The more I learn about the history of lindy hop (and the jazz that went with it), the more I love it. And not just the puppy dog kind of love, but the kind of love that says "I know where you've come from and I want to stick with you forever."
Two of the ways that I've learned more about it's history is by reading Frankie Manning: Ambassador of Lindy Hop and watching Ken Burn's documentary on Jazz. Both are musts for the lindy hop fanatic.
I'm so glad I took the time to soak in the history, but if you don't have the time, you can catch a glimmer of it by watching these two videos.
1. Clips of lindy hop throughout history:
2. Andrew Thigpen and Karen Turman's 2010 ILHC Showcase:
And read Wandering and Pondering's blog post about this performance (it's half way down the post). It will make you appreciate it all the more.
Showing posts with label Lindy Hop. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lindy Hop. Show all posts
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
What is Good Dancing Anyway?
I start this post by stating up front that I'm no expert. I feel as though I have been around and submerged myself into lindy culture and history enough to make an opinion, but in no way do I feel that my opinion is the end-all-be-all. Therefore, I want to encourage others to join in and add to this conversation.
Certain people hold very strict standards about what lindy-hop should be and look like, and I think I'm struggling with that way of thinking. If you have been around long enough, then you know about the distinction between what lindy-hop was in the late 90s/early 2000s and that of what it is now. I know that body-rolls and other favored moves of the time are now a faux-paux. That doesn't even begin to touch the distinction between the "Savoy" and "Hollywood" styles and the opinions that people have about these.
I'm not concerned about the particulars of the above subject matter. My thoughts wander more into the realm of: Isn't dance, including lindy-hop, meant to be an art form? Once one learns how to lead or follow, should there really be a right and wrong way to dance? In the world of lindy-hop, I admit that I have opinions about what looks like better dancing and what dance styles I prefer, but does that make other dance styles worse off? The more I think about it, I would have to say no to both questions.
Here is what another lindy blogger has written on a similar topic.
What do you think?
Certain people hold very strict standards about what lindy-hop should be and look like, and I think I'm struggling with that way of thinking. If you have been around long enough, then you know about the distinction between what lindy-hop was in the late 90s/early 2000s and that of what it is now. I know that body-rolls and other favored moves of the time are now a faux-paux. That doesn't even begin to touch the distinction between the "Savoy" and "Hollywood" styles and the opinions that people have about these.
I'm not concerned about the particulars of the above subject matter. My thoughts wander more into the realm of: Isn't dance, including lindy-hop, meant to be an art form? Once one learns how to lead or follow, should there really be a right and wrong way to dance? In the world of lindy-hop, I admit that I have opinions about what looks like better dancing and what dance styles I prefer, but does that make other dance styles worse off? The more I think about it, I would have to say no to both questions.
Here is what another lindy blogger has written on a similar topic.
What do you think?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)