Weekly Video Highlight: The Silver Shadows' Secret Origins and Korean Variety Show

I hope everyone is having a great holiday. I'm off to Lindy Focus in Asheville, NC tomorrow with a sizable DC contingent. You'll recognize us when we roll in with the giant DC flags tied in between the cars in our convoy ;) I recently realized that this will be the first event that I haven't worked or DJ'd in over 4 years, so I'm really looking forward to it. I'm tentatively planning on updating from the event since I'm just down there for the evening dances. Until I post something, hopefully these videos will tide you over. This first video from the Korean Lindy Revolution 2009 by way of YouTube user hiyama80, was reposted recently on the YouTubes, so I thought I'd post it here too.

Nina Gilkenson: Hipstress of Rhythm

I like Nina Gilkenson. I think that should be a shirt.

You may have heard that she’s a good dancer. That rumor, like all others, is absolutely true.

You may have even heard that she belly dances. There is actual video evidence of that. Here is a clip of Nina and Naomi’s (I like her too) belly dancing debut in the Cabaret division at ALHC 2002.

Weekly Video Highlights: 2009 Killer Diller Weekend

Seattle seems to have it going on all year round. Here are videos from their just completed Killer Diller Weekend featuring Naomi Uyama and Skye Humphries. Vids courtesy of the omnipotent floridave1.

Decade of Domination

While we’re on the topic of Jordan and Tatiana, can I say that after watching tons of footage of them this week that I can’t be more impressed by a pair of dancers who can be so good yet get even better over time? I’ll wrap up this week's side trip through West Coast Swing territory with an overview of probably one of the most dominant couples in any partnered dance genre.

WCS OCD: Jordan and Tatiana in 2009

I made a few offhanded observations in my US Open post about Tatiana Mollman and Jordan Frisbee’s winning performance in the Classic division this year to Coldplay’s “Viva LaVida.” They took the unorthodox (for West Coast Swing at least) approach of performing a routine they’ve been doing for most of the year instead of performing a new one. I thought I’d put those theories to the test by watching every YouTube example of this routine that I could find. See what I do for you?

Video Spotlight: Grenoble Swing Dance Festival 2009

YouTube-ite Vinnie38710 has posted some quality videos from this past Grenoble Swing Dance Festival which occurred November 13-15. Here's a couple nice teacher demo's. Check out Vinnie's YouTube page for more videos of this and other events. Nina Gilkenson & Todd Yannacone

Naomi Uyama & Peter Strom

Alice Mei & Dax Hock

Random Links & Videos: Let's Get Physical Edition

Many new blogs on the interwebs. Sorry it's taken me so long to link to them.

This one is a super in depth explanation of how followers use the muscles in their backs by a licensed massage therapist. <Hot Club of Durham>

Random Videos: Friday Blues

A few videos are popping up from The Emerald City Blues Festival last weekend. Here are a couple nice ones. First up is a pretty gutsy Josephine Baker inspired performance followed by a routine by Seattle's own Sister Kate.

Check out YouTube user FloriDave for more.

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.

Random Videos: Swedish MTV Edition

Apparently the Swedes love their Lindy Hop. So much that different kinds of bands keep using Lindy Hoppers like The Harlem Hot Shots and others in their music videos. The first one up is an actual swing video from the Carling Family.

[googlevideo=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4572375059074507023#]

[Note: As you can see this video referenced the old Google Video site, but it's been so long that I don't remember what the video was. I'm keeping it here in the hopes of one day figuring it out.]