Failing Well – Twyla Tharp

As a choreographer Twyla Tharp provides some exceptional insight into the methodology of creativity and how we approach success vs. failure.  I came upon this video over on 43Folders and it has some great advice for dancers who are in the middle of creative ventures.

Perhaps the most significant note in the video: wanting to be liked and admired can be an impediment to our creativity as dancers.  We often choose to replicate what works and what is showcased as successful in competitions by top dancers rather than pursuing our own creative impulses.

We have to be aware of our crowd and audience but at the same time have the confidence to forge our own dance since being admired and liked have little to do with dancing.  Something I think all aspiring dancers have to work on balancing.

Twyla Tharp is the author of The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life.

Lindybloggers.com

Lindybloggers.com is live!

On Hold

Jazz Dance Blog will be on hold for a while.

Currently in the works is a joint blog project with Alain Wong, that is being designed by our mutual friend Patrick Beland.  This blog project will cover many of the same aspects but with more featured articles, event reviews and interviews from more contributors and authors.

If you are interested in potentially contributing articles, reviews, interviews, video footage, or photography on the lindy hop scene and lindy hop events please feel free to contact me at ferrix (at) gmail (dot) com.

In the meantime, go dance.

Camp Jitterbug Video Round-Up

Here’s the final video round-up of this years Camp Jitterbug out in Seattle.  Thank to Sean and Tonya for putting on such a great event and providing us with these high quality videos of the competitions.

Jump Session Show 2008 Trailer – As I mentioned in my post for Camp Jitterbug; the Jump Session Show is one of the few shows entirely dedicated to traditional jazz dances.  Here is this years composite trailer.

Jack and Jill Finals – I had the opportunity to participate in this years Jack & Jill and it was a really great competition.  High energy with a very responsive crowd.  Here is the video, although I would have liked to have it filmed from the front.

Solo Charleston Finals – I couldn’t wait for this video to come out and I’m thrilled that it is out.  I had such a great time with all of the other dancers in this competition, especially in the dance off between myself and Sharon.  Check it out.

And if you missed the Lindy Hop Couples Final video, check it out in this post.

What’d you think of the videos from this years Camp Jitterbug?  Leave a comment and let me know.

Tournament Video Round Up

Grenoble’s Lindy Exchange hosted the Tournament with a range of competitions.  They have posted some high quality footage on Youtube with some exceptional dancers.

This solo charleston contest is really exceptional with two of my favorite dancers that I got the privilege to compete with at Camp Jitterbug, Juan and Sharon.

Here they are winning the showcase division at GLX.

Here are the winners of the Team Competition.  I particularly enjoyed the jazz steps at 1:30.

If you haven’t checked out the former video round-ups take a spin through them: Blues Video Round-Up, Raw Video Round-Up, and the Solo Jazz Video Round-Up.