Shoop Doop Yah-te-dah - Mike & Nina

It's about time I featured these two.  This is a class recap by Mike Faltesek and Nina Gilkenson from the Seoul Lindy Exchange 2010.  

What I like most: Slapping the knee AND THEN turning and slapping the other knee!

I also really like:  Reversing the Susie-Q's and going the other way around.

What I don't really care for:  The swivel walk at the beginning.  It feels a little too effeminate for the male.  Maybe there's a way to do a different kind of walk instead?  Boogie forward?

Also, did you notice something similar to a video I posted recently?  I wonder if this is where the first video couple got it from.

Let's play with our social dancing more - I like the spirit of this.

And then there's this:




Shoop doop ya-te-dah...

You got that?  Awesome and fun stuff.  Who wants to practice these with me?

Yoyos - Kevin and Jo

Here's a great exercise for both leads and follows.  Turn up the volume to hear the instruction as the recording is fairly quiet.

Pay particular attention to his rock steps and the way he leads the direction of this move first with his body and then uses slight changes in the connection allowing for a wind up in her rotation.  Also pay attention to how connected she stays with his arm and how she commits to the direction changes.

I also noticed how she holds his arm firmly.  This is something Kelly Adams first pointed out to me.  I find that with some follows, especially smaller, lighter follows, this can help add a certain solidness to their connection.  Of course this is not a necessity and I'm sure some people would argue against it, but it's also not "against the rules" so try it and see if it works for you.

Bonus: Tranky Doo with Dargoff and Lorraine

And just for kicks I have a double post today.  Here's Dargoff and Lorraine doing the Tranky Doo.

I suggest, if you are unfamiliar with Dargoff, that you do a youtube search for some other videos.  Highly entertaining.

SOLA 2012 Advanced Strictly Lindy Hop Finals

*As far as I know this video exists only on Facebook right now, so I can't place it directly into the blog.

Take a look at it HERE.

SOLA has become a yearly event in Orlando featuring two nights of competitions for beginner and advanced dancers.  The linked video shows the Advanced Strictly Lindy Hop Finals.  There are also Jack and Jill and Balboa competitions for both levels.

Congratulations to all of the competitors. Speaking from the perspective of a Tampa resident, I'm glad that our sister Lindy Hop scene in Orlando is working to continually improve and competes with such spirit and excitement.

So here's the the thing, Tampa.  What are we bringing next year?  What do we need to do to join in the fun and show them that we can throw down too?  

Jazz Steps and Swing-Outs Taste So Good Together - Uptown Swing

I like this - a lot.


This is a lesson recap from Uptown Swing by Peter Strom and Stacia Martin.  There's a whole lot here so watch it a few times.


They begin with a small routine with Jazz steps and then expand these steps into swing-outs.  Very very good stuff.


The Uptown Swing Lesson Recaps are similar to the 9:20 Special and Jam Cellar lesson recaps I've posted about before.  There's a wealth of learning available online, so use it to your advantage.


Bonus.  Here's another one I found that I thought you'd like: