I Made it to Australia!!!

I wish getting to Australia was as easy and fun as this picture looks.  Do you know how serious it is getting to Adelaide, Australia from New York City?  I'll tell you.  First, you have to drag all your luggage down to the subway and take the hour and 45 minute ride to JFK airport.  Next, you fly across the country, NY to LA, which is 6 and a half hours.  Ugh, you feel like that was a huge accomplishment and you're ready to be done but then you realize the trip is just now starting.  You scurry for some food at LAX before boarding the big flight, LA to Sydney, which is 14 hours.  I was expecting 16 for some reason, so I was excited that it was only 14.  Ah, the first sign of land is so beautiful.  Like being in pitch, black, dark, outer space and finally seeing light for the first time.  I tried to take a picture of the Opera House but I don't think it worked through the airplane window.  I was so happy to be in the airport at Sydney.  I celebrated by buying desert and coffee.  But once again, I had to board another plane to Adelaide, a mere 2 hours more.  And that adds up to 24 hours and 15 minutes!  And that's not including the couple of lay over hours I spent.  All in all, I think I spent close to 34 hours traveling from door to door.  And now I'm here!  I made it to Australia.  Which truly is a great feat.  A BIG THANK YOU TO STEVEN, JOEL, AND MANU.

LONE STAR CHAMPIONSHIPS

I'm very happy to say that The Lone Star Championships in Austin, TX (my home town) were wonderful! The Killer Dillers had a great representation in several contests.  Jaun Villafane took first place in solo Charleston with Sharon Davis right next to him at 2nd place.  Nathan Bugh, Michael Jagger, and I were in the semi-finals.  I'm also very proud to say Jeramie Anderson and I won 1st place in the Blues division, a repeat offense from our 1st place win at ALHC Blues, 2007.  And once again, Michael Jagger and I were able to perform our routine to "Singing in the Rain".  We first performed this number back in August at ILHC.  Thanks to Lee Walker, a new video is up on Youtube.  I hope you enjoy.
Singing in the Rain



Blues Division Finals




All Star Invitational Strictly

Michael Jagger and I taught at Glenmont Elementary School this entire week, teaching students from Kindergarden all through 5th grade, how to do the "Big Apple" and the "Shim Sham."  We are thrilled that kids so young are getting to learn about Frankie Manning, Lindy Hop and the history behind this important American art form.

Happy New Year! Evita and Nathan sing and dance to "Stomping at the Savoy".

Here I am doing the TWO things that scare me most, yet I love them and seem to continue to pursue both.  Hope you enjoy.  This song is called "Stomping at the Savoy" Benny Goodman recording, and the choreography is mainly a Coles and Atkins tap routine.  Nathan added a middle chunk section with more slides and turns.  This performance is from Lindy Focus 2009.  It was our first time to do this number in front of an audience.  Hopefully I will get more opportunities to perform this and work on that furious wing step.

Tap Dancing is the hardest thing I have ever performed, well that and singing.

Both require audible expressions of the "SELF".  I never thought of myself as a particularly eloquent speaker.  Maybe this is why the two art forms scare me so much.  Maybe I'm afraid of what I might say.

Back in December Nathan and I were featured in Time Out NY!

Old-fashioned dates

Grab your steady and hit the town just like they did in the olden days.

By Tory Hoen

Swing dancing and a speakeasy
Get things jumping Jon Favreau–style with a private swing dancing lesson from one of the pros at Dance Manhattan Studios (39 W 19th St between Fifth and Sixth Aves, fifth fl; 212-807-0802,dance-manhattan.com; $80 per couple). Over the course of an hour, you’ll learn the fast-paced footwork of the Lindy Hop, which had its beginnings in 1930s Harlem (represent!).
Read more:http://newyork.timeout.com/articles/sex-dating/81060/old-fashioned-dates#ixzz0bbc5OhdT

Read more:http://newyork.timeout.com/articles/sex-dating/81060/old-fashioned-dates#ixzz0bbbyXXOQ

The New York Swing Dance Society
Nathan and I perform our very popular routine
"That's How Rhythm Was Born"

Filming for iDance

Just so everyone is aware, today is 01/02/2010!!!

I am here in Asheville, NC filming for iDance with the rest of The Killer Dillers!! Look for our newest videos in about a week!