Videos, Pictures,
music, history
1997 Improvised Switching Partners. Chad, Virginie, Ken, Margaret, Mishi Catalina Island CA. Video By Paolo
Story: At the popular annual Swing Camp Catalina, after a long day of workshop and non-stop dancing we would still look forward to the last evening's dance at the beach. Our friends from San Diego Mishi and Margaret showed up to play on the dance floor. What you see is a complete on-the-fly, in the moment, improvised stealing and switching dance with Virginie, Ken, Me, and Margaret, so much fun!! (Switching and Stealing are aided by my Aikido training).
Chad & Yumiko's First aerial in Japan
Aerial Workshop in Oita, Japan. Yumiko first aerial after the workshop.
Story: On my first visit to Japan I taught an aerial workshop in Oita. Yumiko had never done aerials before. This was the first attempt to a song, and she performed it like a pro!! I did not speak Japanese and she did not speak English but we did have a local interpreter Lindy Hopper at the workshop. After the workshop we both left Oita on the bullet train to Fukuoka. Since we could not communicate with each other, I made the assumption she would understand the language of dance. So, I took her between the train cars and taught her the entire Shim Sham routine at 177 miles per hour!
2019 Teaching Daktari Shari's Black Performance Group Lindy Hop routine with aerials.
Story: My good friend and teaching partner Shari asked me to teach her Black Perfomance Group, Lindy Hop . It was for historical dance performance showcasing periods of dance highlighting the roots of African dance and pride. Imagine the irony of an Asian-American (Me) teaching Lindy Hop to descendants of a dance created and originated by African-Americans. The opportunity to give back the joy I have received by teaching them, was a privilege and an honor .
Doghouse Cabaret, Doghouse Mini Shim Sham (Just for Fun)
Story:
The "Doghouse" first venue run by dancers for dancers. For 9 years was the longest running Saturday venue is SF. An old English saying was when your feet ached, "Your Dogs are Barking" hence the name "The Doghouse" People from as far as Sacramento, San Jose, Petaluma an all over the Bay Area would come to The Doghouse to dance every Saturday. Frankie Manning, Norma Miller, Dawn Hampton, Rhthym Hot Shot, Smooth Stylists Lindy Hoppers from LA all came to visit or perform. The Doghouse Cabaret was a local community talent show of Bay Area Lindy Hoppers ,who were actually gifted performers with outstanding mix of talents. As much as we tried to match the tech to the performance the building –built in 1911– was too old to accomodate professional lighting and our zero budget depended on the love of Doghouse and volunteer tech and performances to make it happen.
Swing Wars
Metronome Ballroom SF
Story: Metronome Showcase at Fort Mason Stage in SF. This theme was Smooth Style Lindy Hop vs. Savoy . A parody of the rivallry between the two styles, eventually being friends in the end. Joint effort in choreography between teachers and performers.
Tweedle Dee & Dum Chad, Jason & Allison Metronome Ballroom SF
Story: Every year as teachers at the Metronome Ballroom we had a showcase performance. That year was, "Allison in Wonderland" Jason and I took the part of Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee. The routine was so long and high energy with aerials we didnt think we could make it to the end of the routine we were so winded (And we were in condition dancing everynight), but we made it to the end...barely. (Aerials lifting and supporting Jason weight comes from my Judo training.
1998 Catalina Preliminary Performance in Marin
Paul & Sharon, Chad & Virginie
Story: Up until 1998 most Lindy Hop perfomances at Swing Camp Catalina Island – in Southen California– were fast, full of aerials and not always danced to the music. We came up with a slow tempo routine with a song and theme of switching partners. As a result we our routine was a big hit. We were even asked by the Sweds–who we idolized and admired–if they could incorporate switching in their future routines.
1999 Yerba Buena Auitorium Rob & Diane Performance Group. Chad & Katherine, Ken & Cynthia, Allen & Diane. Music by Lavay, Chris and the Red Hot Skillet Lickers.
Story: Largest Lindy Hop gathering in SF back then. I remember looking at the crowd and thinking SF has finally come into it's own as a huge Lindy Hop scene. I performed–with others– in Rob and Diane Van Harren performance team for this event. Rob and Diane were a huge fixture in SF Bay SF scene, they taught and ran the Broadway Studio venue in SF and Swing Central, Foresters Hall in San Mateo.
Chad & Niloufar Metromome Ballroom
Chad & Melanie
PICTURES
