Jon Tigert
  • Home
  • Media
  • Awards
  • Contact
  • Blog

6 Complaints You Have About Solo Jazz Dancing (And Why You're Wrong)

8/20/2013

1 Comment

 
So,  many of you know that I really like Solo Jazz and Charleston dancing, and I care a lot about it. That being said, I have some bones to pick, some things to say, and some scolding to do. I warn you, this might be hard to swallow, but I promise: in the end, it will be for the better. That being said, Let's dive in. 

1. "Solo Competitions are always so boring to watch."

You know what? You aren't wrong.  Yes, I realize that the title of this post contains "and Why you're wrong," But in this case, it's not your fault. 


  Here's a not so well kept secret, Solo dancing is tiring, even more so than Lindy Hop. Solo comps can get awfully boring when Prelims and Finals are back to back without a real break between them.   And to make matters worse, this usually happens at 1:00 or 2:oo in the morning, after all the other comps have already happened. As much as I hate pointing fingers, this one falls  on the organizers. And not each of them individually, but the community of organizers.  

How can We fix it: Easy! BREAKS! Have the Prelims the night before! Or even in the afternoon! OR even just a band break earlier! Bottom line, You want high energy solo comps a la ULHS or Lindy Focus IX; Give the competitors time to breath.  
Solo≠Endurance.


2. "But I'm no good at Solo Jazz"


Well if you only took one or two classes in lindy hop then barely used it the rest of the year you wouldn't be any good at that either. Think of dancing like a language, You didn't learn to speak as a baby by taking occasional classes and only speaking with other toddlers.  You were encouraged to try and make  mistakes and you learned from them. So go ahead, make mistakes, suck for a bit, but try. I promise you, you will get better. 

3.  "Solo Dancers are so Pretentious, they only want to dance with themselves."

Believe it or not, I get this opinion. But while I understand it, I don't think you understand us. When I am solo dancing, It is not because I don't want to dance with you, and it doesn't mean I don't want to dance with people. On the contrary, I would LOVE to solo dance with you, and you just need to come join in. And here is a little secret, It's a  ton of fun to dance Solo with friends. It's also a great way to learn new steps! 

Sidenote: If I am solo dancing at a social dance, please don't come hold out your hand in front of me because you assume I would rather dance with a partner. I don't intterupt your dances because I assume you would rather dance with me. 

4. "I don't now how to practice!" or "I just keep doing the same stuff!"


Well lucky for you there are a ton of resources online to learn new steps and instructional videos on classic routines. Again, these are often more fun with friends, but there is no shame in learning them in your bedroom too. Check out Patrick and Natasha's instructional vids on the Big Apple and the Shim Sham (, and you can find various other good videos on the Youtubes. You can also check out Idance.net and Rhythm Juice, they each have some great instructional videos. BUT more than anything, you just need to dance. I promise it sounds silly, but you will get better just by doing it. 
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL42D09DDABCDEFC4F
http://www.idance.net/en/packs/96-harlem-hot-shots-jazz-and-solo-charleston


5. I'm too Shy to Solo Dance! People are going to watch me. 


Yes, People are going to look at you. You will most likely be in the minority at a dance. And for that I am sorry. But keep in mind, most of them are much more intrigued than judgmental. They mostly just want to know what's going on, and if you can show you are having a good time, they will most likely want to join in. 
I always try to be that guy who is solo dancing at an event, and whenever anyone wants to join in, I acknowledge them and we start to play together.

And it's contagious. 

If you get one person to commit, then they get 2, before you know it, you have half a room solo dancing together. (Believe it or not, its more social than partner dancing!)

I double Dog Dare you to try it. 

 
6. I'm really not interested in Solo Jazz...

Firstly, Why are you reading this? 

Secondly, I'm really sorry. I can't make you like things. I can hope you do, and I can encourage you to try. I can say that I didn't really get into Solo Jazz because I liked it, I did it because It was my only option.  (See my old blog post on my time in Italy) 
Most importantly: the more I do it, the more I like it.


Those are some of the things I hear most from people, but I know there must be others. So what are your problems with Solo Jazz? What do you think would make it better? And remember, all of us can always be better. 

-Jon

1 Comment

The Unknown Value of Solo Dancing

4/25/2011

4 Comments

 
People often ask me "How did you get so good only dancing for a few years?" or "How do I get better faster?"
Well, bluntly, there is only one answer to that , and it is very simple. Work more, and work more efficiently.

But, very rarely are people satisfied with that answer, so I have had to develop a better way of satisfying those who clearly want to get better, and here is my official stance on the best way to becoming a better social lindy hopper.

Solo Jazz Dance

Now, most of my opinions are rooted in my own experience and stories. So without further ado, the story, behind my opinion on Solo Jazz:

    In 2009, I was beginning to be recognized locally as a pretty good dancer. The local old timers knew my name, and would even tell me when they had planned a jam circle with the band for later in the evening. (Yes, this is how it actually happened. The band would make an announcement, and a big circle would form around the entire dance floor, and the hot shot local dancers would do the same dips and tricks they've done every other friday since 2005.)
    I was also investing alot of time into a potentially budding career as an opera singer, having performed with the Indianapolis Opera, and been accepted to a prestigious music camp in Novafeltria, Italy. I, of course, accepted the offer to attend the camp, and off I went for 2 and a half months to a tiny town in the middle of Italy, where they had no more than heard of swing dancing once or twice. Before I had left, I had known that I would have limited internet capability, and would be out of the dance loop for a months. So I found a program that let me download videos from youtube and put them on my ipod. Loaded with Hellzapoppin, The Silver Shadows Frankie 95 performance, Skye and Frida's 24 robbers routine and ULHS 2006 I headed for Italy.
    But I had an itch beyond trying to drunkenly lead a few curious local girls or watching old videos. So every morning, I would wake up, and before leaving my tiny, sweaty room, I would put in my small earbuds, with ipod in hand and pick a song. As the first chorus began to play and I started to get a feel for the song, I danced around that room, trying new moves and steps that I might seen someone do once, or at least thought I had seen someone do. Before I knew it, movement was feeling right, and footwork wasn't something I had to think about. Just about everyday for three months my life was filled with Italians who spoke no English, some of the finest classical singing teachers in the world, and my tiny sanctuary of solo jazz.

    When I finally returned home in August, I was terrified to go out social dancing again. Thinking how rusty I must have been, even wondering if I could lead a decent feeling swingout anymore. Nevertheless I went out and danced a few times before a regional event in Indianapolis, Swing, IN, brought in Mike Roberts and Laura Glaess. It was this weekend that I decided to compete in my very first jack and jill.

   Somehow, I managed to make finals, and actually win the damn thing.  I don't think the announcer even made it to announce Beth Hartzel's name before I was yelling and leaping over the sitting dancers to collect my moment in the spotlight.

Looking back on this pivotal moment in my dance life, I can now recognize that I became a better dancer, capable of winning my first Jack and Jill, without having done a swingout for 3 months.

I became a better partner dancer, through Solo dancing.

So you are wondering how you can become a better dancer, even if you don't have a partner, or you can't afford classes.
Get off your butt, stop reading blogs and watching videos, put in your earbuds and just dance.


4 Comments

    Story Time With Jon

    Teaching lessons through stories, the best way.

    Archives

    April 2016
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2012
    September 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011

    Categories

    All
    Charleston
    Hoosier Hot Shots
    Lindy Hop
    Lxd Hellzapoppin Music Copywright
    Performance
    Solo
    Solo Dance
    Swing
    Swing In

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.