I really like the energy in this 1956 clip from Don’t Knock the Rock featuring Bill Haley and the Comets performing Rip it Up. The only thing is, please don’t try these moves on the social dance floor! These are for jam circles and contests (and movies) only! The dancers include include Freda Angela Continue Reading…
INSPIRATIONAL VIDEOS
CAMP HOLLYWOOD 2018 – OPEN TEAM – LA VARSITY SHAG
OK, last Camp Hollywood, video for now, I promise! This routine by LA Varsity Shag came in third place but many thought it should have been first! What do you think? – Brian
CAMP HOLLYWOOD 2018 OPEN LINDY FINALS
Wow, it’s been another great Camp Hollywood! There were so many great performances, but these are absolutely insane!
2005 CAMP HOLLYWOOD DVD OPENER
With Camp Hollywood, around the corner, I have posted their DVD opener from 2005. I love seeing how today’s moves are inspired by and dedicated to preserving what the dancers did in the 30’s and 40’s. See you there! – Brian
CAMP HOLLYWOOD 2014 LA SHAG “SAN / I WANT MY DIME BACK”
Here’s another contest from Camp Hollywood, with it being just around the corner. Who can forget Steve Sayer’s LA Shag team’s first-place routine at Camp Hollywood 2014 featuring “San” by the California Feetwarmers? This video has over 2.2 million views, insane for a swing dance video. A great Collegiate Shag routine to one of Continue Reading…
LIVE COLLEGIATE SHAG – DANCING ON THE BEACH!
A post shared by Live.Collegiate.Shag (@live.collegiate.shag) on Aug 13, 2018 at 10:14am PDT I’m a huge fan of Kendall and Ronnie’s Live Collegiate Shag videos. Here’s the latest one with some great moves, not to mention dancing on sand! – Brian
CAMP HOLLYWOOD 2017 – OPEN LINDY FINAL
This is the first in my series of Featured Videos which I’ll be showcasing on the home page. With Camp Hollywood not far off, I thought it would be appropriate to start with the 2017 Camp Hollywood Open Lindy Final! Sit back and hang on for the ride!
THE BEST COLLEGIATE SHAG VIDEOS ON THE INTERNET
Shag (or “Collegiate Shag”) is a partner dance that is done by a good number of Swing dancers in Los Angeles and Orange County, usually to fast music from the 1920’s or 30’s. A little while ago, I saw a video on Facebook from an Instagram feed called Live.Collegiate.Shag. It was a short clip of Continue Reading…
A LOOK BACK AT BEN AND SHERI’S EPIC “FOOTLOOSE” PERFORMANCE FROM NJC 2005
I’ve seen a ton of really awesome choreographed Swing dance routines in my time, but one of my all-time favorites is Ben and Sheri’s amazing first-place “Footloose” performance at the 2005 National Jitterbug Championships at Camp Hollywood. No, this routine is not packed with aerials, stunts, or gimmicks (other than using modern music). Ben and Sheri have Continue Reading…
ERIK ROBISON AND SYLVIA SKYLAR 1998 LINDY SHOWCASE
Laura Keat posted this video on Facebook of two of the most influential swing dancers in L.A., Erik Robison and Sylvia Skylar, who were innovators of what became known as Hollywood Style. They were my personal favorites to watch! Check them out!
CRAZY SWING AERIALS!
This is a random video I found on YouTube from 2007 but it has a good assortment of aerials… Love the helicopter at about 5 minutes (towards the end).
TOP TEN MOST INFLUENTIAL VINTAGE SWING DANCE CLIPS
The style of swing dancing we do in Southern California has been strongly influenced by great performers who danced in old movies. Here are my picks for the top ten vintage clips that have influenced swing dancing LA/OC the most. Special thanks to video historian John Cooper for helping compiling this list! #1 GROOVIE MOOVIE Continue Reading…
AMAZING BALBOA IN MAHARAJA (1943 SHORT)
This clip features Balboa by Hal and Betty Takier.
THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF SWING DANCING IN A SIX-MINUTE ROUTINE
The delightful routine performed by Andrew Thigpen and Karen Turman at the International Lindy Hop Championships in 2010 is chock full of homages to everything from Hellzapoppin, Buck Privates, Goovie Moovie, the Gap ad, bad East Coast swing dancers, to popular dancers within our swing community. It’s basically a six-minute history of swing dancing!