Music City Motion

Private Collection Class Description

2007-06-13T12:07:00.000-07:00

Things are moving along quickly. The latest tidbit? Class descriptions are filtering up to the site. Go check them out, see what you're getting into.

10 updates, and reasons to register for the Private Collection this afternoon

2007-06-12T11:36:00.000-07:00

The Private Collection is getting really close and we have some last minute updates for you. You can register here

Housing is available. If you've been waiting to sing up until you saw that housing is ready, no need to wait any longer. The housing form is up there now, right along with registration.
Registration is still just $65, but there are a limited number of slots left.
A (mostly) complete though somewhat tentative class list and schedule is available including times, classes, and instructors. Class descriptions are beginning to filter up to the site too, for you really detailed, gotta know types.
Registration is still just $65, but there are a limited number of slots left.
Dance only passes will not be available, but the dances will be open. The cover will be $8 each night (Friday and Saturday, no dance on Sunday) at the door (obviously included if you are registered for the weekend).
If you can't make classes, you need to consider coming to at least dance. With the instructor line-up and attendees, it's going to be two of the best nights of social dancing the South East has ever seen.
Registration is still just $65, but there are a limited number of slots left.
There is time (and space) set aside specifically for Private Lessons. Those times and spaces are reserved for workshop attendees.
Registration is still just $65, but there are a limited number of slots left.
There are no plans to make a la carte classes available at the door. We're sorry if you wanted to take just a few choice classes, that is probably not going to be an option for you.
Registration is still just $65, but there are a limited number of slots left.

We can't wait to see you in just 3 weekends. Please join us in Knoxville, it just won't be the same without you. Register now

I HATE Microsoft Internet Explorer

2007-04-23T07:46:00.000-07:00

Why do I hate I.E. Right now? Well because it removes the images for the buttons at the bottom of the Private Collection site, so it looks like it is incomplete... but it isn't. The site is standards compliant, all other browsers (Firefox, Netscape, Safari, Opera) render the site perfectly.

So this afternoon I will fix the site so people can view it. If you want to see it as it was meant to be though, please download firefox and use that browser from now on. It's so much nicer than I.E. anyway.

Private Collection - Classes galore

2007-04-20T13:01:00.000-07:00

I am almost done with the classes for this year's Private Collection. This is going to be a great weekend of classes, we have more variety than ever before (of course we have more instructors than ever before too).

The working list of classes (from which the official classes will be drawn) is on the Private Collection website. Check it out, and if you haven't registered yet, do so. The price is starting the slow climb to the $65 full price for the weekend.

Last Call for Private Colleciton Early Bird

2007-04-15T21:25:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow (Monday April 16) Early Bird Registration ends for The Private Collection. The price goes from $45 to $50 - still not a bad deal, but why pay $5 more?

Won't you join us, it just won't be the same without you?

Private Collection Update

2007-04-10T07:00:00.000-07:00

I can never remember which font I write this blog in... I need to start figuring that out.

Private Collection updates:

Early-Bird registration is still only $45, but it's not going to stay that way for too much longer, the full price is $65 and we'll start incrementally increases ticket prices shortly. So if you plan to attend come on and register, if you don't plan to attend... why wouldn't you plan to attend?
Website updates were released last night. The complete instructor line-up is available and a number of our guests have already submitted pictures and bios. Check them out and pester the procrastinators to get their stuff in.
Class schedule. A tentative class schedule will be released this week. Pester your favorite instructors to get their classes to us ASAP.

Private Collection Date Error

2007-03-20T12:22:00.000-07:00

If you notice the logo, the Private Collection is June 30 - July 1, reality is this is June 29. Special thanks to SaraLynn T. for pointing that out to me. I'll get that fixed this evening.

Private Collection Registration

2007-03-13T11:09:00.000-07:00

You can register now for the Private Collection. We are running a Pre-Registration special discount for the first 20 - $35 (at the door is $65).

Website will be up soon and Early Bird Registration will be $45 and will be open until April 15th.

Pre-Register now

Private Collection

2007-03-13T07:33:00.000-07:00

It's almost real. Are you excited yet? Just a few more days now and everything will be ready.

We have more this year too, more instructors, more classes, more variety, more room, and yet the weekend even got a little bit cheaper (Early Bird Special will start at $35, Regular at the door registration is $65 for the whole weekend).

The Private Collection

2007-03-03T11:16:00.000-08:00

It is official, there will be a Private Collection this year, for the 6th time! There are a couple of changes that have been made, the biggest is that it will not be in Nashville. I've pondered, since before last year's Private Collection, the possibilty of making it a moving workshop. I don't think it has been done before and I think it is a good idea.

So this year the Private Collection will be in Knoxville, and rather than early spring it is a mid-summer weekend (June 30 - July 2).

This year will be even better in few other ways. This is the be the largest line-up of instructors we've ever had, perhapse even the larges at any single even in the South East sing the Natural Ball. We will have an extended class schedule and we're working on expanding opportunities for private lessons as well.

And of course the price for the weekend will be super low as usual (early registration will start at $35 and at the door will be $65, which for dances, and 10 classes is pretty good).

The Private Collection Cometh

2007-02-15T09:30:00.000-08:00

It's nearly official (but not quite yet). Music City Motion (that's me) will be teaming up with KSDA for the Private Collection.

While usually in Nashville in the early spring this year we'll be in Knoxville and in the summer. This is mostly because I didn't get on the ball early enough to not be forced to compete with a bunch of other events.

But there is also another motive. I'd love to take the Private Collection "on the road". It would still be a once a year event but would travel around the South East allowing different local scenes to host it and add their own spin and flavor to the basic gist of the event.

More details will be forthcoming, hopefully soon.

2007 Lindy Hop Goals

2007-01-12T07:29:00.000-08:00

A new year's upon us and this year I've taken upon myself goal-setting for the first time. From everything I've ever heard about goal setting, part of the magic is writing them down and even disclosing them. So here are my Lindy Hop** intentions for 2007:

A return of (mc)2 - Yup, I have every intention of hosting the 5th Music City Mini Camp after a year's hiatus.
The 6th annual Private Collection - the date won't be late February/early March as in past years, but this spring the South East will again gather for a rompously fun weekend of classes from everyone we can fit into the schedule.
Events I will again (or finally) attend: Down South Camp Meetin', The Great Southwest Lindyfest, ATLX, Camp Jitterbug, All Balboa Weekend, Swing Out New Hampshire, Gulf Regionals, AVS, Lindy Focus 6.
Finally launch the "mini-shop" idea I've been trying to form over the last few months.
Teach six times with Rebecca Strickland and at least twice with my wife (as an aspiring Opera singer her focus is not as intently on dancing as mine) at various events.
Fully redesign musiccitymotion.com.
DJ at least one regional event (not produced by myself).

So there we go... a little ambitious yes, but I think they are fully acheivable. So here's to a terrific (and busy if all this works out) 2007 for Music City Motion.

**yes, yes... I state Lindy Hop, but that is not exclusive of balboa**

Private Lessons: come and get some for 2007

2007-01-03T17:27:00.000-08:00

...we've heard that there's been some confusion as to whether Sarah and I are still teaching. We love teaching and indeed we are still doing private lessons and some workshops.

Now that things are settling down for us our evenings and weekends are opening up a bit more should you feel the urge to get a new perspective on your swingout or balboa.

You can catch us at tim@musiccitymotion.com, or at most Portland Brew dances.

See you on the floor

Lindy Focus

2007-01-03T17:26:00.000-08:00

ROCKED! Hope you made it. More Later.

Upcoming: Southern Belle Swing Bash this weekend

2006-11-14T15:48:00.000-08:00

Sarah nor I were able to make last year's SBSB. Even though we can only make it for Saturday classes (thank goodness they are done - well except for the Q&A - before the OSU v. Mich game airs) we are really excited to be making this trip.

We are big admirers of the dancing of Julee Mertz and Caitlin George. We have nothing but utmost respect for anyone else that is teaching, Julee and Caitlin just hold special places in our merry hearts.

AVS Review

2006-11-14T15:47:00.000-08:00

I've forgotten to make mention, my review of AVS is up on Swing Scene.

Christmas Cookie Classic

2006-11-10T13:26:00.000-08:00

I love the Christmas Cookie Classic. I don't even remember how the idea first came to be, but 2003 was the first year. We danced in the food court of Bellevue Center Mall, where the studio was located. It was a join effort with the Nashville Swing Kids, though really more effort on our part than on theirs. The response and vibe was great. We had a huge turnout (for a non-JJ&S event that is), completely filled the back of my car with toys for Toys-For-Tots and gave out some big cookies.

The next year I was finishing school in Chicago and so I had to cancel it. But last year was nearly perfect (with the exception of an tech hiccup that was fixed easily enough). In the gorgeous fellowship room of Eastwood Christian Church the atmosphere couldn't have been better. The dancing was so much fun and the Jack and Jill's were awesome!

The bug to do this event has hit me again, but everything is different this year. I'm no longer at the Bellevue Mall, and don't have the connections to ECC. So the question of "where" is an issue. Additionally Music City Motion is not the only dancing gig in town and there are other events to juggle around, so "when" is also a big concern. And of course this is also coupled with the fact that there are only 6 weeks between now and Christmas, only 4 of which are really useable.

Anybody have any ideas?

AVS + Slick Shoes = Humbling Experience

2006-10-30T12:08:00.000-08:00

I had an awesome time at AVS this past weekend. I learned a bunch, met some great people, and was again reminded of how much I have to learn.The context for my last comment specifically surrounds my shoe adventures this weekend.

I have been dancing since October of 1998. For nearly that entire time I have danced in rubber soles, more specifically whatever sneakers happened to be on my feet (albeit I often did "tape"). Now I do have a pair of hard soled wingtips and I have had a pair of bleyers. Both of which have seen considerable action, but even that may be merely 5% - 10% of all my dancing, and nearly all of that was in the first 2 years of my Lindy Hop "career".

I decided recently it was time to try slick shoes for real... learn to control my weight better, open up the option for slides and spins (I've never included them in my dancing much beyond goofing off in private), feel more confident when dressed up and out of sneakers, and maybe even improve my dancing overall. What I didn't expect was for this process to be character building.

Now my shoe of choice for the past 4 years has been Kswiss. Their sneakers, as a line, just fit my feet better than all the rest, even though occasionally I've questioned their asthetic judgements. I've been in need of a new pair lately, so just last week I purchased a pair (another weekend of sore knees, feet, back, and hips didn't excite me) and along with got some self adhesive felt.

The felt was an idea I picked up in a brief parking-lot conversation while I was in Tampa/St. Petersburg for Swing Dance USA.

The best news is that I never actually injured myself in any of my falls, all 4 (or was it 5) of them over 2 days of classes and 1 dance. Humbling to say the least, I initially thought that maybe the floor the classes were on was too slick. After all there were many complaints and even Sky changed into a pair of sneakers out of his Aris Allens. But still, out of some kind of pride that continued to insist I could control myself, and eventually a recognition of the benefit to my character the experience was causing, I continued on.

The two funniest falls were at the dance on Saturday night. The first was the first dance of the evening. Dancing with Jaya is usually a zen a like moment of music, this time though I was totally out of control, slipping and sliding everywhere (poor Jaya, she must have felt like a rag doll). But in one moment I pulled off a sweet action spin; about the time, though, I had returned facing forward both my feet went flying out in front of me. In slow - motion I fell through the air and landed sitting on the dance floor... right out of a classic slapstick routine.

The second (and 3rd, really) was much later in the evening while dancing with Laura Jackson. Balboa in the back corner and suddenly I found myself on the floor again, only my attempt to recover landed me spralled on my back in front of Laura, who was doubled over laughing. And so once again I humbled, just a little bit more.

Lexington Anyone?

2006-10-18T15:35:00.000-07:00

Two of my favorite instructors are gonna be in Lexington the 2nd weekend of November (10-12). I've known Joel and Allison Plys for 4 or 5 years now. They are two of the most fun, energetic, and encouraging instructions I know. A class with them is very refreshing, if only because their approach is so fun, let alone the classes they teach.

I hope to go. If only Lexington wasn't 4 1/2 hours away!

Swing Dance USA Classes

2006-10-06T08:44:00.000-07:00

Rebecca and I have been assigned to teach a styling class and a connection class. I'm really excited about what we've come with. My thoughts on stying are on my Swing Scene blog, I haven't yet digressed about connection, but I will shortly.

Normally I wouldn't offer to teach a styling class because I don't consider myself much of a stylist normally. But that is a very ironic thought, because as I examine style and the differences in style and how a personal style is developed I've learned and come to the conclusion that style is defined by foundational techniques. Technique is something I study and teach ad naseum, I am a technician. So essentially I am also a stylist.

But the purpose of this blog is not treatises on Lindy Hop or Balboa.

I am excited about this weekend. This is the first "big" weekend I've been able to teach at since the Private Collection and I love these kind of events. I'll be staying at the Ponce De Leon Hotel in St. Pete's.

BBMA Set List

2006-09-26T10:04:00.000-07:00

Sarah and I each had the pleasure of DJ'ing for this season's first BBMA. I think the dance was a great success and provided a terrfic foundation on which Swing Dance Nashville can build both their brand and the organization.

I published the set list that I played on the SDN forum, but here it is again for all the world.

Good Rockin' Tonight	4:15	Jimmy Witherspoon	Jazz Me Blues: The Best Of Jimmy Witherspoon	154
Oo Pappa Do	3:13	Lavay Smith	One Hour Mama	164
Take The "A" Train	2:54	Duke Ellington / His Orchestra	Ken Burns Jazz	170
It Don't Mean A Thing	3:16	Lionel Hampton	All Star Sessions, Volume 2:Hot Mallets (Disc 1)	178
Oo-Shoo-Bee-Doo-Bee	2:32	Joe Carroll	unknown	141
And The Angels Sing	3:21	Lionel Hampton	Revisited	140
Goody Goody	3:24	Rosemary Clooney	Rosemary Clooney Sings The Lyrics Of Johnny Mercer	142
I'm Beginning To See The Light	3:37	Louis Armstrong & Duke Ellington	The Great Summit (Disc 1)	157
As Long As I Live	3:33	Count Basie	For The First Time	144
Swingin' On Nothin'	3:23	The Bill Elliott Swing Orchestra	Live @ The Palladium	151
You Rascal You with Louis Jordon	3:10	Louis Armstrong	The Wonderful Duets	197
'Ay Now	2:31	Count Basie	Hall of Fame Disk 3 - Basie Blues	178
Hot Rod Queen	2:17	Deke Dickerson & The Eccofonics	Number One Hit Record	163
Swinging On A Star	3:05	Rosemary Clooney	Rosie Sings Bing	160
'Tain't What You Do (It's The Way That You Do It)	3:03	Ella Fitzgerald	Ella Fitzgerald: The Hits 1936-1950 (Disc 2)	155
C-Jam Blues	5:14	Duke Ellington	Duke Ellington And His Orchestra Featuring Paul Gonsalves	143
Organ Grinder's Swing	6:03	Ella Fitzgerald And Count Basie	A Classy Pair	169
The Fox	2:35	Ray Anthony	unknown	163

Update: Fall Travels

2006-09-26T09:44:00.000-07:00

As with all plans I make, our fall travel schedule has been picked apart. Sarah and I have dropped a couple planned trips and I've found a workshop to add to the list. We won't be making it to WCLX, which is a sad developement as I'd really hoped to make it back finally. Neither will we be able to attend KLX this year.

But I will be teaching with Rebecca Strickland at Swing Dance USA Convention & Competition in Tampa. This is first time I'll make that event (this is the 2nd year they've hosted it) and the 2nd time teaching with Rebecca (joined forces for a couple of classes at this past years Private Collection). So while I do wish Sarah could make it to Tampa with me I am excited about the weekend and teaching with Rebecca.

So our Fall travel schedule, still subject to change, is as follows:

Swing Dance USA (Tampa)

AVS (Atlanta)

EBC (Raleigh)

Southern Belle Swing Bash (Atlanta)

Swing Dance USA

2006-09-14T18:11:00.000-07:00

Back in March, at the Private Collection, I taught a class with Rebecca Stickland, an old friend. The class went great, and we had a ton of fun teaching and prepping for the class together so we vowed to teach again. That opportunity has shown come to the 'fore finally, the first weekend in October (6-8).

Swing Dance USA is a huge Lindy Hop and Balboa conference and competition headlined by Steve and Heid and an ALHC qualifier. Rebecca and I will join Marcie McCabe, Don Kruse, Tim Adams, Lee Davidson, Seth Dietzel, and Sayra Vasquez.

The only thing that could make the weekend better would be if Sarah could come down too, but she has dress rehearsals for Aida (she's singing with Nashville Opera chorus).

Tallahasee Recap

2006-09-13T18:35:00.000-07:00

Our trip to Tallahassee was a great one. The workshop on Saturday afternoon went really well and was really well attended though mostly Gainsville dancers (but I'm neither a Gator or Seminole fan). Everyone seemed to appreciate what Sarah and I taught and though it did seem to be very challenging, I don't recall any of the students looking to be overwhelmed (or bored).

But the coolest part of the trip wasn't the workshops we did, but the boat trip around Wakulla Spring. I've never been "in" that kind of environment before, and to put the icing on the cake we got to get up close and personal to a manitee. That was the coolest.

Congratulations Atlanta

2006-08-31T11:47:00.000-07:00

Wow! 10 years of Swing Dancing in Atlanta. I hope I'm still around to celebrate 10 years in Nashville. I think the now defunct Nashville Swing Kids started up in 1998. If that's the case we still have 2 more years to go. And to think Swing Dance Nashville is just getting started too!

Atlanta, you put on a great decade celebration party. Sarah and I enjoyed ourselves immensely and can't wait to be back for AVS.