by Sharion Davis
(scrool down for Chinese)
I had a wonderful time at Inspiration Weekend, that is a truly great event I highly recommend to add to your swing calendar. I’m feeling very inspired! Thank you to all my lovely students for the messages and emails since the weekend, and I’m so so happy to hear that you were inspired by our classes! Since this kind of question has been popping up a fair bit, I thought I’d just put together a post for you all. Here is my list of twenty things you can do to improve your Lindy Hop! Aaaaaand… go!
1. TAKE CLASSES
Take classes, from as many different teachers as possible. If you’ve got limited access to teachers, try DVDs, iDance.net orRhythmJuice.com
2. SOCIAL DANCE
Social dance as much as possible, and dance with as many different people as you can (beginners to advanced)
3. LISTEN TO SWING MUSIC
Listen to as much swing and jazz music as you can, even if it’s just in the background, it makes a big difference
4. DJ FOR A DANCE
Curating your collection and selecting music for dancers will make you think about swing music differently
5. TRAVEL TO DANCE
Go to swing events and workshops in other cities and countries if you can
6. FILM YOURSELF DANCING
Film yourself dancing and watch it analytically. Film > watch > improve > repeat.
7. TAKE PRIVATE LESSONS
Take private lessons with your teachers and/or get personal feedback from friends.
8. WORK ON YOUR SOLO DANCING
Charleston, jazz steps, blues, even tap. At the minimum make sure you know all the classic solo choreographies (Shim Sham, Trankey Doo, Keep Punchin’ Big Apple, Al & Leon Shim Sham, Dean Collins Shim Sham, etc). Practice improvising.
9. JOIN A SWING TEAM
Join a performance group, if you can, or form one with friends if there isn’t one around
10. CHOREOGRAPH A ROUTINE
Even if you never perform it, the process of choreographing makes you better. Learning other people’s routines will also give you a new perspective.
11. PERFORM
Yes it’s scary, but performing makes you think about your dancing differently
12. COMPETE
Also scary, but competitions give you something to train and aim for, and again, it makes you think about your dancing differently
13. TEACH
Teaching something forces you to really understand it. If you don’t want to teach a class, just teach a step to a friend
14. BE INSPIRED BY THE PAST
Watch vintage film clips from the 1920s-1950s of the original dancers. Watch > break it down > steal > repeat.
15. BE INSPIRED BY DANCE IN GENERAL
Watch some old Gene Kelly films, go see a tango show, watch some hip hop on YouTube, rewatch LXD for the sixth time…
16. READ ABOUT IT
Start with Frankie’s book if you haven’t read it already, and go from there. Try this and this and this and this and this. There are also some great Lindy Hop blogs out there – my favourite is Bobby White’s Swungover.
17. LOOK AFTER YOUR BODY
Firstly, take your injuries seriously. Secondly, Lindy Hop alone will not give you the dancer’s body you need to dance at your peak. You need to stretch and do some resistance training in addition to dancing. My personal recommendation is Yoga or Pilates as they will improve your strength and flexibility, but also your balance and body awareness, which will make you a better dancer.
18. LEARN THE OTHER DANCES
Learn the other dances in our jazz dance family – Balboa, Collegiate Shag, St Louis Shag, Charleston, Blues. They will all improve your Lindy
19. ACCEPT THAT YOU WILL NEVER BE SATISFIED
Great dancers are proud of their achievements and comfortable in their bodies, but never ever satisfied. We are always our own greatest critic. So enjoy the journey, find happiness in where you are now, keep striving, but don’t expect to ever be satisfied.
20. JUST KEEP DANCING. NEVER STOP.
If in doubt, just keep dancing. If you’re in a rut, your progress has plateaued, or you’re not feeling motivated about your Lindy, just go out social dancing. The joy and inspiration always come back, as long as you never stop.
(scrool down for Chinese)
I had a wonderful time at Inspiration Weekend, that is a truly great event I highly recommend to add to your swing calendar. I’m feeling very inspired! Thank you to all my lovely students for the messages and emails since the weekend, and I’m so so happy to hear that you were inspired by our classes! Since this kind of question has been popping up a fair bit, I thought I’d just put together a post for you all. Here is my list of twenty things you can do to improve your Lindy Hop! Aaaaaand… go!
1. TAKE CLASSES
Take classes, from as many different teachers as possible. If you’ve got limited access to teachers, try DVDs, iDance.net orRhythmJuice.com
2. SOCIAL DANCE
Social dance as much as possible, and dance with as many different people as you can (beginners to advanced)
3. LISTEN TO SWING MUSIC
Listen to as much swing and jazz music as you can, even if it’s just in the background, it makes a big difference
4. DJ FOR A DANCE
Curating your collection and selecting music for dancers will make you think about swing music differently
5. TRAVEL TO DANCE
Go to swing events and workshops in other cities and countries if you can
6. FILM YOURSELF DANCING
Film yourself dancing and watch it analytically. Film > watch > improve > repeat.
7. TAKE PRIVATE LESSONS
Take private lessons with your teachers and/or get personal feedback from friends.
8. WORK ON YOUR SOLO DANCING
Charleston, jazz steps, blues, even tap. At the minimum make sure you know all the classic solo choreographies (Shim Sham, Trankey Doo, Keep Punchin’ Big Apple, Al & Leon Shim Sham, Dean Collins Shim Sham, etc). Practice improvising.
9. JOIN A SWING TEAM
Join a performance group, if you can, or form one with friends if there isn’t one around
10. CHOREOGRAPH A ROUTINE
Even if you never perform it, the process of choreographing makes you better. Learning other people’s routines will also give you a new perspective.
11. PERFORM
Yes it’s scary, but performing makes you think about your dancing differently
12. COMPETE
Also scary, but competitions give you something to train and aim for, and again, it makes you think about your dancing differently
13. TEACH
Teaching something forces you to really understand it. If you don’t want to teach a class, just teach a step to a friend
14. BE INSPIRED BY THE PAST
Watch vintage film clips from the 1920s-1950s of the original dancers. Watch > break it down > steal > repeat.
15. BE INSPIRED BY DANCE IN GENERAL
Watch some old Gene Kelly films, go see a tango show, watch some hip hop on YouTube, rewatch LXD for the sixth time…
16. READ ABOUT IT
Start with Frankie’s book if you haven’t read it already, and go from there. Try this and this and this and this and this. There are also some great Lindy Hop blogs out there – my favourite is Bobby White’s Swungover.
17. LOOK AFTER YOUR BODY
Firstly, take your injuries seriously. Secondly, Lindy Hop alone will not give you the dancer’s body you need to dance at your peak. You need to stretch and do some resistance training in addition to dancing. My personal recommendation is Yoga or Pilates as they will improve your strength and flexibility, but also your balance and body awareness, which will make you a better dancer.
18. LEARN THE OTHER DANCES
Learn the other dances in our jazz dance family – Balboa, Collegiate Shag, St Louis Shag, Charleston, Blues. They will all improve your Lindy
19. ACCEPT THAT YOU WILL NEVER BE SATISFIED
Great dancers are proud of their achievements and comfortable in their bodies, but never ever satisfied. We are always our own greatest critic. So enjoy the journey, find happiness in where you are now, keep striving, but don’t expect to ever be satisfied.
20. JUST KEEP DANCING. NEVER STOP.
If in doubt, just keep dancing. If you’re in a rut, your progress has plateaued, or you’re not feeling motivated about your Lindy, just go out social dancing. The joy and inspiration always come back, as long as you never stop.
我在Inspiration Weekend玩的很开心。这真的是一个很棒的活动，我绝对建议大家把参加这个活动放在你的计划里。我真的得到很多启发！谢谢学生们发给我的短信和电邮，真高兴听到大家说从我们的课程中也得到启发！一直以来，我收到许多相同的问题，既然这是许多人共同想知道的，我就在这里整理出20个可以帮助你提升你的林蒂舞技巧的事! 准备好了？ 开始！
1. 上课
上课，尽你的可能向越多老师、越多不同的老师学习越好。如果你能接触到的老师不多，看DVD, 上 iDance.net 或 RhythmJuice.coom 看视频。
2. 参加社交舞会
尽可能多参加社交舞会，尽可能与越多的舞者跳舞（从初级舞者到高阶舞者）
3. 聆听摇摆乐
听很多摇摆乐、爵士乐。即使只是在背景播放，都会有帮助。
4. 替舞会 DJ 音乐
建立你自己的音乐收藏并替舞会选择音乐。替舞会选择音乐很让你对摇摆乐有不同的看法。
5. 旅游到别的地方跳舞
旅游、到别的城市、别的国家去参加摇摆舞活动、舞蹈营。
6. 拍摄自己跳舞的样子
拍摄下自己跳舞的样子，分析自己的动作。 拍摄> 分析 > 进步 > 重复
7. 上私课
向老师要求上私课，或者请朋友给你建议。
8. 在独舞上下功夫
查尔斯顿、爵士、蓝调，甚至踢踏舞。最低限度要学会所有经典的独舞舞目（Shim Sham, Trankey Doo, Keep Punchin’ Big Aple, Al & Leon Shim Sham, Dean Collins Shim Sham, 等等）练习加进即兴变化。
9. 加入表演队
找个表演团队加入。没有团队可以加入，自己组织一个。
10. 编排一个舞码
即使你没有表演的机会，编排一个舞码的过程会帮助你进步。学习别人编排的舞码也会让你对跳舞有不同的看法。
11. 表演
好吓人，是不是？表演会让你对你的舞蹈动作有不同的想法。
12. 比赛
也很吓人，是吧？ 参加比赛让你有个目标去练习，参加比赛也同样会让你对你的舞蹈动作有不同的想法。
13. 教舞
教舞会迫使你去彻底了解要教的内容。如果你不想正式教课，教一些朋友一些基本的舞步也可以。
14. 从历史吸取养分
看20 到50年代原创舞者的舞蹈影片。看影片 > 分解、分析 > 吸取灵感 > 重复.
15. 从其他的舞吸取养分
看金凯利的老片子，看一场探戈表演，看一段Hip Hop视频，看 LXD 五百遍…
16. 丛书里吸取养分
如果你还买看过Frankie Manning的自传，可以从这本书开始。还有 这本 、这本 、这本 、这本 和 这本.。网上也有许多很好的有关林蒂舞的博客 There are also some great Lindy Hop blogs out there – my favourite is Bobby White’s – 我个人最喜欢的是Bobby White 的Swungover。
17. 好好照顾自己的身体
首先，受伤时要严肃看待这事。第二，光是跳摇摆舞你得不到给你顶尖表现所需要的锻炼。除了跳舞之外，你还需要伸展训练和重量训练。我个人推荐瑜伽和皮拉提，因为这两项运动除了会使你更有力、有弹性，对平衡与身体直觉的提升也很有帮助，这些都会是你成为更好的舞者。
18. 学其他的舞蹈
学习爵士舞家族里的其他舞种 – Balboa, Collegiate Shag, St Louis Shag, Charleston, Blues。他们都会对提升林蒂舞有帮助。
19. 接受你永远不会觉得满足的事实
顶尖的舞者会对自己的成就感到很骄傲、对自己身体的控制感到得心应手，但是永远也不会自满。他们永远给自己最严苛的批评。所以，享受学习、进步的过程，在现在的阶段找到快乐，持续努力提升自己的水平，但是别期待终有一天会觉得满足。
20. 继续跳舞。永远别停。
不知何去何从时，继续跳舞就对了。如果感觉遇到瓶颈、进步的状况不如所期，或者感觉失去对林蒂舞追求的动力，去跳舞！只要你持续跳舞，跳舞的欢快与灵感一定会回来。
1. 上课
上课，尽你的可能向越多老师、越多不同的老师学习越好。如果你能接触到的老师不多，看DVD, 上 iDance.net 或 RhythmJuice.coom 看视频。
2. 参加社交舞会
尽可能多参加社交舞会，尽可能与越多的舞者跳舞（从初级舞者到高阶舞者）
3. 聆听摇摆乐
听很多摇摆乐、爵士乐。即使只是在背景播放，都会有帮助。
4. 替舞会 DJ 音乐
建立你自己的音乐收藏并替舞会选择音乐。替舞会选择音乐很让你对摇摆乐有不同的看法。
5. 旅游到别的地方跳舞
旅游、到别的城市、别的国家去参加摇摆舞活动、舞蹈营。
6. 拍摄自己跳舞的样子
拍摄下自己跳舞的样子，分析自己的动作。 拍摄> 分析 > 进步 > 重复
7. 上私课
向老师要求上私课，或者请朋友给你建议。
8. 在独舞上下功夫
查尔斯顿、爵士、蓝调，甚至踢踏舞。最低限度要学会所有经典的独舞舞目（Shim Sham, Trankey Doo, Keep Punchin’ Big Aple, Al & Leon Shim Sham, Dean Collins Shim Sham, 等等）练习加进即兴变化。
9. 加入表演队
找个表演团队加入。没有团队可以加入，自己组织一个。
10. 编排一个舞码
即使你没有表演的机会，编排一个舞码的过程会帮助你进步。学习别人编排的舞码也会让你对跳舞有不同的看法。
11. 表演
好吓人，是不是？表演会让你对你的舞蹈动作有不同的想法。
12. 比赛
也很吓人，是吧？ 参加比赛让你有个目标去练习，参加比赛也同样会让你对你的舞蹈动作有不同的想法。
13. 教舞
教舞会迫使你去彻底了解要教的内容。如果你不想正式教课，教一些朋友一些基本的舞步也可以。
14. 从历史吸取养分
看20 到50年代原创舞者的舞蹈影片。看影片 > 分解、分析 > 吸取灵感 > 重复.
15. 从其他的舞吸取养分
看金凯利的老片子，看一场探戈表演，看一段Hip Hop视频，看 LXD 五百遍…
16. 丛书里吸取养分
如果你还买看过Frankie Manning的自传，可以从这本书开始。还有 这本 、这本 、这本 、这本 和 这本.。网上也有许多很好的有关林蒂舞的博客 There are also some great Lindy Hop blogs out there – my favourite is Bobby White’s – 我个人最喜欢的是Bobby White 的Swungover。
17. 好好照顾自己的身体
首先，受伤时要严肃看待这事。第二，光是跳摇摆舞你得不到给你顶尖表现所需要的锻炼。除了跳舞之外，你还需要伸展训练和重量训练。我个人推荐瑜伽和皮拉提，因为这两项运动除了会使你更有力、有弹性，对平衡与身体直觉的提升也很有帮助，这些都会是你成为更好的舞者。
18. 学其他的舞蹈
学习爵士舞家族里的其他舞种 – Balboa, Collegiate Shag, St Louis Shag, Charleston, Blues。他们都会对提升林蒂舞有帮助。
19. 接受你永远不会觉得满足的事实
顶尖的舞者会对自己的成就感到很骄傲、对自己身体的控制感到得心应手，但是永远也不会自满。他们永远给自己最严苛的批评。所以，享受学习、进步的过程，在现在的阶段找到快乐，持续努力提升自己的水平，但是别期待终有一天会觉得满足。
20. 继续跳舞。永远别停。
不知何去何从时，继续跳舞就对了。如果感觉遇到瓶颈、进步的状况不如所期，或者感觉失去对林蒂舞追求的动力，去跳舞！只要你持续跳舞，跳舞的欢快与灵感一定会回来。
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