Love to Lindy

[straycat]

Originally Posted by jiveknight

Saw the film Wild Hogs yesterday, on a rare day off, and John Travolta gives a quick Lindy lesson to his pal . Its really quick though...

Was the film any good?

[MartinHarper]

Originally Posted by jiveknight

Is the Lindy Turn incorporated in mj for example?

An example of a Lindy Turn (aka Swingout from Open) variation in MJ is the First Move variation where after the "turn out" the man steps forward, sending his partner behind him. A regular Lindy Turn isn't, because it kinda requires that the follower step forward with her left foot on "5", which isn't easily arranged in an MJ context.

[straycat]

Originally Posted by MartinHarper

A regular Lindy Turn isn't, because it kinda requires that the follower step forward with her left foot on "5", which isn't easily arranged in an MJ context.

It can be done though - I've tried leading basic swingout patterns in MJ (mainly out of curiousity) with partners who've never tried Lindy.

Followers with reasonable WCS experience tend to follow without apparent problems, as do a very few 'straight' MJ followers - but they tend to be very experienced followers who have good connection. It's a very good test of my own lead, which has to be on good form for the move to stand a chance.

[Mr Cool]

I love to lead hollywood whips with non lindy ladies. Many pick them up straight away It is so rewarding when it works first time.
Sometimes you have to lead them a few times before they get the groove of it.
I also enjoy leading swing outs , lindy turns, Lindy circles, texas tommies and more, depending on the music and the skill of my partner.
Most ladies love the challenge.

[jiveknight]

Originally Posted by straycat264

Was the film any good?

Yeah, I thought it was a lot of fun - middle age men set off in search of freedom and find integrity etc - simple plot but nice - the "dance scene" is only a very short bit though. Two thumbs up, six stars but not deep in any way which I happened to fancy on a day off...

[Gav]

After having tried a Lindy Hop workshop at Beach Boogie and having sat through fast swing bands wishing I could dance to their music, I decided to look out for a Lindy class.
I found one in Penge, S. London.
It's run by the South East London Lindy Hop Club on Thursday nights. They seem to belong to a group called 52nd Street Jump who operate in London, Surrey and Sussex.
The website was very short of information (I know they didn't have the internet in the 40's, but puuurrrlease!) so I just turned up.

First ****-up, it's week 7 of an 8 week beginners rotation! I was all for leaving and coming back in a couple of week, but the teacher talked me into staying and I'm glad she did.

I managed to keep up as we did some kind of 8-beat swingout thingy (step, step, triple step, pivot, step, triple step???), but then was dumped into freestyle with some poor lady. The teacher rushed over, gave me a quick private lesson and told me I was not allowed to leave while they did the intermediate class, I must watch then she'll help me some more.

So I stayed and watched, and freestyle started and everyone started doing a stroll. I thought it looks like fun, but being the heavy footed lummox, I'll just get in everyone's way.
Well, someone dragged me up and I was surprised to find how easy it was! I won't shy away from them again.

Another quick private and an introduction to someone to dance with me and I was away again.

I even recognised and said hello to someone who was doing Lindy at the Pigalle Club when DT and I went there last month!

What a friendly bunch and what a lovely "club" atmosphere. I'll definitely be going back there.

[Minnie M]

Originally Posted by Gav

After having tried a Lindy Hop workshop at Beach Boogie and having sat through fast swing bands wishing I could dance to their music, I decided to look out for a Lindy class.
I found one in Penge, S. London.
It's run by the South East London Lindy Hop Club on Thursday nights. They seem to belong to a group called 52nd Street Jump who operate in London, Surrey and Sussex............

It is run by Caron & Steve (they are engaged - getting married in Jan 2008)

Caron is an ex-ceroc dancer, then turned to Lindy and used to 'taxi' for Simon Selmon. She met Steve a couple of years ago and they teamed up for teaching and dances. Steve learned 'jitterbugs / 40's swing' with Nick Kirby in Coulsden.

As you have said they are a friendly bunch, not quite pure Lindy, more 40's style but still good fun.

[Gav]

Originally Posted by Minnie M

It is run by Caron & Steve (they are engaged - getting married in Jan 2008)

That's them!

Originally Posted by Minnie M

not quite pure Lindy, more 40's style but still good fun.

I noticed that they teach a very smooth style, whereas Andy & Rena at Beach Boogie taught a very bouncy style.

So what's the difference? Are there lots of flavours of Lindy Hop?

[clevedonboy]

Ooo Gav now there's a leading question......

A potted history The Lindy Circle - Lindy Hop History

What people perceive as smooth is usually based on Hollywood, "bouncy" is Savoy. HOWEVER good Savoy style dancers don't really bounce - watch their heads not their feet

It's worth noting that when Lindy became popular again there were great debates over what was the best style leading to a bit of a polarisation of the community into 2 camps - bonkers really & some of the nasty stuff that was said on the Interweb is still there to be found.

Other forms of dance are out there in the UK called Lindy that pure Savoy style or Hollywood style advocates would describe as heretical but that's kind of missing the point - Lindy is essentially about Lead and Follow within the confines of the 6 & 8 count rhythm. If you understand how the lead works and how the rhythm works then which "style" you "do" doesn't matter.

Hope you stick with it

[straycat]

Originally Posted by clevedonboy

Other forms of dance are out there in the UK called Lindy that pure Savoy style or Hollywood style advocates would describe as heretical but that's kind of missing the point - Lindy is essentially about Lead and Follow within the confines of the 6 & 8 count rhythm. If you understand how the lead works and how the rhythm works then which "style" you "do" doesn't matter.

It's impossible to be a 'purist' about Lindy - it's been constantly evolving from before the time it even had a name, and will continue to do so (I hope) as long as it's around. If one is going to try and claim it should be done in style X, because that's how it was in the day - the obvious questions are: which day, and which dancers? Because with a different time, and / or a different dancer, you'll get a different slant / style / emphasis.

Nowadays, the dancers I admire the most simply take what they like best from each of the styles, and make it their own, while developing their own techniques, moves, style etc. Try learning a swingout from Steven Mitchell (one of the main guys who rediscovered Lindy in the states) - it'll be very different to the one he was teaching five years ago, as he's constantly reinventing and evolving what he does and teaches. So really - there's a million and one styles and flavours - it's just a matter of picking what you like, and going with that.

[DJ Andy]

Originally Posted by clevedonboy

Other forms of dance are out there in the UK called Lindy that pure Savoy style or Hollywood style advocates would describe as heretical but that's kind of missing the point - Lindy is essentially about Lead and Follow within the confines of the 6 & 8 count rhythm. If you understand how the lead works and how the rhythm works then which "style" you "do" doesn't matter.

And to what Stray said too. Stick with it and have fun!

[tsh]

I spent about 2 years learning lindy, 6 months of that in France, but when I came back to the UK I gave up because the classes I can get to easily are too into teaching 'fun' moves (fun for the teachers to watch people struggling with) and were much more focused on choreograph style moves (all the films have these moves, so they must be what people used to dance). Most of the people in the classes were struggling with a basic circle (because their technique was poor) yet they were being taught variations (and no musicality). The difference in France seemed to be that people started with some concept of partner dancing, and were interested in improving, rather than just wanting an evening of entertainment, so the classes progressed much faster.

Sean

[Gav]

Originally Posted by tsh

are too into teaching 'fun' moves (fun for the teachers to watch people struggling with) and were much more focused on choreograph style moves (all the films have these moves, so they must be what people used to dance). Most of the people in the classes were struggling with a basic circle (because their technique was poor) yet they were being taught variations (and no musicality).

That seems to be a common problem in dance classes.
The organisers are caught between teaching people to dance properly and losing out when they get bored after months of basics, or teach people the flashy moves so they stay, but end up being crap dancers.

The class I went to seemed to have found a good balance, and I think I made it clear to them that I don't want to move onto difficult moves until I have mastered the basics (or at least got OK at them ).

That's why I'm also looking at doing a foundation course for Lindy Hop too.

[Minnie M]

Originally Posted by clevedonboy

.........Other forms of dance are out there in the UK called Lindy that pure Savoy style or Hollywood style advocates would describe as heretical but that's kind of missing the point.......

Savoy and Hollywood (Dean Collins) are very different styles - if you need confirmation ask Ryan Francois (Frankie Manning is the Savoy style master)

Robert & Claire Austin teach Hollywood and so do Paul & Natasha - it is the dance made popular by Dean Collins in the 40's and seen in most American war type films

(you may find clips of the above on Utube)

Originally Posted by straycat264

......... Try learning a swingout from Steven Mitchell (one of the main guys who rediscovered Lindy in the states).........

IMO my fave teacher of Lindy Hop ever (it is a shame they have stopped "Sultans of Swing" the yearly Coventry event ) to watch him and his partner Virginee is pure lindy heaven However, as straycat264 has said his dancing has changed over the years - and his style is his own - very very smooth

[Vegetable]

I Have 2 Learn Lindy!!! i think it looks great fun

[clevedonboy]

Originally Posted by Minnie M

mmmmm I know - what I was alluding to was that there are forms of "lindy" in the UK that are neither & as such Lindy purists of either camp would describe these as heretical.

[Mr Cool]

IMO my fave teacher of Lindy Hop ever (it is a shame they have stopped "Sultans of Swing" the yearly Coventry event ) to watch him and his partner Virginee is pure lindy heaven However, as straycat264 has said his dancing has changed over the years - and his style is his own - very very smooth [/QUOTE

]

I agree Minnie they were great weekenders Wish James and Bridget would bring them back Steve Mitcheal is a great teacher and such a wonderful smooth style.
Why other organisers dont hire him i don't know his sloted style would I believe interest WCS dancers.
For me he is the best dancer i have seen Bar none I have a video of him perfoming in (you can't top the lindy hop 1986) He was more savoy style then Ryan is in the same tape.

Maybee we should start a bring Steve to the UK poll Ha

[Minnie M]

Originally Posted by Mr Cool

......Steve Mitcheal is a great teacher and such a wonderful smooth style.
Why other organisers dont hire him i don't know his sloted style would I believe interest WCS dancers.
For me he is the best dancer i have seen Bar none I have a video of him perfoming in (you can't top the lindy hop 1986) He was more savoy style then Ryan is in the same tape.

Maybee we should start a bring Steve to the UK poll Ha