The Washington DC metro area has a great lindy hop scene. There is live music and multiple dance options just about every night of the week. Whether you like classic lindy, rock-a-billy and jitterbug, balboa, blues, or fusion, you can get a fix several times a week. However, some weeks are better than others and last weekend was one of the weekends at the better end of the scale. There wasn’t a large international event going on like ILHC coming up this weekend. No, this was just 2 of the main lindy hop organizations in town brining in big names for weekend dances…  just because.

The Liquorice Stick

Piano Man

Friday started with The Boilermakers Jazz Band at the bumper car pavilion at Glen Echo Park. The Jam Cellar brought them in and oddly enough didn’t publicize it very well. I ended up hearing by word of mouth on Facebook. The crowd was healthy, but not as large as it should have been for a 1st rate lindy band like The Boilermakers. Their lead female vocalist is a world champion level lindy hopper for Pete’s sake! The lack of publicity meant SPACE to swing out, which is something lacking at many of the dances here with bigger bands.

When you've been around for 55 years, you have a lot of material at your disposal.

Swivels

Been There, Done That

There is normally a dance in the Spanish Ballroom with a pretty big name on Saturday nights and the floor is usually crowded. This Saturday the dance was organized by Gotta Swing and the music was provided by The Glenn Miller Orchestra. Tom and Debra of Gotta Swing do a great job promoting their dances. The floor was packed.

The Glenn Miller Orchestra

Trombonist

Winds

Gotta Swing’s bigger dances usually include at least one performance and an organized jam. This particular night there were 3 or 4 performances (I didn’t take notes so I don’t remember exactly who performed) and a jam. It was all good fun.

Performing

Paying Attention

Exit Strategy

This coming weekend is ILHC – THE International Lindy Championship – here in DC. It is going to be huge and I’m looking forward to seeing some of my old dance friends from Houston again.