Rhythm Hot ShotsReal joy comes not from ease or riches or from the praise of men, but from doing something worthwhile. Sunday, February 13, 2000
We'd been bidden to show up early at the Century Ballroom for the Rhythm Hot Shots dance workshops, so I walked down the hill around ten am for an eleven o'clock class. I stopped at the grocery store on the way, for a donut or two, and a bottle of water. I got to the hall in time to check in (which is why they wanted us there early) and take a few pictures of the Lindy Hop 1 class. Lindy Hop 2 was my first for Saturday, taught by Lennart Westerlund (lookalike for David Hyde Pierce) and Catrine Ljunggren. Looking back, I think I chose this partly because it's always good to review the basics, and because I'd been impressed with Lennart's teaching methods and philosophy back during Swingout Northwest. I wasn't so thrilled by what we did in class yesterday, though. We were taught a routine with some footwork variations. I'm just not a fan of choreography! Sometimes you can break the routine down into leadable stuff, but I didn't get that from teh class. Ah, well... We had a lunch break between classes, so I bopped over to the Chinese food place above the QFC and got my favorite chicken chow fun. I just really like the slippery wide rice noodles!
The afternoon class was also taught by Catrine. Wow! I really dug the follows' styling class. She worked us through swivel variations that helped me make a distinction between different types of swivels (narrow vs wide), and demonstrated how different rhythm variations could give us even more possibilities. I felt bad because I had to keep bugging the class registrars to find out what classes I was in -- I'd filled out a web form and handed it in at dance class several weeks ago, and foolishly didn't keep a copy for myself.
Class was done for the day, and it was only two thirty! I'd only signed up for two sessions on Saturday, because my plans with Jack had been up in the air at that point. I wondered if I could get down to the Broadway Market and see Topsy-Turvy. Turned out I was early for the next show, but I got out a book and sat in the mall and read for a while. I was surprised by a black man with a white buddy, who walked up to the table where I was sitting and asked what I was reading. I showed them the cover of the regency romance, but they were really more interested in a conversation, which I was not. "Move along, please," I said with a smile, and went back to reading. There was a fairly good crowd in the theater, considering Topsy-Turvy was playing on two screens there. There's been talk on the Savoynet list about seeing mostly elderly folks in the audience, but I'd say there was a reasonable mix of adults present. There would be kids, but a few scenes got the movie an R rating. I thought the movie was very good! I've enjoyed Mike Leigh films before, and this time he turned his discursive, sprawling style on a topic that can sustain the complexity. This story of Gilbert, Sullivan, and D'Oyly Carte putting on the Mikado looks at a wide variety of themes -- artistry, compromises, loneliness, the role of women in the Victorian age -- all without being preachy. The production is gorgeous, and of course I like the music. Really strong performances. It's long, but worth seeing. (Other journalers' takes: Columbine, Diane.) I decided to go home after the movie and take it easy, rather than see the performance and dance at the Century. I'm still feeling pain from my tooth problems, and it was just good to go home and rest!
Today I again got to class early, and took some good pictures of the Lindy 4 class. I was envious and wished I was in the class! They really looked great, doing a lively, energetic routine. Hacksaw steps, baby! Next time I want to be in there -- more practice and private lessons, perhaps? The Lindy 3 class was taught by Eddie Jansson and Eva Lagerqvist. I liked it! (Too bad I can'r remember more. I'm writing after the fact, and should be taking notes on the day.) In between classes, I sat at a table in the ballroom with Mark, Holly, and Windfield Hobbes, chatting about dance stuff and eating a sandwich. One of the folks taking the workshop is a champion yo-yo guy, who amazed us with an impromptu routine. I urged him to incorporate the yo-yo into his lindy hop, but I bet he won't. The Blues dancing class was mostly very good, except when we got off track and started learning an underarm turn with a footwork variation. Folks weren't getting it, and it was really not helping the blues (slow!) dancing part of the class. The half of the class where we were working on the "getting up close to your partner" stuff was very valuable.
In between classes, I asked my buddy Ben to dance with me, and handed my camera to Carla so I could actually be in some pictures. A few came out good! My last class for the workshop was Lindy 2. What I needed to watch out for here was giving too much feedback to my partners! But there were some steps where we were side by side with our partners, and the footwork was leadable, if the leader knew what to do and how exaggerated he needed to make it, so I encouraged guys who were getting it to do even more than they were.
I'd offered to take my sister and my nephew J--- to see the Rhythm Hot Shots show this evening. In the end, M---- didn't want to come, but J--- did! So I'd paid before leaving the ballroom, then went over to pick up J----, then arrived at the ballroom nice and early. This was the last show, and the only all-ages show, so it was going to sell out and I wanted to be sure that J--- could see. We amused ourselves during the wait, looking at all the lights, drapes, props, and tech equipment that had been brought in for the show. Chris Chapman came and sat beside us -- we squeezed in an extra chair for him, since I figured he wouldn't want to sit on the floor in the fancy zoot suit he was wearing. I teased him, saying that he'd have to take off the big hat when the show started, for the sake of those sitting behind us. J--- and I were very impressed with the show! It was a series of dance numbers, strung together by a very slight story about an old-fashioned booking agent who needed to learn what swing was. All seven members of the Rhythm Hot Shots played multiple parts. J--- really liked all the expert, energetic tap dancing, since that's his specialty. I was pleased by the lively finale, full out lindy hopping.
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