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.]

Q & A with Skye Humphries pt. 3

In the last decade, swing dancing in general has seen a surge in popularity – what accounts for that? Can you explain the time line?

Well certainly Neo-swing in the 90’s gave a certain form of the dance and music a new kind of visibility. Clubs put on Swing nights, young people flocked to bars and clubs and dance classes.

While the scenes co-existed, (with more or less overlap in different regions) they were never identical. When Neo-Swing faded, Lindy Hop had gained new enthusiasts but didn’t disappear. [Lindy Hop] had been around before and continued after. Many young people were exposed to it though college started Swing clubs and the demographic began to shift towards a younger crowd.

ULHS 2009 Video Index

This page is just to help me keep track of this years's Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown goodness.

Note that I've updated the ULHS 2009 Round Up with three additional blogs I've found about the event this year.

ULHS 2009 Round Up

ULHS 2009 Videos: Battle Footage

ULHS 2009 Videos-Friday Choreography Showcase

ULHS 2009 Videos: Saturday Evening Competitions-Solo Jazz and J & J

ULHS 2009 Videos: Sunday Evening Competitions

ULHS 2009 Videos: The Fun Stuff

Here are some random miscellaneous various clips that people have put up to give you a little flavor of the sights and sounds of ULHS 2009. Baseball game between Musicians and Dancers

Chazz Young leads the Shim Sham at House of Blues

Tap & Craziness at the Wax museum

Meschiya Lake sings Backyard Blues with Luke Winslow King

Sister Kate & Friends

This Little Light of Mine - Preservation Hall Jazz Band

The Loose Marbles

Street Swing Dance Contest

Preliminary Round

Finals

ALHC Results & Other Contest Notes

Many people will be suprised to discover that The American Lindy Hop Championships took place last weekend. In case the suspense was killing you, results are online.

ULHS 2009 Videos: Sunday Evening Competitions

Solo Blues Music played by: The Loose Marbles

Preliminary Round

Final

Dancers in order of appearance:

Dax Hock
Nikki Marvin
Sara Deckard
??? (Anyone know?)

Slow Swing and Blues

Music played by: The Washboard Chazz Blue Trio

Preliminary Round Heat 1

Preliminary Round Heat 2

Final

Dancers in order of appearance

Michale Darigol & Sara Deckard
Giselle Anguizola & Chance Bushman
Tommy Blacharz & Annie Trudeau
Todd Yannacone & Alice Mei
Ramona Staffeld & Peter Strom

Winners: Ramona Staffeld & Peter Strom

AIR pt. 13: Give It Up, Turn It Loose

The most important creative decision concerning the Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown had nothing to do with the format of the competitions. The event director, Amy Johnson, not only allowed people to film the contests with their own cameras, but also to let them distribute their footage freely. It was probably the most significant marketing idea in modern Lindy Hop history.

Q & A with Skye Humphries pt. 2

What are some of the “core moves” of the Lindy Hop?

The basic of the Lindy Hop is the Swing Out: a circular step done in eight beats in which the partners come together and then move apart. I have never seen anything so perfectly put together, there is no more versatile or meaningful basic in any dance I’ve seen.

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.