Beginning Lindy Hop
In class we covered 6-count Lindy steps vs. 8-count Lindy steps. The choreography we covered included a 6-count basic, the Tuck Turn, and two inside passes (the first corrects the leader's upside down hand). We then used a Lindy Circle to get into Closed position, and spent the next phrase of music Swinging Out.
Our question for the night pitted Frosty the Snowman vs. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer! We didn't realize how contentious this contest would be, but it's for you to decide. Here are some interesting points made by our students: you might pick Frosty if you love all things snow, OR because he isn't made fun of (...so they say -ed.) However Rudolph has more superpowers, with the red-nose and all, the ability to fly, and someone has to help Santa get all those presents to us! Let us know what you think in the comments below!
Intermediate Lindy Hop
The material we worked on covered a range of difficulties. First we put the solo movement of the Scarecrow Charleston into our side by side Partner Charleston. We then worked on some classic Charleston movements made famous by Skye Humphries & Frida Segerdahl. The first was another side by side Partner Charleston movement (a twist-twist-go turn on 7-8-1), and the second was a difficult pattern that is led from hand-to-hand/pancake Charleston (check it out at 2:06)!
Dance
This was the experiment we'd all been waiting for, and it was a resounding success: The Jazz Monsters! The band leaders of the Jeremy Mohney Quartet, Joe Smith & the Spicy Pickles, and La Pompe Jazz all came together with one other band member in tow to form Denver's super-group of Swing. The Monsters were Jeremy Mohney (alto sax), Joe Smith (trumpet), David Lawrence (guitar), Matt Cantor (guitar), Kevin Laxar (upright bass), and Andreas Schmid (drums). It was a night that will not soon be forgotten!
...for more photos check them out here!
