Play in Lindy/Swing

[Sagitta]

I was thinking about an old thread today afternoon while practicing a jump swing choreography that I wil be participating in on June 6th, in front of 200+ people!! Clip is below:

http://www.cayugaprodj.com/147f03-jump.mpg

As you can see there clearly is a section where the follower gets to play. This is one interpretation. Another could be hijacking, where to various degrees a follower responds to a leads connection in such a way that it requires the leader to respond.

What's your opinion on this? How much play do you have in your lindy and what's your philosophy on play? If you would like to comment on the other swing dances too, feel free to do so. After all I started this thread by showing an example of play in a jump swing choreography!!

[Flat Shoes]

Is it you on the clip?

Playing in Lindy is okay, for both follower and leader. It can be while connected, as in the video, or it can be while not being connected. It can be some form of standard movements done (like charleston or jazz steps), or it can be free improvisation to the music. For example the guy doing some playful or flirty moves to one part of the music, and the girl responds with some moves on her own.

Personally I don't do free improvisation very much in social dancing (I don't do shows or competitions) because it's not me. I'm not very good at it, and I prefer the connection and direct contact. What I do do sometimes is let the girl be free to play around to the music, by letting her move more freely and giving her time.

Some women love all this improvisation and playing, others don't.

[Sagitta]

Nope, not me. The two people there are Kurt and Iska, the two who got me started on swing early last year, before I abandoned it.

[suek]

I watched the clip...looks more like choreography than social dancing to my eyes. Regardless, it's common in LH, when the lead to initiates a side pass, for the follow to tart it up as she pleases. Keeping in mind she's the follow. I like to stay in the eight-count or close to it and I like to bring my gaze back to my leader pretty quickly. (Not all follows do either of these! Some stretch those passes out to 12, 14, 16...... and stay focused out for quite a while.)

[Vince A]

I enjoyed watching the clip and I enjoyed the routine . . . that kind of energy and dancing keeps me interested to keep learning Lindy.

However, I agree with Sue regarding the choreography. "Play" is not choregraphed . . . oh, you can do it, but it doesn't ahve the same "be free" look to it! "Play" is something the two dancers do and share. They don't do it for the audience (yes, there are those that do), nor do they play for someone else! They watch each other . . .