Spring Fling

The bunny hop. Chicks on the floor. Look at those huge eggs. OK. I"m done now. :-)

When I first started looking for Easter dance vintage postcards I wasn't sure I'd find any. Easter is a Serious Religious Holiday, after all. But of course, there is also great joy associated with this day. And, Easter is rooted in many older traditions that celebrate the arrival of spring.

And what better reason to kick up your heels than the cold weather is finally gone? None that I can think of. Unless you count jelly beans and marshmallow chicks.

Hurts So Good

Friday came with the usual workload. It seems like, with the business closing down, there would be less work demanding my attention but (so far) that hasn't been the case. I was glad when four o'clock came around and I hit the door with my mind already southbound.


Terry Lee was the evening's attraction and we traveled to Nashville, IN for the pleasure of seeing him. When Terry is in the house you can forego worrying if you'll get a good show or not. The man and his band deliver. They're more reliable than the postal service. Around eight o'clock the band warmed up and the joint was jumping by eight thirty. We danced our ankles off and didn't stumble across the threshold until almost one in the morning – beat, burnt, and crispy but damned happy for it!

It's interesting, you work all day long and come home feeling dead – then you dance all evening long, until you barely can move and every muscle in your body threatens aching revolt and you feel more alive than you have in a long time. Maybe that's the reason that, in the worst of times, people seem to dance the most. Think about the Great Depression – no work, bread lines, and a six mile wide divide between rich and poor and you get swing, jive, and jazz. Maybe these days – gloomy as they are – mark some second American renaissance. Maybe out of these bad times will come something great. It's impossible to say, I'm sure the average Joe treading the dance floors of the 30's wouldn't have imagined there was anything ground shaking about the music or dances he participated in. He probably would have just shrugged and said it felt good to dance. Maybe that's what dance is about – outrunning the weariness and worries of the world in three-minute, musical foot races.

St. Patrick’s Vintage Dance Postcards

Yeah, I know, St. Paddy's Day was last week. But I was busy. See my writer's blog.

Anyway. First off, there are SO many vintage postcards depicting some form of dance I couldn’t begin to put them all on a post. Well, I could, but even I become weary of them. There are so many different kinds: jigs, children dancing, couples dancing, singles dancing, and even the odd leprechaun cuttin' a rug.

Perhaps this is because the Irish culture has such a rich tradition of dance, whether it is a jig, step dance, reel, or round dancing. Not to mention modern club dancing in big cities.

There’s something about these dancing St. Patrick's Day cards that allows me to hear that happy music. But the joy seems to be infused with an undertone of melancholy that says dance now and dance often…there may be no tomorrow.

Here are some of my favorite. I hope they inspire you to kick up your heels.

Terry Lee and the Rockaboogie Band

Yep, another post about this fabulous band. Gary and I will probably post every time we see them, because of two things: one, we think they are THE best local band around. If you have a chance to see them do so…you won’t be disappointed.

Two, they mix it up. The show is never the same, and they aim to please. When they play at a dancing venue they always make sure they include varying tempos and rhythms. This is fabulous for those of us who want to dance different styles. If also great for older people who may not be able to keep up with blistering numbers. Of course, Terry also does play a few rocketing songs…Gary and I felt the after effects the next morning. But that’s cool. No guts no glory.

Last Friday Gary and I danced the rockabilly swing of course, but also ECS, WCS, and…a couple of rumbas! Very cool. We took my parents, who also loved them. My dad is a very picky musician himself, so that’s saying something.

In short, Terry Lee and his band are awesome to listen to, watch, and to dance to. Hats off. We hope you play forever. My favorite this time: White Lightning.

Well the "G" men, "T" men, revenuers, too
Searchin' for the place where he made his brew
They were looking, tryin to book him,
but my pappy kept a-cookin'
Whshhhoooh . . . white lightnin'...

St. Patrick's Day Dance at the Paramount

Ah, the Paramount Ballroom, subject of many a post here at Blue Suede Souls. Although both Gary and I have said this before, it is a wonderful treat to dance in such an historic space. There aren't many of these grand old ladies left.

Gary and I attended a St. Patrick's Day dance there last Saturday night. I think Gary may have a drop of two of Irish blood, I don't. And neither of us are Catholic. But we both love the idea of the wearin' of the green, because we both appreciate the fair isle's fairy folk and OK, the party atmosphere.

And, another theme night is always good. I especially love the excuse to dress up for yet another holiday. Dancing gives you the opportunity to wear costumes at almost any time of the year. I wore shamrock earrings, bright green nail polish, and a neon green top. My mom wore similar garb.



It's always fun to have my parents along, this time they deserve a special commendation. They forgot their dancing shoes. Anderson, Indiana is a long way from Indy. Much too long to retrieve shoes. Both wore street shoes that would not spin. So what did they do? They danced in their stocking feet!



That's the true spirit of dancing. And St. Paddy's Day too…leprechauns wouldn't let a thing like shoes stop them from kicking up their heels.

Holding the Egg

Gary and I are getting to the point in our clave salsa journey that we are adding stylings! The salsa is a very free dance as far as individual expression is concerned, however, I was interested in adding some authentic flavor. Our instructor Shayne told me that most women hold their hands as if holding an egg between the thumb and middle finger.

It doesn't sound pretty but it is! Check out the below video. What I find fascinating is that this hand styling is very similar to the way belly dancers hold their hands. Once again demonstrating the blending nature of dancing...and cultures.

I love this dance!!!

The Bop - Part 3

Hey, there’s a guy in this dance! Meet Buzz. I call him that for obvious reasons. Buzz likes his new electric razor. He likes it so much that he shaved his entire head and had to apply that magnetic fuzz from his Mr. Woolley toy to his shorn dome. The image of the hand-hold for the Bop looks like the caption should read “You’re commin’ with me!”


I scrolled between the “Boom” and “Chick” illustration several times and I don’t see the pivoting they describe. The instructions do remind me of the Rockabilly Swing, especially the downward swing of the hands to kick off the dance. The instructions provide here seem to be a sanitized version, though. Note you should have at least two feet between you and the girl – that way you won’t get girl cooties!

Doubles – I think the guy who wrote the copy for this section had a few doubles before getting to work. All I can say is – WHAT? Okay, so you do the basic – got that. Then you don’t rock toward the opposite side but instead you bounce again…on both feet? Isn’t that like – jumping? Then it gets really psychedelic – I’ll just quote the copy. “…and then again pick up the same foot out in front…” That’s not instruction, its beat poetry! It’s not helpful that (according to today’s web-etiquette) the instructions are SHOUTED. What is helpful is the statement that all this verbal gymnastics is trying to convey you should essentially do one half of the basic, twice consecutively.

Walking the Bop…too silly for words.