Swing Dancing

My DSB anniversary! Halloween night, how perfect!

As I was watching the time tick by to DSB, I was trying to think of a costume. My main costume had yet to arrive. I finally decided I would just bring PJs. So, I slowly prepared to leave, when I had an idea to be a vampire. The only problem is I sweat a good deal, so I wasn’t sure how well makeup would stay on me.

I called a friend of mine who has done a good deal, and she told me she had a powder and fake blood that would help it stay on longer. I quickly ran out of my house to get to a nearby Party City before it closed.

I arrived 7 minutes before it closed, bought some fake teeth and some white makeup.

I then went directly to DSB, and my friend met me and put on makeup. She was also a vampire, and we happened to have nearly identical cloaks, it was amazing. So, we walked in as “brother and sister” vampires, and she had done my makeup so well that my dance partner actually couldn’t look at me in the dim light of the dance floor. It was kind of unfortunate, but kind of cool. I didn’t plan on wearing the makeup the whole night.

I danced with a good many of people and I could feel my makeup start to smear with my sweat. Nothing could touch my face without leaving a white mark. I had two dances that made the whole makeup worth it.

A friend of mine, who had talked with my dance partner, disagreed, “I don’t think he’s [me] that scary looking”, danced with me. While dancing she said, “wow, you do look scary!” So, I dipped her and in a demonic voice said “LOOK INTO MY EYES!” She semi screamed and freaked out, which was really funny.

Another time I asked someone I hadn’t yet met to dance. Midst the dance she commented, “you know, it was really freaky when you asked me to dance.” So, It was definitely worth it.

I rubbed the makeup off my face, which meant I got to dance with my partner again. Yay!

One of my favorite Blues Dancers, who won last year’s Lindy Groove costume contest, came as Iron Man. Not in the full costume, but just with the glowing center in his chest, and it was really on/in his chest, and showed through his shirt. It was absolutely amazing.

My partner was a Succubus, and did an incredible job.

Other than that, the blues went well, nothing spectacular.

Oh, one more point to note. The birthday jam was TERRIBLE. No one cut in for the first 2 minutes or so (to MOST of the dancers), they just watched. When they did cut in, they stayed there, and no one else did. People are supposed to switch like every 15-30 seconds!

That was it!

Wow, behind again!

It was another night at memories as it was another friend’s birthday.

I picked up a friend, drove to another house, and we were both picked up, picked up another friend then arrived at Memories a little past 9PM.

When people started dancing with the Birthday Boy, who turned 25, started depositing quarters in his pockets while dancing. It took him a little while to realize we were doing it in regards to his age, and he ended up with a LOT of quarters that night, over $10 I believe.

The most interesting part of the night was his birthday dance. I cut in the end of the dance, and he loves to do aerials with me (do to my massive 140lbs of weight and ability to jump quite high). So, instead of a final dip he launched and held me for a second or two about 4-5 feet in the air — still waiting for the pictures!

Other than that, the night went as normal. They played a little bit of blues and hip hop in the end, which was good and a nice change after bally fast Lindy Hop all night.

Another week at Lindy Groove, but this was a special week. It was four people’s birthday, including my dance partner (Emily).

I arrived early for the class, which was very good. Still working on the basics, and they said the new people in the class (of which I’m included) did very well. I think I finally have an idea of what to do with Shorty George, and they worked on body part isolation.

After we got out… I was completely stunned. Emily and her dress, were absolutely amazing. Easily one of my favorite outfits I had seen her in, and perfect for the occasion. Her birthday dance was great, many people cutting in and everyone had fun. At the end, we lifted her and one of our other friends (Jake) on our shoulders, and everyone saw them. The DJ even tried to get them to have a chicken war, it was so much fun.

The next event of that evening was a surprise for Emily at IHOP. I helped urge everyone to get there before Emily did, which worked. She got there last, and was completely surprised. She had only been surprised once before in her life, and never a surprise party. IHOP was more full than it had ever been, and we danced until late into the night. She later told us it topped her 21st birthday, which was great.

All and all, it had been an absolutely incredible night. A great lesson, great dancing, and fun all around.

Memories is a nice little venue down in Whittier that plays some of the best swing music, mixed with an occasional Blues/West Coast Swing song.

This night was going to be a special night. It was a member of the Clientele’s birthday, a core member. A few others and I arrived earlier to help setup. It was Jake’s birthday, and his nickname is BabyBlue. He thought maybe two or three of us would show up, but we got ten to fifteen people. That, and a gift he wasn’t expecting, would make his night.

We had all just arrived when he walked in, and boy was he surprised. Baby Blue colored balloons, a giant happy birthday sign, friends everywhere. Whittier isn’t close to pretty much anyone, which made him even happier that everyone had gone this out of their way to come to his birthday party.

Other than that, a Lindy Hop World Champion was there that night, and he was an absolute pleasure to watch. So playful and tossing girls here and there, and had several moves in he repertoire I hadn’t seen anywhere else. He even tossed one of our members straight into a group picture midst dancing, and then pulled her out onto the dance floor — it was amazing.

Birthday Surprise – Success!