Just to warn you - this rant belongs on craigslist and you should stop reading now because there is nothing of substance below.

I've been uninspired. So much so, I've been inspired by my uninspiration.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bqw47bTigI

Now, my rant is not related to Paul's desire to do a show. Like I said before, I'm sure he'll make it awesome with his ingenuity.

This video is the epitome of everything I dislike about "dancing" and the shim sham in particular. What I particularly hate is how the shim sham has become synonymous with bland, soulless, boring dancing that has nothing to do with the music.

Ponder this: do you do the steps or do the steps do you?

I especially hate it when I see long-time dancers do the shim sham with death row dance face (drdf) and the moves like they just learned it two days (myself included - "Damn you mirror!"). Where's the joy? Where's the variation? Why dance if it's a chore?

Also, why do I have to hear Frankie yelling at me when I do the shim sham? Can't I do the shim sham to another song that has the same structure and no one yelling at me? Good job Star Wars dude; you leveled up by using Imperial March instead of the yell-y song.

I know I'm using the shim sham as a vehicle for my rant, but I feel the same way about all dancing. I'd rather suck at dancing than be boring at dancing. Hakuna Matata!

Blpftggggg. Sorry for the word vomit.

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Dear Baby, Please be independent. Love, Mom -SAC

Hear hear!

I agree. Is dancing a duty? Are you obliged to do steps correctly as a duty, or must you rock out? I argue for the latter.

It's not anti-community to step out, it's not even revolutionary to dance something differently than those around you. Your comradery in a choreographed routine are to look alike, but to dance together. Perhaps for a performance for lay people you want to have matching lines and uncanny unison, but that's not so much dancing as demonstrating.

When I shim sham, I try to make it a new one every time. But then, I haven't shim shammed in months. So I am a phony.

I also hate it when Frankie yells at me on a cd. Perhaps he could yell at me in person and I could write in my blog about how cool that was. But yeah - new musics for shim shams are always fun because hits will be new too!


Snuggle fun, Maryx

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"What is within shall now be without. / Don't just dance - you must throw down."

| Sarah |

Well, if it helps, people don't seem all too interested and I may have to choose another dance??

No no, my rant wasn't about creativity or people disliking certain spoofs or anything like. I was really commenting on the lack of enthusiasm while "dancing". I know for sure that is not you! You are the opposite of lacking enthusiasm.

I mean, Imperial March Shim Sham could be really funny and weird and interesting and entertaining, but this dude totally biffed it.

What are your plans next? Also, you mentioned that you and Meredith were planning on doing it. Is there anything stopping you other than the fact that there will be two of you? There are plenty of line routines that are still awesome with two people.

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Dear Baby, Please be independent. Love, Mom -SAC

I could do a dance with just the two of us. However, I hate being the center of attention. Just a tad shy I guess . Last semester, I had a piece with 4 couples to "Bei Mir Bist du Schein." That was pretty fun. The only problem we had was that our timing was off, so it wasn't as good as it could have been. If I did a dance with just Meredith and myself, I feel I would have to do it like all those really good dancers have done it and throw in a bunch of aerials and fancy stuff like that. But, since I don't really do aerials (for liability's sake), a piece like that would be pretty boring. My backup plan would probably be 3 couples next time, and then choose the right song.

This is kind of off the topic, but.....

Because you have and are choreographing routines it would be cool to see the Cyclone Swing Society back in the HSF Team Division. It would be a shame if the Team program went to pot.

....but yeah, people need to get into the group dances more. Just because they are a set of steps done in one particular order, it does not mean that you have to do it the same ol' boring way every time. LIVE A LITTLE!

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I don't do Blues but I'll Shag with anyone.

I don't do competitions, and 90% of our members just started swing dancing this year, and they still are a bit rusty, so I don't expect anyone to jump and try to compete with anyone. The routines I've been doing are just for fun and to show off, not expecting any sort of reward.

There is always a reward when doing a competition; even if you don't win a prize. All the hard work and effort in putting together a routine is great for swing groups IMO. It gives you all a common goal, gets people excited, and is a great way for people to get together and learn new things.

We don't have an "advanced" class at UI, but instead have a performance team. This way we can work on new stuff and people can be excited to show off what they've learned. It isn't really about winning. (Winning is a nice bonus though)

Is there a particular reason you don't do competitions?

I think Paul listed some very good reasons that he and his crew don't compete - it's just not for them! People have fun dancing in different arenas and so please promote HSF (it is banging) but stop hasslin' Paul! ha ha ha

From what I hear, Paul's dancer friends are excited, learning new things and having a good time without competing and that's what they're looking for. So I think it's fine if they don't want to do a contest.




Another point: I don't think that a routine need aerials to be exciting and fun. Who saw Sky & Frida's piece for Showdown this year? Stood out from many of the others as having no air steps, and it took the cake for lots of us watching, because they were full of this quirky energy and they danced TO the song. So I wouldn't be worried about not including aerials. They sure do grab attention and are fun to watch, but they are not required for a sweet ass dance!

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"What is within shall now be without. / Don't just dance - you must throw down."

| Sarah |

Yeah we just want to have fun. Personally, I don't feel I can compete with any of the swing dancers out there. Like Sarah said, it's not for us. I don't even know that many moves, and I know I still dance with a pretty "stiff" frame and not as relaxed as I should be, despite having danced since I joined the ISU swing club in 2003. Maybe in about 5 or 10 years I'd be ready to compete, but not now.

Oh man, I totally agree that routines don't have to have air steps to be awesome. Sarah mentioned Skye and Frida's 2007 ULHS couple's routine, here it is for quick reference:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ii7q-qwEpnI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEtG4F4JWOo

Yeah man! Yeah! Totally simple but so well executed.

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Dear Baby, Please be independent. Love, Mom -SAC