Comments for Dhruv's life in the Lindy, Blues and Jazz dance world http://soundslikedrew.wordpress.com Sun, 01 Jun 2008 19:48:59 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on And I am feeling ‘on’… by monica http://soundslikedrew.wordpress.com/2008/04/12/and-i-am-feeling-on/#comment-10 monica Sun, 01 Jun 2008 19:48:59 +0000 http://soundslikedrew.wordpress.com/?p=8#comment-10 Feeling ON for me, means - NO THOUGHTS what soever ..Actually lately I am feeling ON almost through out my days, with a bit of interruption in between. Actually, putting out in words - this ON state- is already diminishing the REAL BEING feeling.. but still we express it using hints and indicator words..Feeling ON is JUST BE THE MUSIC, or the SILENCE, or NATURE .. Feeling ON is WHEN I AM THE MUSIC IT SELF, WHEN I AM THE SILENCE ITSELF.. and its truly liberating.. there is a presence of NOTHINGness in this REAL FEELING ON in me.. No presence of EGO (big or small) .. PURE Feeling ON .. :-) Feeling ON for me, means – NO THOUGHTS what soever ..Actually lately I am feeling ON almost through out my days, with a bit of interruption in between. Actually, putting out in words – this ON state- is already diminishing the REAL BEING feeling.. but still we express it using hints and indicator words..Feeling ON is JUST BE THE MUSIC, or the SILENCE, or NATURE .. Feeling ON is WHEN I AM THE MUSIC IT SELF, WHEN I AM THE SILENCE ITSELF.. and its truly liberating.. there is a presence of NOTHINGness in this REAL FEELING ON in me.. No presence of EGO (big or small) .. PURE Feeling ON .. :-)

]]> Comment on The Big Band theory by Erica http://soundslikedrew.wordpress.com/2008/04/22/the-big-band-theory/#comment-9 Erica Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:11:07 +0000 http://soundslikedrew.wordpress.com/?p=9#comment-9 The big band era was possible because it exploited musicians-- they were mostly black, and played for white people, so they didn't get paid much. They worked long hours for little compensation because it was better than the other jobs available to them. Now, musicians expect to make at least a couple hundred dollars in a night, and they'd still have to work several nights a week to earn a living. A big band would cost way more than dancers are willing to spend, especially several times a week. My dad used to be a sort of freelance musician-- he'd get a call from someone looking for a trumpet player or a bandleader, and get hired as part of a whatever-piece band. He didn't make a living at it; he was also a college prof. I can ask him about it, if you'd like more history. Personally, and though this is heresy to my dad, I usually prefer a DJ to live music. Live bands tend to have their own unique sound, and don't play the variety of styles I like to hear in one night. The big band era was possible because it exploited musicians– they were mostly black, and played for white people, so they didn’t get paid much. They worked long hours for little compensation because it was better than the other jobs available to them. Now, musicians expect to make at least a couple hundred dollars in a night, and they’d still have to work several nights a week to earn a living. A big band would cost way more than dancers are willing to spend, especially several times a week.

My dad used to be a sort of freelance musician– he’d get a call from someone looking for a trumpet player or a bandleader, and get hired as part of a whatever-piece band. He didn’t make a living at it; he was also a college prof. I can ask him about it, if you’d like more history.

Personally, and though this is heresy to my dad, I usually prefer a DJ to live music. Live bands tend to have their own unique sound, and don’t play the variety of styles I like to hear in one night.

]]> Comment on And I am feeling ‘on’… by Ana http://soundslikedrew.wordpress.com/2008/04/12/and-i-am-feeling-on/#comment-8 Ana Wed, 16 Apr 2008 23:27:30 +0000 http://soundslikedrew.wordpress.com/?p=8#comment-8 I agree, this idea of "on"... it's like all the different things have to come together. Physical, emotional, circumstantial... I don't think it could really be manipulated. I don't ever try to create that feeling. Doing that might actually make it less likely to happen. It's like falling in love. Certain things just have to come together. Can't force that. I agree, this idea of “on”… it’s like all the different things have to come together. Physical, emotional, circumstantial… I don’t think it could really be manipulated. I don’t ever try to create that feeling. Doing that might actually make it less likely to happen. It’s like falling in love. Certain things just have to come together. Can’t force that.

]]> Comment on And I am feeling ‘on’… by soundslikedrew http://soundslikedrew.wordpress.com/2008/04/12/and-i-am-feeling-on/#comment-7 soundslikedrew Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:23:54 +0000 http://soundslikedrew.wordpress.com/?p=8#comment-7 Yes - feeling self conscious can definitely be a deterrent to having fun! And hah - Lindy hop can be quite the aerobic exercise so, yeah, one needs to be 'fit' to Lindy. Yes – feeling self conscious can definitely be a deterrent to having fun! And hah – Lindy hop can be quite the aerobic exercise so, yeah, one needs to be ‘fit’ to Lindy.

]]> Comment on And I am feeling ‘on’… by April-Lyn http://soundslikedrew.wordpress.com/2008/04/12/and-i-am-feeling-on/#comment-6 April-Lyn Sun, 13 Apr 2008 22:45:07 +0000 http://soundslikedrew.wordpress.com/?p=8#comment-6 I definitely feel "on" more often the more I improve technically as a dancer. I agree that being relaxed is important, and I find that I'm also more likely to be "on" if I go into the dancing with no expectations. If I put pressure on myself to do well, or go into the dance/practice expecting something in particular from myself, the music, or my partners, then I can't enjoy myself to the fullest, and my dancing suffers. I start second-guessing myself, become over-critical of my dancing, and generally make myself paranoid, which in turn makes me more prone to clumsy, awkward dancing. Also, if I'm not feeling well, haven't eaten properly or slept properly, if I'm not properly hydrated or am otherwise cranky, then my dancing will be off. With the exception of Tea Party, where I ran on pure adrenaline and caffeine for a majority of the weekend, then suffered for it afterwards. I'm still not sure I've fully recovered... but it was definitely worth it! :D I definitely feel “on” more often the more I improve technically as a dancer. I agree that being relaxed is important, and I find that I’m also more likely to be “on” if I go into the dancing with no expectations. If I put pressure on myself to do well, or go into the dance/practice expecting something in particular from myself, the music, or my partners, then I can’t enjoy myself to the fullest, and my dancing suffers. I start second-guessing myself, become over-critical of my dancing, and generally make myself paranoid, which in turn makes me more prone to clumsy, awkward dancing.

Also, if I’m not feeling well, haven’t eaten properly or slept properly, if I’m not properly hydrated or am otherwise cranky, then my dancing will be off. With the exception of Tea Party, where I ran on pure adrenaline and caffeine for a majority of the weekend, then suffered for it afterwards. I’m still not sure I’ve fully recovered… but it was definitely worth it! :D

]]> Comment on Boston Tea Party 2008 – Part 1 by And I am feeling ‘on’… « Dhruv’s life in the Lindy, Blues and Jazz dance world http://soundslikedrew.wordpress.com/2008/04/01/boston-tea-party-2008-part-1/#comment-5 And I am feeling ‘on’… « Dhruv’s life in the Lindy, Blues and Jazz dance world Sun, 13 Apr 2008 00:14:56 +0000 http://soundslikedrew.wordpress.com/?p=4#comment-5 [...] of Western Mass) picked up on my saying that I felt ‘on’ all weekend in my Boston Tea Party post. He wanted to know what I thought that meant. I thought it’s a good concept to blog about - [...] [...] of Western Mass) picked up on my saying that I felt ‘on’ all weekend in my Boston Tea Party post. He wanted to know what I thought that meant. I thought it’s a good concept to blog about – [...]

]]> Comment on Boston Tea Party 2008 – Part 1 by Adam http://soundslikedrew.wordpress.com/2008/04/01/boston-tea-party-2008-part-1/#comment-4 Adam Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:24:44 +0000 http://soundslikedrew.wordpress.com/?p=4#comment-4 I think that Tea Party takes a good pulse of the national/international community and represents the trends that are constantly evolving among dancers. This happens with both the music played and the dancing/classes/concepts and moves taught by the instructors. I don't think that it's causal, though; Tea Party certainly doesn't start these trends. It enforces those trends that are already moving about in the amorphous swing dance vocabulary by bringing in national instructors and drawing international dancers. I thought Tea Party was great this year too! Looking forward to next year :) I think that Tea Party takes a good pulse of the national/international community and represents the trends that are constantly evolving among dancers. This happens with both the music played and the dancing/classes/concepts and moves taught by the instructors.

I don’t think that it’s causal, though; Tea Party certainly doesn’t start these trends. It enforces those trends that are already moving about in the amorphous swing dance vocabulary by bringing in national instructors and drawing international dancers.

I thought Tea Party was great this year too! Looking forward to next year :)

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