When you find yourself in
danger, When you're threatened by a stranger, When it
looks like you will take a lickin'...
There is one thing
you should learn, When there is no one else to turn to,
Caaaall for Super Chicken!! (**bwuck-bwuck-bwuck-bwuck**)
Caaaall for Super Chicken!!
Welcome to Chicken Swing!
We are an organization dedicated to improving the swing dancing vibe in
Oakland. There's been a sizable swing dance and lindy hop scene in
Pittsburgh for a while, and we (along with
CMU's
Swing Dancers Anonymous) aim to bring some of that energy to the university
scene in Oakland!
"Swing dancing" is an umbrella term
for "lindy hop,""east coast swing,""balboa,""shag" (there are various
types),
"blues dancing," etc
-- basically anything that can be done to swing/jazz/blues music.
The resident lesson instructors usually teach east coast swing or lindy
hop, but guest instructors will drop in semi-regularly.
And then there's the music! Today, "swing dance music" includes music
from the 1920's through 2004, ranging from the early greats --
Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald,
and Duke Ellington -- to
later-era blues and jazz musicians like
Oscar Peterson, Clark Terry,
and Jimmy Witherspoon -- to the
great bands that grew up around the swing dance boom, like
George Gee, Indigo Swing and our
very own
Boilermaker Jazz Band. Of course there are hundreds more artists that are heard at swing dances
today, and we aim to please.
This Week, May 6:
So I asked people on facebook what I should teach at Chicken Swing and got the following replies:
"How to be as awesome as me. Unfortunately, this is a dance trade secret." - Kelsey
"something awesome that we'll remember for the rest of our lives...!" - Jan
I don't know if I can live up to those standards. This week, I'm going to teach you how to be Badass Blues Cuttin' Machines (although, maybe not as cool as Kelsey).
"Cutting or challenge dancing has existed for as long as dance has been around. The roots among African Americans traces its way back to derision dances in West Africa, but can be seen from the Cake Walk and Jig contests of the days of slavery, through to back room joints like the Hoofer's Club, grand ballrooms like the Savoy where Whitey's team of youngsters went up against Shorty's team of seasoned veterans where a young Frankie Manning introduced the first airstep, all the way to the b-boy battles of the 80's and Krump sessions of today. The soul of improvisational dance was put on display in battles of skill and heart both solo, partnered and team." - northstarblues.com
Andy's Alcove, (UC Basement, next to Kinko's) Thursday Lesson: 7:30-8:30 pm Social Dance: 8:30-10:30 pm
See you on the dance floor!
- Forrest
ps. This may be the last Chicken Swing of the school year, and we're trying to gauge interest in keeping it going over the summer. Let me know if you'll be around and what nights work for you.
pps. Check out this badass solo blues cuttin' competition a few weeks ago at BluesSHOUT! in Austin:
Dance
Information
When: Every Thursday.
Free lesson at 7:30pm.
Dance from 8:30-10:30pm.
Who:
You and your friends.
All skill levels.
No partner necessary.
Safe area in Oakland.
No
Alcohol & No Smoking.
Cost:
FREE ($3 suggested donation for non-students)
Where:
Usually
Andy's or Rangos (subscribe to
the mailing list for
updates)
Directions: Click here for directions Campus Map
- Andy's - University Center, basement (Bldg.
#28)
- Rangos - University Center, 2nd floor (Bldg.
#28)
- Margaret Morrison (Bldg. #13 Rm. 119)
Parking:
There is a parking garage right at the intersection of Beeler & Forbes
(P7 on the
campus map) that is free on weekends and after 5pm on weekdays. Park in the garage and walk back out the way you drove in. Once you're outside turn left and go down the stairs and walk past the narrow end of the track. The first building you run into will be the one you want (it has big glass doors and a rounded entranceway). Go inside and down one floor to the basement. Head straight down the hall and it opens right up into Andy's.
After
Hours
Sometimes we like to get
together after the dance and grab a bite to eat. If you're
interested in hanging out after the dance let us know.
