DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #91: ‘Tain’t What You Do

Written by on · 3 Comments
DJ Chrisbe's Song of the Week #91: "'Tain't What You Do" by Jimmie Lunceford

When you are an experienced dancer, then you know this song for sure. If you are a beginner, then here is a song you have to know! It was one of Frankie Manning‘s favourite songs and it is very often used for the Shim Sham. It Ain’t What You Do (It’s The Way That You Do It) was composed by Melvin “Sy” Oliver and co-written with Trummy Young. It was first recorded in 1939 by Jimmie Lunceford and his orchestra. Sy Oliver (17.12.1910 – 28.05.1988) was a trumpeter, vocalist, composer and arranger. In 1933 he joined Jimmie Lunceford’s orchestra to [...]

[ Click to Read more ]

Random Clips on Friday: Lindy Hop Flash Mob at Denver Airport

Written by on · Leave a Comment
Random Clips on Friday: Lindy Hop Flash Mob at Denver Airport | Shuffle Projects

Wow, what a cool Flash Mob! Obviously, they put a lot of effort into the choreography. I like the energy of the dancers, it seems they had a lot of fun. Also the filming and editing is very nicely done! Enjoy! Official Denver Airport Holiday Flash Mob Description, taken from YouTube: Holiday travelers at Denver International Airport (DIA) were surprised with an entertaining treat when a flash mob broke out in Jeppesen Terminal on November 22nd, 2011. Approximately 100 dancers from Community-Minded Dance (cmDance) performed a Lindy Hop to a medley of Swing classics in the airport’s Great Hall in [...]

[ Click to Read more ]

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #90: Stompin’ At The Riverside

Written by on · Leave a Comment
DJ Chrisbe's Song of the Week #90: "Stompin' At The Riverside" by Spade Cooley

A genre I haven’t touched so far is Western Swing, the forerunner of American Country music. One of its big stars was Spade Cooley – self proclaimed as the “King of Western Swing“. Donnell Clyde “Spade” Cooley (17.12.1910 – 23.11.1969) was an American Western Swing violinist and big band leader. He also was a successful actor in western films and TV host. Unfortunately, he was convicted of murdering his wife Ella Mae Evans in 1961. In 1969 he suffered a fatal heart attack. You can find a biography on Wikipedia or on biography.com. Stompin’ At The Riverside is great tune [...]

[ Click to Read more ]

Spotify has arrived in Switzerland – No more in Disguise!

Written by on · Leave a Comment
Spotify has arrived in Switzerland | Shuffle Projects

Today is a good day and I finally can come out of hiding. This is a little bit cryptic, I know! I tell you the story. Two years ago – at Herrang Dance Camp – I signed up with Spotify by using a Swedish address. I just took the address of the Chicago swing dance studio in Stockholm. Thanks guys! At that time, Sweden (where Spotify is located) was one of the few countries with access. Now, the problem was I couldn’t get a paid account! When I tried to register my credit card (or PayPal account) it was refused [...]

[ Click to Read more ]

Documentary “The Unforgettable Hampton Family” on YouTube

Written by on · Leave a Comment
Documentary "The Unforgettable Hampton Family" on YouTube | Shuffle Projects

Some of you who attended Herrang Dance Camp last summer, had the opportunity to watch the documentary “The Unforgettable Hampton Family“, together with Dawn Hampton in person. The interest was appropriately high and the library, where it was shown, fully packed. At the end of September, buddhaboogie, better known as big band leader George Gee, published the documentary on his YouTube channel. The documentary celebrates the Hamptons, a talented African-American family who overcame poverty and prejudice to build successful musical careers. The Unforgettable Hampton Family is a production of BetterThanFiction Productions for WNET. Produced, written and directed by Julie Cohen. [...]

[ Click to Read more ]

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #89: Rexatious

Written by on · Leave a Comment
DJ Chrisbe's Song of the Week #89: "Rexatious" by Rex Stewart & His 52nd Street Stompers

Sometimes, it’s really difficult to explain in words why I like a certain song so much. Rexatious is one of them. Nevertheless, I’ll try it anyway. It must be the rhythm section! This steady ongoing beat “boom-ta-boom-ta” by the drums and then the bass, first only on 1 and 3 and after the break at ca. 0:40 on every beat, is like a heart beat going through that song. Of course, this is always the sense of the rhythm section but here it sounds differently! I don’t want forget the other instruments in this song, but this rhythm is just [...]

[ Click to Read more ]

Swing Dance Competition: Jack & Jill

Written by on · Leave a Comment
Swing Dance Competition: Jack and Jill | Shuffle Projects

Last weekend, Stir It! 2011 was happening here in Zurich Switzerland and I was in charge for the Jack & Jill (J&J) competition, which we organized for the third time this year. Many attendees at the weekend started swing dancing just recently and never have heard about Jack & Jill competitions before. I also got asked quite often, why to enter such a competition at all. So, I thought why not writing a post about this topic, in the hope that next year, there will be no doubt about signing up. You have to know, that Swiss people usually are [...]

[ Click to Read more ]

Zürich Balboa Night am 11. November 2011

Written by on · Leave a Comment
Zürich Balboa Night | Shuffle Projects

ENGLISH version: find this event on Facebook Die Tage werden wieder kühler. Was gibt es schöneres, als die Füsse heiss zu shuffeln. Die November-Ausgabe der Zürich Balboa Night steht an! Zürich Balboa Night Host Benno Rickenbacher Zeit 21.00 – 1.00h DJs Special Guests DJ Romanoff und weitere spielen die heissesten Balboa-Tunes für euch! Ort Downtownswing, Friedaustrasse 17, 8003 Zürich Kosten CHF 15/10 für die Party Stir It!-Mitglieder erhalten CHF 5 Rabatt! Nächste Balboa Night 9. Dezember 2011 Die Zürich Balboa Night findet in der Regel jeden 1. Freitag im Monat statt; ausser im August (Sommerpause)

[ Click to Read more ]