The Swing Times August 2013

Here are some reviews and updates of random Swing happenings in Southern California!

California Feetwarmers Bring Down the House at Happy Feet Monday at Joe’s Bar

Wow, it was a great night of dancing and music at Joe’s Bar on Monday July 29^th. The California Feetwarmers played a great mix of their usual fast tunes, but also some slower ones too, which made for great variety for us dancers.  Tons of awesome dancers showed up, along with some newbies, and the floor packed solid at all times. Happy Feet Mondays has really tapped into the current 30’s hot jazz craze! Check it out some time if you haven’t been there!

California Feetwarmers On Hold at the Bungalow

In not so good news, the Feetwarmers are on “pause” at the Bungalow Tuesday nights in Santa Monica. Rumor is that there was a complaint about the noise. I talked to the band and they said they are working on a solution, so stay tuned. Hopefully this is just a temporary setback.

Summer Outdoor Concerts

If you look on the Lindy Calendar, you’ll notice many free outdoor concerts featuring Swing-danceable bands. These are put on by various cities in Southern California. These can be lots of fun! Here are some tips to enjoy them:

• Bring your own partner or group to dance with. The turnout of Swing dancers is not at all assured at these events. Even better, organize a Lindy Bomb on Facebook. If the event is not on the Lindy Calendar, let me know and I’ll post it!
• Be prepared with sunscreen, water, a towel to sit on, and snacks.
• There is usually no traditional dance floor, so be prepared to dance on concrete (or sometimes even grass)..  Make the best of the situation and have fun with it!
• Be good ambassadors. If you are an experienced dancer, you’ll probably get people coming up to you and asking you about what dance you’re doing. Help spread Swing dancing and tell them about LALindyHop.com and the Swing venues that are nearby that offer classes.

Lindy Groove is Going Strong

I visited Lindy Groove a few times in July and found it’s just as popular as I remember! Turnout was great and the Lab seems to be a hit. I welcome the variety of music they play in the Lab, which sometimes stretches the boundaries of what we think we can Swing dance to.

Camp Hollywood is Coming Up! Are YOU Ready???

Yes, that’s right. Southern California’s biggest Swing dance weekend, Camp Hollywood, is fast approaching, starting Friday, August 30^th. Mark your calendars. I’ll write more about this in a future article. But trust me on this, you need to go.

Thanks, Brian