Swing Camp Catalina. . . and away we go
Vol 1, Issue 3: Summer 1996
This year’s dance camp at Catalina Island was an incredible experience - for dancing, and as a great get away. It was everything that Deborah Gardner promised (see Volume 1 Issue 2) and more. This was the third year that the Pasadena Ballroom Dance Association has put on this event - and from conversations with others who have been there previously, it is only improving. In my opinion, this has become the place to go in the U.S. to enhance your lindy hop, mingle with other great dancers from all over the country and Europe, learn more moves and styling from excellent teachers, and have a great vacation besides.
Our swing camp odyssey began on an express ferry which whisked us across 26 miles of the Pacific Ocean from Long Beach. About 40 minutes into the journey, after passing an assortment of fishing and sail boats, cabin cruisers, oil rigs, and an occasional sighting of a dolphin, the island began to appear through the mists on the horizon. Upon nearing the harbor, the small city of Avalon - consisting of shops, restaurants, hotels, houses and beaches - spread out before us in the sun, with mountains looming behind and the round ballroom a vivid presence to our right.
The ensuing four days brought constant choices about which workshop to take (up to four a day), when or whether to go to the beach or snorkeling instead, and where to eat (many savory spots). And all in a perfect mostly sunny climate of 70-80 degrees and moderate humidity. Steven Mitchell, Erin Stevens, Ewa Staremo, David Dalmo, Simon Selmon, Louise Thwaite and Frankie Manning taught various lindy hop classes - styling, back (aka tandem) Charleston, 20’s Charleston, and many (mostly leadable!) cool new partner moves. Steven and David each taught an exciting and challenging class in “Hip Hop Meets Lindy Hop.” Simon showed a crowded roomful of willing dancers how to really strut the Madison. Frankie in his usual enthusiastic and charming manner shared more of his classic lindy moves, as well as Big Apple and the Shim Sham. Erin’s sister Tami and her husband Scott not only taught two levels of aerials classes, but also offered a total change from lindy - west coast swing and Argentine tango. For those in a tappin’ mood, Rusty Frank provided the basics and the new Shim Sham II.
And then there were the dances. Each night offered a different kind of dance party. The first night there was taped music in the ballroom, dj’d by our own Keith Hughes, and the first opportunity to discover how many other good dancers were there (about 350 attended the entire camp, with Seattle well-represented - see Win’s article). Friday night we danced to the tunes of the Eric Ekstrand Ensemble, and were entertained by three performances - fun pieces by two California groups, and in-between the Savoy Swing Club performance troupe, who wowed the audience with Guy Caridi’s choreography to “Sing, Sing, Sing.” Saturday the numbers swelled to about 600, dining and dancing to the lively, upbeat big band sounds of the Bill Elliott Swing Orchestra. This was also the instructors’ opportunity to show their stuff - lindy, west coast, tango and tap. And everyone got a chance to do the shim sham, led by Frankie, and the Madison, led by Simon and Louise. The dancing did not stop when the orchestra left - many stayed to dance to taped music, and when that was done proceeded into the town to the Landing to keep the partying and dancing going for several more hours (for quite a few, this was a nightly occurrence). The Sunday beach party was the final opportunity to eat and dance to taped music (again, courtesy of Keith) with old and new friends before leaving the island.
Kudos to Erin et al. for putting on such a fabulous event. Find the dancers who went to Catalina and ask them to show you a move or two that they learned. Or buy the swing camp video being produced by Guy. And seriously consider putting the fourth Swing Camp Catalina on your calendar - June 5-8, 1997. It is guaranteed swingin’ and sunnin’ fun!
-- Kathy Minsch