Lindy + AT = true?
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bjp22tango
Active Member
In Oregon, generally speaking, we have a WC Swing crowd(with Nightclub 2 Step, Hustle, and Cha Cha thrown in), a Lindy Hop crowd (with Balboa and Blues thrown in), an Argentine Tango crowd, and a general dance crowd who do all sorts of Ballroom and may dabble in the above dances.
However, the studios that specialize in Argentine Tango and Lindy Hop tend to also teach the other, so there can be an opportunity to see the two types of dance. They both really exploded in our area about the same time (early 90's)
Here is a recent post on a Portland swing chat list:
Dance of New Sorts
Tango~Blues~Swing
Where: Tango Berretin
When: Friday, Sept. 3rd
Schedule: Tango Lesson from 8-8:45
Swing Lesson from 8:45-9:30
Dance from 9:30-1:30am
Cost: $5 (All Ages)
Come one, Come all and enjoy a night of new sorts. Experience
an all new connection with your friends and partners. Experiment
with a new style.
But above all, come and have a fun night of dancing with others
who share a passion for dancing.
The Music will be played in sets of three styles of songs.
There will be a extensive mix of both traditional and alternative
versions of all three dance styles.
So it seems the idea is not in your area alone.
However, the studios that specialize in Argentine Tango and Lindy Hop tend to also teach the other, so there can be an opportunity to see the two types of dance. They both really exploded in our area about the same time (early 90's)
Here is a recent post on a Portland swing chat list:
Dance of New Sorts
Tango~Blues~Swing
Where: Tango Berretin
When: Friday, Sept. 3rd
Schedule: Tango Lesson from 8-8:45
Swing Lesson from 8:45-9:30
Dance from 9:30-1:30am
Cost: $5 (All Ages)
Come one, Come all and enjoy a night of new sorts. Experience
an all new connection with your friends and partners. Experiment
with a new style.
But above all, come and have a fun night of dancing with others
who share a passion for dancing.
The Music will be played in sets of three styles of songs.
There will be a extensive mix of both traditional and alternative
versions of all three dance styles.
So it seems the idea is not in your area alone.
I know a little tango, a little salsa, and next year I'll do lindy.normalized
New Member
Yes, the tango/lindy connection is not a coincidence. Many of the lindy people here in SF have tried or also dance tango I think more so than WCS or salsa. This includes Catrine formerly of the Rhythm Hot Shots.
I think the whole connection, leading stuff in tango is seen as great practice for using in lindy. Also the whole current craze about "blues dancing" has a lot of argentine tango as it's foundation. Actually many instructors who teach blues dancing sprinkle it in with many tango like moves and principals.
Also here in SF, there's been people who's been doing more informal milongas and these events have had a lot of interest from the lindy crowd.
Or maybe it's just a way for lindy hoppers to get up close and intimate with their partners :lol:
Coincidentally, I've been thinking about taking it up again.
I think the whole connection, leading stuff in tango is seen as great practice for using in lindy. Also the whole current craze about "blues dancing" has a lot of argentine tango as it's foundation. Actually many instructors who teach blues dancing sprinkle it in with many tango like moves and principals.
Also here in SF, there's been people who's been doing more informal milongas and these events have had a lot of interest from the lindy crowd.
Or maybe it's just a way for lindy hoppers to get up close and intimate with their partners :lol:
Coincidentally, I've been thinking about taking it up again.
There is no real connection between the dances and a lot of the principles actually tend to contradict more than coincide... the reason so many people tend to cross over is because the attitudes behind the dances are the same. Improvisation, choreography on the fly, syncopation, intense rhythm driven music... they are both folk/street/vernacular dances, they have the same mentality.
Blues like wise has no "real" AT connection, though there are similar movements... they serve the same purpose for two different cultures so there is predicitably a similarity in movement and form (remember both cultures were heavily influenced by African esthetics). Since so few people today have actually studied any of the traditional blues form it isn't surprising that they borrow from the other dances they know, as a result you will see people mixing up blues and their swing and dancing "Swango" to blues music. Its a beautiful mix of complementry steps and sensibilities when done correctly. Luois Thwait, Steven Mitchell and the aforementioned Catrine Llungren are experts at it.
Blues like wise has no "real" AT connection, though there are similar movements... they serve the same purpose for two different cultures so there is predicitably a similarity in movement and form (remember both cultures were heavily influenced by African esthetics). Since so few people today have actually studied any of the traditional blues form it isn't surprising that they borrow from the other dances they know, as a result you will see people mixing up blues and their swing and dancing "Swango" to blues music. Its a beautiful mix of complementry steps and sensibilities when done correctly. Luois Thwait, Steven Mitchell and the aforementioned Catrine Llungren are experts at it.
swinginstyle
New Member
We also have swing, salsa, tango dances in KC. They are very fun events, although it's difficult to mix the music just right to suit everyone (Ha!). the only connection I see with AT and lindy is the improvisation. You take the basics and then you have lots of fun with them. Regarding the blues connection, I was reading somewhere that blues developed from black youth "mocking" the ballroom establishment. This would be why certain blues moves look similar to our ballroom dances.
swinginstyle
New Member
I stand corrected then for now. I'd like visual proof, at least something concrete versus the various opinions running around.
Visual proof is easy enough, take a look at the Spirit Moves it has examples of both the cake walk and blues. Failing that I know there are clips available on the American Heritage Museums website (part of the Smithsonian Institute). IF you google cakewalk and clips you should find them directly. As to blues come to the St. Luois Lindy-Blues Exchange, four days of blues social dancing from slow-slow to fast tempos. IT is going to be a serious party. Not to mention we'll be having a Blues Congress there, a significant number of the most respected blues teachers, dancers and dj's gathering to discuss, debate and share their ideas on the past, present and future of blues dancing. Join Us. (details for this and all exchanges can be found at www.lindyexchange.com.
swinginstyle
New Member
Well, I will be at STLBX. What's this about a Blues Congress, though. I may have heard of this, but I can't remember. If this has anything to do with Smunky's blues project, I have heard of it. Sounds like a great plan. Regarding blues visuals, I am more likely to check out the older material. Most of the blues I see doesn't look that great. It may feel good to the leader/follower(s), but sometimes blues flat out looks awkward.
Depends entirely on who is doing it... like all dances the majority of people you see at any given time "rank" somewhere between neophyte to begining intermediate, the percentage of people who really understand the form and function of the genre is pretty small... Blues as a modern dance genre is still in its early stages of development, just in the last two years has it achieved any kind of national focus.
I promise you though at STLBX you will see several couples and individual dancers who not only feel great but look it.
The Congress and the Project are tied, one gathering information which will be "ported" over to the other.
Make sure you come by and say hi.
Damon Stone
I promise you though at STLBX you will see several couples and individual dancers who not only feel great but look it.
The Congress and the Project are tied, one gathering information which will be "ported" over to the other.
Make sure you come by and say hi.
Damon Stone
swinginstyle
New Member
I will do that then. If I ask Charlie or Heidi who you are, would they be able to point me in your direction?
Flat Shoes
New Member
Lindy + AT = True! Absolutely a great combination that complements each other very good. Add in a litle Balboa and you're gold. 8)
Linda+AT, no and yes.
No=not related dances at all. Musically, historically. Except that they both came from the streets (or in Argentina's case, the whorehouses).
Yes=the connection I practice in AT directly improves my connection in LH. And the improvisation stressed in AT helps me in my swing dancing.
IMHO.
No=not related dances at all. Musically, historically. Except that they both came from the streets (or in Argentina's case, the whorehouses).
Yes=the connection I practice in AT directly improves my connection in LH. And the improvisation stressed in AT helps me in my swing dancing.
IMHO.