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Swing Out III
Never tire yourself more than necessary, even if you have to found a culture on the fatigue of your bones.
-- Antonin Artaud
Tuesday, December 29, 1998
One year ago: New Frontiers
It seems that anytime you are in a situation where the food you'll eat isn't under your control, it becomes an immense concern to everyone. I remember this from band trips in college, and other group settings. It's the same here -- people love to gripe about the food, which is institutional, but not terrible at all. The cafeteria staff did make one change, after some concern about these hard working dancers not getting enough calories: they are putting out bread and peanut butter and jelly with every meal, so even if the main course doesn't fill people up, they can load up on that!
I am getting a bit fatigued, but I'm still enjoying myself! I sat out the last few minutes of two classes today, which normally I wouldn't do. I want to pace myself so I'll still be able to dance at the end of the day!
I had a jazz class this morning, with Frankie Manning and his son Chazz Young. Frankie is one of the original lindy hoppers from the thirties. He's eighty four, and still dances wonderfully! He and his son alternated making up combinations of steps for us to learn. These weren't too difficult technically, so that made it easier for me to concentrate on getting the style and joy that Frankie and Chazz have to share.
I also really dug the two classes I had today with Eddie Jansson and Eva Lagerqvist, the current world champion lindy hoppers. They are another Swedish couple. In the morning session we built on the combinations we were taught on Sunday, and learned some new ones. They like to use a lot of six-count steps, which is different from the usual way lindy is taught around here, with a preponderance of eight-count patterns. The second class was all about dancing apart from your partner, but still following what zie is doing. There are lots of Charleston steps that can be done that way.
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At lunch, a woman named Katie, from Ithaca, asked me and Greg about the instructors on the Seattle scene. It was interesting running down the list of all the folks we have taken from, and comparing our opinions of them all. Katie was surprised when she learned that some of them were right at the same table with us!
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A truly unusual Swing Out Northwest moment: When we arrived at the fairgrounds for our class after lunch, the dance hall was locked up and we couldn't get in! Someone phoned whoever was supposed to have the key. While we were waiting, Joe Ross and John High got their guitars out, and Peter took out his fiddle, and they started jamming in the driveway! In a few minutes we took off our coats and starting dancing, even though it was cool and drizzling. We just couldn't sit still! But I've never lindyed to "Honky Tonk Woman" before. What a blast! Eventually the key-master was found, and we had a normal class inside the dance hall.
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I was so tired after dinner, that I decided to forgo the dance, and the after-hours dance! Instead I lay down on my bed, read my book, and dozed. I felt very cozy and snug in my little chamber, listening to most everyone else getting ready to go. I figured it was best not to push myself too far, since I'll be getting up early tomorrow to drive to the internet cafe before class.
It was so quiet after the dance started that I could hear my soda fizzing in the can next to me!
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