Katherine's Dance Word

Angry Bees & Being Free

2012-03-02T00:00:00.000-08:00

Change is in the air. I've noticed people are more willing to request swing songs at their local dance venues. I've noticed people putting healthier boundaries on Nissies, limiting their exposure to rude and uncalled for behavior. I'm seeing dancers more willing to express and discuss their opinions, instead of believing they have no value or voice.

I left my last dance party thinking, "people are really waking up!" They are more alert, more willing to question, more willing to really watch... watch the floor, watch the dancers, watch the music. Here in California, that's a big change. I wonder how things are going in your neck of the woods?

Unfortunately, as we awaken to what's really going on, those who put us to sleep have suddenly started to buzz and sting like angry hornets. They push, pull, argue, complain and claim to be blameless, perfect or worse... they claim to be victims.

How can we handle this?

Let them be.

There is no safe, healthy or worthwhile way to interact with rude and anti-social behavior. I repeat: NONE. It's much easier to be caught in their web when we do, and I'd rather they attract their own kind... and not hurt ours.

You can act with your dollar, your scores, your teaching and your dancing... don't let their anger and hate touch your joy of this amazing and incredible dance we call... SWING!

Be well & be free! -Katherine

I wrote this in one of my Notes last November. So very much has happened since then and so much is just beginning in communities across the globe, that I thought it was appropriate to repost it publicly. True WCS brings freedom, joy and life. Let's let all else be... and enjoy our newfound paths to proper training, identification and... swing!

Weekly Note #6: The Judging

2012-02-28T19:26:00.009-08:00

Of the many things I was asked to write about after releasing The Time Has Come last May, judging was easily in the top three, along side the music and points. And nearly a year later, it's still a hot topic. Just last weekend, my article "The Judging," ran out long before any of the others. I'm not surprised. The judging has been upside down for so long that people desperately want answers.

To be honest, at the time I wrote this Note I had already been judging differently for at least two years. No one made a fuss and it certainly made me feel better about my scores, as well as making it much easier to give answers to competitors who wanted to know how to improve. But it was also released just after Tampa Bay. This was a complete accident, but timely nonetheless. I did manage to put my two cents in on Tampa on the side, but it was again, rather prophetic on my part, that I'd already written about judging just as it was becoming a political hot button.

But still, this Weekly Note was the first time I'd ever addressed the judging in my writing. I'm glad I did. It was a popular Note, almost doubling readership.

Weekly Note #6: The Judging

Read on and enjoy...

Katherine Krok Eastvold

Feeling left behind? Join dancers from all over the world and sign up to get them right in your inbox... today!

Generational Swing

2012-02-25T20:38:00.003-08:00

A couple of weeks ago I put together this video for one of my Weekly Notes. A reader had somehow come up with the idea that I write in order to return WCS back to the way it was danced in the 1990's... only! As I said in the Note, yes, I consider the 1990's to be WCS's Renaissance Era (a period of intellectual and artistic vigor).

But to say that I believe a dancer is dancing WCS only if he is dancing it the way it was danced in a single decade? That just couldn't be further from the truth. West Coast Swing has been danced within the confines of my Swing Essentials since it was born.

I write so WCS can survive... the WCS that has been danced for decades. I write so that dancers won't buy the "we don't do that anymore" jargon when they're being taught Abstract Improvisation or Zouk instead of WCS. So I created a video of WCS being danced BEFORE the Renaissance Era in order to help. WCS is WCS, no matter what the era. I love it all.

"Generational Swing"

Again, I thank all the dancers who first shared these on YouTube. It is my belief that the easiest way to combat untrained "renegade" teaching is by posting our historic videos... preserving our dance for future generations.

Enjoy!

Katherine Krok Eastvold

Get your own free Weeky Notes when they are first released!

Weekly Note #5: US Open 'Z'DC?

2012-02-24T12:39:00.001-08:00

I am constantly underestimating the potency of my Weekly Notes. And then I get little reminders. For example, a girl from Kentucky commented on a "West Coast Swing" video recently, "I just love how much Zouk is in this routine!" She's not on my list. Impressive.

Education is the key to saving our dance. The better our eye is, the better we can differentiate one dance from another, the better the shot our dancers have at joy and freedom on the dance floor.

Weekly Note #5: US Open 'Z'DC?

Knowledge is power,

Katherine Krok Eastvold

Feeling left behind? Join dancers from all over the world and sign up to get them right in your inbox... today!

Weekly Note #4: Scary Scary Scary!

2012-02-13T18:28:00.000-08:00

Probably one of my craziest Notes to date, I simply can't read through it without laughing hysterically at what I wrote. My dance partner can back that up. He's sitting here watch me pound the table and gasp for air as I laugh at my own jokes while re-reading it. So to literally save me from "dying of laughter," I'll stop reading it and start sharing it with you!

As you know, I release my Weekly Notes every Monday. Well, Halloween happened to fall on a Monday last year, so it inspired me to... well... go all the way. And so I did. From the graphics to the content, I just had a ton of fun with it, even though I'm not a huge Halloween fan. It was just too perfect.

So I hope you have as much fun reading it as I did writing and creating it...

Weekly Note #4: Scary Scary Scary!

With love, joy & laughter,

Your dedicated writer,

Katherine Krok Eastvold

Weekly Note #3: Swing is Swing

2012-02-06T01:19:00.000-08:00

As I read through this Note that came out last October, I laugh at how many people were opening it in the first hour of it's release. Um, let's just say that number has... um... "increased," shall we? It makes me stop and think: How in the world have I grown this fast? And so quickly???

I think the answer is relatively simple: I make sense. I don't demand that people agree with me. I let them decide for themselves. And you know what? They see what I'm seeing. What I say rings much too true to ignore. I answers a lot of questions. Heck, I even answer questions people didn't know they had!

I receive emails from people who have just started learning WCS, saying they can already see what I'm talking about. Veteran dancers who attend a SwingIN! always email after their next night of dancing and say, "You're right! There really ARE two dances out there!"

Okay. There might be another reason too, right? I'm saying what everyone's thinking... but out loud. And that's just fun to watch, isn't it? I'm getting the impression that my readers are gathering around on Mondays, waiting to read my latest release. I can feel their collective gasp worldwide... my bravery seems to continually stun you. But then you settle in and start wondering why no one said it before... and what you can do about it now. I hope my bravery inspires you to become courageous in your own community, and grow the joy of the dance there too.

So whatever your reason for reading, I'm just really grateful you've grown it the way that you have, and turned our world around. I'm honored to have struck a cord with you, and I look forward to many more adventures with you!

Weekly WCS Note #3:

Swing is Swing

xoxo,

Katherine

The Power of Perfection

2012-01-31T01:14:00.000-08:00

A reader sent me a video last year of a famous 'biking' move that has remained unchanged for decades. It's still considered "a staple move required to win a contest." If execution is still highly regarded in other competitions, he said, why are our teachers changing "staple" moves and scolding against excellence in technique and execution in our own dance?

He had a rather brilliant point. Good technique is just that: good technique. And amazing execution never fails to strike a chord deep within us. We are built to recognize beauty, strength, power, harmony and balance when it looks us directly in the face.

It make us speechless. It takes our breath away. Like on Sunday.

It must have been fate. I don't watch sports. I usually find out a big game is on because the supermarket is vacant or the freeways are empty. It's pretty sad. But it's the truth. So fate must have made us crave the salad bar at our local pizza joint. We stopped by on our way home, placed our order, and sat down in the back waiting for our order and trading places to make our salads.

Yes, there were massive TV screens facing us, but for some reason the volume was down. I remember it perfectly. I had just sat down with my salad and Nick got up to get his. He joked, "Hey do you recognize the hair?" Because there was Shaun White's red hair sticking out of a helmet on a slope on the TV's. (Sadly, we only knew it was Shaun White because we'd just watched a movie he had a cameo in two nights before.)

And then we both froze. Nick mid air, staring at the screen behind me. Me with my fork mid-air, lettuce dangling off, staring at the screen in front of me.

Because whatever the heck Shaun White was doing (snowboarding, right?), we were in awe the moment he took air. And we both stayed frozen for the rest of the run.

Weekly Note #2: Soft vs. Hard Abstract

2012-01-30T16:55:00.000-08:00

As promised! It's a new week, and so I'm posting my second Weekly Note just for... you!

Now, you may have noticed that I already posted part of this Weekly Note last Fall. But now you'll get to see the video examples that came with the original note, as well as my very first "Rearview Mirror" section.

Weekly WCS Note #2: Soft vs. Hard Abstract Improvisation

I should mention that the video examples have black bars running across the top. I get a mix of feedback on this. The vast majority respect and honor the decision. But a few people want to know "who" is dancing this stuff and some people worry others will know who they are, black bars or not.

So let me just put your mind at ease. The "black bar" method is tried and true. I'd been teaching SwingIN!s for almost a full year before starting my Weekly Notes. At all of them, I used "black bars" in my videos and used black marker to hide faces in photos.

And you know what I discovered? 99.8% of everyone mis-identified the photos and/or videos. I have to be honest- I was NOT expecting this. For example, I'm constantly amazed at how a photo of Sharlot is continuously identified as Tatiana... How??? Even judges and promoters get it wrong. It is truly a successful technique.

So watch away and enjoy learning.
xoxo, Katherine

ps- And, by the way, it's a GOOD thing to get used to watching the feet. The feet will tell you everything. They don't lie. You can be a fan of someone, a friend of someone, even date someone... and not be a fan of their dancing. The goal is to be aware - alert - educated... and the glory & joy of your dance will follow!

A Change

2012-01-28T06:42:00.000-08:00

I practice what I preach. If you haven't read Just Say It or Routines 101, it's time you did. And if you have, then you'll understand why I'm about to say what I'm about to say.

Here we go.

I get emails every day from people saying that they want change, and they want change NOW. No kidding. Don't we all? We've been under the thumb of fear and deception for quite a long while. Now that we understand things a little better (okay, A LOT better), we are ready to go back to real dancing again.

But it took 10 years to get us here. It'll take a while for the two dances to separate out. But change is happening. We are not the community we were a year ago. True, some things have become much worse (music in Showcase, anyone? sloppy demos, anyone?), but a lot of things are turning around. I both experience and hear about local dance communities that are choosing their classes, instructors, partners, music and events more wisely.

But we haven't seen a lot of change on our competition floors. So, as I tell everyone to do so very often: give credit where credit is due.

And a great deal of credit needs to go to Myles and Tessa for their 2011 US Open Showcase Routine.

As most of you know, I was driving to my sister's wedding while they danced, but I noticed on Facebook that there were a few comments about the "swing" in Myles and Tessa's routine. It made me curious. So I checked it out online.

My, my, my... sweet apple pie. I'm not saying it was swing. I'm not saying it was swing music. But I AM saying this:

They danced on phrase. They danced on phrase!

They were both extremely present. They were both powerful.

They took a stand.

They pushed themselves incredibly hard.

Incredibly hard.

They took greater risks in difficulty and timing than I've seen anyone take in a long, long time. But more importantly, they put in the massive hours it took to make those risks succeed. And as a result, they had impeccable control from start to finish.

Weekly Note #1: 'Boogie' Music?

2012-01-23T14:37:00.000-08:00

Today is an exciting day! I'm finally releasing a Weekly Note to the public! Up until now, they've only been available by email. But it's been a few months and my readers have grown so much, that I believe it's time to let everyone in on them.

So today I'm releasing my very first Weekly Note ever (I'll be releasing one a week from here on out). It's quite a special note. I decided to do it on a whim, wrote it right after Boogie by the Bay and BAM! It went went around the world in less than 24 hours. I think that's because it's about the music. It struck a cord with a lot of people. I received a flood of emails thanking me and asking me to write "more, more, more!" And so I did. Enjoy reading the first of what's now become a worldwide WCS phenomenon!

Weekly Note #1: 'Boogie Music?"

Of course, these Weekly Notes are still going. If you want to get them in your email box as soon as I write them, then just subscribe. It's easy and it's free. Just text SWINGIN to 22828 or sign up online here.

Taking a Break

2012-01-10T12:22:00.000-08:00

I'm getting a bunch of emails asking, "when are you coming back???" Awww... I miss you too! But my little vacation has to be extended. I have, I believe, the nastiest cold ever created. And I had another one earlier this month. It's been a January filled with tissues, Dayquil and Emergen-C (I will owe Beth Bellamy for a lifetime for turning me on to that stuff!). So in between the fevers, I will manage to start up again next Monday. If you aren't signed up for these FREE Weekly Notes that everyone is talking about, then you should be! Over the break I figured out some of the topics I'll be touching on... and let me tell you... they are HOT! So sign up here today!

But for now, be sure to check out my "GetSwingIN" Channel on YouTube. I've uploaded a ton of 'never-before-seen-on-the-internet' footage of some amazing West Coast Swing Dancing. See those amazing dances here!

Best & Truly,
Katherine Krok Eastvold

Never Before Seen Footage... AWESOME!

2011-12-12T19:46:00.000-08:00

Ever once in a while I like to post something from my private weekly notes to the public right away. This is one of those days. People have been asking me for videos like these for so long, it's not even funny. None of them have ever been released on the internet before, so it's time for everyone to enjoy. Hopefully I'll get some more uploaded soon, but for now... enjoy this single article from my Holiday History Note: Best Gift Ever!

"Best Gift EVER!"

Earlier this year I shared a link to a Classic Finals routine from 1998. It was an amazing and memorable routine that's still a favorite of mine, but many people online had never seen it before. They LOVED the dancing, but were shocked to see the couple's placement at the end.... Fourth. People's response? "Who the heck beat THAT?"

Yeah, we had some crazy routines hit the floor during our Rennaissance Era. And most of them aren't online. It's tragic.

Like these, for example. They've never been available online before. Get ready.

Now before you watch, here's a few things to look out for once you get over the initial shock.

1. These routines do an exceptional job of illustrating the unique versatility of WCS.

Every couple dances to a different genre of music. Every couple has their own personality and style. Every couple dances differently. So get ready for a variety of costumes like you've never seen before. I love it. But EVERY couple does real WCS. Every single one. You'll see it.

You'll see how it brings out the creativity and individuality of these incredibly talented dancers. Heck- at least three of the people you're about to see ended up on Broadway soon afterwards. But you'll also see how defined the dance is. It is, in no way, a free form dance. It's very much lead and follow and it requires a ton of training. As one of these dancers once said, "natural talent is only the beginning in this dance... and then the work really begins." And you'll see why in these videos.

2. These routines are all PATTERN based.

I've been hearing grumblings from the Abstract dancers that WCS dancers never "get better" because they just want to learn patterns. Patterns aren't easy. Patterns are hard. Especially these. You'll see that these patterns are based off of basic WCS moves, but I've been lead through a lot of them socially... and that takes SKILL. Serious skill. My husband can't get an Abstract dancer to follow a push-break. I hope you can see how real WCS, though extremely versatile, is a totally different dance than the random "freestyling" that is being done today. And it's certainly not, as I've said before, an "evolved" form of the dance.

The Judging ©

2011-11-19T17:02:00.000-08:00

I am a judge.
And I have sinned.

I was fooled by Abstract Improvisation. A couple of years ago, I left incredibly talented and highly trained and skilled Champion women out of finals. "They aren't keeping up," I thought. They were getting hit on the head, yanked, dragged, discombobulated and seemed to move slower than their leaders. I looked at other newer, younger girls, who never batted an eye at their leaders. They just dipped, twirled and whirled with a big smile on their face. They flew around like the breeze.

So I put the new girls in.

I am so sorry. I knew not what I did. I know so much more now.

My eyes were used to judging on those who "gelled" with their partners... those who had "seamless" dances. I didn't realize it was time to watch for much much more than that... no matter what level.

The reality of what I saw: the clash of two dances. The Champion WCS women were trying to stay on time, trying to follow, trying to stay in a slot. This spelled DISASTER with their Abstract men, who needed them to do ANYTHING but those three things.

And as a result, the Abstract women, who were up on their tippy toes, shoulders riding up to their ears, running around split weight and pigeon toed and so uncontrolled that their poor leads never showed in their bodies... looked unruffled... and thus looked successful.

How wrong I was. I eliminated the most highly trained and skilled dancers on the floor that day... because they tried to do West Coast Swing.

I judge very differently nowadays.

Times have changed, and therefore our judging needs to change.

The days of judging on the Three T's are gone. They work great when people are doing Pure WCS. But in a lot of places I judge, less than 10% are dancing swing. At Boogie by the Bay, in two heats of Novice, with 40 couples in each heat, I saw ONE man lead West Coast Swing. I've got video to prove it. I know it's different in other areas of the country, but still, there isn't a floor where Abstract isn't present to one degree or another.

So how do I judge now? As I've said before, I look at the feet and then I judge in the following order of priorities:

1) I look for anyone "trying" to do West Coast Swing.

If a leader is leading West Coast Swing, I put him in. If she is trying her best to do West Coast Swing, no matter what kind of lead she gets, I put her in. The couples in finals that actually do West Coast Swing... they are automatically in my top five. Everyone doing West Coast Swing has first priority. No matter what level.

2011-11-01T17:19:00.000-07:00

Abstract Improvisation is usually danced the same no matter what the song, but the better the Abstract Improv dancer, the more defined their dance becomes depending on the song. The more confident comfortable the Abstract Improv dancer, the more clearly you will see these two versions of Abstract: Soft and Hard.

Soft Abstract

This version is typically danced to certain kinds of lyrical, acoustic and love ballad songs. When you watch, you will see the leader's feet wander, flip flop with the follower and shuffle to lyrics and melodies in the song, if anything, rather than the beat. The follower improvises her footwork to both keep up with him, get out of his way and still hit the lyrics and melodies as well. This is not too suprising, because these songs tend to feel 'flowy,' and whimsical. Finding the hidden beat in this music is difficult and requires an extremely high level of training that even our best dancers are out of practice on, so you will rarely see the feet working within or on a beat... only the melodies and vocals of the song, again, if they are hitting anything. You'll see it the best when you count out the music aloud ("& a 1, & a 2, & a 3") and watch the feet at the same time.

2011-10-12T04:29:00.000-07:00

I've listened to our heartbeat.

For years now I've listened. I listened to former champions. I listened to fellow champions. I listened to newcomers. I listened to non-competitors. I listened to novice, intermediate, advanced and all-star dancers. I listened to judges, to event directors and to studio owners. I listened to DJ's. I listened to photographers. I even listened to hotel staff and to non-dancers staying in the hotels at conventions. I listened, and listened, and listened. I listened to the audiences and I listened to my students and I listened to the conversations taking place in hallways and dinner buffets and clubs. I listened. And I heard a lot. I heard what was being told, what was being said, what was being danced, what was being judged, what was being seen and what was being thought. I watched too. I watched carefully. I watched the Jack and Jills, the social floor, the dancing during the breaks and the dancing during late night. I watched the routines, the workshops and the private lessons. I listened and heard and watched.

And by doing so, I ended up taking the pulse of our West Coast Swing community.

Announcing FREE Weekly Notes!

2011-10-07T01:22:00.000-07:00

I’m sitting in my room, wiped out from what was supposed to be a “5 hour drive” that really turned out to be a “what the heck? It took us 8 hours?” kind of drive. The weekend of Boogie by the Bay 2011 is about to commence and I'm accutely aware: the ball is rolling... Abstract and Swing will collide once again... lines will be drawn and lines will be blurred... I can hear it now... 'Competitions and Questions and Music... Oh My!'

...and I realize, as I sit here in the quiet before the storm, just how much I wanted to share with you by now. I have so very much more to say than I did six months ago! I wanted to talk to you about the judging, and I wanted to talk to you about the music and the competitions and the social dancing and the teaching… there’s so much I have to tell you. And I really hoped to have told you by now.

I wanted you to go into this weekend prepared. I wanted you to walk away from this weekend understanding.

And so I ask myself. How do I release this massive body of knowledge upon you?

2011-09-19T16:01:00.000-07:00

I do not live close to New York City. I live in a land where dancing was once heady, heavy, sexy and close knit. But it’s not anymore. It’s energetic, it’s unique, it’s socially connected… but it’s not the dance Mecca that it once was. People drive less to dance less. People dance maybe once a week now, and if more, it’s for other dances… a salsa night here, a tango night there, a swing night in between. Gone are the euphorically addicting dances that kept me up nights and left me enamored and spinning with music and movement in my head… so much so that I made myself go to church on Saturday nights before dancing instead of Sunday mornings after dancing. After a night of dancing Sundays just didn’t work. I just couldn’t sit still. I couldn’t listen… my feet were doing syncopations while the words of the sermon fought with the music and the leads and the dancing in my mind…

Now the word ‘syncopation’ is hardly used. And my dances have been slowly whittled away by poor leads… no, not poor leads… no leads. Or terrifying yanking at any random point. So I stay on the sides and watch the floor, waiting for the miraculous moment when I will see an opportunity for 1. a real swing song and 2. a real swing dancer, to actually become available at that one fine, glorious and golden moment. I don’t care if they’re a novice. I just want a darn dance. I get four a night if I’m incredibly lucky, but honestly, it’s really down to one when I don’t count my husband.

And then someone whispered in my ear: Hudson Swing Affair! Hudson Swing Affair? The one in New York? The one with the girls and tuxes and glamour? So I emailed Festa. And he told me the glorious news… no non-swing songs. Pure swing. And no competitions, which means the people there… must be there… for the dancing? only? Hmmm… sounds a little too good to be true. But it’s Festa. And he’s already too fabulous to be true. So. We prayed. We bought our tickets. We started to prepare as best we could. Gown and suit for the Black and White Ball? Check. Sturdy luggage? Check. Plenty of light clothing? Check. Curiousity in crazy amounts? Double check.

I’m so glad we went.

2011-05-23T22:03:00.000-07:00

I've listened to our heartbeat.

For years now I've listened. I listened to former champions. I listened to fellow champions. I listened to newcomers. I listened to non-competitors. I listened to novice, intermediate, advanced and all-star dancers. I listened to judges, to event directors and to studio owners. I listened to DJ's. I listened to photographers. I even listened to hotel staff and to non-dancers staying in the hotels at conventions. I listened, and listened, and listened. I listened to the audiences and I listened to my students and I listened to the conversations taking place in hallways and dinner buffets and clubs. I listened. And I heard a lot. I heard what was being told, what was being said, what was being danced, what was being judged, what was being seen and what was being thought. I watched too. I watched carefully. I watched the Jack and Jills, the social floor, the dancing during the breaks and the dancing during late night. I watched the routines, the workshops and the private lessons. I listened and heard and watched.

And by doing so, I ended up taking the pulse of our West Coast Swing community.

It's not good news. I learned that we are hurting. I learned that we are divided. I learned that we are in crisis. We are confused, damaged and torn. We are sad, angry and lost. I learned that we desperately need to see a doctor. It's time for a diagnosis. We need a prescription. We need to start healing and return to a state of joy, freedom and empowerment on the dance floor.

I can help. After absorbing, analyzing and assimilating all I had heard, seen and felt on the floor, I discovered The Big Picture. I know what's going on. And perhaps more importantly, I know how we got here.

2011-04-28T21:03:00.000-07:00

By owning, teaching and choreographing for my ballroom studio, I learned that there is a dance for every season of life. I learned the intimate details that make a waltz a waltz, a salsa a salsa and a country two-step a country two-step. I learned that every partner dance has a character, a step pattern, a pulse and a particular floor craft. West Coast Swing is no different. It is a partner dance with steps, rhythms, rules and a floor craft.

So what are the “Essentials” that help us identify the dance? How do we know we’re watching a WCS dance and not a tango, rumba, foxtrot, zouk or... Abstract Improvisation?

THE FIVE WEST COAST SWING ESSENTIALS

1) Defined Rectangle Slot- Typically, a normal WCS slot is 2-3 floor squares long and one floor square wide. We can shift the Defined Slot’s location on the floor, but then we stay there or return back to our original slot. WCS is NOT a rounded or unconfined dance. The slot does not extend very far on any one side.

Just Say It ©

2011-04-21T00:46:00.000-07:00

The majority of the talent in our dance community is doubting themselves. Professionals, champions and advanced dancers from the past (when the All-Star Division didn’t exist) who have extensive knowledge, training, insight, control, centering, impeccable timing and individual footwork and stylings are, by and large, questioning themselves. It’s so bad that some are retiring, some are switching to other dances and some are quitting dancing altogether. You have the power to stop it. I’m going to tell you how.

I have been to a number of national dance events across the nation over the past year. I noticed a disturbing pattern. It happened at every single event. The results would be announced: fifth place (murmers), fourth place (more murmers), third place (fidgety panic), second place (impending gloom and hope at the same time) and then first place.

Boom.

Routines 101 ©

2011-04-09T23:32:00.000-07:00

"Dancing can reveal all the mystery that music conceals." - Charles Baudelaire

I rarely enjoy anything as much as I enjoy choreographing. Besides the people, it is the thing I miss most about my studio. It was life changing, empowering and incredibly satisfying to choreograph all day long for ballroom, salsa, swing... everything. Ah! It was nectar to my soul! Then love, marriage and life happened. Now I'm traveling and primarily choreographing and coaching for the WCS community again. It's fantastic, but a little shocking. I'm discovering that many widely known benefits and expectations of putting a routine together have been lost over the years. Questions about choreography and routines are pouring in from dancers everywhere I go. A lot of them.

So if you or someone you know is interested in doing a West Coast Swing routine (or any routine, for that matter), and you want to get the most out of it that you can, here are some things to be aware of:

1. The Universal Goal- Whether you're starting on this journey to be seen, to get better, to make your partner happy, to make your coach happy... you really only have one goal: to put your best foot forward. I'll say it again... to put YOUR best foot forward. The audience will only see YOU. And nobody else can be you. Nobody! And that's a GREAT thing! West Coast Swing is a stunning dance...

The Nissy ©

2011-04-04T19:54:00.000-07:00

"Nissy" is my nickname for the Narcissists of our dance community. It can be yours too. It's high time we had one.

Narcissism has increased at an alarming rate these last 10 years in our dance community, and the damage has been far reaching. As such, it's important that we who love the dance family become aware of the behavior and its affects. That way we can protect ourselves, the joy of our dancing and the joy of others when they are struggling and confused.

So what exactly IS a Narcissist? To put it very simply, it's someone who is ruled by "egotism, vanity, conceit, or simple selfishness." Though glamorized in the movies and on TV, the Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a social disorder that's extremely destructive, especially in the lives of those that surround them. Because a Narcissist is incapable of putting anyone's needs before their own, and in fact, see others as only a means to meet their needs and boost their ego/image, their presence comes at a great cost to those in their family, workplace and community.

Now, do I think every dance scene in the world is flooded with full blown NPD's?

In the Beginning...

2011-03-18T23:16:00.000-07:00

It is time.
It is time for me to write and share and explore and discover and laugh... with you! I was a writer in the dance community before I taught my first private lesson, before I owned my ballroom & swing studio, before I graduated from college even! But then those things took over. I wrote for In The Swing, 5-6-7-8 Magazine and even Let's Dance News. I think all of them are gone now, and the swing community has changed drastically since then.

But people are still asking questions, and they still tell me that I've missed my calling as a comedian after workshops and I'm getting more and more emails and phone calls on my insights, opinions and experiences than ever before. Not only that, but I'm driving 2,200 miles a week teaching. I simply can't be everywhere at once... until now!

So buckle your seat belts. I intend (and I do emphasize intend) to write to you once a week. I plan to write on, so far, four topics:

What I Love this Week
Things I noticed this week that I just love. It may be something I saw at a dance event, on the dance floor, with students... whatever. But I'll love it.

What I Could Do Without this Week
'Nuff said. What I could really do without. (And I'll bet you'll find I'm not alone!)

What I Discovered this Week
I'm discovering, processing, analyzing and observing all the time. Plus, I've got a "steel trap memory combined with insane contacts," as a fellow pro likes to call it, all allowing me to piece things together and discover new concepts or reasons or history. These are the things my husband loves hearing about the most from me, and it's also what a lot of my SwingIN's are based on (my swing intensives). I love watching people's eyes pop during those workshops!

Katherine's Questions
People ask me questions all the time and sometimes the answers are relevant to all dancers. It'll be a fun little topic :)

Now, I emphasized that this is what I intend to do. I've got a few books I'm in the middle of writing and this will be a good little exercise for me to stay in the writing mode. Also, I know that I walk away from events, lessons, gigs, and even conversations just brimming with the need to write, so I might skip around on topics, I might skip weeks and I might even do two a week. So again, the four topics a month are what I "intend."

It's onward, and it's upward!

See you on the dance floor!
Katherine Krok Eastvold
© 2011 Katherine Krok Eastvold
www.wcskat.com
www.nickandkatherine.com

Katherine's Dance Word

Angry Bees & Being Free

Weekly Note #6: The Judging

Generational Swing

Weekly Note #5: US Open 'Z'DC?

Weekly Note #4: Scary Scary Scary!

Weekly Note #3: Swing is Swing

The Power of Perfection

Weekly Note #2: Soft vs. Hard Abstract

A Change

Weekly Note #1: 'Boogie' Music?

Taking a Break

Never Before Seen Footage... AWESOME!

The Judging ©

Hard vs. Soft Abstract Improvisation ©

The Time Has Come (Updated info in Swing & Abstract Sections) ©

Announcing FREE Weekly Notes!

An Affair to Remember ©

The Time Has Come (There are Two Dances) ©

Swing Essentials: How to Recognize Swing Content ©

Just Say It ©

Routines 101 ©

The Nissy ©

In the Beginning...