I got off the plane yesterday after a really early morning, and not much sleep in the days previous to the travel, and decided I wanted to dance. So, already knowing that the contra dances in the area are thurs/fri/sat, I googled Blues dancing Seattle and found http://www.burnblue.org/ . Yay every Tuesday.
So I made my way over there, having wandered off the trail of the buses that go over there, and found it really easily. I was a little leary because it was across from Seattle University, and class isn't in session, and that might've meant that it was sparsely attended. That was not the case. The lesson was well taught for leads by Solomon, with not much attention paid to follow's pointers. There were plenty of people to fill the circle, and it was almost too crowded for a lesson. I was impressed. Also, I was not the only experienced dancer in the circle, which meant that the community is seeking to improve and actively working on it.
Then -topher opened the dance, and Solomon dj-ed. Both Solomon and Brenda played a good mix of styles and speeds of blues. The dancers that showed up packed the floor and were a good mix of experience and of styles. There were many excellent leads, which made me happy. It also suprised me that I was sought out by some of the people that I noted as excellent leads, and had some fabulous moments.
Also, food was excellent and very worth the price. Definitely worth getting food.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Thursday, June 3, 2010
wheeeeee
Last night was Perpetual E-motion's Baltimore debut. It was awesome. Ed and John were rocking it, Jeff Petrovitch was on his game, and the crowd was loving life. We had three lines for at least the 2nd quarter of the dance. I was thrilled to have some of my favorite DC dancers show up, en mass. :D I need twirled, and I got it.
The other fun thing about last night was watching Ed and John pack their, "Super Volvo with Solar Sound" with all of the various accoutremonts of their trade. It was tightly packed.
Perpetual E-motion: Ed Howe - NS Design Electric Violin & Hand Built Foot Board Controls
John Cote - Godin Synth Guitar, vocals, foot percussion, didjiridoo
http://www.perpetuale-motion.com/
Jeff Petrovitch- www.jeffpetrovitch.com
The other fun thing about last night was watching Ed and John pack their, "Super Volvo with Solar Sound" with all of the various accoutremonts of their trade. It was tightly packed.
Perpetual E-motion: Ed Howe - NS Design Electric Violin & Hand Built Foot Board Controls
John Cote - Godin Synth Guitar, vocals, foot percussion, didjiridoo
http://www.perpetuale-motion.com/
Jeff Petrovitch- www.jeffpetrovitch.com
Friday, April 30, 2010
Blues Dancing
So I have been adding more Blues into my schedule, and usually I enjoy that its a pretty balanced crowd all around on Thursday nights... All around meaning lead/follow, experienced/beginner.
Last night, I don't know what happened. It was extremely follow heavy. Like 2+dozen female heavy. And I don't think that it was because there that many more females than normal, but because there were a fair amount of males missing.
That being said, its nice to be recognized by blues dancers and I did have some fantastic dances.
As far as the music, Mike Marcotta/Tamara have a different taste in blues music than I do. There were a few songs that I could really dig, but overall the taste in my mouth as I walked away was there were quite a few that I couldn't find the rhythm to dance to. In some ways, this balanced out as I was sitting out for lack of jumping to find another partner.
Last night, I don't know what happened. It was extremely follow heavy. Like 2+dozen female heavy. And I don't think that it was because there that many more females than normal, but because there were a fair amount of males missing.
That being said, its nice to be recognized by blues dancers and I did have some fantastic dances.
As far as the music, Mike Marcotta/Tamara have a different taste in blues music than I do. There were a few songs that I could really dig, but overall the taste in my mouth as I walked away was there were quite a few that I couldn't find the rhythm to dance to. In some ways, this balanced out as I was sitting out for lack of jumping to find another partner.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
BamBLOOZled
This weekend is a big blues weekend- BamBLOOZled hosted by Capital Blues (http://www.capitalblues.org/bambloozled/) . I'm not sure how much I'm going to go, but I'm debating on tonight and tomorrow night.
Pros: I haven't danced the blues in awhile (faire schedule interferes with dancing energy). Leonard's expecting/wanting me to be there. Its also going to be packed, which means lots of good dancers.
Cons: I'm doing two coworker's hair, so I'd be late, which brings the drive/dance balance into question. I'll play that by ear. Its also going to be packed, which means that there might not be room for me to get in (I've seen them sell out before).
Tomorrow would be a much bigger dance, but it would also throw my whole weekend's sleep schedule off (schedule, sleep? What are you thinking?) hmmm.m.m.m........
Pros: I haven't danced the blues in awhile (faire schedule interferes with dancing energy). Leonard's expecting/wanting me to be there. Its also going to be packed, which means lots of good dancers.
Cons: I'm doing two coworker's hair, so I'd be late, which brings the drive/dance balance into question. I'll play that by ear. Its also going to be packed, which means that there might not be room for me to get in (I've seen them sell out before).
Tomorrow would be a much bigger dance, but it would also throw my whole weekend's sleep schedule off (schedule, sleep? What are you thinking?) hmmm.m.m.m........
Monday, September 28, 2009
Frolic in the Fall #3
I spent last Saturday at Frolic in the Fall (http://home.comcast.net/~davecolestock/frolic.html) , just north of Harrisburg, PA. Frolic in the Fall is a 12-hr dance event. I say event, as the schedule runs from 11am to 11pm. BUT there was an 1.5 hour break. Right before that break, was heaven (aka an hour long medley). I was doubting my endurance, as I noticed that I was still feeling a little weak, and actually getting almost dizzy several times. As I decided to continue however, the hour flew by on the wings of Contranella (http://www.contranella.com/index.html) and the Avant Gardners (www.theavantgardeners.com) together and separately flying. I've danced individual dances that felt like a longer time. That's how to tell that it was amazingly awesome!! The other awesome thing about this dance was that switching was hardly blinked at (including when I was dancing with Dave Colestock and flipping back and forth). It always makes me happy when goofing off isn't frowned upon. The other thing that wasn't really blinked at happened during the medley. Three of my DC friends and I were doing allllll sorts of changing partners/roles/joining as monsters, and the dance kept going. It was good times.
Callerwise- Dave Colestock (Harrisburg, PA-host) and Susan Petrick (San Francisco, CA) did a pretty good job. The squares were not neccessarily the best, but they didn't fall apart (that I could see) The contras were interesting, and not necessarily the same ones that we tend to dance over and over again. Perry Shafran (Columbia, MD) joined them for the medley. Its nice to see people that I know (Dave & Perry) growing as callers; growing into callers that I would reccommend.
Callerwise- Dave Colestock (Harrisburg, PA-host) and Susan Petrick (San Francisco, CA) did a pretty good job. The squares were not neccessarily the best, but they didn't fall apart (that I could see) The contras were interesting, and not necessarily the same ones that we tend to dance over and over again. Perry Shafran (Columbia, MD) joined them for the medley. Its nice to see people that I know (Dave & Perry) growing as callers; growing into callers that I would reccommend.
Monday, June 1, 2009
What a weekend....
Once again, I haven't developed a habit of updating after I dance....
But, I thought about it today, so here goes-
Saturday was May Mania hosted by CDNY (www.cdny.org). Yes, New York City, One day of dancing. It was totally worth it- Afternoon experienced dance, 2hrs for dinner/wandering aroung the Village, and then a regular evening dance, all with Rick Mohr calling to Nightingale. It was awesome!!! I carpooled up with Mr. Dan and Leonard in my car, and even though they slept most of the way, it was good.
What I missed by doing this was Swallowtail (what a decision!!) at Frederick. Mom, James and Sam'l went, and apparently had a blast (including staying for the whole dance!). Mom was kinda excited to be known as Torri's Mom, as opposed to me being Mary's daughter. Also, once again, the older ladies loved dancing with Sam'l. I love that kid.
And the reason why I decided to miss Swallowtail close to home for Nightingale far from home is that Swallowtail was playing at Glen Echo on Sunday. It was an amazing dance!! I had a fantastic evening of partners (not a dud in the second half) with fantastic energy on the floor. The callers were okay, but the music really carried the evening.
As far as dances coming up- Round House is here this month!!! A little closer in time- Gaye Fifer's calling to the Great Big Taters (featuring Hilarie Burhans on banjo, Jane Rothfield on fiddle, and Mike Maher on piano) on Friday and Sunday, and I think that means that the Charlottesville dancers might show up. It's always a fun night when they show up :D
Just a quick sketch of dances coming up...
6-5&7 Gaye Fifer w/Great Big Taters
6-14 Rick Mohr with the Contraptions
6-17,19,21 Claire Zucher with ROUND HOUSE!!!!
6-24,26,28 Adina Gordon! (28th will probably be better, which is good cause I'll be in Deep Creek on the Friday and Wednesday)
YAY Dancing!!
But, I thought about it today, so here goes-
Saturday was May Mania hosted by CDNY (www.cdny.org). Yes, New York City, One day of dancing. It was totally worth it- Afternoon experienced dance, 2hrs for dinner/wandering aroung the Village, and then a regular evening dance, all with Rick Mohr calling to Nightingale. It was awesome!!! I carpooled up with Mr. Dan and Leonard in my car, and even though they slept most of the way, it was good.
What I missed by doing this was Swallowtail (what a decision!!) at Frederick. Mom, James and Sam'l went, and apparently had a blast (including staying for the whole dance!). Mom was kinda excited to be known as Torri's Mom, as opposed to me being Mary's daughter. Also, once again, the older ladies loved dancing with Sam'l. I love that kid.
And the reason why I decided to miss Swallowtail close to home for Nightingale far from home is that Swallowtail was playing at Glen Echo on Sunday. It was an amazing dance!! I had a fantastic evening of partners (not a dud in the second half) with fantastic energy on the floor. The callers were okay, but the music really carried the evening.
As far as dances coming up- Round House is here this month!!! A little closer in time- Gaye Fifer's calling to the Great Big Taters (featuring Hilarie Burhans on banjo, Jane Rothfield on fiddle, and Mike Maher on piano) on Friday and Sunday, and I think that means that the Charlottesville dancers might show up. It's always a fun night when they show up :D
Just a quick sketch of dances coming up...
6-5&7 Gaye Fifer w/Great Big Taters
6-14 Rick Mohr with the Contraptions
6-17,19,21 Claire Zucher with ROUND HOUSE!!!!
6-24,26,28 Adina Gordon! (28th will probably be better, which is good cause I'll be in Deep Creek on the Friday and Wednesday)
YAY Dancing!!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Berea Visits...
I know I haven't updated in a while, but I expect to be more diligent with my updating at my new job.
Last night- I'll have to check to see who was playing (I don't know the musician's names) but Michael Barraclough was calling. He called some really fun dances, including a few that are on the Ball Program for this year. The one that really sticks out in my mind is the first one after break, where the entirety was in a hop step. It was funny to see who liked it and who didn't. With the right group, that could be amazingly fun.
The other highlight of the dance was the Berea College Country Dancers. It was cool to see familiar faces, and I had not previously seen them perform. They did a rapper dance that had some unfamiliar figures (to me who has seen rapper performed less times than fingers I have) that I really liked.
The other thing that came up last night is that Corey wants to get a Sunday "Morning" Morris group together. I think that could be a lot of fun... Something to think about. I've never done morris, so it would be a new dance to me, and the more I find out about it the more I'm curious.
Last night- I'll have to check to see who was playing (I don't know the musician's names) but Michael Barraclough was calling. He called some really fun dances, including a few that are on the Ball Program for this year. The one that really sticks out in my mind is the first one after break, where the entirety was in a hop step. It was funny to see who liked it and who didn't. With the right group, that could be amazingly fun.
The other highlight of the dance was the Berea College Country Dancers. It was cool to see familiar faces, and I had not previously seen them perform. They did a rapper dance that had some unfamiliar figures (to me who has seen rapper performed less times than fingers I have) that I really liked.
Publish Post
The other thing that came up last night is that Corey wants to get a Sunday "Morning" Morris group together. I think that could be a lot of fun... Something to think about. I've never done morris, so it would be a new dance to me, and the more I find out about it the more I'm curious.
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