Confession time, guys. Fast lindy hop is not actually that mysterious. Fast lindy hop is identical to slower lindy hop. You just do it at faster speeds.
But of course your slow lindy hop doesn’t work perfectly at high speeds yet. Argh!! That’s why you’re reading this article. To be frank, it’s because your dancing isn’t good enough yet.
Egads! Yes, I dared tell you the truth. That wasn’t so hard to admit, was it?
If you can understand why you need to improve your lindy hop in order to dance fast, you’ll be prepared for what specifically you need to do. Let’s start with the why. Click to continue »
May 23, 2013
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Did you know I love you?
Yes you, my regular reader who shares my posts, provides thoughtful commentary, and flatters me from time to time. Your praise and especially feedback motivates me to constantly improve Dance World Takeover.
This week, I want to give a shout-out my supporters and tell you about a NEW FEATURE on DWT! (Scroll to the bottom if you are impatient.) Click to continue »
May 15, 2013
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Learning lindy hop fast is everyone’s dream. While faster is not always better, it CAN be better if you do it more systematically.
Right now, you’re probably doing the “grab bag” approach. You’ve taken the intro lindy hop classes in your town, you take workshops here and there, probably social dance a lot. Perhaps you’ve even taken a few private lessons (good job!).
Before long, however, you will hit an invisible wall where progress feels excessively difficult.
The wall (or plateau) feels frustrating because you don’t know how to get past it. You are missing information, and you don’t know what it is.
Want to fill in those missing pieces? Click to continue »
April 17, 2013
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Let’s face it, we’re all nerds here. We’re all smart. We’ve all felt unabashed enthusiasm for learning. We all kinda hate the bar scene and huge parties with tons of inebriated strangers. We’ve all felt like outsiders.
Don’t believe me? Let me tell you a story.
The year was 2006. I was a swing dancing noob attending the aptly named Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown. Hundreds of dancers were seated in a dimmed ballroom, waiting for the next competition. Our mutual adrenaline electrified the air.
All eyes were on the emcee. But he decided to have a little fun. Click to continue »
April 2, 2013
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We all like to look up to the good dancers. I support this; it’s great to have role models.
But how did they get so good? Stop spending such a massive quantity of your time wondering! It makes Rebecca sad.
As I’ve mentioned elsewhere, it’s not magic. It’s also not “natural talent.”
Dancers get good by doing lots of things differently. Read on to find out 22 uncommon actions they take and why you should too.
NOTE: Most lindy hoppers I’ve asked aren’t 100% satisfied with their dancing. If you’re in that camp, follow the directions at the end to get the most out of this post. Click to continue »
March 20, 2013
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Okay, you finally got up the courage to go to your first dance class. Good job! Here’s the real challenge, though: You feel like an idiot doing this thing called “dancing.”
You can criticize yourself into a coma if you try hard enough…
But I have a better idea. Let’s not pay so much attention to those nasty thoughts. You know the ones: “I suck at this,” or “I feel totally stupid,” or “I look like an asshat.”
If you want to get over feeling stupid and make it through class, here’s what to do. Replace those thoughts with this mantra:
“We’re all in the same boat; the teacher is on my side; and it won’t feel like this forever. Besides, I’m awesome.”
Lemme break that down: Click to continue »
March 12, 2013
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Have you ever wished you could be perfect? Do you cringe every time you make a mistake?
Let’s talk about that. Chances are, it’s holding you back and suffocating your confidence.
This post is a letter to myself, one I badly needed to receive about six years ago. It addresses my struggle with both the dance scene’s expectations of and my inner need for perfection.
I’ve always known that perfection is not actually achievable. But intellectual knowledge apparently didn’t stop my deep seated desire for the appearance of perfection, and all the angst it brought me.
Sadly, I forgot to go back in time to give Past Rebecca this letter. So I’m giving it to you instead. Click to continue »
February 19, 2013
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