Last night Ellenore Scott & Ryan Di Lello performed a Lindy Hop piece choreographed by Carla Heiney on So You Think you Can Dance. The dancers did a great job with the performance given the tight time constraints, but any woman that can teach me how to dance should have no problem with much more gifted performers.
I remember the years taking lessons from Carla while she was still studying biology at the U of Maryland. When she told me about her dream of becoming a full time dancer I thought to myself “A full time Lindy Hopper? Really?” I was worried about her earning a living, never mind any kind of notoriety.
That was a long time ago. Longer than I care to think about, but it was also the last time I doubted her and her drive to succeed.
I won’t bother linking to any of the SYTYCD video clips online right now since I doubt that any of them will be up for very long. In the mean time, check out Carla Heiney’s winning performance from the Classic division at the 2008 International Lindy Hop Championships. She dances with Zack Richard who helped her with the SYTYCD routine, although I believe Bromley Palamountain was the lead who was with Carla in the SYTYCD segment itself.
The music for the SYTYCD routine was provided by the incomparable Boilermaker Jazz Band from their cd, “You Do Something To Me.”
I’ve written extensively about the Boilermakers performing at the world famous Jam Cellar, Glen Echo Park, All Balboa Weekend, and The International Lindy Hop Championships.
Check out these videos of them playing live music for performances by The Jam Cellar from Washington, DC.
DC Lindy Exchange 2006 “Dinah”
with (in order of spotlight appearance) Peter Strom & Naomi Uyama, Gretta Thorn & Luke Albao, Leslie Wylie & Skye Humphries Nina Gilkenson & Andy Reid
Virginia State Open 2006 “All God's Chillun Got Rhythm”
with (in order of spotlight appearance) Sylvia Skylar & Jeff Booth, Leslie Wylie & Luke Albao, Gretta Thorn & Ben Furnas, Bethany Powell & Stephan Durham, Nina Gilkenson & Mike Faltesek, Naomi Uyama & Andy Reid.