Flashback to 2001!

 

Sailor Mike Mizgalski sent me these pics of flyers from some of my first dance improv classes back in 2001. I'm pretty sure I first taught Adventures in the Groove a little before this, at one of Melinda Comeau's Nevada bus trips. However, these flyers were my first attempt at promoting the class, which I had been developing for a few years at that point. 

Maybe I'm misremembering, because now that I think back to 2001, and remember September 11 it makes me think this might have been the trial run for the class I taught in Nevada. I guess memories are triggering other memories. 

These pics bring back a few memories, like watching someone else's improv for Lindy Hoppers class and noting what was missing. And messy attempts to unlock related ideas that I tried on the road, at workshops at Skidmore and Carnegie Mellon. 

Anyway, Tip and Mike were kind enough to let me give the class a shot at the Swing Pit - the original spot at Domenico's in Pasadena. Guess I'm just gonna flash back for a bit.

Fizz Beyond the Basics STYLE CLASS - Week 3 Summary

Here's the recap email that I just sent to our students, after the three week class on STYLE that I taught with Ana Christian at Fizz:

Hey Student,

Our three week Beyond the Basics series on STYLE is over. You owe homework to no one but yourself! We hope you have gotten something useful from the class and that you continue to explore and grow. There’s a recap of the class below, in case there’s anything you missed or would like to remember.

Here’s the recap of the three week STYLE series:

WEEK ONE: Essential Lindy Hop TECHNIQUE

We focused on sound Lindy Hop mechanics - fundamental leading and following technique, though possibly different from what you’ve learned elsewhere. 

The leading skills - placement of weight, clarity of connection from core to core, body leading.

The following skills - continuance of motion (keep moving until the end of the line), clarity of connection from core to core, killing anticipation (being okay NOT walking forward and just dancing in place)

Everyone was exposed to the fundamentals of leading and following, both sides. We hope that getting a feel for both roles helps with whichever you prefer to focus on. We didn’t present much in terms of style. However the foundation of style starts with sound technique.

HW playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqLKBNesVXgh-zPTnNolgoLk081YT11x6

WEEK TWO: Dancers get to SHINE!

This week we looked at the idea of a SHINE STEP, which is a move designed to show one’s self off! We asked at the beginning what STYLE means in the context of dance.

We did a quick exercise about keeping one’s face up. We split into halves and each half did as much shim sham as they could muster. The other group observed. The performing group was prompted at first to perform staring at the ground, and then with their faces above eye-level. The observers uniformly remarked that KEEPING YOUR FACE UP makes a huge difference in whether or not they people can see you.

Then we learned two shine steps - First a FREE SPIN for the leads, working from weight placement and core connection and adding an element of balance. We demonstrated a SHOULDER TWIST for the leads which led to an over-rotation for the follows, and that evolved into showing a variety of SWITCHES to follow. 

Our discussion included questions of what to do while your partner is having a shine moment. A suggestion - be their hype-person and cheer them on, help your partner shine even brighter!

We closed by returning to the question of STYLE. We fielded a lot of great answers. Neil summarized: Style can be the expression of your personality through the dance.

HW playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqLKBNesVXggnZbAfJ0Uuxp-D4mYXQ2g5

WEEK THREE: Self-assessment, making CHOICES and a few variations

On week three, we asked folks to bring cameras. We broke up into pods to shoot each other dancing. Everyone got about a video of about four swingouts, focusing on them. Then we spent time watching the videos and offering a quick self-assessment. First - what’s something you LIKE about your dancing. Second - what’s something you would like to adjust. 

(Neil adds - being able to find something positive to say about yourself can be hard. When you find something, HOLD ON TO IT!)

Then we shifted the pods and tried a new exercise, still with the cameras:

Four swingouts, but before dancing, the follow’s camera-person whispered a body part to the follow and the follow would find some way to accent or stylize with that body part, that they could repeat four times. On swingouts three and four, the leads would pick up and try to mimic the follow’s choice. 

We then talked about how creativity sometimes comes from somewhere else. You can be inspired in the moment by what you see, and especially by your partner!

Finally we split up to learn some swingout variations. Ana taught a few simple variations, kick-ball-changes, follow swivels, bootie bumps. Neil taught a harder footwork variation which involved tap steps (or kicks if the tap was too much), and really messing with which foot is doing the standing.

Finally, we came back to field thoughts on what everyone got, and everyone chose things they’d like to continue working on! Neil also established an idea: if you see someone doing something cool, CHEER for them!

HW: watch videos of yourself, self-assess (remember to find things that you like and that you’d like to adjust) and keep playing with it! 

You’re more than welcome to reach out to either of us, feel free to ask us for dances.

In closing, it has been an honor to teach you all, for as long as you were able to be with us. We hope you’ll continue to explore and find inspiration in each other and yourself. Have fun and never forget to GO FOR IT!

Sincerely,

Ana and Neil

***

Thanks to Ana for teaching with me and rolling with the punches. Thanks to all of the students who came in and found some inspiration!