Lindy Social

12/03/2020

Due to this unfortunate Corona Virus situation, we have decided to place Lindy Social on hiatus for March and April. It's important to us to not take this situation lightly and take precaution in keeping our dance community safe and healthy. Please take a moment and educate yourself on this disease and share this information with others.

We will be monitoring this situation as things unfold as our government continues to respond and will resume schedule as soon as this situation is under control.

Please check here for updates and hope to see you and dance with you all very soon!

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a virus (more specifically, a coronavirus) identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China.

09/03/2020

If it’s your birthday this month! Let us help you celebrate! Email [email protected] with your reservation for a table for March 29th and we will place you and 4 friends on the VIP list!

01/03/2020

Lindy Social's Swing and Soul Sunday with Chester Whitmore

25/02/2020

Oh what a night!!!! Lindy Social was absolutely the place to be last night! A huge thank you to the one and only, Chester Whitmore and the LA Swing Dance Posse!! What an amazing party and performance!! Thank you to Karin Plez for teaching a fantastic class and for your absolutely stunning and breathtaking performance! Thank you to Paul and Susan Samson for teaching a wonderful Beginner Swing class! A final thank you to Adam Valdez and Chelsea Kirkpatrick our awesome DJ’s and to Tim Calacsan, Beverly Ramos, Sasha Kremenetsky, Rachel Castillo, Leona Lippincott, Cat Mackenzie and Adolfo, our team of volunteers! To all that attended, thank you from the bottom of my heart! Make sure and save the date for next month’s event! We are excited to bring back Kevin Le to teach Beginner Hip Hop, and Cat and Adolfo to teach Beginner Progressive Swing! We are excited for a special performance by Sasha Kremenetsky and Terrance Kira Whyte! See you all March 29th!

https://facebook.com/events/s/lindy-socials-swing-and-soul-s/503556300260315/?ti=icl

24/02/2020

Warming up the night with a Beginner Solo Jazz Class by Karin Plez!! Come join us at Lindy social tonight!!

23/02/2020

https://youtu.be/VmuIRoii2L4

23/02/2020

Tonight at Lindy Social we welcome Chester Whitmore. Whitmore is not only a known teacher, performer, and preservationist of swing dance in the Los Angeles community, but also works worldwide to educate others about the history of vernacular jazz and tap.

Chester began dancing in Los Angeles in 1974. His love for dance began with a project on the history of dance at Dorsey High School. A young Whitmore started his research with contemporary dances, but as his curiosity grew, he became inspired by earlier American folk dances which lead him to study the great performers of tap and vernacular jazz.

As he tells the story, Chester found tap dancing after a kismet encounter with a stranger who needed help changing a flat tire. The man noticed that Chester had tap shoes in his car and identified himself as a “hoofer” (another name for a tapper). The man offered to teach Chester everything he knew about tap and Chester was happy to oblige, as he was developing a strong passion for the dance himself.

After their lessons had begun, Chester had come across the iconic clip of The Nicholas Brothers doing jump splits down a flight of stairs (Stormy Weather, 1943). He was awestruck by the talent, rhythm, and acrobatic ability of the two dancers and explained what he saw to his new teacher. To Chester’s surprise, his teacher pulled out a still photo from the very scene Chester described. His instructor introduced himself as Faynard Nicholas, one of the brothers responsible for performing that famous scene. As a protégé of Fayard Nicholas, Chester began dancing his way around the world.

These days Whitmore is a dancer, teacher, performer, choreographer, director, stunt man and entertainer. His choreography can be seen in music videos for Boys II Men, Sugar Ray, Teena Marie as well as working with artists such as Savion Glover, MC Hammer, Prince and many more.

Still he continues to choreograph and perform locally. He has performed with his dance company Black Ballet Jazz, the Lionel Hampton Orchestra, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, the Count Basie Orchestra, and Miles Davis.

Chester exemplifies a dancer and performer who seeks up lift up and preserve Black jazz movement.

We are so grateful for his many contributions to our community.

~ Written by Sasha Kremenetsky

17/02/2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IBteauWsHA

Nicholas Brothers. !936 performance of 'Lucky Number.

16/02/2020

At Lindy Social, we seek to celebrate the history of Swing Dance and its African American innovators. This month, we’re spotlighting two dancers who continue to inspire fans of tap, lindy hop, and vernacular jazz alike. Both Mikhail Baryshnikov and Michael Jackson have credited their work as an influence on their respective careers. The brothers continue to have a lasting and profound impact on American culture.

Faynard and Harold Nicholas spent most of their lives in Philadelphia. The dancers originally began their act under the name “The Nicholas Kids,” which included their sister Dorothy as a performer and collaborator. As young children, Faynard, Harold, and Dorothy grew up watching their parents play music at The Standard Theatre, which was an important location for Black dancers, singers, musicians, and entertainers during the early 1910’s and 20’s. There, they grew up watching some of the best American vaudeville acts of the time and began to hone the skills that would later make them some of the most imitated dancers in the history of swing movement. Dorothy would later leave the troupe shortly before their first performance at The Cotton Club.

Between the late 20’s to 30’s the Nicholas Brothers had become a known act within the club circuit. The two dancers had already performed at the Standard Theatre, The Cotton Club, and booked their first broadway performance in Ziegfeld Follies (1936).

Today, The Brothers are especially known for their tandem tap routines that included many of the tricks and acrobatics that professional lindy hoppers and tappers still spend their lifetimes perfecting. Their unique take on tap and vernacular jazz was known as “flash dancing” due to many of the head-turning moves that entertained audiences.

During the 1920’s, opportunities for Black dancers to break ground in the entertainment industry were few and far between. Black performers endured discrimination, racism, and tokenization at nearly every turn of their career. Even when receiving credit, they often continued to face marginalization within the dance community. For example, Fred Astaire credited the dancers for having some of the best tap routines of the time, while famously appearing in blackface in the film, “Swing Time” (1936). Despite the discrimination they faced, The Nicholas Brothers paved the way for African American entertainers and swing dancers all over the United States.

The Nicholas Brothers had a lasting impact on swing dance and redefined solo jazz movement with their innovative style. At Lindy Social, we celebrate their legacy and their influence on American dance and culture.

Stay tuned for more dance history bios!

~ Written by Sasha Kremenetsky
~ Edited by Chester Whitmore

09/02/2020

Two Weeks away! This month at Lindy Social Swing and Soul Sunday we have Teachers Susan and Paul Samson, Karin Plez and Special Performances by Karin Plez and Chester Whitmore's Los Angelos Swing Dance Posse!

https://www.facebook.com/events/744214529408289/

06/02/2020

February is Black History Month! It’s a time to recognize and celebrate the lives and central roles of African Americans in our US History. Lindy Hop or Swing is a black dance that began in the ballrooms of Harlem in the 1920’s. Part of Lindy Social’s Mission is to highlight, celebrate and honor both the originators of Soul Music and the originators of Swing every month. It’s important to remember Soul Music and Lindy Hop were both born from oppression. We hope to encourage a space where people feel welcome and are intrigued to ask questions, reflect, and explore the lives of the Black people who created this music and dance that we love so much!

05/02/2020

Lindy Social's You Tube Channel is up to view! A big thank you to Cat for getting our videos up! You can check out our Monthly Performances, Social Dances, and peek in on classes taught at Lindy Social!