30 Day Swing Challenge: Day 10

Day 10: Favourite workshop weekend (Lindy Focus, Camp Hollywood, etc) or one you'd really like to attend

It's really hard to decide between the last three that I went to: Camp Jitterbug in Seattle. Stompology in Rochester, and All Balboa Weekend in Cleveland. I learned a ton and I got challenged in different 'subjects' of dancing. I'm still practicing the little routines that got dished out from Jitterbug and Stompology or the really neat tricks on movement.

I found as the size of the event grew, the organization complexity was exponential. The people running Camp Jitterbug and All Balboa Weekend had to really be on the ball and were always super busy because of the sheer volume of people, competitions, class levels, and instructors involved. That being said, I was quite impressed by how well they pulled everything together, since I understand how difficult coordination and the background work to events really can be.

30 Day Swing Challenge: Day 9

Day 9: Favourite class taken

My first one at Caesar Martini's with Martin and Angie, because I wouldn't be doing this shit today if it had scared me away. Let's hear a collective 'aww' for being sentimental.

30 Day Swing Challenge: Day 8

Day 8: Your Favourite instructor

Oh jeepers, that's tough. I really liked Peter Loggins for the down-to-Earthiness and historical aspects of his lessons. I think that's why I'm also a fan of Falty's lessons, and he's got more of the sarcasm and humour in there. I being a muscian too, definitely enjoy his associations to music in his lessons. I have to say Jo is my favourite female instructor because she inspires you to release your inner badass bitch and attitude in your dancing, and she's really fun to listen teach.

30 Day Swing Challenge: Day 7

Day 7: Something you really want to learn

Boogie woogie, this is new as of two weeks ago. I think it looks like a blast to dance, but it doesn't really look like there are any Boogie Woogiers in North America and less likely in Canada. If anyone can prove me otherwise, let me know!

30 Day Swing Challenge: Day 6

Day 6: Your Favourite group dance (shim sham, tranky doo, big apple, etc)

Tranky doo by far.I feel it's the underdog, is that why I like it? No idea, but I enjoy it. It plays off of the different levels that you can dance at (low down, upright and really up) moreso than the Big Apple. I like it when group dances are more out of the blue, the percentage of dances I've gone to where the tranky doo gets busted out is so low compared to the Big Apple and definitely the shim sham.

30 Day Swing Challenge: Day 5

Day 5: Your Favourite Lindy Hop variation dance (charleston, balboa, shag)

Hmm, I've been really interested in learning balboa (seeing as that I am currently in Cleveland for the All Balboa Weekend). I like the fact that it is subtle and elegant but that it still has the swing dancing lines (the bent leg, twists in the hips, or foot flicks) unlike ballroom. Called the 'dancer's dance' it's the dance I find myself smiling the most in because I read his lead and we stylized a really nice move. On the solo dance front, I'm a huge fan of solo Charleston. I love the empowerment of being able to say 'darn right, this song is killer and I don't need no silly lead so that I can dance', and just claim some dance space for myself. I actually did that on the Sunday night of Camp Jitterbug this year for the last song that the Careless Lovers played (naturally 'Black Coffee') and it was a blast.

30 Day Swing Challenge: Day 4

Day 4: Your Favourite live band

Meschiya Lake and her Little Big Horns! They are fabulous musicians, what else is there to say? I really enjoy New Orleans jazz and I like the quality and feeling of Meschiya's voice paired with the musicians. I could just listen to their CD when I'm too tired to dance.