teachers and researchers of traditional jazz dance

Judging at ALHC 2006

Are you ready for a challenge? Apparently parenthood wasn’t challenging enough for me (or perhaps it’s created an addiction to challenges) because I’ve accepted an opportunity to judge at this year’s American Lindy Hop Championships. It will be an honor and privilege to judge, and probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done or will ever do. All I can offer is my best, just like those who compete will do. Given the level of dancing out there today, it will be a near impossible task. If it were points and not rank order placement, it would be a little more comforting. While most people would be happy with a 99% to 95% on a test, that’s probably the range within which I’ll have to place someone first and someone else sixth.

Virginia State Open Workshops

Midori and I are teaching at the Virginia State Open (VSO) Swing Dance Championships, held September 29 - October 1, in Washington D.C. again this year (our second consecutive at the event). We’ve got three Peabody and one Charleston class this year. We had a blast last year sharing what we know about both dances. This year we plan on further exploring both dances. Our tentative class list includes:

  • Charleston: Dance Your Way into the Newsreels
  • Peabody: Five Essential Steps
  • Peabody: Breaks, Runs & Syncopations
  • Peabody: Combinations & Dancing Peabody’s Tempo