Tropical SONW

To the artist is sometimes granted a sudden, transient insight which serves in this matter for experience. A flash, and where previously the brain held a dead fact, the soul grasps a living truth! At moments we are all artists.
-- Arnold Bennett

Thursday, December 28, 2000
One year ago: Out to Lunch
Two years ago: Swing Out II
Two years ago: Reeling

I decided to skip my elective dance class to update this journal, and skip my second class for newsletter purposes. I got to Cafe Internet -- and realized that they are closed Saturday! I don't know if I repressed this knowledge before, or didn't understand their schedule. I'd thought that it was just the last newsletter that I'll have to make special arrangements for. But the woman working there took me to the Mailboxes etc next door, showed me around and introduced me, and gave me the "secret" code so I can drop off my stuff late Friday night.

She suggested that I use the copy machine at Jackpot convenience store up the hill on Sunday. I can take care of this early Sunday morning, I guess. But next year I'll certainly make more efforts to find a copier or higher-capacity printer that we can bring with us!

Jack replied to the email I sent yesterday. He's still feeling pretty sick at his parents' place. I hope I don't get any bugs! (I'm popping a zinc cherry lozenge into my mouth right now.)

People are happy with the newsletter, but because I slacked on the last pickup at the 204 building, Thayer's proposal for a Chanukah event didn't get printed. I feel guilty for sure! The other items aren't time critical.

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My afternoon class was with Steven Mitchell and Virginie. Steven is a big name in the lindy hop world! He's toned down his teaching style and is easier to take now. He used to have a very short fuse! Dapper Dan criticised my sugar push technique. I'll have to get someone to show me what I'm doing wrong. He went on about this at dinner, too -- not me specifically, though; it was part of some general griping about levels in the various classes. I guess I wasn't the only one who wasn't doing them well. It's not surprising, since I've done about a zillion swingouts, but only one percent of that number of sugar pushes. I wonder if I'm wrong on the very concept? Being in the middle row of three in the classroom is painful -- too much getting on the floor so folks can see.

We all ran to the chapel for the second class. The two buildings are at opposite ends of the Fort, and couldn't be farther apart. Frankie Manning was teaching (with Virginie) -- what fun! This is the man who was in Whitey's Lindy Hoppers in the thirties and forties. He invented aerials! He taught a routine with the scissors step (not a favorite but I can do it) and sailor kicks! That really takes me back to when I was first learning. It's not led that often these days, at least not led on me. The two dancers are facing opposite directions, hip to inside hip and arms around each other's backs. The you hop and kick around. It's very distinctive looking!

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After dinner there was a panel discussion in the theater. I found it interesting that even the instructors have to be political about what they say about various styles. Only Åsa said a few words about follows doing too much and not really following what's led. Viola (moderating): should instructors try to direct the future of the dance? No, say I -- and I don't think it's possible! But I didn't shout this out in the discussion. There were too many folks on the panel, so some didn't talk at all. Some never shut up and had a response to every question. The most entertaining part was in response to "what did you think when you first saw the lindy hop?" Lennart had told the story before, how he found a book which listed some movies, then chanced to see the movie Hellzapoppin, but it's exciting, funny and moving anyway.

I went back to my room to change for the "Where the Sun Does Shine" tropical dance. I wore a Purple/green print dress, and all my fake flowers in my hair. I gave Jane Osborn a ride to the fairgrounds, along with two guys we picked up on the way.

The room was crowded (did we let a few too many campers in this year?) and the floor was gritty! The instructors were dancing tonight, mostly with their regular partners. We had cups of ice cream for a treat.

I enjoyed seeing everyone in Hawaiian shirts and other tropical attire. One larger woman was in a sarong that tied around her breasts in way that looked precarious to me, but she said it felt secure.

The performances by Seattle groups were good! My friend Brian Lynch was looking good in the Emerald City Swing group. I was amused by Viola's Groove Juice group, since I saw her running over the routine with Jodi in the theater before the panel discussion, during which Jodi was sewing green maribou feathers on to her pants for a costume. Last minute, but the routine went over!

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I left the dance early to do the newsletter, and dropped it off by twelve thirty. I decided to go to the latenight dancing. Again, I had some very fun partners. If they are creative, wacky or funny, I can match them. I danced with old friends Ben Solomon and Joe Ross. Ben says he's not into lindy as much these days, but still enjoys teaching. Marriage lessens the social-life factor, I guess. He was the object of many a swing crush among the follows when single. There was discussion with Sterling and my dorm parents -- a weird smell had people concerned on the first floor, but I hadn't noticed it at all. Was there a gas leak in the dorm? I left them discussing it. I collapsed into bed around three.