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If you ever get a chance you have to dance with this person...

SwingOrama Forum: Lindy Hop: If you ever get a chance you have to dance with this person...

By Derek Kim on Monday, April 26, 1999 - 04:48 pm: Edit

One of the best things about traveling or attending workshops outside of your hometown is dancing with leads or follows that you normally never dance with. I got a chance to dance with Debbie Thomas (her partner is Rob Van Haaren. sp? I suck at spelling) at the Dean Collins workshop in Redwood City and she's amazing, fun, and one of the best dancers I've ever seen. It doesn't matter whether your Hollywood, Savoy, Ballroom, Hiphop, Westcoast, polka, or whatever.... I think she can make it (as well as the lead)look good. Just curious as to others experience.

By Swiveler on Tuesday, April 27, 1999 - 08:21 am: Edit

Her name is Diane, not Debbie. They're great. We had them here for a workshop last year. We learned some great Balboa and Shag (although Rob starts on a different count(8) than the Hollywood Jitterbugs (1) with the Shag). Very nice people, I would recommend them anytime!

By Charlie Yi on Tuesday, April 27, 1999 - 12:03 pm: Edit

Yo Derek!
How's it going, man?

Let's see who would I dance with if I ever met this person...hmmmmm...it would have to be Jenny Thomas. Although I've had the opportunity before and chickened out big time!

She is so good as a follow, that I figure if anything doesn't go right, it has to be on the lead. Thus in a way it'd be a way of evaluating how far I've really come as a lead.

By Derek Kim on Wednesday, April 28, 1999 - 01:03 pm: Edit

Charlie,

Next time don't chicken out. Jenny Thomas is a great person to dance with. Like all great dancers, she'll let you lead her into anything you want, she'll play off your lead into moves she wants to do, and best of all if she chooses to go into multiple spins she comes out on the beat and usally only takes up two counts. Sorry, but I have to bring this up... The lovely gal I tend to dance with loves to spin like she's a freaking top on crack,speed and three cups of double expresso shots and sometimes takes up multiple,multiple counts. I mean, I can go and have drink, use the bathroom, check my e-mail and get back in time so she can stop spinning and be off beat by half a count. It's like every tuck turn variation is an invitation for multiple spins. Once in a while it's cool but four-five times in one dance is a bit too much. Sometimes I'll get back at her by doing free spins all the times but I don't think it works. Actually, I think she likes it... Sorry but felt like bitching a bit.

By the way, for your video-BBQ party (lots of bul-go-gi and gar-bi, I hope) I'll contribute some old video's clips. I have videos of some lindy hoppers dancing with the Cootie Williams Band (I think it was in the late 30's early 40's, I'm really not sure). There's also some footage of the Nicholas brothers who are amazing tap dancers, who's acrobatic moves remind me lot of where break dancers might of gotten some of their "inspirations". Let me know if you want em.

dk

By Charlie Yi on Wednesday, April 28, 1999 - 01:11 pm: Edit

Hey Derek,
Funny you should mention that comparison of the Nicholas Brothers and breakdancing. In last month's issue of "Source" magazine (the leading mainstream Hip Hop culture magazine on the newstand) there was an ad for shoes I think that had a picture of the Nicholas Brothers pulling off one of their patented jump over each other while landing in splits. Now superimposed to the right of this pic were two of the top New York City Breakers doing a similar stunt. Go check it out if you can find it.

By Anonymous on Wednesday, April 28, 1999 - 02:57 pm: Edit

I'll bring my cherry poppin daddies and big bad voodo daddy videos, from VH-1 swing!!!!

By flyboyjive on Thursday, April 29, 1999 - 02:29 am: Edit

All good swing bands have some form of
the word "dad" in there name.

By Anonymous on Thursday, April 29, 1999 - 08:36 am: Edit

The Eddie dad Reed Quintet?

By Meeshi on Tuesday, May 04, 1999 - 12:42 am: Edit

Hey you guys--

Thought I'd jump into this conversation. Going back to the first message, I had the pleasure to steal a dance with Diane Thomas last year in Santa Cruz and, WOW, she's a hottie! I had seen her many times in SF, but there was always line of men waiting to dance with her. But on this one night in Santa Cruz, there was no other Lindy lead besides Rob there, so I seized the moment.

As I do with most good follows that I have never danced with before, I gave her lots of space to watch her play, and boy did she take it! I think I only lead a few swing-outs, circles and tuck turns, the rest of the time I watched her improvise mesmerized by her body (movements, that is). Best of all, she has one of the most beautiful smiles I've ever seen on a hopper. Leaders, don't be as shy as I was, be aggressive and ask her for a dance. You won't regret it!

As for one of my all-time favorites, if you're in the SF area, don't miss a chance to dance with Virginie (a.k.a. "Frenchie") from SF. If you don't know who she is just ask for the wild, French woman with the curly, brown hair and anyone there will point her out. She is one of those "read your mind" follows that makes any leader look great, but best of all she is the only follow who can "out-goofy" me and, believe it or not, truly embarrass me. I swear we can't make it through a dance without rolling on the floor laughing at our silly selves. It's so refreshing to dance with someone that doesn't take this dance too seriously. Those of you going to the Frankie B-day weekend in SF, will probably get a chance to see us doing our thing, then you can judge for yourselves.

In the meantime, stay true, light-hearted and goofy on and off the dance floor.

Peace, Meeshi

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