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‘Competition’ Category

  1. ESDC 2011 – Showcase & Classic Division

    June 20, 2011 by Jo

    Here are my favorites from each event!!

    SHOWCASE

    3) Gastón Fernández & Tina Rizza

    Way to represent Argentina!!! I’m so glad they decided to compete with this routine because for a brief period of time, I was under the impression they were going to back out. I’d like to think I talked them into it, but I’m sure they just remembered how awesome they were and then decided to kick some booty. Congratulations you two!!

    2) Oskar Markusson & Mikaela Hellsten

    Did you see that aerial at 1:45? Holy cow that was ridiculously awesome!! I love the dynamics between the two of them. They both have great shapes and line and I think they work really well as a partnership. This is one of the couples that I really enjoy watching; they are creative, shapely, have great taste in music, and they know how to make their shit look gooood.

    1) William Mauvais & Maeva Truntzer

    She’s a total stud; just look at  her go! And did you see his face? Personally, I think William give the best “Face” in the lindy world. He’s such a character and I fucking adore it.

    CLASSIC

    4) Aurelien Lesdos & Audrey Da Sois

    Keep your eye on this couple because I am sure they are going to be the next big thing. Their energy, choreography ideas, and body shapes freaking rock my world. Truth be told, I couldn’t take my eyes off her when they danced! Fast forward to 1:58 and watch from there. DANG!!!

    3) Ali Taghavi & Katja Uckermann

    What a stunning dress! Honestly, I was studying her dress while she was dancing because I was so taken by it. Thank goodness for video; now I can see her and Ali’s great routine.

    3) Nick Williams & Laura Keat

    I ADORE Laura’s shapes. Seriously, all her shapes and poses and picturesque and sharp. Heheh, Laura told me she has a “Jo Moment” in the routine. Can you spot it?

    2) Nicolas Deniau & Mikaela Hellsten

    I saw this routine at Crazy Rhythm Challenge in France back in February. I loved it then and I love it even more now. Holy cow! Check out those splits! I’ve also decided that Mikaela is the real deal; she’s got the whole package. She can balance a regular dance partner and a boyfriend/dance partnership, she looks fantastic in red lipstick, her hair is always twisted in fabulous ways, and she really knows how to use her shapes and lines. Bad ass!

    1) Dax hock & Sarah Breck

    They are just freaking fantastic! Buwaaahahahhah, Dax in a fat suit! Can you image what the people at security must have thought when his bags were x-rayed at the airport? Hilarious. Oh yeah, and the dancing is tight :D

    Category Competition | Tags: ,,,,,,,,,,,,,, | 1 Comment

  2. ESDC 2011 Blues

    June 18, 2011 by Jo

    Some videos from last night:

    Slow Strictly

    I wanted to watch Skye and Frida, but unfortunately we were in the same heat.

    Finalists (I don’t know all the follower’s names, so I’m leaving them all out):

    Skye
    Todd
    Fabian
    Gaston
    Chris
    Tim

    Solo Blues Prelims:

    I lucked out when Michael Gamble, Our fabulous DJ, played this song because I have a fan dance to the song and therefore felt fine to faff about and just listen to the music. Yeah for music I know!!

    Solo Blues Finals

    So….yeah. In the second round out, let’s say I was drunk enough to know I should take my shoes off, but sober enough to remember to take them when I left. I adore Augustina from Argentina (the girl who danced before me). My money is on her. Her movement and musicality are inspiring. I wish I had danced like she did, but all I really did was walk around. I’m fine with the job I did; perhaps next time I’ll actually train and get something together.

    Congratulations to all the competitors!!

    Category Competition | Tags: ,,,,,,,,, | 2 Comments

  3. ESCD Classic – new choreography

    June 17, 2011 by Jo

    Earlier this evening, Kevin and I performed our new Classic routine at the European Swing Dance Championships in Barcelona, Spain. We were the openers for the Classic Division. Take a look!!!!

    Yes, the video went up incredibly quickly. Just goes to show what an amazing event ESDC is!

    So we didn’t hit it, and there are a couple of bobbles, but we’re happy with it. The lighter was a colossal failure; I pulled it out facing the wrong direction and couldn’t get it to light. Arg!! But we kept going and were able to leave the floor smiling. All in all, I’m pleased with how we did. We’ll definitely use this routine a few more times and then really see how we feel about it.

    Did you recognize the ending? Can you name what video that is from?

    Category Competition | Tags: ,,,,,, | 4 Comments

  4. Preparing for Solo Charleston at ESDC

    June 15, 2011 by Jo

    What are you watching? What’s inspiring you?


    Adam, you are as fabulous as they come! Thank you for reminding me that pink is a great color on guys AND the skating is freaking awesome! Oh yeah, and….uh….Frida rocks my socks off. Need I say more?


    Janna, you are amazing – you and your energy.


    They have been awesome for such a long time.


    Oh. My. Goodness. What fabulous lines these boy have!! Gentlemen, if you have long limbs, these are the people to watch dance. Woo-wee!


    Hurley is a ball of sunshine, as always! I mean really, have you ever seen a more mega-watt smile on anyone other than a super model in a print ad? John, I have one word for you: ridiculous.


    Chance!!


    What a dance off! I saw it live and the place was going bonkers.

    GAAAHHH, I get an adrenaline rush just thinking about the competition coming up this weekend! Are you ready? I’m not :D

     

    Category Competition, Musings | Tags: ,,,,,, | 2 Comments

  5. Camp Jitterbug 2011 Contest Results

    May 30, 2011 by Jo

    The results are in and videos are up!! Congratulations to all the competitors!

    Solo Charleston


    Winner: Joanna Lucero

    Jack & Jill

    1) Davis Thurber and Kelly Arsenault
    2) Andrew Hsi and Maéva Truntzer
    3) Juan Villafañe and Gabby Cook

    Strictly Lindy

    This year, the Strictly was done in a new format. Two couples at a time were given one chorus to battle for their life and then the 5 judges decided who lived, and who died (sounds very Roman the way I’m explaining it). After the four rounds of battle, the four remaining couples jammed.

    Battle:

    Jam:

    1) William Mauvais & Maéva Truntzer
    2) Juan Villafañe & Sharon Davis
    3) Nick Williams & Jo Hoffberg

     

    Category Competition, Dancers, Events | Tags: ,,,,,,,,,,,,,, | No Comments

  6. Korean Lindy Hop Championships 2011 – Couples Division

    March 27, 2011 by Jo

    The Camp Swing It team put on another amazing event and threw the first Korean Lindy Hop Championships! I have to say, the attendees of CSI threw down this weekend and I’m so proud of everyone who competed!!

    Here are videos from the weekend from the Couples Division, which include Showcase and Classic pieces. There were lots of cute routines, great musicality, fun costumes, and a bouquet of flowers. Yeahh!!!!

    `

    COUPLES DIVISION

    3st Couples Contest – Sunbum Moon & Chloe Hong

    1st Couples Contest – Soochan Lee & Hyun Jung Choi

    2st Couples Contest – JeongWoo Hong & Crystal Lee

    During the last few classes Kevin and I taught, we requested that everyone post videos of the competitions so that the world could see how great the weekend was AND to label them with names of the contestants. I can’t wait to see more videos!!

    Congratulations to all the contestants!! You did a fantastic job and it was a pleasure to watch you dance. XOXO

    Category Competition, Events | Tags: ,,,,,,,,,,,,, | 1 Comment

  7. Eyes on Korea

    March 26, 2011 by Jo

    Many of you know that there is an enormous lindy hop scene in Korea, but few of you have seen the Koreans throw down while doing their own thing. They have an amazing eye for detail and can replicate shapes easily and precisely, but we [international instructors] have not necessarily seen them dancing their thing.

    Not until this weekend that is. :D

    Camp Swing It held the first Korean Lindy Hop Championships and had a fantastic showing of talent, skill, and heart. KLHC had a Cabaret, Couples Division (Showcase and Classic were combined), Strictly Lindy, Rookie and Open Jack & Jill, and a Team Division.

    The prize for winning the Couples Division was a weekend pass to ILHC to compete, a 500,00 won, and an additional 500,000 won if they actually go to compete. For the other competitions, event passes were award to such amazing events like ESDC, ULHS, Montpellier Swingjammerz Festival, Camp Jitterbug, Lindy Focus, Canadian Swing Championships, HK Swing Festival, and the Great Wall Swingout,

    Thank you for all the contestants from Japan, Singapore, China, and Korea for coming out and participating in this fantastic event. You came and represented. Congratulations!!

    Category Competition, Events | Tags: ,,, | No Comments

  8. Guys and Girls Gone Wild 2011

    March 20, 2011 by Jo

    This was my first all-jazz weekend. Ten Hours of Classes and nothing but jazz. Oh my goodness, it was a freaking FUN weekend. Here was the schedule and some highlights:

    Friday, March 18th

    What: Dance and Vintage Bathing Suit Badminton Contest
    When: 9pm-late
    Where: Baltimore Strut

    The location of this venue is completely on the wrong side of the tracks, but it’s a cool venue. I believe it’s a modern dance studio when it’s not inundated by whom Michael Seguin dubbed his “Baltimore’s At-Risk Youths”. Buwahahah!

    Vintage Bathing Suit Badminton Contest

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    Kevin and I performing before the badminton contest

    `

    Photos from the weekend:

    Saturday, March 19th

    Time Guys Girls
    12pm-1:15pm Slow Strut ( VFW ) Girls’ Choreography( VVA )
    1:30pm-2:45pm ** Big Apple part 1, guys and girls together ** ( VVA )
    3:00pm-4:15pm Jazz Details ( VVA ) Jazz Details ( VFW )
    4:30pm-5:45pm Guys’ Choreography ( VVA ) Blues ( VFW )
    9pm-midnight Blue Vipers of Brooklyn and Solo Jazz Dance Contest ( VVA )

    I taught Can-Can in my Girls Choreo class and had a blast! Getting all those girls to kick up their legs and “woo” together was one of the highlights of the weekend for me. In Jazz Details, we covered Boogie Forward, Squat Charleston, and one other move. Does anyone remember?

    I taught a modified version of my fan dance choreography in the blues class so the girls could learn some moves and we could work on movement. Again, I focused in on the details of committing weight to one foot or the other, using the hips, and looking with intention.

    Later that night there was a solo dance contest. I haven’t found video of it just yet, but I’ll share it once it’s up. The finalists danced live to The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn, who were outstanding. There were a few late night parties after the dance, but Kevin and I needed to go home so we could get some sleep. We wanted to be in tip-top shape to abuse the students the following day :D

    Sunday, March 20th

    Time Guys Girls
    12pm-1:15pm Jazz Details ( VFW ) Jazz Details ( VVA )
    1:30pm-2:45pm Hat Tricks ( VFW ) Secrets of the Killer Dillers ( VVA )
    3:00pm-4:15pm ** Big Apple part 2, guys and girls together ** ( VVA )
    4:30pm-5:45pm Secrets of the Killer Dillers ( VVA ) Burlesque ( VFW )
    After Afterparty at VVA lounge

    Another day of successful classes! I started Sunday off by breaking down the details of the Shim Sham. I completely mismanaged our time and took 1hr 40 to do so. I had such a great time though…..all those little detail. Ladies, you were amazing. :D I then explained who the Killer Dillers were and then talked about how to compete in Charleston, phrasing music, and gave some quick tips about what to do when you go blank. This class probably would have been more useful to a few people the day before, but c’est la vie.

    The Big Apple pt 2 is always a tricky class; the attrition rate is higher than I’d like. I think it’s because it was day 2 of nothing buy jazz, the 2nd half have very little repeating choreo, people max out, and the choreo is a bit fiddly. Hehe (embarrassed), it could have also been that Kev and I had a few flubs in the choreo that we eventually fixed :p But we had a few troopers that made it to the end. Congratulations to you badasses!!

    A new favorite of mine was the burlesque class. I had the girls bring heels and we spent time walking. We reviewed what we did in the blues class the day before, but this time wearing heels. We sat, we stood, we took off our jackets, and we walked away. :D I thought it was a super fun class! Girls, let me know if the stuff works (or not)!!

    Category Competition, Events | Tags: ,,,,,,,,,,,,,, | 3 Comments

  9. The 2011 Swing/Jazz Dance Music Video Contest

    March 10, 2011 by Jo

    Seattle Vintage Jazz Dance is proud to present… the 3rd Annual Swing/Jazz Dance Music Video Contest! The first contest was a resounding success, and the second year was just as amazing! We hope that this year’s contest will be even better!

    Have you ever watched one of those old-time soundies and thought that you’d like to be in one yourself? Too shy to dance in front of a live audience but still want to show off your stuff?

    You now have a chance to let your imagination go wild and and create what might become the best swing (or jazz) dance music video of 2011! This year’s contest includes permission to use music by Casey MacGill’s Blue 4 Trio, Crytzer’s Blue Rhythm Band, and the Solomon Douglas Swingtet!*

    The first place prize is a $700 cash prize and 40 free admission passes to the HepCat Productions weekly swing dance. Second prize is a $150 cash prize.

    If you wish to submit an entry to the contest, please read through this web site, especially the FAQ section. The contest deadline is June 02, 2011. You may enter, or participate in, as many videos as you’d like. See contest rules for details.

    Entries are to be submitted no later than 11:30PM PDT on Thursday, June 02, 2011.

    Please note: you do not have to be from Seattle in order to enter!

    FAQs

    Contest Details

    Music

    Also, check out the previous two years’ video contest entries to see all the cool and crazy things that people did!

    Category Competition | Tags: ,,,,,, | 1 Comment

  10. Vote for Dax & Sarah

    January 19, 2011 by Jo

    Two of my loveliest, gorgeous, talented friends are currently competing on CBS Live To Dance. Dax Hock and Sarah Breck are doing a fantastic job representing Lindy Hop to the mainstream media and is bring such much needed recognition to a dance form that is under appreciated.

    Please take a minute to VOTE FOR THEM. There are 3 ways to vote for your favorite acts on Live To Dance:

    1) Call  1-855-live-to-5  10 times
    2) text the number 5 to 97979 10 times
    3) Voting online: go here to the website to become a registered user of cbs.com in order to vote. Do this 25 times!

    Voting via toll-free and text message will remain open for 2 hours after the show broadcast in each region. Online voting will remain open until 9:00 am PT/ 12 noon ET each Thursday.

    Here’s a snippet from the show before they made it to semi-finals.

    Now go vote 45 times! xoxo

    Dearest Dax, I hope you back gets better. I know this darn injury has been chasing you for a while. Darling Sarah, keep doing what you’re doing. I wish you both the best of luck. Thank you for representing lindy hop. We all love you. xoxo

    UPDATED: Here’s there performance from tonight

    Category Competition, Dancers | Tags: ,,,,,,,,,,,, | 1 Comment

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