Camp Hollywood 2013 – UJC and Weird Faces

Skidoo-wilds, weird aerial faces, Nick Peterson is again wearing eye makeup. It’s another year at the wild and wonderful Camp Hollywood/National Jitterbug Championships. This is place where LA brings its fun madness to bear on all its participants.

There’s something about LA Swing that I really enjoy. Maybe it’s because their scene feels truly unique in our YouTube cookie cutout homogeneous modern age swing world. Maybe it’s because Camp Hollywood is home to routines you wouldn’t see anywhere else.

Or maybe the most logical explanation is that I grew up on California Swing. Sometime during my early swing dancing life, I was attached to a Kansas City ballroom studio that held regular Saturday night East Coast Swing dances. Lindy hoppers were welcome to attend, but this was home to neo-swing, zoot suits, rockabilly types, and people that wanted to have fun. KC’s lindy hoppers were a bit drab in comparison (sorry, guys). My free time was eventually consumed with watching Monsters of Swing videos and idolizing Tip and Holly, Ryan and Jenny, and the Flying Lindy Hoppers. I loved the energy and aerials and still do. It’s one of the reasons I moved to Denver. I saw 23 Skidoo perform at DLX 2004 and wanted on their team.

So, once more I’m throwing mad Ballew air in Nick Peterson’s ode to NJC, the Underground Jitterbug Championship, World Edition. Allow me to explain this sweet picture James Bennett took. Some people didn’t realize what was happening. They could only acknowledge both aerials look pretty similar. This is the Skidoo-Wild, created for 23 Skidoo’s winning 2007 Lafayette routine. Heather and I helped Hyun Jung and Soochan with this aerial while they were in Denver. They were missing a handhold transition to make the finishing backflip easier. They started nailing it and we talked about throwing the same aerial together if we made NJC Open Lindy Finals. Hyun Jung was nervous and I never met them to spot this aerial for the competition. It was never thrown.

We finally met late Sunday night because we knew, if given the opportunity and space, we could throw it during the UJC comp. The competition was awesome to be in. I found it to be more a celebration of international lindy hop rather than USA versus the World. This was most evidenced during the Big Apple that enclosed the California Routine seen here. Eventually, the numbers dwindled, room opened up. We were supposed to go out one at a time, but I ran over to conspire with Hyun Jung and Soochan. Swingout, lindy circle, sk-wild. Nearly simultaneous landing.

Oh, and the plank aerial still lives. It was created for Tise‘s special request last year and re-issued for Moe‘s special request this year.

Heartland Swing Festival 2013 – Back with Ballew

Back in the Midwest, where saying “y’all” is acceptable and recognized. It’s nice to let my American speech patterns run free. Sometimes I catch myself wondering if the students understand me, but they do! I’m no longer overseas. I can discard my Latin roots, return my American slang, speak faster, and be more natural. And it’s not just because I’m teaching again in American, it’s because I have Ballew, The Heather Ballew.

She’s a strong follow, leader of Colorado’s balboa scene, a kickass competitor, a friend, and a great teacher. It’s fun planning classes with her. We possess our individual dance philosophies and then Venn diagram them for classes, such as the ones we taught at Heartland Swing Festival. Here are a few reasons I enjoy teaching with Heather:

  1. always has something unique to give the students
  2. pays attention to individuals and the entire class (some people get sucked in by that one student, others only see the forest)
  3. it’s easy to riff ideas. Teaching becomes an easy two-way conversaton
  4. she knows her stuff and I trust her
  5. she sees things I don’t

So much on that list is important and emphasizes why it’s so great to be hired as a teaching couple, but also learn from a teaching couple. You get role models, individuals that have mastered their role, and equal information. I love teaching as a solo traveling instructor, but it’s a lot of work. Bottomline: hire Heather and I to teach for you. 🙂

Enough of the Ballew Appreciation Festival. Let’s talk about Heartland. This is one of the easiest events to work for. It’s well organized, Heather and I had an instructor liaison, Des Moines has cool restaurants (sidetracked!!!), has a great event management team, kickass MC (funny without wanting to be the center of attention), and hotel rooms with separate bathrooms. Other events could learn from Heartland.

This year was nuts! I was recruited to teach two early morning lindy hop classes with Lian Tarhay. Her partner, Dan Rosenthal, got delayed leaving Boston. Due to a miscommunication, I had to run .6 miles to the class venue at 8:40am. It wasn’t Heartland’s fault, but several people thought it was at the hotel venue. Oops. I was also the competition DJ which meant I was at the DJ booth a lot. I even dj’ed an impromptu set once I realized there was no music scheduled before the Friday comps. There were instructor demos, instructors dancing in the Novice J&J Finals (surprise!), judging slow finals at Friday late night. Those slow finals were pushed later due to Robert Bell playing later due to comps going over. Sleepy.

Sunday presented Heather and I with possibly our most unique class to date, the Team Talk private session, a great idea from Michael Brafford. Teams would come that morning to watch their video footage, receive personalized feedback, and practice some ideas. Heather judged the team competition and I ran their music Saturday night. I had someone film all the teams with my camera and I went back to my hotel room that night to watch the footage and take notes. Once Heather returned, we went through the footage together and talked ideas, practicing camel walks, and discussing swingouts. We went to bed around 2:30am. Thanks to all the team participants that arrived on time and took lots of notes. We appreciate your participation, finding out more about the teams, your excellent questions, and Charleston jamming with us.

Anyway, we had a lot of fun at Heartland. It was great seeing the other instructors, more familiar faces, and discovering I have a fan club. By the end, Heather and I taught 6 hours, judged numerous comps, danced so much, ate so much, and I dj’ed a whole lot. We hope to return next year.

If you reach the end, check my Heartland Video Playlist.

Camp Hollywood 2012

Camp Hollywood was a great event for me. It was great to reteam with my teaching partner, Heather Ballew. Teaching without my regular partner has been difficult for a few reasons, so I was glad to be back in Colorado working and teaching with someone familiar.

We competed in the Open Lindy Strictly, Open Balboa Division, Showcase Division and I competed in the Advanced J&J. The Open Balboa Division went straight to finals and featured a 2 couple chorus battle format.  We placed 5th which was a stunning result in my opinion.

Heather and I made the 5 couple finals in the Open Strictly Division. It was a spotlight format with 12 8’s to each couple. Thanks to someone’s suggestion, we came up with a plank aerial featured in our second outing.

I was very relieved the “1” was already drawn when I selected for Showcase placement. I drew the “2” instead. We had room to breathe and then time to watch everybody else. My pre-routine routine consists of not watching anyone else perform, so I was happy to watch everyone afterward.

I did not place in the Advanced Jack & Jill, but it was a heavily stacked competition with many great dancers. I did better this year than I did last  year. And by that, I mean I showed up instead of jamming at the Tempest Freerunning Academy. I did get a nice compliment afterwards from Mr. Camp Hollywood himself, Joel Plys.

Overall, Camp Hollywood was a great event. It was really good to feel involved again at a national, or rather international, competition. I saw a lot of old friends. It reminded me of how long I’ve been away from the competition circuit. Jonathan Stout’s various arrangements all kicked ass. Tise planked a bit – thank you. I participated in another underground competition. The things I do for Nick Peterson and vintage bathing suit fans. Sheesh!

Beantown Dance Camp – what I learned

I was very happy to be at Beantown Dance Camp for the first time this year. Heather Ballew was asked to teach with her partner of choice and she asked me. I happily said yes for a couple reasons – it was a great opportunity and I could cut my Europe trip short. I’m slightly disappointed I could not attend Herrang this year, but I don’t regret attending Beantown and being back in the US.

Here’s what I discovered thanks to Beantown

  1. Week long camps give me enough time to meet people and get to know them better than weekend events
  2. Wear thin socks if you run 4 miles early in the morning with Javier. Otherwise, you’ll get a large blister
  3. Falcons are badass predators
  4. If the word “crossfit” appears anywhere in an Outdoor Fitness description, people will not show up because they’re intimidated
  5. Do not kick immovable objects. But if you do, kick them early in the week so you can recover
  6. William is great to juggle a soccer ball with
  7. Tony and Aurelie run a great event
  8. Engaged students who ask great questions are the best
  9. Spot It is addictive
  10. Jonathan Stout makes great drinks
  11. Dancing to so much live music spoils you.
  12. Heather’s a great partner