By Reuben Brown on Wednesday, May 17, 2000 - 12:56 pm: EditYes, it is true... a PURE Balboa contest. Many more details to come, this is just the teaser. hee, hee, hee
| By Reuben Brown on Wednesday, May 17, 2000 - 12:56 pm: Edit |
Yes, it is true... a PURE Balboa contest. Many more details to come, this is just the teaser. hee, hee, hee |
| By Jeff Eldridge on Wednesday, May 17, 2000 - 03:59 pm: Edit |
Isn't that the same as "Hollywood Balboa"? |
| By Reuben Brown on Wednesday, May 17, 2000 - 04:03 pm: Edit |
No. |
| By Glennm (Glennm) on Wednesday, May 17, 2000 - 04:07 pm: Edit |
weak attempt |
| By Jeff Eldridge on Wednesday, May 17, 2000 - 04:28 pm: Edit |
I was kidding. |
| By Reuben Brown on Wednesday, May 17, 2000 - 04:32 pm: Edit |
I thought it was kinda funny actually. he, hee |
| By Thebeat (Thebeat) on Wednesday, May 17, 2000 - 04:55 pm: Edit |
Glemn=Mr.Happy |
| By Glennm (Glennm) on Thursday, May 18, 2000 - 01:17 pm: Edit |
Always happy. It was comment on Jeff's joke. Duh! |
| By Reuben Brown on Thursday, May 18, 2000 - 01:37 pm: Edit |
Here is a little more information: "Balboa is a closed posistion dance and until the younger dancers came along such as Maxie, the rules in all the Ballrooms,Dance halls etc... was too stay in closed posistion. These younger dancers like Maxie, Lolly ,Hal etc...Started adding turns and spins and basically evolved the dance (with the addition of Camel Hop,Jig Trot,Shag etc...)into a new Dance called "Swing". You can do this early style of "swing" without ever going into Balboa. TODAY in 2000 , we cannot call this old Los Angeles style of dance "swing" being that "swing" means so many things,so the name was altered to "Bal-swing", HOWEVER the dance today that is called "Bal-swing" Hardley represents the wild way it was actually done during the 30's. Todays dancers that do "Bal-swing" are just doing Balboa and adding a couple spins, and turns. The term "Bal-swing" to me means ,one second your dancing like a mature nice dressed guy, and then the next phrase your dancing like a wild jitterbug. understand? "Bal-swing" is one term however, I must accept because I could never educate enough to bring back the proper term of just "swing"." ---Peter Loggins Hence, the PURE Balboa contest will be a contest of CLOSE POSITION ONLY Balboa dancing. Why? To force dancers to show off their talents in the realm of FOOTWORK and IMPROVISION... not flash and general show-e-ness. |
| By HopMichael on Thursday, May 18, 2000 - 02:03 pm: Edit |
Define Closed Position. In other words, what IS allowed in this type of contest, if open position, breaks, etc are NOT allowed. Both hands always held? Torsos always in contact? This is like a game of Twister...=) Puzzled, HopM |
| By Reuben Brown on Thursday, May 18, 2000 - 02:30 pm: Edit |
No offense Michael, but you ask some questions with some of the most obvious answers. Closed position is just that, closed. No break aways, no turns, no spins... just PURE Balboa, as in slides, improvised footwork, mirrored patterns, kicks, etc... but all in that closed position. However, appariently the rules are still being drafted, so this MIGHT change. |
| By Ian Campbell on Thursday, May 18, 2000 - 06:01 pm: Edit |
I think inside/outside turns should be allowed, but no swing-outs/whips. |
| By Gabe on Thursday, May 18, 2000 - 06:13 pm: Edit |
I think only saucy kicks should be permitted. |
| By Ian Campbell on Friday, May 19, 2000 - 08:26 am: Edit |
How long can you hold her without dropping her??? |
| By Thebeat (Thebeat) on Friday, May 19, 2000 - 09:06 am: Edit |
SAUCY! |
| By Reuben Brown on Friday, May 19, 2000 - 10:00 am: Edit |
As I thought might happen, the rules are opening up a little bit to be more of a open Balboa contest. More details to follow. |
| By Shawn Hanna on Friday, May 19, 2000 - 10:51 am: Edit |
Will the contest be open to Hip-Hop-Balboa? |
| By Reuben Brown on Friday, May 19, 2000 - 10:53 am: Edit |
No... there is no such thing. |
| By Gabe on Friday, May 19, 2000 - 02:16 pm: Edit |
And to keep this Balboa dance contest accurate with dance contests of the 30's, dancers who try to improvise, or do anything other than Closed-Balboa will be dragged by their hairs off the dance floor, beaten, and tarred and feathered. So beware, no messin around, this is serious stuff. |
| By Reuben Brown on Friday, May 19, 2000 - 03:06 pm: Edit |
Actually Gabe, to be accurate they better put a hell of a lot of improvision into their Balboa. That's what close-position, pure Balboa is all about. In open-position there is room for even more improvision. You don't seem to know much about 30's dance contests, do you? |
| By Gabe on Friday, May 19, 2000 - 03:30 pm: Edit |
Reuben, you don't seem to know much about humor do you? |
| By Reuben Brown on Friday, May 19, 2000 - 03:44 pm: Edit |
I know plenty about humor, but you seemed to have taken one two many classes at "Ron's School of Poor Jokes." |
| By Ron on Friday, May 19, 2000 - 03:56 pm: Edit |
Gabe's funnier at his worst than you'll ever be at your best. |
| By Reuben Brown on Friday, May 19, 2000 - 04:01 pm: Edit |
Of course YOU would think that Ron, duh. |
| By Gabe on Friday, May 19, 2000 - 04:05 pm: Edit |
Girls, Girls. Stop it |
| By Reuben Brown on Thursday, June 01, 2000 - 01:51 am: Edit |
Looks like Peter has been tinkering... Complete rules and information about the California Balboa-Swing Championships where posted on the Hollywood Jitterbugs website. http://www.HollywoodJitterbugs.com ...under "Events." |
| By Peter (Peter) on Thursday, June 01, 2000 - 04:41 am: Edit |
Damn boyeeeee! Your fast! anyways, yea, I put up the info. If nobody is doing anything on Sat. July 1st it would really cool if some S.D. folk showed up and spread their love. there will be general dancing as well all night and as you know at Memories,it will probably go to around 4:00 am |
| By Reuben Brown on Thursday, June 01, 2000 - 09:35 am: Edit |
6 pm to 4 am... that's a lot of fucking dancing! |
| By Reuben Brown on Monday, June 26, 2000 - 01:11 am: Edit |
Can you feel it? It's so close! |
| By xela korda on Monday, June 26, 2000 - 09:44 am: Edit |
Does anyone that's planning to go to Memories for the contest and dancing afterwards have room for me to carpool with them? I would love to go. Xela |
| By Melbamoose on Monday, June 26, 2000 - 11:22 am: Edit |
I can't go!!! So, everyone needs to do a little dance in my honor that night... ~Krista |
| By Reuben Brown on Wednesday, June 28, 2000 - 11:23 am: Edit |
Remember... it starts early and will be going on till it's usual laaaaate ending time of somewhere around 4 am. 6 pm doors open for general dancing. First round of contests at 8. Note: During the general dance time it will be normal social dance floor mix of tempos. Please don't think that because there is a Bal contest going on that night that tempos will be soaring all night. Thanks, and hope to see ya there. This is a BIG event, and a BIG title. |
| By Melbamoose on Wednesday, June 28, 2000 - 11:54 am: Edit |
Is it going to be videotaped? Could I secure a copy of that ahead of time?? ~Krista |
| By Reuben Brown on Wednesday, June 28, 2000 - 05:39 pm: Edit |
There will be NO video of this event... from anyone. To experience it you must be there in person... sorry. |
| By HopMichael on Wednesday, June 28, 2000 - 05:43 pm: Edit |
How about the internet Memories-cam? (Though I couldn't imagine it doing justice to the flying feet of Balboa) |
| By Melbamoose on Wednesday, June 28, 2000 - 06:01 pm: Edit |
Damn it, Reuben! |
| By Anonymous on Wednesday, June 28, 2000 - 07:00 pm: Edit |
Paramount Pictures Newsreel Department, "The Eyes and Ears of the World", WILL be there!!! We leave no important event unfilmed! History demands it!! Yours truly, A. Zukor Head of Production Paramount Pictures |
| By Reuben Brown on Thursday, June 29, 2000 - 11:16 am: Edit |
The California Balboa-Swing Championships July 1st, 2000 Doors open EARLY at 6:00 pm, First contest at 8:00 pm Location: Memories Supper and Dance club 1074 Tustin Avenue, Anaheim, California 714-630-9233 - http://memories.dhs.org - $10 door cover charge (spectators and contestants) - RAFFLES! - ALL AGES! - NO video cameras allowed! - Open dancing all night with DJ Reuben Brown. - Free to enter the contest(s) once your in the door. - Contest sign up till 7:50pm - First Contest at 8:00pm - Star judges will be used that are responsible for innovating these dance forms during the 30's! 2 Contests! Balboa: This dance originated right here in Southern California, on Balboa Island in Newport beach. It became very popular before and during the Swing Era. It was done in closed position, "chest to chest," with it's emphasis on footwork and style. It was said a good a Balboa could dance any tempo and this contest we be the true test of tradition! Balboa Specific Rules: 1. Couples must stay in closed "chest to chest" position and dance primarily with feet on the floor. 2. The couples will be judged on footwork, timing and rhythm. 3. The couples will be judged on Teamwork. 4. The couples will be judged on style. 5. The judges will use their individual experience on judging and will not be following any guidelines or rule Balboa-Swing: This is the dance that started during the mid 1930's by Southern California's best dancers, and was made famous by the "Ray Rand Swingers." Unlike Balboa, this dance uses the same basics but includes spins, drops and even air-steps. So, come see it done now that it is back in full swing! Balboa-Swing Specific Rules: 1. Using the 8 count Balboa or Jig Trot basic the couples may break away. 2. The couples will be judged on footwork, timing and rhythm. 3. The couples will be allowed to spin, drop and do "air steps." 4. The couples must dance at least 50% recognizable Balboa or Jig Trot in between throws, spins etc. 5. The judges will use their individual experience on judging and will not be following any guidelines or rule sheets. General Rules: - 3 judges will be used that danced and innovated these dance forms during the 30's. They alone will use a "Relative Placement" method of placing the couples in 1st, 2nd, 3rd place and so on. - At the end of the competition the three judges placement cards will be tallied together and the couples placements will be averaged to place the finalist and then winners. - There will be NO contesting the judges decisions, otherwise you will be forced into a cutting contest against the judges in front of everybody to be made a fool of. hee hee hee hee - Music will be pre-selected at tempo's ranging from 235 bpm to 300 bpm. - Music will be known Big Band songs from the 1930's. - All couples will dance to the same songs, by drawing to see which couple goes first. From there the couples will rotate. For ANY questions email: dancehistory@hotmail.com |
| By julius on Thursday, June 29, 2000 - 11:23 am: Edit |
Only 300 bpm? Jeez, someone get me some caffeine. |
| By Gabe on Monday, July 03, 2000 - 01:34 pm: Edit |
Well I made it up to the Balboa contest on Saturday. One word -- indredible!! The dancing was awesome, lots of energy in the room, and Reuben pulled out all the stops with an incredible selection of music. There were several of the old-timers in attendance, and from what Peter Loggins surmized, some of them were having flashbacks to the 30's. Too bad we'll have to wait a year to see the best in Balboa and Swing again. It was great how close the judges opinions were to the roar of the crowd. |
| By HopMichael on Monday, July 03, 2000 - 03:54 pm: Edit |
OK. Who won? |
| By Reuben Brown on Monday, July 03, 2000 - 04:04 pm: Edit |
California Balboa Swing Championship Results From July 1st 2000 Balboa: 1st Place: Christian Thompson and Thea Samuels (1,1,3) 2nd Place: Jeremy Otth and Alicia Milo (1,3,4) 3rd Place: Bill and Teresa Dakin (2,3,4) music; Teddy Powells "Jamaca Jam" 232 bpm Casa Loma Orch. "Wild goose Chase" 265 bpm Casa Loma Orch. "Copenhagen" 232 bpm Balboa-Swing: 1st Place: Min Vo and Corina Acosta (1,1,2) 2nd Place: Christian Thompson and Thea Samuels (1,3,2) 3rd Place: Steve Garret and Denise Paulino (2,3,6) 4th Place: Jeremy Otth and Alicia Milo (4,4,5) 5th Place: Mike Pedroza and Teresa Dakin (4,5,5) 6th Place: Tip West and Holly Dumuax (3,6,6) Music; Artie Shaw Orch. "Diga diga do" 220 bpm Charlie Barnett Orch. "Scotch and Soda" 274 bpm Casa Loma Orch. "Casa Loma Stomp" 315 bpm |
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