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George Gee
No bubble is so iridescent or floats longer than that blown by the successful teacher.
-- Sir William Osler
Friday, April 23, 1998
One year ago: Teaching
A year ago was the first time I ever mentioned my buddy Earl. He was just getting started with dancing then, and now he's a board member of the Savoy Swing Club! He's such a go-getter.
I saw Louis Armstrong in an old movie Thursday night: Turner Classic Movies had Going Places, with Dick Powell. Armstrong was playing a groom (it was a horse-racing comedy) but did play and sing in a few numbers. His charisma really came through! It seems like TCM is playing a fair number of swing-oriented movies lately.
* * * * * * * *
I decided to stop at Fred Meyer on my way home, and stock up on contact lens stuff and some other personal care items I needed. I did succumb to buying some new scented oils and matching soaps -- "Euphoria," which is ylang ylang, cananga, sandalwood, ginger, amyris, and jasmine, and "Heart Song," which is lavender, rosewood, geranium, and rose. Both are from Aura Cacia. This company has been consistently good over the years. I have small brown glass bottles of scent from them that were bought a long time ago, and they still haven't gone bad.
I'd gotten my parking ticket validated for a half-hour, but I'd wandered about for longer than that, looking at clothes (Yazdi again, but no short skirts there for short people). So when a beaded barrette, all purple, soft rose, and pale blue, caught my eye at one of the small carts in the middle of the Market, I decided to buy it and get another sticker. How aggravating! The smaller merchants don't participate in the validation program. I bought it anyway, though, since I did like it.
I dressed for the evening activities in my burnout velvet chiffon black flippy skirt, and a purple top of a similar fabric. I did put up my hair with my new barrette, topping off a small black snood.
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Even though I was planning on doing a lot of dancing tonight at the Century Ballroom, I wanted to start the evening at Savoy Swing's Friday Night practice, because "Up and" Adam was teaching the lesson and it was his first time. His topic was "Strategies for avoiding collisions" and he and I had discussed this on Wednesday evening. He graciously credited me as he was teaching.
Adam did really well! He covered sending the follow into a different area than normal during a basic, being aware of the "dance circle" that other couples are occupying and not stepping into it, and doing traveling steps like the traveling charleston, to get away from a scary couple that is consistently kicking too wildly or spinning out of control. He finished up by getting us all into half the space on the floor, then halving it again. It was just like dancing at the Fenix!
* * * * * * * *
Holly kindly gave me a ride to the Century. It's well within walking distance, even though a bit longer from the practice site than from my place, but a ride is a good thing. I was really looking forward to hearing the band, George Gee's Jump, Jive and Wailers, who were making their first Seattle appearance. I'd heard plenty about the band, because they are very popular in New York, and are mentioned frequently at Yehoodi.com, a NY-based swing website that I frequent. (And at last we are certain that it's Gee with a soft "G", not a "guh" sound."
We arrived just as the lesson was finishing up and the dance began. I was glad that I danced almost every song during the first set, since there was still a bit of room early on. It was very crowded for the second set, and most of the third, so I sat out some dances then. It was still fun, though, even when I was just watching! There were a few dancers up from Portland -- Hi, Lindyshai! -- and Thayer was visting from the Bay area (I'd met her at Swing Out Northwest).
I danced with my buddy Mehul, who also works at Microsoft. We'd been discussing dance stuff in email, and he'd asked me to give him some detailed feedback sometime. I didn't think of this while we were dancing, though, so when he asked me how he was doing, after we danced, I was at a loss! All I could say was, "Just fine!" since he had done perfectly well. I suggested we should dance again later and I'd pay more attention. But when we danced later, it was to such a fast number that we just concentrated on keeping up.
It's obvious I'm no dance teacher, since there are many fine points to leading and technique that I can't communicate yet in words. I only know I feel the differences between leaders' styles while I'm dancing with them.
The band lived up to their reputation! Very clean technically, and lots of good solos and energy. I bought the CD but I haven't listened to it yet. They'll be playing again in Seattle on Monday night, but I don't know if I'll be going to see them then.
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