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For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? |
Saturday, September 16, 2000
One year ago: More Digging
Two years ago: Crunch Mode
Three years ago: Pressure Produces Diamonds
Don't miss previous episodes in this batch, where I get my knee chair back, and return to dance practice.
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It was great to sleep my sleep out, as late as I wanted. What luxury!
I drove over to my sister M----'s house at midday. I'd offered to help clean up for a party she's having tonight, in honor of my brother-in-law's birthday. (It's a continuing festival from last week.) A friend was coming over to do all the cooking for an Indian feast. But it turned out that the friend was already there, and most of the cleaning and decluttering was already done. So we admired my car for a few minutes, then I accompanied my sister to the grocery store, for ice and beverages.
I did some sorting and cleaning in my own place during the afternoon.
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The big event at the Century Ballroom tonight was a "battle" of two live bands. I arrived in time for the lesson beforehand. I didn't need the swing instruction (Hallie asked me to demo with her), but I did want to get the combat salsa lesson. Hallie taught a basic footwork pattern, and one turn.
The two bands were Greta Metassa fronting a 17-piece swing band, and the salsa group Cambalache. They alternated sets all evening, no DJ breaks in between. The crowd was neither a salsa crown nor a swing crowd, though there were a few good dancers of each variety. Most folks were beginning to intermediate dancers out on dates, I think. I think the price might have had something to do with that -- twenty bucks at the door, not unreasonable for two live bands, but still pricey. I did have good dances with Gavin and Greg, and a few others. Michael Clark was there from Eugene, Oregon -- a rare treat!
After a few efforts during the salsa portions of the evening, I gave up, sat at a table, and enjoyed the music and watched the dancing. I'm just not that much of a salsa fan. I think I'd like other latin dances more. The salsa music I heard sounded mostly the same. There was a performance group that looked good, but the dynamic of throwing the girl around, macho attitudizing, hmm, just not my thing. I prefer the more balanced dynamic of lindy hop.
Greta Metassa was good vocally, and the band was reasonable, but they were a bit rough -- I think they were a pick-up band.
Gavin gave me a ride home around midnight, since we happened to be leaving at the same time.
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