Videos from this year’s Strictly Lindy Hop competitions at the 3rd annual Lone Star Championships which occurred January 15th-17th, 2010 in Austin, TX. Thanks to floridave and LindyLibrary for putting these up.
The Barbell Perspective
I noticed something very cool at the end of the video for the All Star Invitational Jack and Jill at this year’s Lone Star Championships. Peter Strom and Karen Turman shared a memory in the form of one of the first aerials they learned together when they started over 10 years ago.
Few other people in that room got that reference. Among them, were the two people who went up to hug them at the end of that jam—Mike Faltesek and Amy Johnson—because they were arpund the first time it happened back in Minnesota where they're all from originally.
Lone Star Championships 2010-Performaces & Jams
Videos of performances and jams from this year’s 3rd annual Lone Star Championships which occurred January 15th-17th, 2010 in Austin, TX.
Lone Star Championships 2010-All Star Invitational Jack & Jill
Videos from this year’s All star Invitational Jack & Jill at the 3rd annual Lone Star Championships which occurred January 15th-17th, 2010 in Austin, TX.
Lone Star Championships 2010
Looks like all the news was coming out of Austin this weekend with the third Annual Lone Star Championships. Run by Tena Morales and Scott Angelius, this event is meant to be a more relaxed competition weekend with an emphasis on social dance contests such as Jack & Jill’s and Strictly comps. I didn’t go, but that won’t stop me from saying a few words and gratuitously mention that <plug> I work for Tena on the International Lindy Hop Championships happening this year August 19th-22nd, 2010. Registration opening soon!</end plug>
Responsibility
That’s one aspect of being a leader in our scene that gets the least amount of attention when people talk about becoming more active in our community whether it’s by performing, dj’ing, promoting events, or teaching. This thought doesn’t come out of nowhere. There’s an unfortunate story being revealed right now that I don’t necessarily want to talk about directly here, but it’s so big that it can’t and shouldn’t be ignored.
Weekly Video Highlights: Lindy Hop Argentina International Festival 2010
Sorry about the lack of updates this week. I'm remarkably unproductive when I'm sick, as I was last week, and I've been playing catch up at work after being away for almost two weeks between Lindy Focus and my cold. But I won't leave you hanging this week thanks to the fine Lindy Hoppers in Argentina of all places. Not just the land of tango anymore apparently, they held their forth Lindy Hop Argentina International Festival last weekend.
Weekly Video Highlights: The Snowball
In covering all this Lindy Focus stuff, I almost forgot about the other big New Year’s Lindy Hop event, The Snowball over in Stokholm, Sweden.
Lindy Focused
Well, so much for live updates from Lindy Focus VIII. It was not from lack of anything to talk about. Plenty happened; I just decided to take advantage of the first event I’ve been to in over four years where I didn't have to work in any capacity. I almost forgot what it’s like just to go to an event just to dance. It took some time to get used to which is why it was nice to be there for all five nights. I didn’t partake in the whole event though as I only went to the evening dances, and skipped the classes. It was nice to sleep in and catch up with people during the day and spend the night dancing until the early mornings. I think I closed out all of the dances except the last one which lasted past 8 am. I left around 7 am only because I needed to pack and shower for the long ride home.
This was only my second Lindy Focus, but the event was noticeably larger than last year, which I was told was bigger than years’ past. The event originally started as a regional event featuring local instructors. As time passed and the other national level New Year’s events like Danver’s New Year’s Eve Extravaganza and the Rhythmic Arts Festival fell by the wayside or moved on, Lindy Focus stepped to the fore to offer a huge holiday event.
Questions & Answers
Naomi Uyama once told me that she sees two different kinds of performances. Those that ask questions and those that make statements. I thought of that when after I told I Karen and Andrew that I thought (and still do think) that the routine that they performed in the Lindy Hop Showcase earlier this week at Lindy Focus should win. Andrew responded that they didn’t perform to win. They just wanted to say something to their friends and anyone else that would see them. I really think that’s why I love watching them dance.