass up the opportunity. He's an incredible inspiration and a great great man.
On January 20, 2007, Jam Cellar held our first ever solo run dance party at the gorgeous and historic Glen Echo Park Spanish Ballroom. The music, provided by our favorites, The Boilermaker Jazz Band, had the amazing crowd of over 700 people tearing that floor up!
That night, we held a swing dance contest and it was tight! Here's a video of the finalists going head to head to the amazing sounds of the Boilermakers!
Congratulations to all the dancers, especially the winners: Jeremie Anderson & Lily Matini!
