How Do You Explain This Hobby?

I travel a lot for work. I meet lots of people. We usually spend most of our time discussing work stuff. How this part of our company works. How these are the things that we can do to help you your company accomplish x and y. But whether it's with new people working for our company or the individuals I meet at other companies, inevitably if I spend enough time with someone we start to breach the topics of what things we enjoy doing outside of work. And this worries me.

No, I'm in no way ashamed of dancing Lindy Hop - just the opposite. I just know that the words I use won't paint the correct picture in their heads, and it's not their fault.

First, if I say I like to do "The Lindy Hop" or "The Balboa" most people younger than 50 haven't really struggled with the meanings of those words - especially the later. So I say that I like to swing dance, but I know what this does. This conjures images of Dancing With The Stars, poodle skirts, sock-hops, everything the media has done to effectively destroy and alter the original meaning of the phrase. And I know that there's no REAL way that I can combat this in a short, polite conversation among acquaintances.

Second, I'm not a dancer's dancer. I'm a Lindy Hopper. I don't do the Cha-Cha or Tango, I'm not the type of person who just has to get on the floor as soon as the booty music comes on at a wedding, and I certainly have no great appreciation of ballroom. What I do have is a love of what jazz and jazz movement bring to my life. There is a very specific way that this music makes my soul come alive. There's also a very specific thing that happens in the brief 3 minute story a couple dancing together creates that will never exist again in exactly the same way.

I've learned that saying that I enjoy Swing Dancing creates a picture in someone's head that is about the furthest thing from the reasons I deeply enjoy Lindy Hop.

So take a look at this video because sometimes old cliches are true - and this is a moving picture, so how many words is that?

What Laura and Mike do here is to completely encapsulate why I love this dance. There's joy, playfulness, creativity, coordination, and a respect for the music.

Maybe I should just cut the conversations short from now on and just send them this link with a note that says - this. This is what I do outside of work.

Now to continue the joyful struggle to dance as well as they do.

Glenn Crytzer's Savoy Seven - Focus Pocus - Capturing That Old Magic Feeling

Glenn Crytzer's career is a testament to the power and joy found in 1930's Jazz.  What else could entice such a talented musician, writer, and band leader to focus his efforts on this labor of love?

It's not a huge secret that if you want to become a wealthy musician you don't focus on early 20th century niche genres. Instead of spending hours working on arrangements, practices, and hunting down grand pianos you instead focus on sampling, compression, and auto-tuning. To make the big bucks you do what everyone else has been doing.

Glenn takes exactly the opposite approach, and on his brand new release, Focus Pocus, he manages to create something both old and yet brand new.

The 7 songs on this album are all original compositions. The live energy and recording quality capture the feeling of classic Jazz recordings and fit in right next to these old songs at DJ'd dance events.

Glenn and his Savoy Seven manage to add just the right ingredients into their magic cauldron, creating Jazz that works perfectly for dancing and listening. I'm sure that this is intentional as Glenn and other members of the band are also Lindy Hoppers and understand the dynamic connection between the music and the dance.

All of Glenn's recordings do a good job of spanning tempos and moods. All That I Can Give You Is A Meloday has a Drag Blues feeling, perfect for a late-night, while Focus Pocus has more of a Balboa feel. The other songs fill in the tempos in between and all of them tell me to swing out.

For those of you familiar with his last release, Skinny Minne, the song The Grass Is Always Greener (If You're High) returns rerecorded and is, in my opinion, the superior version.

If you're into 1930's style Jazz or any of the vintage dance styles, do yourself a favor and try out Glenn's newest concoction. I'm sure you'll fall under their spell too.

For more info check out their Facebook page, or hit up CDBaby to purchase the new album.

The Big Apple - September at The Lindy Connection

During September at The Lindy Connection we are teaching a version of a late 1930's dance that swept the nation, but few people remember today.

The Big Apple might sound familiar due to the similarity to the nickname for New York City, and although dancers from New York helped to make the dance famous, it's history is much more complex and interesting.

The Wikipedia article is a good place to look for a little history about the dance, which may have come from African-American dances as far back as the 1860's.

The version of the dance we will be focusing on is a routine choreographed by Frankie Manning based only on a description in a telegram. Some would argue that this makes the dance less authentic, since Frankie had not seen or participated in doing The Big Apple before creating his own version.  However, Frankie's version created it's own place in history, was captured in the film Keep Punching, and has been danced among the swing revival scenes across the world for the last three decades.  

Today's Lindy Hop scene has been informed by the moves and feeling of this performance, so it's a great addition to your dancing vocabulary. 

Here's the clip from Keep Punching.



If you happen to live in the Tampa Florida area or within driving distance come join us for the next 4 weeks to learn The Big Apple.  Here's the link to our Facebook Event.

We'd love to see you out!

Smokey Feet 2013 - Teacher's Jam

You absolutely must watch this all the way through.  I get this somewhat competitive feeling between some of the teachers at the beginning, but then it just gets sillier and sillier.

I bet our scene could work toward social jams like this.

Movers and Shakers - Nicole Zonnenberg, Tallahassee

Movers and Shakers is a new series highlighting some of the people behind the growing Lindy Hop scenes throughout Florida.

This week we interview Nicole Zonnenberg from Tallahassee.

Tell us a short story about your dance history. When did you start swing dancing, Lindy Hopping, other styles? What initially drew you to Lindy Hop?

I officially started dancing at the beginning of 2010, when a friend of mine (who had frequented Zendah’s) found the Tallahassee scene, known then as the Coalition for a Tallahassee Swing Scene. 

It was a gathering of a handful of (mostly) FSU students working out the swing out and other facets of the Lindy Hop. Not the top echelon of dancers, but a group of friendly people who met up at least once a week to try and learn the finer points of this really awesome dance. Basically, it was perfect for a new freshman just trying to find her niche. What basically drew me to swing dancing, and ultimately inspired me for the scene at Florida State University, was the community. People from different backgrounds, different jobs, different places in their lives could get together and, if nothing else, enjoy each other’s company for a few hours with awesome music.

How are you currently active in your scene and what have you done over the last year to grow Lindy Hop in your area? What have you learned from your work?

As you might have guessed from the new name (which was applied at the start of the 2010-2011 school year), the Swing Dance Club at FSU is a university run scene. I have recently graduated with my bachelors from FSU and have plans to move out of state to pursue a career of some sort (basically just to make sure I can pay rent, eat and Lindy Hop). So I am no longer a regularly contributing member to the scene. And while I am sad to leave a scene that has become so much more than a group of dancers that met every Friday night (to me, many of the dancers there have become as close as family), I know that those taking over will do an amazing job and I hope to return every once in a while, if only to dance and hang out around old stomping grounds. 

As for what I have learned: so much. I’m pretty sure I could write pages about what I learned of myself, being a leader, other people, running a dance scene. But mostly just how rewarding it is to give to community, because what you get back is priceless and nothing can take that away.

What do you love about this dance? What keeps you dancing?

One time I was asked to describe swing dancing in three words or less. The three words I chose were: fun, energetic and people. 

The Lindy Hop is first and foremost a social dance, so there cannot even be swing dance without the community that drives it. The people are what consistently made me come back, even if I felt dangerously close to being burnt out (which happens to the best of us). 

There is just this intangible joy that seems to occupy a dance floor, even the most rudimentary ones, that makes this dance and therefore the people that share it so wonderful. 

I have made friends all over the world because of this dance. Friends I would not have met if not for Lindy Hop. Some of whom I have become incredibly close to and will continue to stay in contact even half way around the world.

What are you currently working on in your dancing right now?

Over the past year I concentrated on teaching, because it’s harder than it looks. Now, however, I’m getting the chance to really analyze myself as a dancer. I guess if I had to specify, just bringing everything together cohesively. By that I mean being able to follow effectively but still being able to retain my identity as a dancer in my individual styling while still making it a fun dance for whoever I happen to be dancing with at the time. 

Also, my reoccurring weakness since day one: anticipation. I don’t think I’ll ever be truly rid of this habit, but I keep constant vigilance so that it at least may stay in check.

Who is a major inspiration to your dancing? Can you link us to a favorite video of this person? If you can’t pick just one, then post a few!

This was such a perfect opportunity to go back and watch all of my favorite videos. I was tempted to just list all of them (I mean, you more or less gave me permission), but this is one that I could watch over and over again. It’s not the flashiest, but still very well-choreographed while showing off some amazing technique in each individual and partners. I am a fan of all the dancers that are showcased and have had the pleasure of taking classes from each.

Also, I love watching Skye and Frida social dance. She’s definitely someone I try and emulate in my dancing.

Another dancer that inspires me, which I do not have a clip of dancing I’m afraid, is Rebecca Strickland, who has more or less become my mentor over the years. She and her husband, Michael, are a huge reason for the club’s success and have been invaluable to the club as advisors and teachers. And friends to me.

What was the catalyst that pushed you to become personally invested in building your scene?

I’ve always been someone who jumps feet first into something. In one club, I found an extracurricular activity that would quickly evolve into a passion and (more importantly) a circle of friends. I would have done anything to make sure this club succeeded. It just happened that due to lack of interest at the time, I quickly became a senior member and leader in the club.

But the catalyst? It’s addicting. Giving something of yourself. The return might not be immediate, but eventually you’ll have something more precious than anything. Even after officially leaving Tallahassee, I still get messages from people who are excited about an event they just attended, or a lesson that went really well, or a new scene that they’ve just discovered in another city. Seeing people’s faces light up when things finally click or eager to help out in any way they can.

In my short twenty-two years of life, I am the most proud of how far this club has grown over the course of four years (from roughly in the lower teens to 60-80 people a week) and the part I was able to play in making that happen.

If you could request only one song to be played at a dance, what would it be?

Maybe not the most exciting song, but I absolutely love it and you will find me on the dance floor somewhere when this plays.

What events do you always attend? Which ones inspire you the most?

This is probably going to change drastically in the next year as I am planning on moving to the northeast. Since 2010 I have been to an average of six to ten events per year. And I have been lucky enough to attend events outside of the country as well.

Probably my favorite in the past year has been the Amsterdam Lindy Exchange (this year called Lindy Swop). They were able to create such a unique experience to their city, including a boat ride with a live band through the canals!

But something closer to home: Orlando Lindy Exchange always manages to make me dance until I can’t feel my feet any more. They always have the best music and the best dancers in the southeast, several of whom I am lucky to call friends.

And of course, my own events: A Floor Divided and Seminole Stomp! Which you should all go to this year. I heard Steven Mitchell is on the roster this year. ;)

What do you envision for your scene in the next years? Next 3 years?

Those who have assumed the leadership roles in the club, I cannot have more faith in. They are all very strong and capable leaders as well as dancers and they want nothing but the best for the club. I know they’re planning on reaching out to the more permanent members of the community, outside the college. And I know for a fact they’re gearing up for another A Floor Divided and Seminole Stomp.

It would be amazing for these to be long standing events for Florida and the southeast to enjoy. And I would definitely love to come back and attend these events, this time as a regular dancer instead of an organizer.

If you could share one bit of wisdom that you’d like everyone to know, what would it be?

Don’t stress over the small details, usually those fall into place. Or if they don’t, then they probably weren’t that important to begin with. Concentrate on the bigger picture, which for a scene leader is:

- a welcoming environment where new and experienced dancers can enjoy themselves

- consistency in when and where you meet (so people can find you more easily)

- communicate effectively (simple lists are a boon in organizing ANYthing)

- dance with as many people as possible (ESPECIALLY the new dancers)

- HAVE FUN! (otherwise it becomes just another responsibility, and you already have those)

Movers and Shakers - Tim Korkuc, Orlando

Movers and Shakers is a new series highlighting some of the people behind the growing Lindy Hop scenes throughout Florida.

This week we interviewed Tim Korkuc from Orlando.

How are you currently active in your scene and what have you done over the last year to grow Lindy Hop in your area? What have you learned from your work?

Currently I run lesson series' through my organization Dancers Hideout on Tuesday nights (this month’s series’ are the Tranky Do, and Balboa 202), I DJ pretty regularly at the local dances (Swing Knights Friday night dance, and Orlando Swing dance’s Bi-monthly Saturday night dances, and of course the famous Dancers Hideout modern nights).

I’m the Faculty Advisor to the Swing Knights (which is the Student run organization at UCF). I teach private lessons, and have in the past filled in for instructors when they’re out of town. Oh and I guess I almost forgot, I also am on the committee for ORLX, and City Girl Swing Out (which happens this August 9-11th. ;D )

I’ve learned that it’s impossible to grow a scene by yourself, unless maybe if that was your only job. You need teachers, DJ’s, organizers, promotion, and volunteers. And while I guess it’s possible to do all of the things, you’ll stay sane much longer if you have the support and help of a bunch of other people who also want “what’s best for the scene.” I put that in quotes because everyone has a slightly different idea, and having other people with other ideas also helps keep some balance to the scene so that it’s not dominated by one person or another.

I’ve learned that traveling can be great for your individual dancing and your scene, but your home scene can really miss you if you start spending a lot of time out of state. Traveling is vital for bringing back the new ideas that people are bringing to the dance that we so love. It’s also great for letting others know about your home scene, because if they don’t know there is one, and that there are awesome people there to dance with, how would they know to come visit?

Tell us a short story about your dance history. When did you start swing dancing, Lindy Hopping, other styles? What initially drew you to Lindy Hop?

Girls. 

I know it’s Cliché but that’s exactly what brought 14yr old Tim to Swing Dancing (yes I’ve been swing dancing since I was 14). I was sitting bored in world history, and a friend of mine asked me what I was doing on Saturday night. The town I lived in was quite small so my response was “nothing”. He invited me swing dancing, and I initially scoffed at the idea. “Dancing?!” I said back to him. To which he responded with something along the lines of “there will be tons of girls there, you should really check it out”, and so I did.

Before I could even sit down, I was asked to dance. I wish I could say it was my devilish good looks, but that’s definitely not the case. There were probably 6 girls to every guy in the room, my friend had been dancing for some time at that point and had a reputation for being pretty good, so it was likely assumed that because I walked in with him (after my mom dropped us off, because we couldn’t drive yet) that I might be good too.

I couldn’t dance at all! Despite being a drummer and having a decent sense of rhythm, and being a wrestler with a decent awareness of how to move my body, I couldn’t seem to put them together. The first time I “lead” an underarm turn, I asked the girl I was dancing with to help me by lifting my arm when I was supposed to! But I was hooked, the music was fun, the girls were cute, and there was this new movement that I really wanted to be good at.

Years later I can definitely say that I dance because I truly love it and the music, but at first it was definitely all of the cute (and very patient) girls that I got to dance with every Saturday night.

What do you love about this dance? What keeps you dancing?

I love the music; I love the physical aspects of getting out and interacting with the music with my body; and I love learning and challenging myself to do new things within the dance. And even though it’s not one of main reasons I go dancing anymore, follows are still one of my favorite things about this dance. And, let’s be clear, there are plenty of places to go meet and hang out with girls, but you’ll never find a place with so many that are as awesome as swing dancers. You get to interact with another person without talking (of course you can do that too) dancing to the music and finding out how the person you’re dancing with interprets the song while you make your own way through.

What are you currently working on in your dancing right now?

Lots! I’ve been learning a lot of Balboa, I’ve been practicing and teaching Aerials, and I’m always tinkering with my Swingout in one way or another.

I’ve really been trying to embrace the concept of less leading my partner and more dancing with them. Oh and I’m really fighting hard to stop looking at the floor when I think I’m doing a cool solo move. :D

Who is a major inspiration to your dancing? Can you link us to a favorite video of this person? If you can’t pick just one, then post a few!

Peter Strom!

Nick Williams!

Mike and Laura!

What was the catalyst that pushed you to become personally invested in building your scene?

Simply put: more dancing, more people to dance with, more people to learn from.

If you could request only one song to be played at a dance, what would it be?

Seriously? Only one song? I’ve re written this answer a dozen times now… and I might have settled on Boilermaker’s… no Gordon’s… no Basie’s…. AHHHH!!!

Can I skip this one? It’s killin’ me… there are just so many songs I love it’s really hard to pick one.

Shiny Stockings! I’ve settled. This song is basically always awesome, but for a specific version the one be Ella Live at Juan-Les-Pins, the one where she goes “awwww, count basie!” :D that makes me so happy, also the “play pretty for the people roy!"

That video has the right song, also some awesome dancing by Thomas and Alice!

What events do you always attend? Which ones inspire you the most?

ORLX, Lindy Focus, and Swing into Spring. These are the ones I always attend. I feel like it’s super easy to be inspired by focus, but it’s still awesome, and inspiring!

ORLX is a favorite because I don’t have to leave my bed, and so many of my awesome friends come into town.

Swing Into Spring is just an amazing event, if you haven’t been, you should fix that ASAP (which will be February 2014 in Colombia SC).

And probably the most inspiring event for me is ILHC, I’m pretty competitive by nature so this comp weekend really gets me worked up to go and work on my dancing! I can’t say I always go cause I’ve only been once, I just know the effect it had on me was extremely strong!

What do you envision for your scene in the next year? Next 3 years?

Bigger scene, better dancing. That’s the goal.

If you could share one bit of wisdom that you’d like everyone to know, what would it be?

Doing things that are easy will only make you good at doing easy things.


Thanks, Tim!

Movers and Shakers - Leah Herman, South Florida

Movers and Shakers is a new series highlighting some of the people behind the growing Lindy Hop scenes throughout Florida.

This week we interviewed Leah Herman from Swing Out South Florida.  Check out their website and facebook page for more info.

How are you currently active in your scene and what have you done over the last year to grow Lindy Hop in your area? What have you learned from your work?

I’m super active! I’m currently an organizer for Swing Out South Florida, a swing organization I co-founded in January 2011. Since founding SOSF, we’ve grown from 15 dancers a week to 30-40 dancers a week, with a solid group of amazing intermediate dancers who are starting to travel outside of South Florida. And, of course, we’re still trying to grow. 

Most of the things I’ve learned from this are life skills rather than dance skills, however – I’ve learned a lot about leadership, about creating and marketing events, and about how incredibly important it is to reach out to people and connect with them in a meaningful way.

Tell us a short story about your dance history. When did you start swing dancing, Lindy Hopping, other styles? What initially drew you to Lindy Hop?

A friend of mine just happened to have an extra ticket to “Burn the Floor,” a variety dance show that featured all kinds of partner dancing. After the show, I was so excited about dancing in general that I would have tried anything – but my friend was a Lindy Hopper, and she invited me out to swing. (I also remember very clearly that she was not impressed with the lindy hop portion of the partner dancing show – they weren’t doing any triples.)

She only came to one or two dances with me since she was graduating, but I immediately fell in love with the energy. I was completely unafraid – I still remember going to Southern Belle after only 3 months of dancing and running up to anyone, no matter how good they were, to ask them to dance with me. Total lindy junkie from the get-go.

What do you love about this dance? What keeps you dancing?

What I love most is the complete exhilaration you feel when having a great dance with someone. When I feel truly connected with my partner, when we’re perfectly matched, perfectly goofy or soulful or crazy (whatever the music calls for), and when we’re smiling together – that’s when I feel the deepest love for lindy.

What are you currently working on in your dancing right now?

Although I have good musicality, I sometimes sacrifice connection for it and allow too much noise into my movement. I’m working on learning new ways to express myself so I can style more effectively. I’m also working on my stretch at the end of a swingout and learning to dance faster.

Who is a major inspiration to your dancing? Can you link us to a favorite video of this person? If you can’t pick just one, then post a few!

There are so many dancers I admire! One of the current dancers I admire most is Laura Glaess – she has a silliness to her sometimes that I totally get, and she has beautiful connection. Frida I admire for her fearlessness to contribute to the dance and alter leads she’s given (but who doesn’t admire her?). As for historical dancers, I think Jean Veloz is amazing. There’s a great video of her still dancing at 88 – I can only hope to be as active a dancer when I’m old.

What was the catalyst that pushed you to become personally invested in building your scene?

Actually, the responsibility dropped right into my lap. When the person who started Monday Night Swing, Tamar, left for Orlando, it was up to a couple of us to continue the dance. At the time, there was no Wednesday or Friday night swing – it was to lindy or not to lindy. If we hadn’t decided to continue, there would have been no swing dancing in South Florida.

If you could request only one song to be played at a dance, what would it be?

Oh, this is a tough one too… Breezing Along with the Breeze by Johnny Marvin, even though the recording quality is terrible. I have a faster version on my computer with a stronger beat, but the below link was all I could find.

What events do you always attend? Which ones inspire you the most?

I was out for a year and a half with an injury, so I’d say that there isn’t any event I’ve attended regularly in a while. However, I have very fond memories of Lindy Focus and I’m really looking forward to going this year. The Hop Shop is also one of my very favorite events – they have had a really unique workshop format and great teachers every year.

What do you envision for your scene in the next year? Next 3 years?

I really want to grow our scene more – I’d love to grow it to 60 dancers and find a big, beautiful venue to fit them all in. I’d also like to expand the scope of our teaching. Right now, we’re just at the point where we’re starting to get people very interested in progressive lessons, but we don’t have a lot of dancers above intermediate level. Over the next few years, it would be nice to develop some more advanced dancers who would be able and willing to spread their knowledge to the rest of the scene.

If you could share one bit of wisdom that you’d like everyone to know, what would it be?

Be kind to yourself and to the beginners. A lot of dancers get really frustrated with the level they’re at, or with who will or won’t dance with them in their scenes. The truth is that you need to put yourself out there if you want to be part of things. Be brave and ask people to dance. And don’t take it personally when someone doesn’t enjoy their dance with you – just like in life, in dancing, people don’t always mix.

As for the beginners, I’ve heard some dancers complain about them, and seen plenty of advanced dancers who just don’t dance with them. If you’re part of a big scene, maybe you have that luxury. I think it’s a terrible attitude – the beginners are what keep your scene going. People come into the scene and people leave. It’s a world of constant flux. Not only that, but those beginners may be great in few years. Or maybe they’re great people that you would end up wanting to be friends with, or to date. You’ll never know if you don’t even bother to give them the time of day. Never judge people based on their dancing ability alone.

Thanks, Leah! If you're down in the Ft. Lauderdale area on a Monday night, swing by their dance to say hi.