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Next Class Schedule

Reno Area
Never Enough Ballroom

Lesson Start Dates
Novice Division
Wednesday May 21st
&
Wednesday July 2nd
(6 week session)
Wednesday 7-8:00pm

Intermediate Division
Wednesday May 21st
&
Wednesday July 2nd
(6 week session)
Thurs 8:00-9:pm

Carson City Area
Brewery Arts Center

Lesson Start Dates
Novice Division
Thursday May 22nd
&
Thursday July 3rd
(6 week session)
Thurs 6:00-7:00pm

Intermediate Division
Thursday May 22nd
&
Thursday July 3rd
(6 week session)
Thurs 7:00-8:00pm

Advance-Intermediate Division
Thursday May 22nd
&
Thursday July 3rd
(6 week session)
Thurs 8:00-9:00pm

Club Dances
Capital Swing Dancers
Fair Oaks, Ca
BLSDC Club Dance
Reno NV
High Sierra Club Dance
Carson City, NV

Contact Instructor

Jim Ewing
Phone: 775-250-3743

284 Bartmess Blvd
Sparks, NV 89436

E-Mail Instructor

The Various Versions of Lindy Hop
by Mike Quebec

SWING DANCING:  GET WHAT YOU WANT BY KNOWING WHAT'S OUT THERE!

Just getting into swing dancing, but you don't know exactly what the
"differences" are?  Or, have you been doing swing dancing for quite some time, but
you're not quite satisfied?

Well, a lot has been written about the different "styles", but not much has
been written about the people, the thinking, & even the attitudes that often
accompany the different styles of swing.

First off, let's face it.  All "styles" of any given discipline are
essentially superficial, often times a way of separating people, who in any other type
of situation, might be friends.

What really matters (in the humble opinion of this writer) is if you, as an
individual, truly loves what you do & as a result of that heartfelt devotion,
you do your best to express that feeling in your chosen discipline.  Whether
that's a particular style of cooking, or painting, or yes, even dancing, if
you're good & you truly love what you do, most people usually will respect that.

Okay, now that we've gotten that bit of soap-boxing out of the way, there is
truth in that certain dance styles fit...well..."better"...than others...for
certain types of music.  (They just "feel" right for the music in question.)

Everyone knows that there are venues that cater to particular swing dance
styles.  There is SOME truth in that many (NOT all) people who attend a certain
venue have a certain...agenda...or reason why they are drawn to that venue.

I outright admit that I will be making broad generalizations in the following
write up & that the following does NOT hold true for everyone (who frequents
a particular venue.)

We'll start with the descriptions of the swing dance styles & what one might
expect at a particular event that caters to that style...

GROOVE OR "MODERN" LINDY HOP:
Very circular & loose, this recent dance style is based on a combination of
classic "Savoy" lindy hop, blues-dancing, & even hip hop.

Noted for it's use of body isolations.

It's usually danced to slow jazz & blues.  Favored musical artists that tend
to be played would be Diana Krall, Ella Fitzgerald's 1960's recordings, &
George Gee.  Certain Big Band styles (particularly the African-American artists
who played the Savoy Ballroom in the '30's & '40's), such as Chick Webb & Count
Basie also tend to be played.

Popular exponents of this dance style would be Paul Overton & Sharon Ashe,
Chad & Melanie Kubo, & Steven Mitchell.

Popular venues (in the Bay Area) would be "The Doghouse" (Rhythm & Motion
Dance Center in San Francisco) & "The 9:20 Special" (The Russian Center in San
Francisco.)

The most popular annual events that cater to this style would be the once a
year "Frankie Manning Weekend" put on by the Northern Ccalifornia Lindy Society
in San Francisco, Catalina's yearly venue put on by the Stevens Sisters'
Pasadena Ballroom Association, & of course, Herrang, Sweden's yearly event.

What to expect from the majority of people who attend these venues for this
dance style?

Most people who do this style tend to have lots of previous dance experience
(such as tap, jazz, or African.)  Hence, even though jazz is the favored music
style, practice of the dance, as opposed to collecting music, is the main
motivation (hence, exponents of this style will often see if they can fit their
dancing to other types of music, including funk & rap.  (Dancing "outside of
the box" is the goal.)

They often are very into the technical aspects of their dance style.

Most of these dancers tend to be easy going & relaxed (& NON-drinkers), hence
the standard dress is street-wear (workout or sweat clothes, overalls,
baggies.)

Dancing well takes precedence over socializing for "Groove-style" exponents.

SMOOTH OR "HOLLYWOOD" STYLE LINDY HOP:
Very linear & slotted swing dance style, with tension generated in the arms
due to the style's "anchored" stance.

Noted for it's use of footwork variations.

This style is usually danced to '40's Big Band (Kansas City style being very
popular), boogie woogie, jump blues from the post-World War Two Period, &
early Rock n' Roll music (preferably before the "Twist" era of the early 1960's.) 
Favored musical artists who tend to be played would be Ella Mae Morse, Ella
Fitzgerald's 1940's recordings, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Count Basie,
Wynonie Harris, Louis Jordan, Bullmoose Jackson, Louis Prima, Bill Haley & The
Comets, & Elvis Presley.

Popular exponents of this style would be Erik Robeson & Sylvia Skylar, Sylvia
Sykes, Marcus Koch & Barble Kaufer, Kevin St. Laurent & Carla Heiney, & Steve
& Heidi Garrett.

There are numerous venues in the Southern California Area that cater to this
style, but since I'm from the Bay Area, the two places that I know of are the
Verdi Club ("Tuesday Night Jump!"), 200 Grand (in Oakland's Lake Merritt Dance
Center)....and of course, my own once a month venue at the Metronome.  (Well,
if you want to know about it, e-mail me!)

Camp Hollywood is the main yearly get-together for exponents of this dance
style.

What to expect from the majority of people who attend these venues for this
dance style?

Many people who do this style often do not have previous dance experience
(though, there are many, many numerous exceptions!)  That said, the majority of
people who do this dance style often are very athletic (many of the top
competitors often perform highly flashy & impressive partnered gymnastics in their
performance routines.)  When social dancing, you'll often see them do flashy
tricks (safe for the social floor, of course), difficult slides, & footwork
that's often hard to figure out the first time out!

These dancers also tend to be practitioners of Collegiate Shag & Balboa (two
other "vintage" dance styles, meant for very fast Big Band swing music.)

Many (though again, not all) of these dancers tend to be music collectors
(usually Big Band or early Rock n' Roll fans) or practitioners of the "vintage"
life-style (collectors of '40's & '50's clothing, movies, furniture, or even r
ecipes of dishes from those two time periods.)

Hence, the culture of the time periods (especially the music), and not the
dancing, tends to come first in importance.  That said, these dancers tend to
ONLY swing-dance to '40's & '50's music & dancing "outside of the box" doesn't
really appeal to most of them.  (That doesn't mean they don't like other kinds
of music...just means that they're particular as to what they'll swing to.)

Ironically enough, though the dancing takes a backseat to the music, these
dancers can also be technical in their practice of this style of dance.

Many of them are drinkers (well, except for me!) & socializing with one
another takes a priority over dance technique.

'40's & '50's clothing, though not a requirement, tends to be what is worn at
these dance events.

ROCKABILLY JIVE:
Think of a very stripped-down version of single-time "East Coast Swing" &
you'll get an idea of what this dance style, to the casual observer at least,
looks like.  (And while you're at it, drop the "rock-step" when it's not
absolutely necessary!)

Noted for it's high-energy, yet easy to follow patterns, as well as it's
ability to get people up on the floor who've never danced before in their lives (&
actually have fun doing it!)

This style is almost exclusively danced to 1950's rock n' roll music genres,
particularly the early rockabilly of Gene Vincent, Wanda Jackson, Janis
Martin, The Collins Kids, as well as the modern rockabilly of Deke Dickerson & Big
Sandy.

The most popular exponents of this dance style would be "MIss Wolff, The Jive
Domanatrix & Snakeman Jess" (well, if they told us their real names, it would
take away from the mystique!)

De Marco's in Brisbane & The Elbo Room in San Francisco were venues that
catered to this style (At the time of this writing, the Elbo Room may have already
canceled it's rockabilly nights.)

Like the Smooth Lindy Hop "scene", Southern California tends to be the most
numerous in the way of venues (you'll have to do your own searches for that!)

Viva Las Vegas (of course, in Las Vegas, Nevada) is THE once a year event for
"jivers."

What to expect from the majority of people who attend these venues for this
dance style?

Socializing, drinking, & expressing their love of '50's music & culture & NOT
dance technique is the main focus for "jivers" (well, actually,
"rockabillies.")

That explains why the "jive" (not to be confused with the ballroom style that
we all have seen as part of the "International Standard") is such a
simplified & easy to do swing-dance style.

If you're an overly show offy type of dancer, you might even actually turn
off a lot of the jivers!  (Really, I'm not kidding.)

If you show respect for their culture (dressing up in authentic 1950's
fashions), doing your dance without taking up most of the floor (sharing the floor),
& you have a real love (& knowledge) of '50's music, then you should do fine.
 (And remember, like anyone, they appreciate friendly people, so don't forget
to be sociable & don't talk too technical to them about dance "technique!") 
Debating dance technique or even (ulp!) correcting them on dance technique is
a definate "no-no!"

Doing the "nostalgia" '50's-thing (felt-material costume party poodle skirts
with iron on poodles) is a sure way to get dirty looks (or even beaten up!)

And did I mention that they love to drink?

In conclusion, the above are what I've observed after frequenting all three
types of venues for swing dancing.  (We've gone from the most technical,
dance-oriented scene, to the least technical, music-oriented scene where
swing-dancing is also featured.)

You'll notice, I didn't make an observation on the West Coast Swing scene.

I've only attended a few West Coast Swing events (notably Michelle Kinkaid's
events in Redwood City & Dave West's former dance venue in Hayward, as well
as, of course, the Metronome Ballroom's West Coast swing nights) & I've honestly
had a great time attending them.  (Well, Smooth Lindy & West Coast swing ARE
related!)

But since I'm a lindy hopper & admittedly, not an expert on West Coast Swing, I think Mr. Jim Ewing is the man who can shed some light to the visitors of this site as to what one (who has never attended a Westie venue) can expect from a West Coast Swing event!

Well Jim?

About the writer:
Michael Quebec teaches "Hollywood" style lindy hop in the San Francisco Bay Area. 

When not teaching at the Metronome Ballroom, The Central Valley Swing Club in Tracy, or for the City of Newark's Recreational program, you can catch him dee-jaying at the Verdi Club with his mix of rhythm & blues, do-wop, &
rockabilly.

He often has an "identity crisis" as a dancer, since he loves '50's music & culture like a rockabilly jiver, yet he also loves being technical about his dancing!  (Any dance therapists out there?)