No More Secrets – A Case for Leading the Swivel
The concept of leading swivels is topic that comes up time and again as Evita and I teach at events around the globe. It always raises a few eyebrows (if not worse) when we describe how and why I lead
“Alive and Kicking” : The Swing Documentary
The new Swing Documentary, "Alive and Kicking", has officially been released to the public. Facebook news feeds for Swing dancers exploded with shares and comments about the movie. Over all, it's been a positive reaction. I have seen the film
Improvisation Fears
"Improvisation, within the context of performing arts, is a very spontaneous performance without specific or scripted preparation." - Wikipedia I have a story to share about a recent experience I had with confronting my fear and having to improvise. While
Swing Dancing vs. Lindy Hop: What’s the Difference?
Swing Dancing vs. Lindy Hop: What’s the Difference? Dancers who are in the the early stages of their educational journey most commonly ask, “what is the difference between Swing dancing and Lindy Hop?” And like many oral traditions, the answers
Put That D%#@ Camera Down!
I'm sorry for losing my temper. That normally doesn't happen, but Swing Scene... we need to talk. While teaching at a large Lindy event last month I had to apologize to a class for yelling at them because two different
The Best Type of Class
What is the best type of class? Where and when does it happen? What are the ingredients? This would be a fabulous world wide survey for the Lindy Hop community. I would love to see the results. I think good
How to be a Student (aka Maximizing Your Learning Potential): Part 1
When stepping into the classroom, we can experience a myriad of emotions, from excitement to fear, and assuming the role of “student” requires of us to take several actions and choices. There are certain techniques to maximize your retention and
Online Membership & School Launch
Hi everybody, It’s official... We are launching our online Swing School, and we thought you should know! Similar to enrolling at a university or joining a gym, we offer students a place to learn and focus on practicing their skills
The Leveling Conundrum
Part I: The Audition We recently received an email from Melanie in Fort Collins, CO (a big shout out to Ft. Fun where I first learned Lindy Hop from the Jumpin' Jive Cats) regarding leveling at events and the frustration
Leadership is better taught in the context of Swing Dancing.
In 2006, I had the fortune of being introduced to David Dunbar. David is the Academic Dean and co-founder of CITYterm, a high school alternative semester program that immerses students in an experience based learning environment. Located at the Masters School in
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