Hey Dancers!
February is a short month, but it’s been a busy one! We’ve had a full week of non-stop parties for Entroido/Carnival here in Galicia — including a swing dance!
And between all the fun, I taught my first group dance lesson in Ourense.
It was so exciting to introduce the rhythms and steps of solo jazz to a brand new group of dancers. I made a mini choreography to “Take It Easy Greasy” by Naomi & Her Handsome Devils. It’s a GREAT song for new and long-time dancers.
New Lindy Hop students from my solo dance class in Ourense, Spain
Black History Month
The origin of the dances that we love (Charleston, Swing, Lindy Hop and related jazz dances), come from the Black American community. In the late 1920s, Lindy Hop emerged in Harlem, New York. Our current dance is part of a long lineage of Black dances that were created in the melting pot of America.
This map of the jazz clubs in Harlem in NYC shows you why it was such a hub of dance creativity and evolution.
Source: https://popspotsnyc.com/jazz_clubs/Jazz_Harlem_2.JPG
Video Inspiration
Check out this wonderful interview/mini documentary about the Black American roots of Lindy Hop. Tyedric Hill shares a bit of history and a lot of soul regarding Lindy Hop’s origins and our modern dance community.
It’s beautifully made and definitely worth a watch.
Dance through Lindy Hop's Black American Roots | If Cities Could Dance
Song of the Month
Count Basie’s recordings are often divided into “Old Testament” and “New Testament” classifications. Music nerds use these two terms to refer to the style of the songs and the arrangement of Basie’s band. The Old Testament band lasted from 1935 to 1950. The New Testament band ran from 1952 until Basie's death in 1984.
The Old Testament style was dominated by incredible soloists, uptempo riffs, and shorter songs to fit on the 78 record (less than three minutes).
The New Testament style was much more laid-back since the music was no longer constrained to the 78s. The new 12-inch LPs could hold 22 minutes of music. Additionally, Basie’s band evolved to no longer depend on soloists, preferring to arrange the full song instead.
“Rock-A-Bye Basie” is a classic “Old Testament” song. It’s from 1939, short enough to fit on a 78 record, and the song gets to the point immediately. Listen for the jamming saxophone solo in the middle.
“Rock-A-Bye Basie” by Count Basie
Do you need some dance inspiration?
I teach private lessons online, I’m available for gigs, and I have a video feedback option. Email me to set it up or with any questions. I’m currently located in Ourense, Spain and I’m available for teaching in person (and anywhere in the world online).
Virtual Private lessons are via Google Meet, Zoom, or Facebook Video Chat.
Happy dancing!
Lainey