Remegia “Midge” Vecchiarelli was born May 16, 1921, and grew up in Astoria, Queens. In her house, the music was opera, music she would love all her life. In later years of high school, she fell in love with swing dancing — Shag, Charleston, and then finally, Lindy, which she loved most of all. Joseph […]
This is part of a new series, Random Research, where I showcase findings in research that are really interesting, but don’t have a home in any of the articles. (I’m also happy to post research others have discovered that they want to share.) This one comes from the Long Beach Sun, April 1, 1938. Its […]
Venmo: @bobbyswungover Paypal.me/bobbywhite3 Happy birthday to the Savoy Ballroom, which opened its doors March 12, 1926. Here’s a little online exhibit to commemorate it. This is part of a special Savoy 100th collection including an Integrated Rhythm Podcast Episode (where we discuss the deeper social and racial world of the Savoy) coming soon. The Beginning […]
Just in time to have missed the holidays! We have decided it’s finally time to do some merch, thanks to the encouragement of some loved ones and fellow dancers. Here’s what to know! What do you got? Currently we have T-shirts & hoodies in three designs: “Swungover,” minimalist design (right), our “Swungover + definition” design […]
Venom: @bobbyswungover Paypal: paypal.me/bobbywhite3 The dance we know of as “Balboa” today is actually a combination of dances original dancers called “Balboa-Swing”/”Bal-Swing,” and “Swing-Bal.” Enjoy this down-and-dirty explanation of the two dances coming together and explains why the modern scene calls it simply “Balboa,” which of course over-simplifies some for the sake of grasping the […]
Venmo: @bobbywsungover PayPal: paypal.me/bobbywhite3 Here are the (experimental) first two episodes of a new project I’m doing, called Clipsession. (As in, obsession, but with clips. Also, a session of watching clips.) “But Bobby,” you’re saying, “You already have so many projects that we get, like, one update per project a decade. Why start another?” Well, […]
Venom: @bobbyswungover Paypal: paypal.me/bobbywhite3 The dance we speak of commonly as “Balboa” today is actually a combination of two Southern California swing era dances, “Balboa Shuffle” and “Swing.” I made a short video to explain “Swing,” which some teachers might refer to as “So-Cal Swing” or “L.A.Swing” today. (As with all short history videos, it […]
paypal.me/bobbywhite3 venmo: @bobbyswungover PLEASE NOTE! When considering what to donate, please note the steps, the original dancers who danced them, the names of the steps, and the contributions of the many who helped put names to them are not my intellectual property, and therefore are not what I’m asking donations for. Basically, I do not […]
Venom: @bobbyswungover Paypal: paypal.me/bobbywhite3 Want to understand Pure Balboa better in just a few minutes? Enjoy this down-and-dirty video guide to “Pure Bal,” a.k.a. Balboa Shuffle, that of course over-simplifies some for the sake of grasping the general idea. Enjoy this unique, partner-focused Swing Dance! This is part of a whole mini-documentary I’m creating (in […]
Venmo: @bobbyswungover This is part of the Harvest Moon Ball essay series. To see all the Harvest Moon Ball essays, please visit Swungover’s HMB page. Rock’n’Roll & Dancing For the 1956 Harvest Moon Ball, the Daily News contest changed the name of its “Jitterbug-Jive” division to “Rock’n’Roll.” By doing so, the HMB was at the forefront of […]