The Freedom to Play
Posted By: Marcia Totten | General | Feb 03, 2012
Sixth grade, I was given the gift of the best teacher that I had in my life. He was an artist. His works are displayed in reputable museums. I really don’t remember much about academia in the brief semester that he taught that year. But the revolutionary approach he had changed my life.
Mr. B gave us the freedom to play. I did not have to color within the lines. I did not have to fit in the conventional box. Everything I did was fantastic in his eyes. Uniqueness was encouraged. Creativity was applauded. Experimentation was praised. This attitude not only boosted my confidence, but cultivated the seeds of self-esteem and created identity.
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When Mambo and Cha Cha were Kings : Dance styles of a Bygone Era
Posted By: Shani Brown | Dance History, Latin Dancing | Jan 31, 2012
Vintage Clips aren’t just for the lindy hoppers!
Dances, such as the Mambo and Cha Cha are constantly changing and evolving. Â Many of the basic steps or rhythms may stay the same, but the aesthetic choices dancers make when executing those steps transform over time in relation to their music and cultural context. Â In the 1950s and early 1960s, Mambo and Cha Cha were the Kings of the social dance floor. Read More . . .
Inspirational Dance Clips: Dean Collins and Jewel McGowan
Posted By: Shani Brown | Swing Dancing | Jan 25, 2012
California Swing meets the Lindy Hop and creates sweet sweet magic in the form of Dean Collins and Jewel McGowan.  Let’s get inspired by their dynamic connection, powerful aerials, and undeniable stage presence!Â
So a few months back we put together some clips of swing and lindy hop that you might have forgotten about or never seen before.  However, the vintage videos we’re about to show you of this unique dance partnership serves as a core base of our knowledge about how original SoCal lindy hoppers danced and looked in their prime.  In the late 1930s, Dean moved from New York (through New Orleans) to Los Angeles bringing his own unique brand of Lindy Hop he honed in the Savoy Ballroom.  In LA, he met Jewel McGowan, a local ‘swing’ dancer, and together they blended Dean’s dynamic lindy with Jewel’s elegant and circular swing styling.  The result was a distinctive aesthetic…your eyes can’t help but be drawn to them as they dance.  His powerful swingout and her swivels are like visual eye candy! Read More . . .
Top 5 Salsa Performance or Competition Videos on YouTube
Posted By: Shani Brown | Salsa Dancing | Jan 17, 2012
Which Salsa Competition or Performance have the most views on YouTube?
One of the most amazing things about becoming a dancer today is the unlimited number of resources we have to learn more about the dances we love.  And YouTube has been key in our ability to share videos of dances, competitions and performances with people around the globe.  For those of you interested in learning a new dance, becoming better versed in salsa or just enjoy studying other talented dancers, we have compiled a list of the Top 5 Most Viewed Salsa Dance Performances and/or Competitions. Read More . . .
In Memory of Hal Takier – Balboa Legend, Beloved Husband and Friend
Posted By: Shani Brown | General | Jan 11, 2012
Hal & Betty Takier (1939) - Artie Shaw at the Palomar Ballroom
Hal Takier
(1917 – 2012)
In the late hours of January 9, 2012, Hal Takier – a legendary swing and balboa master – passed away in his Orange County, California home after several days of declining health.  He was an avid Jitterbugger and Balboa dancer for over 75 years and would have been 95 this February!!
For those of you who have not yet heard of Hal Takier, I will tell you a little bit about him and where you can find out more about a man who has inspired a generation of Balboa and Swing dancers.  But the most amazing thing about Hal was his dancing – even at 90+ years of age, he’d jump up to dance at the fastest tempos!!!  And thanks to diligent research and documentation, we can share videos of Hal dancing as a young man.  These short clips in movies or obscure footage became the cornerstone of a modern Balboa community.
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Celebrate New Years 2012 with Atomic
Posted By: Shani Brown | General | Dec 26, 2011
Ring in the New Year and Keep Your Resolutions with Atomic Ballroom
Enjoy a ‘Very Vintage New Years’ and ‘Lindy Resolution Workshop’ in Irvine or head to Atomic Placentia for a West Coast Swing Workshop and New Years Eve  Party…
The end of 2011 draws nigh which means it’s time for firecrackers, noise makers, confetti, fancy dresses, tuxedos, champagne and dancing!  Atomic Ballroom invites you to join us as we ring in 2012 at both of our Orange County locations!!  Get a head start on your resolution to dance more and head to Atomic Placentia where we will be hosting a West Coast Swing workshop and party.  Or get ‘dressed to the nines’ for a ‘Very Vintage New Years’  at Atomic Irvine, then come back New Years Day for a Lindy Resolution Workshop.
