You're a very good dancer. A pleasure to watch your expertise. And then you are a very good instructor. And then you are a great tradition bearer. You got it all.
We are a homeschool family who just found your channel, the breakdown of musicality paired with movement and history of dance from another time period is fantastic! Thank you for making these videos!
Very cursory, "headline" history. The history of jazz and associated dance is far more complex, and a lot of incorrect assumptions were made to push the history into afro-centrism, ignoring that the entire genre is played on European instruments, with European time signatures, sprung out of vaudeville and other European entertainment styles wearing European clothing and costumes, many of the songs were written and arranged by White composers (especially those from Tin Pan Alley), and White promoters and recording studios brought the blended styles into prominence. All of this was blended with a plethora of African styles and cultures, in integrated and segregated groups and environments, across 60+ years, to result in what was becoming "main stream" in the 1920s (amazingly, 25 years before Democrat President Woodrow Wilson would re-segregate the Federal Government!). To characterize it as belonging to any singular group (which similarly implies blacks are monolithic) is about as tone deaf and racially insensitive as was the actual racism of the day (especially when viewed through a modern lens, which is yet another folly of modern historians and writers).
Btw, Frankie Manning was such a sweet man - I can't remember whether it was in Massachusetts or in Sweden, I used to go to Lindy months back in the early '90s. But, Hellzappin! And you are a wonderful dancer!
Thanks for that, I can "feel" which one works better with the music but having it broken down with the instruments and rhythm differentiated was really cool.
Hey Laura, thank so much for your videos. I am learning LH for little more than a year now, I am nowhere near the level of you guys, but it gives me and my soulmate a lot of fun. I would probably quit by now, because this whole swing seems difficult for me - but your videos makes me continue. Love the beginner friendly explanation and “fun focused” teaching style. I might never be as good, but I am for sure as excited as you are! Please, never stop :)
I meeeean... if you want to get really dorky, the drums I do in the early jazz section aren't very accurate. From what I understand, early jazz drums are more about press rolls, and there wouldn't be a strong back beat because that happened along with the Dixieland revival, which is more modern. However, I didn't know how to vocalize press rolls, so I figured this was good enough to get across a feeling.
The point related to swing rhythm replacing the two beat meter was well-made, even without the press rolls. That explains why an egg beater feels better to do for me than a jump Charleston to 20s music. Thanks for sharing this knowledge :)
I think this video went up, then down, and then back up again. Anyway, loved it! Really well done. Also really loved your one-woman orchestra and all the plants. Keep up the great work!
It did - a friend told me that I had put up the wrong picture of Walter Page, Count Basie's bassist. Unfortunately, there are very few photographs of that musician, and the one I found was actually a mislabeled Milt Hinton. It's just a minor detail, but I didn't want to put that lie out there.
12:12 I think it's because we cant bounce to that rhythm? I tried doing the triple step to the charleston rhythm, and while it's feasible, and could work as an intro, I just find the constant pulse more captivating to dance with.
I totally agree that it feels better to dance to a steady beat. What I heard was that James P Johnson's song Charleston (the one with that rhythm) was based on the dance. But we don't do that rhythm in the dance, so how did it happen? That's where I am.
That was great, Thanks Laura ❤🙏 Arent you considering starting an on-line course? 🤩🙏 I know that you have lot of lessons here, but it would be nice to have them “in order” - so I know what to learn at first and what is next. Thaaanks 🙏🙏🙏
I've put some of the lessons in a playlist. Maybe it's hard to find on my page, but I have a beginner playlist and an intermediate playlist. Still working on fleshing everything out.
Thanks a lot. Yes I know about it, but I was thinking about a course where movements are taught a little bit longer, so we can practice with you longer and get used to it :) Now there is like 20 sec basic movement what we have to play over and over again to learn it properly and it is a little bit tricky here on youtube not to say that we have to pause dancing after a minute and start again after a "finding" break. But I understand that this is the way that suits you the best and I am really grateful for everything you are doing for us
Hi from Seattle! I absolutely love the Anytime Honey Mine song. I think that must be Alice Spencer as per your show credits, but I cannot find anywhere. Do you have any sources for this music other than Amazon. They are charging something like $100. And also, thanks for the content. BTW, the teachers at the dance studio I learn at always is recommending your videos to show how things are done!
Thank you for the video but can you do one where you slow it waaaaaay down? I can't follow and I can't figure out which foot you put where and when and what you're doing with the other foot in the meantime :'') And in what direction and when do you ankle twist? Thaaanks!
Great video, just what I needed to dust off my rusty 20s Charleston! But seriously, those plants ... are you ever afraid to turn your back on them? Looks like they were reaching out to grab you a few times!
Hey Laura, I have vividly followed your great videos of dancing. You did a video of the origin of Charleston steps going back to West Africa, called "Obolo" ?? What is the correct name. Thank you in advance, . Greeting Denmark.
Shorty Snowden was a dancer Frankie idolized when he was coming up. I believe he and the other dancers of his generation like Leroy Stretch Jones, Big Bea, Mattie Purnell were considered 1st Gen.
Hi Laura when i first started dancing lindy you where one of my favorite lindy hoppers to watch! really appreciate seeing this content. I have a legit question i would like to ask. With the long history of slavery, segregation, dehumanization and lynching towards African Americans till this day, and knowing someone such as yourself benefits greatly from the suffrage of these people, is it okay for white people to be dancing lindy hop? I think the origins of this dance is rooted in cultural fetishizes of blackness as whites who popularized the dance still had no respect for black Americans at the time, as many still lived in segregation, I wonder how this influences the way white people perceive this dance and the people in it.
That is a very good, very difficult question. From what I understand, there's no unified opinion on this, and I can only give you my opinion, which is, of course, tainted by the fact that I love this dance, have already dedicated many years to learning it, and have positioned it in the center of my job, social circle, activities, etc. So take everything I say with a huge grain of salt. I try to do my part by being respectful of people's opinions, learning and teaching as much of the history as I can, talking about the need to give the Black creators of the dance credit, learning and trying be involved with Black contemporary culture, and donating half of the money I get from the youtube channel to organizations that promote Black American causes. That said, there's no checklist that I can complete that will "make everything ok." There will always be people who don't think I should be involved because I don't come from the culture, and I can't tell them they are wrong. That is their legitimate opinion. Hopefully my continued effort to understand, do no harm, and direct credit helps my case. As far as how the dance history influences the way modern white people perceive it, I don't think there's one experience of that either. I think a lot of people don't know Lindy Hop is a Black American dance since it has been whitewashed for so many years. Some people know it's a Black American dance, but don't grasp the full responsibility of what it means to participate in that culture (I myself could be part of that camp). I don't know if this is a good answer to your question, but it's something I've thought a great deal about. My opinion, I'm sure, will continue to evolve as I learn more. Open mind ;)
You're a very good dancer. A pleasure to watch your expertise. And then you are a very good instructor. And then you are a great tradition bearer. You got it all.
We are a homeschool family who just found your channel, the breakdown of musicality paired with movement and history of dance from another time period is fantastic! Thank you for making these videos!
Very cursory, "headline" history. The history of jazz and associated dance is far more complex, and a lot of incorrect assumptions were made to push the history into afro-centrism, ignoring that the entire genre is played on European instruments, with European time signatures, sprung out of vaudeville and other European entertainment styles wearing European clothing and costumes, many of the songs were written and arranged by White composers (especially those from Tin Pan Alley), and White promoters and recording studios brought the blended styles into prominence. All of this was blended with a plethora of African styles and cultures, in integrated and segregated groups and environments, across 60+ years, to result in what was becoming "main stream" in the 1920s (amazingly, 25 years before Democrat President Woodrow Wilson would re-segregate the Federal Government!). To characterize it as belonging to any singular group (which similarly implies blacks are monolithic) is about as tone deaf and racially insensitive as was the actual racism of the day (especially when viewed through a modern lens, which is yet another folly of modern historians and writers).
Love the idea of your kids learning about jazz and jazz dance. It's given me so much ❤️❤️
I remember Frankie Manning - I actually got to dance with him briefly at a Lindy convention. He was the whole package. Love your Charleston!
Btw, Frankie Manning was such a sweet man - I can't remember whether it was in Massachusetts or in Sweden, I used to go to Lindy months back in the early '90s. But, Hellzappin! And you are a wonderful dancer!
Love the dancing and the houseplants! 🤩💚💃🕺😍
Thanks for the breakdown, loved all the information!
Thanks for that, I can "feel" which one works better with the music but having it broken down with the instruments and rhythm differentiated was really cool.
I've only done ballet and lyrical jazz, so these moves are so foreign to me. It's really fun to learn something so different from what I'm used to
Agreed!
Hey Laura, thank so much for your videos. I am learning LH for little more than a year now, I am nowhere near the level of you guys, but it gives me and my soulmate a lot of fun.
I would probably quit by now, because this whole swing seems difficult for me - but your videos makes me continue. Love the beginner friendly explanation and “fun focused” teaching style.
I might never be as good, but I am for sure as excited as you are!
Please, never stop :)
Your message is so kind. This is one of the main reasons I do this channel. Lindy hop is so fun. Be inspired! Have fun!!
Loved the a cappella music lesson from 5:24 ^^ Also, your hair is absolutely popping in this video!
I'm learning!
Great lesson! I love it ❤
Thanks!
Thank YOU!
This is absolutely an amazing video!!!
Laura, you just got yourself a new fan :) can't get out of your videos! thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.
I'm so happy it's helpful!
Wow, a lot of great work in this video! Thank you so much!
happy to learn about this alice spencer song!
She is SO talented
The drums sound very different in those 2 eras, making me want to move differently. Amazing content and even better beatbox - acappella.
I meeeean... if you want to get really dorky, the drums I do in the early jazz section aren't very accurate. From what I understand, early jazz drums are more about press rolls, and there wouldn't be a strong back beat because that happened along with the Dixieland revival, which is more modern. However, I didn't know how to vocalize press rolls, so I figured this was good enough to get across a feeling.
The point related to swing rhythm replacing the two beat meter was well-made, even without the press rolls. That explains why an egg beater feels better to do for me than a jump Charleston to 20s music. Thanks for sharing this knowledge :)
I think this video went up, then down, and then back up again. Anyway, loved it! Really well done. Also really loved your one-woman orchestra and all the plants. Keep up the great work!
It did - a friend told me that I had put up the wrong picture of Walter Page, Count Basie's bassist. Unfortunately, there are very few photographs of that musician, and the one I found was actually a mislabeled Milt Hinton. It's just a minor detail, but I didn't want to put that lie out there.
Hey Laura! Great video as always! No, actually, it's even better than usual, I loved your singing
Oh, good idea! I'll investigate!
12:12 I think it's because we cant bounce to that rhythm? I tried doing the triple step to the charleston rhythm, and while it's feasible, and could work as an intro, I just find the constant pulse more captivating to dance with.
also the beat is too fast to do syncopation?
I totally agree that it feels better to dance to a steady beat. What I heard was that James P Johnson's song Charleston (the one with that rhythm) was based on the dance. But we don't do that rhythm in the dance, so how did it happen? That's where I am.
Isn’t it a classic tresillo rhythm skipping its third beat? I think it would be more danceable with a full tresillo.
Thank you
I love all your videos honestly, but every time I open one of your videos it seems like you have more and more plants. I am so jealous 😂
lol - I try to gather them up. There are definitely fewer now that I'm in NYC.
That was great, Thanks Laura ❤🙏 Arent you considering starting an on-line course? 🤩🙏 I know that you have lot of lessons here, but it would be nice to have them “in order” - so I know what to learn at first and what is next.
Thaaanks 🙏🙏🙏
I've put some of the lessons in a playlist. Maybe it's hard to find on my page, but I have a beginner playlist and an intermediate playlist. Still working on fleshing everything out.
Thanks a lot. Yes I know about it, but I was thinking about a course where movements are taught a little bit longer, so we can practice with you longer and get used to it :) Now there is like 20 sec basic movement what we have to play over and over again to learn it properly and it is a little bit tricky here on youtube not to say that we have to pause dancing after a minute and start again after a "finding" break.
But I understand that this is the way that suits you the best and I am really grateful for everything you are doing for us
Hi from Seattle!
I absolutely love the Anytime Honey Mine song. I think that must be Alice Spencer as per your show credits, but I cannot find anywhere. Do you have any sources for this music other than Amazon. They are charging something like $100.
And also, thanks for the content. BTW, the teachers at the dance studio I learn at always is recommending your videos to show how things are done!
Thank you for the video but can you do one where you slow it waaaaaay down? I can't follow and I can't figure out which foot you put where and when and what you're doing with the other foot in the meantime :'') And in what direction and when do you ankle twist? Thaaanks!
Great video, just what I needed to dust off my rusty 20s Charleston! But seriously, those plants ... are you ever afraid to turn your back on them? Looks like they were reaching out to grab you a few times!
I know it. If I had the windows to line every wall, I would. It would be a disaster.
Hey Laura, I have vividly followed your great videos of dancing. You did a video of the origin of Charleston steps going back to West Africa, called "Obolo" ?? What is the correct name. Thank you in advance, . Greeting Denmark.
I believe that is the correct name! Thanks for watching! Keep dancing!
Bravo!🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹❤️
Frankie was 2nd generation? Who was 1st generation?
Shorty Snowden was a dancer Frankie idolized when he was coming up. I believe he and the other dancers of his generation like Leroy Stretch Jones, Big Bea, Mattie Purnell were considered 1st Gen.
Great !! and I like your shoes...;) I would like to buy the same ones for my partner...;) I am in France...;)
Oh, I honestly got them by google image searching "oxfords" or something. I don't even know the brand!
Hi Laura when i first started dancing lindy you where one of my favorite lindy hoppers to watch! really appreciate seeing this content. I have a legit question i would like to ask.
With the long history of slavery, segregation, dehumanization and lynching towards African Americans till this day, and knowing someone such as yourself benefits greatly from the suffrage of these people, is it okay for white people to be dancing lindy hop?
I think the origins of this dance is rooted in cultural fetishizes of blackness as whites who popularized the dance still had no respect for black Americans at the time, as many still lived in segregation, I wonder how this influences the way white people perceive this dance and the people in it.
That is a very good, very difficult question. From what I understand, there's no unified opinion on this, and I can only give you my opinion, which is, of course, tainted by the fact that I love this dance, have already dedicated many years to learning it, and have positioned it in the center of my job, social circle, activities, etc. So take everything I say with a huge grain of salt.
I try to do my part by being respectful of people's opinions, learning and teaching as much of the history as I can, talking about the need to give the Black creators of the dance credit, learning and trying be involved with Black contemporary culture, and donating half of the money I get from the youtube channel to organizations that promote Black American causes. That said, there's no checklist that I can complete that will "make everything ok." There will always be people who don't think I should be involved because I don't come from the culture, and I can't tell them they are wrong. That is their legitimate opinion. Hopefully my continued effort to understand, do no harm, and direct credit helps my case.
As far as how the dance history influences the way modern white people perceive it, I don't think there's one experience of that either. I think a lot of people don't know Lindy Hop is a Black American dance since it has been whitewashed for so many years. Some people know it's a Black American dance, but don't grasp the full responsibility of what it means to participate in that culture (I myself could be part of that camp).
I don't know if this is a good answer to your question, but it's something I've thought a great deal about. My opinion, I'm sure, will continue to evolve as I learn more. Open mind ;)