Lindy Hop performance log May 12th

[jdavidb]

We did 2 shows today. The partner from the April 2nd show did not come to rehearsal on Tuesday, so I had to start all over again with someone brand new. This dancer had no partner/social dance experience at all.

Yes, I am saying that there was no rehearsal until the day before the show.

April 2 (with the other partner who was also 100% new to LH), we tried semi-choreography and memorization. It was approximately an 80% success doing it that way. This time, I choreographed nothing. I didn't even tell this partner about triple steps, starting on the right foot, 6 count, 8 count, etc. I didn't have time. All I told her was: This is how a back rock feels. This is how a turn feels. Don't try to catch up with the motion; always keep a little tension and follow it. Don't be a soggy noodle either.

Well, dancing with her felt awful to me. It felt like a puppet show. But, the director said it looked great.

Here's a little of what we did: regular swingouts, reverse basket whips and other cuddle position stuff, tuck turns from closed, sugar pushes, clockwise turns from open 2-hand position.

I guess I could buy her some videos. Maybe that would speed things up.

[SDsalsaguy]

E-gads, that sounds dreadful for you... my sympathies!!! :(

[jdavidb]

Thanks SD

I had a conversation with the director later. The very first original partner I had from this show's cast is working too much (on a real job). So, that led to the director bringing up the idea of finding me a partner who can get busy on all 4 of my dances for real. That's awesome if she can find someone to do this job in her dance school.

I'm gonna stick with it and keep patiently working on it. I am still positive that this will be going great by November.

I've been through 3 partners in this cast now. Only 2 more to go heheheh

[jdavidb]

I went to rehearsal on the 18th, with another 2 shows for today the 19th. The waltz partner didn't even show up for rehearsal. The Lindy Hop partner showed up (to rehearse), but she did nothing but give me bad attitude and immature crap like trying to avoid closed position. She kept sticking her arm out attempting to change bring-ins to sugar pushes. For swingouts, she would arch way back or try to accelerate around my right side. I was leading right, keeping her in the right place for swingouts, so she decided to start twisting as far to her left as she could during the closed 3&4. I dropped off a note to the director afterwards telling her I won't be there to do the shows on the 19th. I told her the reasons why too. That's probably the end of me having a connection for performing lindy hop on stage even if I were to find Ms. Perfect Partner right this second.

[Flat Shoes]

Sorry to hear that! Things doesn't allways work out. Even when you're working hard to achieve somthing, if you're dependent uppon others and they're not up to par, there's only so much you can do.

My sympathies!

[jdavidb]

Thanks Flatness :lol: Yeah it was a huge deal to me to be a part of that show. I do not know why I got stuck with the two worst possible people on the face of the earth to have to invest time and hope into.

I guess I should add: she isn't avoiding closed position because of any hygeine problems heheh. I take a shower AND put what I'm going to wear through the washer & dryer. I also don't smoke nuthin' after I take a shower. I don't smoke until I'm long gone from the studio. I even chew baking soda gum all through rehearsal.

[SDsalsaguy]

Sorry to hear it ended up being such a mess... that sucks. :(

[jdavidb]

Thanks SDsalsa

Oh yeah... I also included in the memo that I'd like to rejoin next season if we find a better way to get these dances taken care of. We'll see if that happens. I said I do not want to work with any more of those who are involved in the hip hop stuff though... so that's all five of the females. It's either someone new coming in, or I don't participate.

[Sagitta]

I'm guessing you did not show up for the show teh 19th. How well did that go? Anyone commented on the absence, or director contacted you after the show?

[jdavidb]

I'm guessing you did not show up for the show teh 19th. How well did that go? Anyone commented on the absence, or director contacted you after the show?

That's right... I told the director on the 18th that I won't be there to do the show on the 19th. I don't know anything about how it turned out or how anyone felt about it.

I'm also in a rock dance done to an Elvis song. It's a little tiny 45 second dance. They had teen boys there who can do that one, so I'm sure they at least did that dance even though I wasn't there. I don't see any way they could have possibly done waltz or lindy hop though. The hustle is always cut from the day show (until I get a partner for it). They just do the electric slide instead.

No one has contacted me since I sent in the memo. Probably because there are no plans to do this show again until February. February is big stage shows though. I'm sure they will resume doing the school version in Fall... long before February.

If they have pretty much decided to not deal with me again, it will not be hard to talk my way back into the show. But, if I don't find a partner, I won't even bother. If I do find a partner (or multiple partners) for waltz, lindy hop, charleston, ecs and hustle, that's the only way I'll put any more into that show.

[jdavidb]

A few months ago, I was involved with a group who had free studio time. I would see who is in that pool for potential partners, but I think only one of them is over 18. I want to stick with people over 18 because we can schedule our own stuff, go to workshops & clubs, etc. With under 18's, I have to just wait forever until the school schedules rehearsal. I don't wanna do it that way anymore. I don't like having to worry about how their parents feel about everything with those under 18's either.