5 posts tagged “blues dancing”

That band was nasty good.

Nov 17, 2008
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Its a wonderful thing when a band can achieve their own sound. Even better when they can manage to do so, and revive some musical elements from yesteryear.

I just got done with a blues dance conference. The main attraction was Nathan and Ben, a duo blues band from california. They played the entire weekend, in front of the same crowd of 300 people. And nobody got tired of hearing or dancing to them.

Im not sure what it is about their sound that makes them feel so genuine - perhaps its the raw grittiness of it. Perhaps its their occasional mix of funk and blues, the kind that just gets listeners moving. But who cares?

These guys are SICK.

Take this little ditty for example:

You Better Learn

Nathan James & Ben Hernandez

Yes. That is a man playing a kazoo. And yes, there is a washboard in there too.

Here is something a little more downlow and gritty. Check the pulse in this tune!:

Everybody Make a Change Sometime

Nathan James & Ben Hernandez

Another slow one. A more straightforward blues for the traditionalist:

Finished Last

Nathan James & Ben Hernandez

Ever heard a man play a washtub bass? Now you will (and this doesnt touch the surface of what he did live):

Keepin' to Herself

Nathan James & Ben Hernandez

Washtub Bass

And finally. Oh yes, finally. I give you the funk nasty:

My Backyard

Nathan James & Ben Hernandez

Tell me that doesnt just make you want to move. You feel your head bobbing and your groove going? Amazing things can happen when a dude plays the JUG well. And it only gets better when you get to see them live, and he busts out a Jug SOLO.

What?!

WHAT!?!

Playin the Jug

Awww yeah.

Not Just Wiggling.

Nov 16, 2008
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Many people who partner dance look down upon Blues Dancing. They often take an elitist attitude about it, saying that blues dancing is "really easy" because it does not have predefined steps and structure. They also are dismissive, because the dance is "just wiggling".

And some people just dont want to do it because its "too sexy" and potentially "creepy".

Well, I hope to dispell those trains of thought one day.

I just took two workshops from Steven and Virgine. Steven Mitchell has been dancing well over 30 years. He is well known as potentially one of the best Lindy Hop dancers in the world. He has a very innovative style, that incorporates all sorts of dances (even before his 30 years as lindy hopper, he studied jazz, ballet, and modern).

In short, this genius knows how to move. And he brings that to his Blues Dancing, as well as his amazing teaching style.

In two short hours, he had my body screaming for mercy - and I dance about 25 hours a week. If you saw me after a short "routine" you would have though I ran a marathon. But in actuality, I merely travelled 5 feet ... slowly. The thing was, I moved so many muscles in my body, in purposeful and interesting ways.

I worked so hard to make it look so relaxed and easy.

This is often a fundamental aspect of good blues dancing - you spend so much time resisting your own motion and really getting into the floor. Its basically like isometric weight lifting. (this is what gives the dance that sweet molasses look.)

And then he took it in a different direction. We switched it from gritty to pretty. And it was

AMAZING

I cant even really do it justice by describing what I saw, or what I felt. So I will just let a sample video do the talking for me. Here is Steven and Viriginie showing off a little bit of their style:

Lindyfest: Lover Man

Now decide for yourself. Do you honestly think that is "easy" and "just wiggling"?

If by any chance, the answer is yes ... I dare you to take one of their classes and then answer the question again.

Something that makes me happy.

Oct 29, 2008
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Sometimes, the smallest things have the biggest emotional impact.

It happens almost every night, but I still never tire of it. Im dancing with a girl, closed embrace. My arm is lazily wrapped around her torso. The wrap is so completely engulfing that I can hold onto her other side with my hand.

I can feel her every movement. The slightest shift in the position of her ribs. The secondary motion of her hips. The subtle nuances of her shoulders. Her head pressing agains mine, or resting slightly on my neck.

I am distinctly aware when she takes a breath. And she does ... deeply. And then she lets out a huge sigh.

I can feel the smile in her posture.

I know she is enjoying the dance. And also, enjoying my scent. Some women are even upfront enough to tell me. "You always smell sooooo good." The words are great, but most of the time, they never have to be said. Cause I know.

And this small thing makes me extremely happy.

Why?

Because I did not spend all that time selecting a unique and interesting cologne, applying it to all the important spots on my body ...

for my own benefit.

Ladies, Im doing it for you. And for just those kinds of moments. And emotions. And your appreciation, only encourages me to continue to do it.

Cause it makes me happy too.