Swing Dynamite Blog

Thoughts and news about swing dancing in Ottawa

Swing Explosion 2011 Jitterbug Contest Results

[ No Comments ] Posted by on Sep 19, 2011 in Competitions, Dance Videos

We had a great Jitterbug contest this year at Swing Explosion. The idea of the Jitterbug contest is that there are no rules–not even restrictions on the style of dance. Anything that looks cool and fits the music is allowed. Couples competed for a $200 prize.

Six couples made it to the finals, which featured the Ottawa Jazz Orchestra for a slow round and then a fast round. Finals were danced jam-style, meaning that each couple dances one at a time in what are referred to as spotlights. The winning couples showed versatility in dancing to both the slow and fast music. Here are the 2011 placements:
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Fun Swing Choreography Concepts

[ No Comments ] Posted by on Aug 05, 2011 in Dance Videos, General, Nifty Not Totally Swing Related, Swing Dancing

As a Lindy Hopper, I often enjoy countless videos on Youtube, looking to be entertained or searching for new ideas on how to improve. I think it’s even  more gratifying when you find choreographies that “break the lindy mold” while utilizing a concept.

Performance dance, as it applies to Swing as well, is about crowd-pleasing and entertainment. Although I am among the first to criticize a lack of authenticity in a number, I still am looking to be wowed. I am impressed when dancers use old school moves and plug them in a current context. I love vintage dancing and costumes, but occasionally, I like to be shown how contemporary this 80 year old dance style can really be. This is frequently achieved through “concept choreographies”.  This helps the audience feel included.

Mario Brothers

Mario & Luigi...Charleston?

For those of you born in the late 1970′s through the 1980′s, The Super Mario vintage video games probably make you feel a little nostalgic. A friend of mine sent me this link, knowing full well I’d get a kick out of it. Out of Camp Hollywood, came a Super Mario Brothers Lindy number. The technique doesn’t seem too complex, but it’s still Lindy. Watching this, I felt that the performers were playing to my demographic; they’ve brought my happy childhood memories into my adult hobby. I’d just never pictured Mario and Luigi swing dancing before!

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In Honour of International Dance Day: My favourite Dance Routines

[ No Comments ] Posted by on Apr 29, 2011 in Dance Videos

Because it is International Dance Day I thought I’d share with you some of the routines that have made my heart melt or that have made me jump for joy–in no particular order here are the clips and why I loved them:

SYTYCD Hok & Jaimie: The Hummingbird & the Flower

So simply beautiful, the choreography by Wade Robson was spectacular and the dancers really brought it to life. I have no training in contemporary or modern dance, I don’t know what kind of dance it was but it was certainly dancing, why? There was music, they were moving to it and I had to fight hard to not blink while I was watching because I didn’t want to miss one second of it.

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