⚡️ hopping on the express tracks with the @eyal_vilner_big_band
as soon as I heard this on their new album that released this week (do you have it yet??) I knew that we had to turn it into a throwdown
having just come off an opportunity to sub in for the Mana Lu Parks tribute series that @lsfosnight and @i.am.timchristopher were running at @jazzattackswings I wondered if the stops and stew would fit, and they did, down to the exact bar (well, if you play with the tandem section a bit, at least)
thanks for throwing down Lauren, and for a killer album, Eyal! tunes from this one will be in my set lists for a long time
#eyalvilnerbigband #lindyhop #swingdance #mamalu #swingout
Once is fun, twice is cheeky, three times is a tradition!
So thankful to be able to spend a weekend up in Cambridge with my pal @jwyuwen , and to carve out a little time Saturday afternoon for our now annual ditty. It’s fun to see the bits that have become tradition like:
- it has to be outside no matter how cold it is
- you have to pick the take with a mistake that makes you laugh
- no music dubbing allowed; the sounds of leaves crunching under feet and laughter >>> the algorithm
@raquel.shamu@cari.lindy@andreaebyrnes I hear y’all are next on Yu Wen’s choreography hit list 👀
🎙️ Santa Claus is Coming to Town - Chelsea Reed & the Fair Weather Band @chelseareedmusic
🪩 Style: Lindy Hop & Jazz
#lindyhop #swingdance #lindyhoppers #bostonlindyhop #chelseareed #chelseareedandthefairweatherfive
✅ Train air steps with Harvest Moon Ball champions
✅ Learn first stops from OG Mama Lu Parks Dancers
✅ Throw and be thrown by a man in his 70s that made it easier than any 20 year old I’ve worked with
This was an incredibly special day full of surprises, and I’m so grateful to @bobbyswungover@jessicamiltenberger and @ysbdnyc for putting it together!
Many thanks to Lindy Hop Legends & elders Ms. Crystal Johnson & Mr. Douglas Wade — 1972 Harvest Moon Ball Champions & Mama Lu Parks dancers — for teaching us!
There’s A LOT more that I didn’t get to cover in this 60-second recap, so shoot me a message to chat about it!
#lindyhop #swingdance #mamaluparks #lindylegends #lindyhopaerials #firststops #harlem
Quick lil park yeet with @nickswingsout in Rittenhouse Square yesterday 🚀 Training with Nick feels so easy. He’s been doing airsteps much longer than I have and it feels like a real treat to meet up for an impromptu training sesh with someone who takes such care with his flyers. Thanks to @mike._.mcd for spotting our first reps 💪
lets make this swing dance space a ✨vibe✨
part 1 of several scheduled improvements at @jazzattackswings for this year, including:
💡 lighting
🔊 sound
🪑 seating
🤫 and some secrets too
Philly, catch us every Thursday from 8-11 at 1336 Spring Garden st. Beginner-friendly drop-in Lindy Hop lessons & dancing for under $15!
#venueupgrade #eventspaces #philadelphia #swingdance
Challenged myself to see if I could enjoy my arms as much as I enjoy my footwork for a short sequence
Apparently my shoes were offended
🎶 Wine Wine Wine - Freddie Roach (Good Move)
📍 West Art, Lancaster
🪩 Style: jazz
#solojazz #lindyhop #westartlancaster #freddieroach
If Illinois Jacquet can have the audacity to name this tune “God Bless my Solo” then I can have the audacity to post some more works in progress
Show face is fine, but concentration face is in
Named jazz steps are great, but funky things that feel right are in
Waiting for the perfect moment is out, and recording in a public square at 1am when the idea hits is in
Shooting a million takes is cool, but trusting the idea in one or two is in
All of this hit because of a real fun evening with @sevillaswingdance (shout out to @samuelsevillaswing !) and some inspiring conversation about jazz with @inmadvalares , where she talked about what it was like getting started during the pandemic, learning only solo jazz first, and then adding in taking local classes that fused flamenco, Eastern, African styles for a unique movement experience.
I didn’t capture any of that myself — but it did get me inspired to explore where my dancing is at now, and what’s to come
Here’s to more dancing
#swingdance #solojazz #jazz #sevilleswingdance
💥 Bumpity bump bump! I had an amazing time choreographing and teaching this fun routine with @p.barlugo for the @jazzattackswings July intermediate series
Creating for a large class performance is always an interesting balance between big ideas and the realities of tight time constraints. It was tough enough for me to handle as an teacher of nearly a Decade, but Pau (with big assists from @gwaysee135 and @hey_im_hank_ ) knocked it out of the park despite having to move across the country in the middle of it all
Seeing 20 students work their butts off to get this routine was oh so rewarding, and that feeling was only matched by creating this piece with such a great student-turned-friend of these past four years
Of course, a big shout out to @westphillyswing for everything along the way
Although we’re on opposite coasts now, I know this won’t be the last time we dance together
🎶 Song: Bumpy Tour Bus - Eyal Vilner Big Band @eyal_vilner_big_band
📍 Location: Philadelphia, PA
🪩 Style: Lindy Hop, Charleston, Solo Jazz
#lindyhop #lindyhopphilly #swingdancephilly #eyalvilnerbigband #lindyhoppers
Made some magic 🪄 up in NYC!
I always love Rafał’s rules (see below) because you inevitably end up in positions you’re not used to. It’s like a creativity cheat code; I can’t count the number of new moves and shapes I’ve discovered out of it
Special thanks as always to my mentor and good friend Rafał for making time for me, and giving me a laundry list of things to work on over the next few months. I’m excited to get to it!
Rafał’s rules
Create a sequence back and forth, 8 counts each
Choreo first, then pick a song
Set a time limit, usually 20-30min
Minimize filming takes — keep it raw and leave the mistakes
🎶 Magic - Count Basie Orchestra
🪩 Style: Jazz (Vernacular)
📌 Learn it near you: @ysbdnyc in NYC & @jazzattackswings in Philly!
#lindyhop #solojazz #swingdance #countbasie #basie #rafałsrules
Jazz has so much joy in it!
@katiepiselli is one of my absolute favorite people to dance with, and many of my favorite dances of all time are ones I’ve shared with her. In particular, a series of late night flow state dances at Boston Tea Party to @dannyjonokuchi sit in a league of their own. She’s an absolute force of nature, rhythm incarnate, and a mesmerizing shapeshifter.
Needless to say I did my best to hold on, and had a blast cranking out this quick little choreo in a half hour block between her mom duties & and awesome dance in Boston. Thanks for making the time, Katie, and I can’t wait to dance with you again soon!
Rafał’s rules (per @rafaloffthelog )
Create a sequence back and forth, 8 counts each
Choreo first, then pick a song
Set a time limit, usually 20-30min
Minimize filming takes — keep it raw and leave the mistakes
🎶 Rock a Bye Basie - Count Basie Orchestra
🪩 Style: Jazz & Lindy Hop
📌 Learn it near you: @bostonlindyhop in Boston & @jazzattackswings in Philly!
#lindyhop #solojazz #swingdance #countbasie #basie
🌟 SWING AUS SQUAAAAAD UP!
So grateful to the entire @lancasterswingdance team for putting together an incredible Swing Aus Lindy Hop weekend, and to this awesome group of pals for getting together in the wee hours of the afternoon to create a little 80-minute ditty together
See you again soon, Lanc!
🎶 Segdoh - Johnny Hodges & the Ellington Men
#lindyhop #swingdance #solojazz #lancaster #jazz #johnnyhodges
