ATOMIC Ballroom | Irvine, CA in Orange County (OC)

The Freedom to Play

Marcia Totten — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:02:50 +0000

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.

Sadly, without boosts of that freedom, much of those end products got obscured in the day to day attempts to fit the societal mores. And that is where the lesson from lindy comes in.

In my personal journey , lindy hop has revived that opportunity for the freedom to play. Freedom to experiment , to express myself in a somewhat non-conventional way has replanted the seeds of self-esteem. We all go through growth periods and then hit a plateau and get stuck or even drift backwards. For me, those occur when I try to dance like someone else. No matter how we try, we are all different and we all will dance differently. Discovering that is why this is lesson is so important. It has been the opportunities to play that have pulled me through those rough spots and been the impetus for new growth. It is being able to experiment without judgment that makes one discover new steps, new stylings, the uniqueness of who you are as a dancer and as a person.

I have the privilege of dancing with many unique leads. I find a special delight in dancing with those that give me the freedom to play. By their own original styles, they let me know it is okay to experiment a little too. They allow me to discover a new part of myself. How gratifying it is to, while dancing, receive a compliment for something new you have tried. That support is thrilling. Hopefully I am doing the same for them. It is so important to enjoy and encourage that growth in others.

This lesson can be taken into our daily lives as well. We need to not allow each other to be stuck in the standardized rut. Encourage the uniqueness in our friends, family, and coworkers in whatever they are pursuing. Encourage the uniqueness in yourself. Return to your twelve year old self and allow yourself the freedom to play. You may discover something amazing!

When Mambo and Cha Cha were Kings : Dance styles of a Bygone Era

Shani Brown — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:39:58 +0000

Vintage Clips aren’t just for the lindy hoppers!

Dances, such as the Mambo and Cha Cha are constantly changing and evolving. 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. In the 1950s and early 1960s, Mambo and Cha Cha were the Kings of the social dance floor.

There is something compelling and quite familiar about the early styles of Mambo and Cha Cha when you come from a Lindyhop background. First of all, they both stem from an Afro-Caribbean beat and are heavily laden with jazz improvisation. And on the heels of the Swing Era, Mambo and Cha Cha became the worldwide popular dance of choice for a new generation of young adults and teens. In contrast to the more codified, controlled, sexy, and slinky ballroom style of Mambo or Cha Cha, I believe I am attracted most to the sense of raw and wild abandon that these social dancers evoke.

Regardless of your position on how and why the dances changed over time, it’s always good to look back and find something to be inspired by…

So here are some clips of Vintage Mambo and Cha Cha during the 1950s and 1960s:

Spirit Moves – Mambo

Palladium Dancers – The Place to see and be seen dancing the Mambo

West Side Story – Mambo!

Harlem Mambo

Perez Prado Mambo

Bruce Lee does the Cha Cha

El Negro Zumbon – Silvana Mangano

Mambo (1954)

G. Meccia (1961)

Inspirational Dance Clips: Dean Collins and Jewel McGowan

Shani Brown — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:11:02 +0000

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!

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!

These social dancers turned professional for the cameras of numerous Hollywood films from the 1940s onward; thanks again to film preservationists and the research of passionate dancers, we are able to share and study these clips in an ongoing attempt to masters the subtleties of Dean and Jewel’s dancing.

I find most people can learn a lot just by watching vintage dance clips, but if you’re interested in learning more about Dean Collins, Jewel McGowan and their ‘Lindy’ then check out the links below!

Dean Collins and Jewel McGowan: California Lindy 1941-1945

Hold That Tiger (1940) – (on the right 2:07-end)

Buck Privates (1941) – (:28-:36, 1:45-2:10)

The quintessential Dean & Jewel clip! Dean and Jewel are featured in the dance sequence of this Abbott & Costello film.

Jazzy Joe (1941) – (:12-:22, 1:48-1:51, 1:55-1:58, 2:02-2:18)

Hi, Neighbor (1942) – (:45-:51, 1:02-1:04, 1:18-1:22)

Rings on Her Fingers (1942) – (:38-42, :46-1:38)
Dean get’s to speak, “Hey buddy, you’re in low gear!”

Chool Song (1942) – featured dancers

Glen Grey and his Casa Loma Orchestra (1942) – featured dancers

Ride ‘Em Cowboy (1942) – (2:02-2:10, 2:28-2:41)

Talk of the Town (1942) – (4:17-4:40)
Dean throws in some ‘balboa/LA Swing’ moves!

The Powers Girls (1943) – In front with the umbrella (1:44-1:51)

Young Ideas (1943) – (:8-:13, :21-:23, 1:01-1:08, )
Another clip featuring Dean doing some LA Swing moves!

“The Baby Boogie” from Let’s Go Steady (1945) – couple on the left

History of Dean, Jewel and the Lindy They Loved

Dean Collins

Jewel McGowan

Dean and Jewel: The Legacy

The Thing About Dean

The Whip Story

Swively Swivels

Savoy Style vs. Hollywood Style

For those of you in the Southern California Area…

You have a unique opportunity to join us at Atomic Ballroom in Irvine for a Dean & Jewel Workshop with Instructor Nick Williams. Nick has spent many years mastering the subtle techniques necessary to look and feel like Dean and/or Jewel. Check out the event page for Saturday’s event schedule and more.

There is something bewitching about the feeling of following (and leading I would assume) a ‘Dean Collins Whip’ and doing ‘Jewel’s Swivels’ that will keep you on the dance floor night after night. Don’t pass up this opportunity to draw inspiration from this unique style of lindy!!

In Memory of Hal Takier – Balboa Legend, Beloved Husband and Friend

Shani Brown — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:19:01 +0000

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.

Who was Hal Takier?

Hal Takier grew up in Los Angeles, California when jazz was hot and every little neighborhood had a ballroom packed wall to wall with dancers. Always the passionate music lover, Hal began dancing around the age of 18 in the mid 1930′s. Back then, many of the young kids taught themselves to dance by watching, trying and refining their steps. He, along with his partner and first-wife, Betty Roeser, quickly gained notoriety as ruthless executors of extremely fast and engaging dances in competitions around LA.

Hal Takier in Action

Hal and Betty joined Maxie Dorf, ‘Lolly’ Wise, Gil Fernandez and their partners as the Ray Rand Swingers. This group of LA swing dancers were hired to perform or compete at dance halls, ballrooms, films and special events. You will see in the clips below, that Hal had a particularly energetic way of swing dancing. He jumps around, incorporates air steps, and still keeps up with extremely fast tempos. This spirited dancing and ambitious drive to win competitions landed his image in print and film.

Through the 1960s until just a few years ago, Hal and his second-wife Marge, spent their free time continuing to swing dance with friends on a regular basis. With the revival of swing in the 90′s, young dancers from Southern California honed in on swing dance styles seen in Hollywood Swing Era film. It was not long before they discovered Hal, Marge, and the rest of the surviving ’old timers’. And Hal, like many others, were thrilled to support the burgeoning swing dance community by sharing their dance knowledge with a new generation, attending local lindy hop events, breaking down steps and ideas, giving interviews, and telling stories.

Hal was one of the greatest. And because he is preserved in film and historical records, his style and moves will continue to influence generations of swing dancers to come.

More About Hal

Marcelo’s Happy Birthday Tribute to Hal
Sonia’s Interview with Hal
LindyGroove’s Memories of Hal
Peter Loggins’ The Biggest Contest

*2001 Student Film

*Thank you to Bobby White for a succinct mash up of Hal Takier clips

Hal Takier’s Influence on Modern Balboa/Bal-Swing

Videos of Hal dancing as a young adult (and the knowledge he passed directly to the current generation of swing dancers) has been a great influence on many of the best Balboa dancers and instructors of today. The following are two videos of contemporary swing dance champions. This first video is a re-creation of Hal & Betty’s Maharaja Soundie by Orange County dancers Jeremy Otth and Laura Keat. Jeremy and Laura diligently studied a lengthy and difficult choreography – not only do they honor Hal and his contribution to dance but they become vehicles for continuing his legacy into the future.

This second video was posted online just a week ago, before we knew of Hal’s declining condition. The moment I saw this video my first thoughts were of Hal and his wife Marge. Maybe it’s the playful spirit of their bad-ass dancing or maybe it’s the tan and camel pants worn by Balboa champions Nick Williams and Nelle Cherry, which evoke an eerie similarity to Hal and Marge’s signature style throughout the 70s and 80s.

When I heard of Hal’s passing, I found comfort in knowing that his influence and spirit will never be expunged as long as there are dancers out there (and right here) ready to carry on his legacy years into the future.

Hal Takier – You presence will be missed but your legacy lives on…

Celebrate New Years 2012 with Atomic

Shani Brown — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 17:56:47 +0000

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.

West Coast Swing New Years Eve Workshop & Party

No need to leave town for New Years. Join Jumpin’ Jack and Phil Adams for the best New Years Eve Workshops and Party with music for West Coast Swing, Ballroom, Latin, Country and maybe even a little line dance or two! Saturday, December 31st, enjoy 5 hours of workshops (1-6p) plus a New Years Eve party (830p – till?) for one low price! Just $45! What a Deal!?! And if you can’t make the workshop but want to come join us for the Party, or visa versa, each are available separately for only $35!

A Very Vintage New Year Party

Don’t miss this spectacular high-style new years eve event of music and dancing with returning guest DJ, Peter Flahiff. Look your best! Dress up in fine vintage threads or glam it up for a night of dancing to great swing era music. $20 gets you access to our swingin’ new year party and all levels swing lesson. Wrap up your night with a midnight countdown and an “Auld Lang Syne” Sing-a-long!

Come back Sunday for a Lindy Resolution Workshop

Whether you’re looking to improve your swing dance skills or improve your health with a fun physical activity, get on track at our New Year’s Lindy Resolution Workshop! Peter, Jofflyn and Amber have the tools and tricks you need to get moving in 2012. Jump on this opportunity for four classes and a pizza lunch party for only $60!

What ever you choose do this New Years 2012, we hope you have a joyful and safe celebration!
Happy New Years from Atomic Ballroom!

A Swingin’ Happy Holidays

Shani Brown — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:56:19 +0000

Season's Greetings from Atomic Ballroom

Seasons Greetings from the Atomic Family!

Merry Yule! Happy Hanukkah! Feliz Navidad! And a very Merry Christmas!

The Winter Holidays are upon us – the Solstice has come and gone, Hanukkah began this evening and Christmas is just a few days away. We at the Atomic Family hope you and yours are having a wonderfully retro holiday. There are 3 more chances to ‘swing into the holiday’ while you give back to your community at one of our Toy Drive & Dancing. Plus, we’ve got great last minute gift ideas for the dancer on your gift list.

Need a Last Minute Gift - Give the Gift of Dance

Is your loved one looking for a physical challenge for the new year? Want to surprise your sweetie with private lessons? Do you know an avid dancer looking to branch out into other dances? Well we have the best holiday specials for you! And if you still can’t decide on a specific gift, there’s always a gift card. Check out the full list of Gift Certificates.

Final Holiday Dances & Toy Drive

Come celebrate the holiday season with your Atomic Family! You still have three chances to help us spread the love and joy of the season as we gather together unwrapped toys for kids (infants – 17) in the pediatric oncology ward of a local children’s hospital. Give back and grab a dance!

Wednesday, December 21st – Feliz Navidad Salsa $7 (Irvine)

- Tamale Contest for an Unlimited Dance Pass!

- Dance with Santa

Wednesday, December 21st – Strutter’ Sugar Plum Ball $8 (Placentia)

- Jingle Bell Jack’n'Jill Contest

Friday, December 23rd – Lindy Christmas $15 or $5 with group class (Irvine)

- LIVE MUSIC with Tim Gill and the Tim Gill All-Stars

- Snowflake making contest

- Dessert Conest

- Holiday Gift Exchange (bring a wrapped gift under $10)

Finally, here are some swingin’ tunes to get you all in the holiday spirit!

So have a Happy Holidays! See you on the dance floor!
Bomba de Navidad – Ismael Rivera

Sugar Rum Cherry – Duke Ellington

What Will Santa Claus Say – Louis Prima

Silver Bells – Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys

Swingin’ Dreidel – Kenny Ellis

Christmas Swing – Django Reinhardt

Stay Young and Happy, Go Dancing!

Shani Brown — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:08:00 +0000

Wisdom from the Masters for health and happiness

As 2011 comes to a close, Father Time marches on, winter is depressingly cold and you grow another year older. But don’t fret, because dancing is keeping you young and happy!

I began my life as a swing dancer during adolescence – at that time, health and graceful aging were the least of my concerns in my choice of hobby. Thankfully, I was introduced to an unlikely group of friends who would initiate me in the ways of longevity, relationships and lifelong happiness that comes from dancing on a regular basis. I am referring, of course, to the group of ’Old Timers’ who met at Bobby McGee’s in Brea on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month or at The LA Swing Club in Long Beach on the 1st and 3rd Sunday for social swing dancing and balboa. For 50 to 75 years, southern Californian swing dancers kept their community and dances alive. And they kept themselves alive by dancing!

Medical studies have finally come around to espousing the health benefits of dancing. National Dance Day was adopted to get young and old bodies moving in the spirit of health. The AARP endorses dancing as a healthy hobby for seniors. The 80s aerobics Queen, Jane Fonda, boasts that she and her partner enjoying swing dancing for their physical and relationship health in her new tell-all biography, Prime Time. Dance – like exercise, excitement, and love – releases endorphin’s to make you happy and relaxed. And therapists are utilizing these mental and physical benefits to treat a number of disorders: stress, depression, anxiety, autism, Parkinson’s, dementia, and many more.

For those readers who are young in age, enjoy the fun and excitement of dancing but keep it up! Don’t quit. Be consistent and don’t get burned-out. Keep stresses at bay. You’ve got the skills for a healthy and happy long life!

For those readers who are young at heart, it’s never to late to start dancing! Extend the years of your life with healthy habits and happiness. Make new friends. Enjoy your time with a loved one. And maintain a sharp mind. Dancing keeps you young!

I Knew at 21, that the secret to a long happy life was to Go Dancing!

My joints hurt less, I did better in school, I can de-stress from a long day of work, I get to connect with friends, I never stop learning and I hope to live a long fulfilling life. And if you’re reading this years into the future…look for me on the dance floor!

And just for fun…some non-swing music with a great message! “Stay Young, Go Dancing” by Death Cab for Cutie.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Atomic Family!

Shani Brown — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 17:00:28 +0000

Best wishes for a Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving 2011!

As we all gear up for long drives to family dinners, food comas, football games and Black Friday Shopping, we at Atomic Ballroom want to show our thanks for a wonderful year of dancing! I, personally, am thankful for such a wonderful community of dancers, DJs and musicians who diligently venture out of their homes, week after week, to gather together and dance. Our combined passions keep us happy and healthy. Thank you for the dances and the memories!

I am also very thankful to Shesha and Nikki Marvin, owners of Atomic Ballroom, for fostering a strong Orange County swing dance community by bringing their personal passions and sense of family to their business. Between teaching, performing, weekly dances, workshops, special events and a killer community fundraiser, these two give it their all the whole year round. We are all thankful for their hard work…so what are they thankful for this Thanksgiving?

“We are thankful this season that we get to share our love of dancing with so many people. It feels great to know that we are changing lives for the better by fostering a community of positive people. Dancing keeps us healthy, inspired, and happy.” – Shesha & Nikki Marvin, owners of Atomic Ballroom.

Thank you Marvin’s and all the Atomic Family for giving us a home to learn and dance with friends!

Prepare for Thanksgiving dinner…

Do you want a surefire way to make room for and earn every calorie you plan to consume at Thanksgiving dinner? What better way to keep in shape for the holidays than to hit the dance floor. This Wednesday have some fun, de-stress before the drive, get energized for super shopping and join us at Atomic Ballroom for some Pre-Thanksgiving social dancing!!!

Come to Atomic Ballroom Placentia on Wednesday night where Strutters’ Ball is holding a Pre-Thanksgiving Swing Dance with live music by Jonathan Stout and his Rhythm Busters!!! Don’t miss the Hot Jazz sounds of this new 11-piece band!! Come dance or just enjoy the live music.

If you’re in the mood for a little Latin flavor on Wednesday night, head to Salsa Atomica for some Merengue, Bachata, Salsa and Cumbia!

I hope to see you all there and have a happy and healthy this Thanksgiving weekend!!

Cancer Dance-A-Thon Raises over $120K for City of Hope!!!!

Shani Brown — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 04:18:00 +0000

Thank you to all of the participants and donors for raising nearly $125,000 for cancer research and treatment by the City of Hope Hospital. We had such fun with everyone at the 24Hr Fitness Ultra Sport in Irvine – we even made the local news!! Find out what went on this year, who raised the most money and more about next years event as we shoot towards Raising $1 Million for the City of Hope over the past 7 years!!!

At the 6th Annual 24 Hour Cancer Dance-A-Thon this past Saturday, the Atomic Ballroom Family was joined by cancer survivors, donors, musicians, DJs and dancers from all over for lessons, games, performances and breakfast; together we successfully raised another large donation check for the City of Hope. Each year, our spirits are raised as we stand above the main gym looking down onto the dance floor where the Team booths are assembled all covered in support signs, the dance floor is filled with familiar faces and even more new participants, dancers are sleeping in corners, and delirious endurance dancers pound energy drinks as they continue to lindy hop. It is always inspiring to see a community come together for not only fun, but to give back in a positive way. And we are proud of our community!

Total Funds Raised and Top Participants

2011 Cancer Dance-A-Thon Total : $124,367.97

Top 5 Individual Participants

Audrey Ogura $30,215.00
Christopher Gauntt $3046.00
Linda Lau $2993.47
Zak Kong $2875.00
Yvette Patko $2650.00

Top 3 Teams with Most Funds Raised

Swingstong $39,600.00
Mystery Machine $10,601.47
Passport to Dance $10,000.00

Dance Till You Drop

After 24 Hours of Dancing

Saturday at Noon, the event kicked off with opening ceremonies and a speaker from City of Hope, then began a 24 Hour cycle of dance lessons, DJs and Live Music. Teams diligently decorated their tents and tables, team members took the floor and the Dance-A-Thon was off! In the main room, people amassed as they checked in for their designated floor times giving other members a rest and chance to check out the silent auction in the entry way. As the evening progressed, participants poured in a the Atomic Cherry Bombs and Atomic Lindy Hop Colliders put on performances. Across the entryway, the blues room gave the lindy hoppers a chance to slow things down. The blues room and its all-night DJs entice new participants from the local Southern California Blues Dance community to ‘crossover’ for a good cause.

Throughout the night, games and contest rouse the crowd out of their sleepiness. My favorite is the annual Boogie Relay! Relay contest are always out of control as each team tries to physically outdo the others, but add lack of sleep and exasperated silliness, and you get a riotous competition! And every year, participants get pumped for the annual Cancer Dance-A-Thon T-shirt “Re-design” Contest, where you can be the next “Top Designer” scoring some cool prizes!

At 7am, it’s BREAKFAST TIME! Waking up is hard to do, but with coffee in hand the final few hours go by too quickly. A nice pancake breakfast gets everyone re-fueled for the final push. 24 Cancer Dance-A-Thon made the morning news on TWO stations! Garden Grove’s Channel 3 came out to film participants at 24 Hour Fitness, while some dancers completed an entire hour of dance on the KTLA Channel 5 News set! At the 24 Hr Fitness, some participants crowded around the TVs hoping to catch the early morning broadcast and bring in some last minute donations. Finally, Shesha came out with the BIG CHECK made out to the City of Hope for $123k!!! And it was all over… As things got cleaned up, participants slowly dragged themselves to their cars and back home for some well-earned sleep.

Cancer Dance-A-Thon in the News!

OC Register Article

Dancers on KTLA 5

Dance-A-Thon in the Station

Dancers on Channel 3

Coming Soon: 24 Hour Cancer Dance-A-Thon 2012!!!

You can donate all year long and keep checking in for updates on next years fundraiser! In six years, the Orange County swing dance community has raised around $760,000 for the City of Hope!! That is amazing! In the next year, we hope to reach out to all the past participants to join us again, bring new friends, and help up raise $240,000 – bringing the 7 Year Grand Total raised to $1 Million Dollars for Cancer Research and Treatment!

Thank you to all of our donors, participants and volunteers for another wonderful year! See you all again next year for the “Million Dollar Year”!!

Unique & Rare Vintage Swing Dance Clips

Shani Brown — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 17:01:49 +0000

Cast of College Swing (1938)

Discover something new. Fall in love with something once forgotten. And get inspired by some of these rare vintage swing and lindy hop clips.

Hellzapoppin’. Groovie Movie. After Seben. Keep Punching. Buck Privates. Maharaja Soundie. All the Cats Join In. Don’t Knock the Rock. These are just a few of the most well known vintage swing and lindy hop clips. There are a number of famous dance clips which we all love and regularly draw from for inspiration in our dancing and performances. But every once in a while, it’s nice to unearth a new gem or dust the cobwebs off of a forgotten vintage dance scene from an obscure movie to discover new dancers, new moves and new styling choices. Thankfully, there are individuals out in the world mining through film vaults to preserve and share these fractured and precious pieces of our history. An amazing dancer/teacher/writer from Washington DC, Bobby White, recently discovered some VERY rare stock footage of swing dancers from the 1940s which sent a number of dancers into a frenzy. The mystery of who is dancing in the clip continues, but the extended shots show moves that were known of but never before seen executed by dancers in their prime. In light of this discovery we at Atomic Ballroom want to celebrate the unique, rare, lesser known, and forgotten swing dance clips of yesteryear!

Check out these Rare Vintage Swing & Lindy Hop Videos!!

Jitterbugs (1943) – Laurel & Hardy Film

Ghost Catchers (1944) – Film

Dancers in the Dark (1932) – Film

Basin Street Boogie (1939) – Will Bradley Soundie

Boardwalk Boogie (1941) – Will Bradley Soundie

Juke Box Saturday Night (1942) – Glenn Miller Soundie

Swing Cat’s Jamboree (1938) – Film feat. Louis Prima

‘Break Dancing’ to A Night in Tunisia (30s?) – Mills Brothers Film

Jack You’re Playing the Game (1941) – Delta Rhythm Boys Soundie

WWII Sailors Jitterbug

Ragg Mopp (1951) – The Treniers Soundie

Rhumba Boogie (1950) – Chuy Reyes Soundie

‘Can I Steal a Little Love’ from Rock Pretty Baby (1956) – Film

National Library of Sweden (1944) – Check out this really cool clip of Swedes doing the lindy hop!

Rare Dancing Cartoons

I’m Just a Jitter Bug (1939) – Walter Lanz, Oswald Rabbbit

Poopdeck Pappy (1940) – Popeye the Sailor

Boogie Woogie Man (1943) – Walter Lanz, Swing Symphony

Jitterbug Jive (1950) – Popeye the Sailor

Some may relish the small details like shoulder shakes and hand gestures, while others may appreciate the opportunity to ‘try-on’ a variety of fashion and dance styles. But mostly, they’re really fun!

This is just a short list to get you started on your own adventure! So check out your local library, museum or film archive for more rare lindy hop and swing dance clips! If you have uncovered a rare vintage swing dance clip and would like to share it with the rest of us, please leave a link in the comments section!

Teacher Feature: Q&A with Mikey Pedroza

Shani Brown — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:00:48 +0000

Mikey Pedroza

The Teacher Feature is an ongoing series of interviews with the wonderful instructors from our Atomic Ballroom Family. In addition to celebrating our instructors and their many achievements, we would like you all to learn more about them as people – why they dance and what makes them ‘tick’. Today we are highlighting Lindy Hop and Classical Jazz Dancer, Teacher and Performer – Mikey Pedroza.

So when did you start dancing (lindy hop)? And what drew you to swing dancing?

I started dancing Lindy Hop back in 1998, I was 13 years old then. My brother had been going to a local swing dance night club called Memories for a few months and decided to take lessons. After his first few classes, he came home at night and showed me what he had been learning. It involved a lot of kicks and touching the ground, I didn’t know it at the time but it was Charleston. He showed me quickly how to do it and I was hooked. A few weeks later I was in my first swing dance class. I loved it! I made friends with many of the students in the class who were about my age and we all decided to continue learning together. By the end of that summer, I was taking not only swing classes but also taking ballroom lessons and also involved on a team of kids my age doing Lindy Hop routines. For the next year I would dance and compete in ballroom with my partner Cassandra and dancing Lindy Hop for fun and going to camps. Soon ballroom just wasn’t doing it for me and I was having way more fun with Lindy Hop.

I couldn’t really say what drew me to it specifically but girls for sure helped. Also, I never was really good with people or public speaking – I found that through dancing, I learned that it was okay to be me by drawing on the inner confidence I had always had. So I guess the draw was that I was finding out more about myself and getting comfortable with that.

You’ve been dancing for almost 15 years! What has kept you going all these years?

The things that kept me going was really that knowing that I could always get better and that there will always be something new to learn. But also how much fun I could have. I had never been this good at anything in my life and dancing was actually something I was good at and it got me excited, it still does. As I got older and adolescence set in, I forgot about a lot of this stuff, I forgot why I loved it and just did it. Then that spark of joy was re ignited when I met my friend Laura Keat. She showed me that the dance can be experienced in a different way. I had been dancing with the left side of my brain for so long that I didn’t notice that I could use the right side and actually think about what I am doing on the dance floor and be aware of my body at all times but still keep that artistic and free flowing part of me evident in the dance.

Well, in those many years you have become well versed an a NUMBER of vernacular jazz dances (ie Balboa, Lindy Hop, Blues, Solo, etc). Do you have a favorite style or type of dance?

I will and forever love and cherish Lindy Hop. It has helped me live my life. And it’s given me a creative outlet to let my minds inner working come out thru joy and movement.

Who or what has been your biggest influence or inspiration in your dancing?

Mikey & Nikki

My first inspiration was watching old movie clips and soundies from back in the day when the dances were being created. I remember when my brother showed me my first clips, Dean Collins in Buck Privates, Pete Smith Specialty Goovie Movie , and of course Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers in Hellzapoppin’. I’ll never forget that day, it changed the rest of my life. From then on I was in constant search for more videos. White, black, brown what ever color the dancers were didn’t mater to me as long as they could teach me. Lately my inspiration still come from those old clips that I can now call on will right from my lap top. When I feel stagnant or I need a little spark to light my imagination I call upon those clips and sit and learn. But also I must say that I have since branched out and enjoy watching other dance styles: ballet, modern, hip hop, ballroom, tango – anything that moves with a beat…I will take the time to watch it.

But really, my biggest influence in dance would have to be Frankie Manning and Gene Kelly. Frankie manning for his innovation and his ability to show you the love for Lindy Hop. And Gene for showing the world that dance can be done by anyone and that you don’t have to be fancy or a girl to dance.

You made the move from dancer/performer to teacher…what’s that been like? Is there any particular method or advice you try to convey to your students?

Being a dance teacher isn’t something I set out to do all those years ago. It wasn’t even on the radar. Teaching, for me, just kind of happened. I was asked to teach in Oberlin, OH in 2004 and thought, wow, maybe I should start teaching more. So ever since then I have tried my best to teach others what I do. But first, I had to figure out what I did and how I could to convey it – that was the hardest thing for me. But thru this, I discovered that being true to yourself is what cherish and love about the dance.

I love to be creative and fun but as long as I am aware of what I am doing and stay in control of my body. I take it upon myself to share that knowledge and love with everyone. Body awareness is the biggest thing I convey to my students. That means a lot of exercises to learn what your body does in certain situations. I also like to remind my students that even though they are in my class, what I say is not the end all-be all “way of Lindy Hop.” It’s just my interpretation and all I can do is teach you what I do. I encourage them to go out discover different ways of approaching the dance from different teachers. I guess my method would be that it’s not about right and wrong but what feels good and not so good, being aware of what your body is doing.

Advice wise, don’t come to class drunk. Unless your at a bar I don’t come to your work and get drunk. Seriously, I don’t want to have to make fun of you for an hour, though it would be fun for everyone else I don’t think you’ll learn much unless your one of those functional drunks or something… yeah.

Ha Ha! Duly Noted.

You also seem to love to perform – solo, with your partner and with a performance group – Can you tell us more about what that process is like and what you love about it? How do you deal with nerves?

Your right, I do love performing and competing and Lindy Hop lends itself to both of these things. The dance is so big that you are performing no matter what. And a lot of the dance is also all about “one upping” the other guy/girl. If you ask my mom, she would tell you that I was always meant to be in front of people and entertain them…I guess that’s why she would call me Mr. Hollywood as a kid. But for me, the nerves never go away and before every contest or performance I am always a ball of nerves. The first really big contest I did, was U.S. Open Swing Dance Championships in 1999, and we were the last couple up after about 13 couples before us. I thought it was a good idea to sit down thru out the first 12 couples and when the couple before us started, I got up only to fall right back down because I couldn’t stay standing on my feet! All of the nerves for me are during the times before I dance but as soon as I hit that floor it goes all away and I finally get into my comfort zone, Lindy Hop!

This is going to sound incredibly silly but its the weird truth in my head… when I get out there and perform I like to think about the Japanese anime, Dragonball Z. When they are about to fight they charge up their powers and emit this huge glowing aura that everyone near by can see and feel. When I am dancing in front of people that is what I try to shoot for. I want people to not just see what I am doing out there but I want them to feel the dance.

Advice for performers would be to find a way to connect with the audience and try your best to make every performance unique and something special for yourself. It will translate well to the audience.

Of your many competitions and performances, do any stick out in your mind as favorites?

My favorite performance would have to be Tears with Nikki Marvin. That was such an amazing piece of work for us. We had no idea how it would be received by an audience. The song isn’t really something you can clap along to like most Lindy Hop routines and neither is it like most routines. We drew inspiration for this piece from various dances: tango, salsa, French apache and of course Lindy Hop. We took a long time in putting that routine together and loved every minute of it because it was uniquely us.

Tears – Mikey and Nikki

My favorite competition has to be the Camp Hollywood 2008 where with Nina Gilkinson did 10 swing outs in a row and had that entire place on its feet for every single one. It was one of the greatest feelings i have ever felt during a contest and I will never forget that.

NJC – Pro Strictly Lindy 2008 (Mikey & Nina)

I was there …the room was electric!

So what are your goals for the future? You’re a pretty ambitious guy…Will we be seeing you on tv/movies, stage, owning a studio or putting on a dance event?

Well, a little over a year ago I set a goal of working or performing at 3 major events: performing at Houston’s Southwest Lindy Fest, teaching at the home town event of Camp Hollywood, and teaching/performing at Herrang Sweden. And to my surprise, I accomplished those goals with in a year! So now my new goal is to be a part of a large stage production. I want to dance in front people and make them want to jump on stage and dance along with me.

Are you working on anything special to reach your goal?

Mainly I am working a lot on myself right now. I am taking a jazz and ballet class to help get some new techniques in my body and hope to use those new skills in my Lindy Hop.

Do you think there is anything missing (something you’d like to see change, return, more of, less of…) in the swing world?

The one thing I believe, from years of experience, is that the dance world is cyclical. So even if I don’t like a trend or something like that in the dance, I know all I have to be is patient and it’ll go away real soon ;-)

Any final comments…?

I love dancing, it has helped my life so much and helped me travel the world. Teaching for me is more about spreading the knowledge and love I have gained thru the dance. I’m not out to change lives by any means, but if I can help some one learn something new and brighten their day a bit, then I’m happy.

For more about Mikey, visit MikeyPedroza.com

THIS JUST IN!!!

Mikey Pedroza, ULHS 2012 Slow Dance Champion! Check out the video below.

ATOMIC and FierceCostumes.com gets you ready for Halloween

Kimberly Smith — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 16:13:17 +0000

Hey all you ghouls and ghosts out there, are you ready for Halloween this year? Not only are we getting you ready for Thrill The World with classes at both ATOMIC Placentia and ATOMIC Irvine, we are also having a Halloween BOOty Dance complete with Grilled “Muenster” Cheese Sandwiches, Tomato “Vampire Blood” Soup and Mummy Dogs.

But if that wasn’t enough, ATOMIC has worked out a special deal with FierceCostumes.com to help get your costume ready for Halloween. That’s right, FierceCostumes.com is offering a special discount to ATOMIC Ballroom dancers. And it’s super easy to use. Just go to FierceCostumes.com, pick out your costume, and at checkout, enter the code ATOMIC2011 to receive 10% off your order!

FierceCostumes.com has a great selection of costumes for anyone from baby to adult. Check out some of the costumes below. If you order your costume by October 25, it will be delivered in time for Halloween!

Red Angry Brid

Yellow Angry Brid

Women's Flapper Costume

Charleston Flapper Costume

Frank-N-Furter

Men's Zoot Suit

Teen Joker from Batman Costume

Sue Sylvester from Glee Costume

Do You Have A Dance-A-Thon Team Yet?

Kyle Smith — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 16:57:24 +0000

There are only 45 days until the 24 Hour Cancer Dance-A-Thon, are you registered with a team yet??? The ATOMIC Ballroom teams need YOU to join! ATOMIC has two teams, ATOMIC Team A and ATOMIC Team B.

Signing up is simple, inquire at the front desk while you are at ATOMIC or go to the ATOMIC team pages linked here: ATOMIC Team A and ATOMIC Team B. Both teams have a goal of raising $10,000 each, so the sooner you join the sooner you can help raise money to fight cancer!

If you’ve never been to the Dance-A-Thon, it really time you got around to it. Not only is it a really fun event with tons of people, dancing everywhere and world class instructors, it supports The City of Hope. Its really a no-brainer. Don’t worry if you don’t know anyone, the ATOMIC teams will take you under their wing and show you how dancing for 24 hours is done!

Spreading the Love for Ballroom – Dancing with the Stars Returns for a 13th Season!

Shani Brown — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 19:28:45 +0000

Last night, September 19, Dancing with the Stars returned to ABC prime time for it’s 13th season. Whatever you may feel about the judges, hosts, pro dancers or their famous partners, I really appreciate this show for all it’s done to promote partner dancing and boost the reputation of ballroom dancing.
It takes A LOT of courage for these well known famous personalities to step out of their comfort zones to learn a new skill then perform that skill in front of millions of tv viewers. The Dancing with the Stars franchise is now is 32 countries! The show has been instrumental in maintaining and reviving interest in ballroom around the world. Sometimes we may think it’s silly or even cheesy, but the hard work of the professional instructors and braveness of ‘Stars’ is to be commended.

Dancing with the Stars Season 13 - Episodes air on Monday and Tuesday Nights 9/8c

Week 1 Performance Recap

To kick off the show, all twelve ‘Stars’ performed either a Cha Cha or Viennese Waltz with their Professional dance partner/instructor.

First to take the floor was Ron Artest (now known as ‘Metta World Peace’ – no, I am not making it up), small forward for the Los Angeles Lakers. His Cha Cha was not the greatest but I love to see large male athletes show that ballroom dancing is NOT for sissies.

Next up was Rob Kardashian, brother of Kim Kardashian and Khloé Odom, performing a beautiful Viennese Waltz with infamous partner, Cheryl Burke. Lamar Odom was there to cheer on his teammate, Artest, and brother in law, Rob. Let’s just hope Rob stays on longer than his sister Kim’s three episodes.

Then came Orange County’s own Kristin Cavallari, from Laguna Beach: The Real OC and The Hills. She and partner Mark did a HOT Cha Cha!

Next is Chynna Phillips, singer from Wilson-Phillips, who’s inherent musical abilities came through during a lovely Viennese Waltz. She and partner Tony scored the highest marks of the night – Congrats!

TV host, Nancy Grace, was not exactly graceful during her Cha Cha with partner Tristan. However, the 52 year-old mother of twin toddlers deserves credit for balancing kids, a successful career and ballroom training!

David Arquette‘s Viennese Waltz with two-time Champion Kym Johnson was a pleasant surprise. Known for his silly antics, Mr. Arquette proved to be a focus and diligent student. Their danced flowed beautifully and it even looked as though Mr. Arquette led his partner rather than simply execute choreography – not an easy task as you men know!

Italian actress and (former) flame of George Clooney, Elisabetta Canalis looked a little lost when performing choreography on her own, but she managed to surmount a language barrier and Cha Cha her heart out.

Soccer star and Olympian, Hope Solo was up next. Solo was worried she would not be able to walk in heels, much less dance in them. Despite her concerns, she and partner Maks received a score of 21 for their flowing Viennese Waltz, placing them in 3nd behind Chynna and Tony. I’m sure she’s a hard worker with an excellent training mindset for the precision of competitive ballroom dance.

Beloved fashion expert, Carson Kressley, from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and How to Look Good Naked, hit the floor with a fun and funky Cha Cha. He and partner Ana certainly know how to put on a show and prove to viewers that ballroom dancing can be FUN!!

JR Martinez, wounded war vet and actor on (soon to be concluded) All My Children, wow’d the judges with his Viennese Waltz. He was light on his feet and had quite good technique for a new dancer. He and champion partner, Karina Smirnoff, received a 22 for a tie with Chynna & Tony.

Ricki Lake unveiled her ‘banging’ new body during her Viennese Waltz with partner Derek Hough. She is aiming for the win and her first dance earned a solid 20. I think she will bring the fire to the floor this season and give the crowd favorites a run for their money.

Finally, we come to the controversy. Last to dance with our beloved Orange County West Coast Swing/International Latin Champion and So You Think You Can Dance finalist - Lacey Schwimmer, with Chaz Bono. Because Chaz, daughter of Sonny and Cher, is a transgender male, there were some nasty comments from DWTS fans regarding his appearance on the show. Chaz and Lacey worked really hard to show viewers that ANYONE CAN DANCE! He hit the floor with a Cha Cha routine that did not disappoint. I sincerely hope he continues on the show, if only to prove to viewers and anyone slightly interested in learning to dance that dancing is a skill anyone can learn regardless of sex, gender, race, physical ability or what have you. Best of luck Lacey & Chaz!!

This years show is shaping up to be one of the best ever!

Watch a full streaming video of last night performances here

Week 1 Results

Ron Artest (Metta World Peace) and his partner Peta are the first to leave the show. His Cha Cha was pretty stiff and I’m sure fans are put off by his new name.

*Remember to vote for your favorite couple to keep them on the show! Good Luck to the remaining contestants!!

Brush up on your Ballroom @ Atomic

Thursday Night Ballroom Practice

Saturday Night Ballroom

Ballroom Lessons – New Series Start in October