Engineering, as I see it...

Day 14: Your swing group of friends

My inner circle of swing dancing friends are in the UW Swing Club, the Hep Cat Hoppers, the Hammer Hoppers of Hamilton, and Toronto (Bees Knees and UTswing). A lot of the people I stared dancing with have moved on to other things in their life or moved away, so I've been the most consistent friends with John, though we were in a band together so that makes us like super cool too. I've also travelled across the continent with Anna (was at UW Swing Club now at Notre Dame) for Camp Jitterbug recently. I've travelled with my good friend Dean to New Orleans where we met up with John, Anna, and a bunch of the Toronto crowd. In Toronto I have to say my favourite group are the regulars at the Imperial Pub monthly swing and blues nights.

Even in those few days I was in Waterloo between going to Rochester and Cleveland and the week that has followed since Cleveland, I have not had the motivation to post about the second part of my trip. In all fairness, the camping and road tripping out to Seattle is flashier and has more writing potential, but the dance workshops were a great learning experience for me personally (less interesting for others I should think). Lots of fun stuff went on during those weeks still.

The last I left it was that I was going to leave Des Moines (Anna's parent's place) to fly to Rochester. Fortunately, the flight was uneventful and I was able to finish reading David Copperfield. I got some compliments on the hat I bought in Seattle since the best way to carry it around was to wear it on the plane. Landing in Rochester, my hostess, Eileen, was ready to pick me up, which was fantastic. This was above and beyond what she was to do as a hostess for Stompology attendees but no one else was in town yet. It was great talking to her, meeting her two lovely kitties and even sharing dinner with her that she cooked. She had the most amazing house. Like many of the houses in downtown Rochester, hers was from the late 1800's (1860's she estimates), but hers retains the original wood flooring in the kitchen/dining room with new berber carpet in the bedrooms and living room. New bathroom and kitchen, oh I was impressed.

Off we headed to the Friday night dance where the introductory lesson was an advanced solo jazz choreography by Sharon and Juan, very neat. Like many things during this weekend, it's given me lots of new ideas to blend in anywhere to lindy hop or solo dancing. That night was music by the Careless Lovers, which I only seen a few days before in Seattle. During the teacher demos, I notice that Stefan (from Oregon), and Laura were there, which I thought was neat. So to some people it was like 'Oh, hello again!', which was fun. At the dance we met Turlough, Joyce, Amanda, Julie-Anne (though the last two were staying elsewhere), and the other people being hosted by Eileen for the weekend.

The weekend's lessons were great! Ranging from Stefan and Juan doing flash moves, advanced tap with Andrew, improvisation techniques with Sharon, classic jazz with Juan, and Doin' the Jive with choreographer/musician/singer Falty. I have the say the neatest class was being able to get into the critique class where 25 people got the chance to do some solo dancing to two songs (medium and fast), where Sharon and Falty would give some constructive criticism afterwards. Though the comments for other people are still great to remember, I was told that I'm too nice by Falty and that I have to be more a bitch by Sharon. Essentially, contrast the smooth moves with sharp dynamic ones (more emphasis). Though I have done this in the past, well, nerves or the music and such just didn't happen.

Amanda, Julie-Anne, myself, and Turlough at Stompology

Anyways, I got a ride home with Julie-Anne and Amanda on the Sunday night, having a fun car ride home just talking about fun stuff. For the next two days, I basically spent it helping with laundry, organizing my things, and packing for Cleveland's All Balboa Weekend. I was still able to make it out to Monday night's dance, which was funny because it felt mid-trip for me yet I was in Waterloo doing my regular thing. Also somehow I ended up on campus most days between Monday and Wednesday, funny. Thursday midday I was off to meet Mimi and Amanda on campus to take off for ABW.

All Balboa Weekend was certainly a different experience. Having the event in the hotel in which you are staying is super handy, though you feel you don't see the outside much unless you're going to find food. Seeming to start a new tradition, Amanda, Dave, Mimi and I picked up Steak and Shake when we were an hour or two outside of Cleveland (Steak and Shake being the first thing after Anna picked me up in Chicago). The first night I met Dave's friends Nico, Sandrine (two dancers who lived in Waterloo when I started dancing but I didn't really know who they were), and their friends Florence and Vanessa all from Toulouse, France. Apparently I need to check out Toulouse, they have a giant swing/balboa scene.

The next morning were the auditions for the advanced, advanced+ and masters classes. I had decided to sign up for advanced when I registered ages ago, thinking why not. So did Amanda, and we went to the space on the floor meant for intermediate-advanced trying out for advanced, which sounded correct. When the judges weren't around for long and no one was bumped up (everyone given an intermediate-advanced bracelet), some people were confused and upset. I figured, hey whatever I tried, plus I'd be in classes with Anna, Jo, and Lisa. Though after the first day where I have gone over these concepts quite a few times with John and Dominique, I approached Valerie (the first instructor on the second day), asking if it's not too much trouble for her to watch me and see if I could be moved up. After class she was like oh ya go go, which was cool. However I hung around the track I was in one more lesson otherwise I would have missed all the classes by Peter and Mia for the weekend, and seeing them was important to me.

Every night of ABW was spectacular, but the performance by Jeremy and Laura of Maharaja from 1943 was absolutely intense. With a warning that this is a very tough routine and that the dancers in the movie were allowed a few takes, Jeremy and Laura were dancing it live, so no second takes. People were obviously supporting them regardless but they nailed it flawlessly. It was so great to watch! For reference, here is their performance compared to the original. Hal and Betty Takier were known for lightning quick steps and making new steps of their own.

Surprisingly, most of the girls wore their heels for classes and for the dance (which I only expected it for the dance). Though my feet were a little tired by the 4th day, most people were dying, yay comfy ReMix shoes!

After classes on Sunday, we stuck around a bit so that Amanda and Mimi could go to part of Peter Strom's soul party, which just allows you to do something other than balboa for a bit. Earlier that day Anna was begging me to send her on a swing out just because it's a very intense weekend on what is considered a fringe swing dance. We unfortunately missed the showcase and the competition results, but the reality sets in that there's work the next day. I have not heard word yet of the results, though I'm sure if a Toronto dancer got something, I would have gotten word via Facebook.