Dance Blog

Chicago Lindy Lab

March 30, 2025

Last weekend, I participated in a 2 day dance workshop hosted by Nicolle Wood. It included 5 hour and a half long classes co-led by Nicolle and Kelly Palmiter. Here are my takeaways from the classes.

Solo Jazz with Elze Visnevskyte

March 09, 2025

Yesterday, Elze Visnevskyte led a solo jazz workshop at the Traffic Jam! studies. Much of the jazz dance instruction I have received has been partner dancing. I’ve taken a few solo jazz classes, and worked independently on it. While it seems separate at first, solo jazz improves one’s partner dancing. It trains the shape of the body. It builds up one’s vocabulary of steps and rhythms. When you watch an experienced Lindy Hoppers, it is clear that they are well versed in the solo jazz repertoire.

The Western Elstons at Simon's

March 06, 2025

The Western Elstons played Simon’s Tavern last night. They are a phenomenal band. It features Joel Patterson on lead guitar, Scott Ligon on guitar and vocals, Casey McDonough on bass and vocals, and Alex Hall on drums. John Perrin jumped in on drums last night. Just to reiterate, this band is really good, and it’s wild to live in a city where this quality of musician puts on a free show in a tiny, albeit famous, dive.

Dayton Smackdown Competition

March 04, 2025

The main event at Dayton is the team competition, held on Saturday evening. This year, 13 teams performed choreographed performances. My team, Traffic Jam Swing, went first. It felt like we were setting the tone for the night, which I think we did well, since the rest of the groups were tremendous. The audience was frenetic and super supportive. It felt to me a bit like it did when I played high school soccer, but with the excess competitiveness of sports refocused into creativity and community building.

Letting Go of Six Counts

March 02, 2025

At the Hungry Brain last night, the Paul Asaro Quartet played a set featuring Natalie Scharf. Joel Paterson was on guitar and Jeff Parker on bass. I love this quartet.

Leading with the Body

March 01, 2025

Last night, at the Empty Bottle, during one of the last songs, I led a sweetheart pattern while dancing with a follow for the first time. When I first started swing dancing two and a half years ago, one of my first instructors talked about leading with the body. At various times, I thought I knew what he meant by that. But while leading that sweetheart move, the idea made more sense.

Dayton Smackdown - Day 2 Classes

February 28, 2025

The day 2 classes at Dayton are all-level, so they are a bit more chill than day 1. The organizers moved the classes later in the day than they were last year. Many dancers stayed up the night before until 4 am to complete the Josh Forbes Power Hour. Last year, I got a Power Hour Pin. This year, I bailed at about 2:30.

Pure Balboa

February 26, 2025

In balboa class yesterday, led by Orlando Cabalona and Desiree Roffers, we focused on the pure style. Pure balboa is performed in closed position, which involves very close physical proximity. Dancing so closely requires careful and subtle communication, where lead and follow have to pay close attention to the body weight shifts. I’m beginning to suspect that refining this type of communication will be what makes balboa stand out.

Franking Manning

February 21, 2025

This morning, I finished Frankie Manning: Ambassador of Lindy Hop, by Frankie Manning and Cynthia R. Millman. There was so much good stuff in it. Reading about his life inspires me to learn more about the history of African American dance.

Honkey Tonk Happy Hour

February 14, 2025

Every Friday The Empty Bottle hosts the Honkey Tonk Happy Hour. The Hoyle brothers play two sets from 5:30 to 7:30. It is magnificent.

Solo Jazz with Jo

February 13, 2025

I am taking a solo jazz dance class by Jo Hoffberg on iLindy. She records herself dancing for about 10 minutes using variations on a series of jazz steps. I completed the Tacky Annie video today.

People Mentioned in Dance Posts