Swing Dynamite Blog
Thoughts and news about swing dancing in Ottawa
Fun Swing Choreography Concepts
[ No Comments ] Posted by Mercedes 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 & 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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Weekly Westie! And the Vital Importance Of Weekly Dances
[ No Comments ] Posted by byron on Jan 10, 2011 in General
We’re really excited about Weekly Westie at SNS! You might have noticed this because we won’t stop talking about it. But we’ve been working towards this goal since we first started running WCS dances in 2007. Having a weekly West Coast Swing dance is a really important step for the local West Coast Swing community here in Ottawa.
How important? I’m going to make a very bold assertion (ahem):
Weekly Dance = Dance Community
After dancing both Lindy Hop and West Coast Swing for more than a decade, I firmly believe this to be true. Since 1998 I’ve watched swing communities across North America rise and fall, and it’s amazing how clear things become with that perspective: dance communities need a weekly dance.
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Have you ever shagged on a dance floor?
[ No Comments ] Posted by Mercedes on Nov 23, 2010 in General
…Yeah, we thought that might get your attention.
In case you haven’t heard, collegiate shag is a dance style made popular by college students in the 1920-1940′s era. It’s what the coolest of the preppy kids danced when out with their friends and it’s pretty freaking upbeat. Wonder what it is? Well, it goes a little like this… Think that looks like fun? We do TOO!
That’s why we’re offering a specialty SHAG introduction at our weekly SNS this Saturday, Nov. 27…It’ll be SHAGALICIOUS!
TRIVIA
Ottawa‘s been the home of the Canadian Shag Championships for the past few years and so, the Capital has awarded “Shag Champion” titles. Care to introduce yourself as one? How about discovering just how good your cardio actually is? Or are you a swing dance junkie? Come on, now, you’re among friends, we won’t judge!
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