Two years ago, I compiled a list of my favorite routines from The American Lindy Hop Championships in response to an open request by that event’s promoter. As I was making the list, I discovered that I found it harder and harder to come up with stand out moments as time went on. It wasn’t because the dancing was bad—in fact it was much better technically as years pass—but very little stood out creatively in the way Minnies’ Moochers, Jenn Salvadori & Justin Zillman, or Mad Dog did during their times.
Random Links & Videos: History Lesson Edition
Four weeks after ULHS and still no word on official results. Even ALHC put up their results a week after it ended. I still have unofficial results in my "ULHS 2009 Round Up" post, and at least lots of people are talking about ULHS online. I also just added another blog to that post from another attendee. <Me>
Just in case ALHC was feeling neglected, someone who attended that event finally posted a review to prove that someone went. The omnipresent and always opinionated Allen Hall chimes in with the latest installment of his <News and Views>
That post also includes his latest sojourn to DC with his wife Rudy last week. They hit up The Boilermakers at Glen Echo hosted by Flying Feet and stopped by The Jam Cellar.
ALHC Results & Other Contest Notes
ULHS 2009: More Impressions From Not That Much Closer
Just a few more thoughts on the ULHS footage that's currently online. I don’t have much to add to my initial reactions to the Choreography Showcase, Solo Jazz, and Jack n Jill.
But I should mention how impressed I was with the Ultimate Lindy Hop Combo and the job they did for the Choreography Showcase. They played the diversity of material they were asked to do incredibly well given the time constraints.
I’m also glad that the New Mexico team, Groove Juice Special, won the Showcase. They had a great energy to their performance that still comes across pretty well over video.
AIR pt. 9: NADC Fallout
2001 was a pivotal year. Sensing the various trends I have outlined, many instructors and dancers were beginning to make serious efforts to actively influence the overall dance style of the community.
Ryan Francois and Jenny Thomas returned to active teaching after their long hiatus from the community for their run on the Broadway musical “Swing!” In the aftermath of the 1999 WLHC debate Ryan talked of forming a “united front” to address the issues that came up in that original debate[1]. Nothing formal ever happened after that, but he was clearly dismayed at the state of dancing when he returned in 2001 and was not shy about making his thoughts known.[2]
AIR pt. 8: Competition Concerns
“[I]t is obvious that artists reflect their times and backgrounds and their art works are oftentimes more eloquent than any politician’s speech or sociological study.”[1] Marco Pignataro
Also at the ALHC 2000, Ben Furnas and Lucy Dunne performed one of the competition’s most infamous routines where they lampooned the general state of competitions in both the Lindy Hop and West Coast Swing worlds.