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Vargas Swing
Don't learn to do, but learn in doing. Let your falls not be on a prepared ground, but let them be bona fide falls in the rough and tumble of the world.
-- Samuel Butler
Friday, April 30, 1999
One year ago: Television
One of my first dances tonight, at Friday night practice at the Savoy Swing club, was with Mark. I haven't danced with him recently, and I miss that! We caught the last few measures of a medium-tempo song, so I suggested we do the next one, also. Wow! It turned out to be "Sing, Sing, Sing," which is a long, fast song. Mark asked about three-quarters of the way through it if I wanted to stop, but I didn't! We had a blast! But I was rather out of breath and pink in the face at the end. I grabbed my water bottle and went outside to pant for a few minutes on the back steps.
My buddy Earl was still passing around a petition he's working on. He wants Ben Solomon ("King" Solomon in this context) to get more work as a swing DJ. I complied with his request and signed. I'd love to see Ben get more chances to DJ, but I don't want Jen to have any less time!
Because I'm signed up for the David Dalmo workshop tomorrow, I tried to pace myself, not dancing every dance. I left before practice was over, and took the bus down to the Century Ballroom.
* * * * * * * *
The pre-dance lesson was just getting over when I arrived, and I saw Canadian former journaler Darren Holloway in the crowd. I'd known he was going to be around this weekend, since he is mad for the lindy hop these days. We danced a few times, and I also danced with several other friends, but I was trying to take it easy, I swear! I didn't do much asking, but a gratifying number of people asked me. There weren't too many of the regular crowd there. I had the rare pleasure of falling flat on my ass during one dance -- so humiliating! But I wasn't hurt.
I don't think I've ever left a show at the Century Ballroom after the first set. But that's what I did tonight. Mostly this was because of the workshop tomorrow -- I didn't want to exhaust myself. But I also wasn't crazy about the band, and that made it easier to drag myself away. Vargas Swing was making their Seattle debut. They really didn't seem like a band that's suited to lindy! The instrumentalists and singers weren't bad, but the drummer just didn't swing. I'd give them another try, though. Their arrangments are unusual!
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