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Swing Dancing & Music

Post about swing dancing, jitterbug, Lindy hop, Balboa, Collegiate Shag and music, Big Band, Jazz Swing, Hot Jazz, Western Swing, Jump Blues

Make it Hurt So Good: Moments in Dance

 Posted by on Jul 4, 2015 at 5:51 PM
Jul 042015
 
Make it Hurt So Good: Moments in Dance

~ Make it Hurt So Good ~ by Tam Francis Up to Shenanigans I wasn’t sure what to expect as we drive by the tiny bar called Shenanigans. We’d heard Rip Carson was playing and there wasn’t a single other venue open to accommodate our insatiable Lindy lust. The joint is so small I almost […more…]

Good Clean Sweat: Moments in Dance

 Posted by on Apr 16, 2015 at 12:37 PM
Apr 162015
 
Good Clean Sweat: Moments in Dance

~ Good Clean Sweat: Moments in Dance ~ by Tam Francis Embracing the Sweat I felt the beads of sweat gather, fill, and slide down the small gully between my breasts only to be absorbed by the crisp white cotton of my floral halter top. At this point in the night, the baby powder that I’d dusted […more…]

Politically Correct or Censorship?

 Posted by on Oct 1, 2014 at 1:17 PM
Oct 012014
 
Politically Correct or Censorship?

~ Politically Correct or Censorship? ~ by Tam Francis THE ALERT After posting a link to reddit (scary over there–talk about an odd form of censorship or bullying), it was brought to my attention that a song I had chosen for one of my chapter titles and listed on my Soundtrack page contained very offensive, racist lyrics. I […more…]

Remembering the First Camp Hollywood

 Posted by on Aug 29, 2014 at 5:21 PM
Aug 292014
 
Remembering the First Camp Hollywood

Remembering the First Camp Hollywood By Tam Francis In  honor of this year’s Camp Hollywood, I go back in time, into the archives of Swivel: Vintage Living Magazine and tell you what is was like to be at Camp Hollywood that first year (1998)… The First Night Blinking lights beat the rhythm of the Hollywood […more…]

In Search of Sam Butera

 Posted by on Aug 17, 2014 at 9:23 AM
Aug 172014
 
In Search of Sam Butera

~ In Search of Sam Butera ~ by Steve Conrad edited by Tam Francis As I finish work on my ghost story collection I thought I would share an interview Steve Conrad did for my magazine Swivel: Vintage Living. Steve is a dance instructor, producer and deejay. He runs the successful Arizona Lindy Hop Society. […more…]

Confessions of a Neo Swing Dancer: Truth be Told

 Posted by on Jun 20, 2014 at 2:50 PM
Jun 202014
 
Confessions of a Neo Swing Dancer: Truth be Told

Confessions of a Neo-Swing Dancer: Truth be Told by Tam Francis Writing Isn’t Enough I’ve written a fictional jitterbug novel, the first draft of a sequel and a ghost story collection of vintage, romantic tales of fright. I love old movies. I still wear vintage and sew from vintage patterns, but the truth is: since we […more…]

What’s Your Swing Dance I.Q.?

 Posted by on Jun 11, 2014 at 2:48 PM
Jun 112014
 
What's Your Swing Dance I.Q.?

What’s your Swing Dance I.Q. ? Test your history and Lindy Hop Knowledge here. Are you Advanced, Intermediate, Beginner or Total Newbie? ♦ ♦ ♦ Which Dance Group was Frankie Manning NOT in? Congaroos Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers Rhythm Hot Shots Hot Chocolates The Ballroom Most Associated with Lindy Hop is? The Hollywood Palladium The Savoy […more…]

The Biggest Jitterbug Contest in History

 Posted by on Jun 3, 2014 at 4:35 PM
Jun 032014
 
The Biggest Jitterbug Contest in History

~ The Biggest Jitterbug Contest in History ~ By Peter Loggins edited by Tam Francis I’m thrilled to share another article by dance historian Peter Loggins. I was fortunate to have Peter on staff when I published Swivel: Vintage Living Magazine. I’m happy to take it from the printed page to the digital world! Take […more…]