A piece of history

Last month I was lucky enough to get to take part in the celebrations for Waldorf Hilton’s £13.5 million refurbishment. 

Champagne please!

Part of the celebrations included a tour of the new Astor Suite (which officially became the best suite/hotel in the world when  I saw the 'Press for Champagne' button in the room - you literally press it and champagne is brought up to the room by a waiter!) and a chance to dance in the Palm Court. 

People have danced and socialised in the Edwardian ballroom since its opening in 1908, and the place has become such an important landmark that the building is protected. This protected status means that certain things cannot be changed, altered or revamped, so rather charmingly the floor in the Palm Court is covered with the nics and scratches as a result of over 100 years worth of dances. 

Dancing to live music in the Palm Court

Totally charmed by this factoid, dancing there that night was made all the more enjoyable, knowing I was literally dancing on history. 

As well as dancing there was a performance by the Twin Swing and a dance class from Strictly Come Dancing's Matthew Cutler.

Dances have been held in the Palm Court since the hotel opened in 1908. The evidence of that fact can been seen on the floor.

Tea dances are held most months at the hotel and the £62 a ticket includes a delicious afternoon tea and live band - nothing beats dance to live music. 

To book and for more information visit www.waldorfhilton.co.uk/dining-bars/tea-dance.html  

Vintage and dancing

Vintage dancing, or rather dancing in vintage splits opinions. 

There’s the camp who want everything from the music and the dancing down to the shoes and outfit they wear to be original. Or there’s the camp I’m in, the ones who would rather wear reproduction through fear of damaging their real vintage.

Out dancing in my reproduction (top from Collectif and shorts from River Island - you can also find some great items on the highstreet!)

I’ll be the first to say I love, love, love original vintage clothing. My wardrobe is full of it and I feel at my most attractive and best when wearing it, but I would never dream of wearing it dancing. That doesn't include accessories though, a vintage headscarf is a favourite of mine.

For a start I’ve seen (and heard) far too many rips and tears in true vintage items at dances. And as blunt as it sounds, yes I feel very sorry for them, but what did they expect? Lindy is a fast dance at times and accidents can happen. I would much rather have an accident happen to my reproduction item than the real deal, especially as a curvy girl who has to put in the extra work to find that perfect fitting vintage gem. 

That said people should wear whatever they want so if they are comfortable taking that risk then fine. But the thought of wearing my original 20s silk dress and it getting damaged brings me out in a cold sweat.

Out to dinner in my original 50s dress (an etsy gem!)

Washing too often can be incredibly wearing for all clothes especially older items. And if you’ve spent the night dancing away there is no way washing your clothes can be avoided. Another reason reproduction is best for me. 

When it comes to true vintage, especially when it’s delicate, I do choose to wear it for special occasions – and yes for me that does include to the office, well you’ve got to make the effort haven’t you? But my true vintage will never be seen on the dance floor.

Advice from the archive: 1925

Working here at The Lady, I'm incredibly lucky in that I can wonder down to our creepy (and definitely haunted) basement and look at our top notch archive.

Having started in 1885 and celebrating it's 130th year this year, no other publication has as rich and complete an archive and I relish times when I have a spare moment to go and sit amongst the dusty shelves and read past copies.

Spanning the sinking of the Titanic, two world wars, and countless other events in history, it gives a unique look into the social history of our country.

Whilst sitting in said scary basement this week, the history lover, and more importantly, the dancer in me was beyond chuffed to discover this little gem; Beauty tips for dancers from 19th November, 1925.

Click on the picture and enjoy!

Less than a month to go until ESDC!!!

Jazz-age dancing, or swing dancing (including things like Lindy Hop, Balboa, Charleston, and the Collegiate Shag) has well and truly swung back into style. In London alone a quick search shows that there are 58 classes and around 29 social dances a week held in the capital, that’s before looking at the UK as a whole or even further afield.

One of the people spreading the Lindy love, both in the UK and around the world is Sharon Davis.

As well as being a leading historian and world champion in Lindy Hop, Charleston and other swing dances (she’s also an award-winning burlesque dancer, and set up Sugar Blue Burlesque in 2006, Australia’s largest burlesque company to this day), in 2011 she founded the European Swing Dance Championships, a yearly event of which she is still the director. 

In less than a month, the 4^th European Swing Dance Championships will be held right here in the UK. And I'm even more excited as this year I'll be heading there myself!

Sharon founded the event whilst living in Barcelona, and consequently the first two were held in the city in collaboration with Spain’s largest swing dance school SwingManiacs. 

When she made the move to London the event came with her, much to the excitement of countless London Lindy hoppers, myself included! With the first London event taking place in 2013, the excitement on the dance scene in the capital, and across the UK, is high as dancers from across the UK and further afield prepare to pack their dancing shoes and head to the 4^th championships. 

On setting up the championships, her mission statement was to create a world-class event to support the development of swing dances in Europe, and promote jazz-age dances, their music and culture.  Lindy Hop and other swing dances have a vibrant, rich history and with ESDC Sharon gives dancers from across Europe the chance to develop their skills through classes, competitions and the chance to social dance with a range of dancers. 

‘I hope to give European dancers an opportunity to showcase their talents to the international community, whilst also honouring the rich history of Lindy Hop and other jazz dances, and preserving their spirit,’ she said. 

For me, just booking onto a dance weekend starts the excitement. Once there, what I’m able to take away from the classes and what I can learn whilst dancing socially with everybody from beginners, to international teachers (always a bit daunting to ask a teacher for a dance but a real must!) is what makes the aching feet and tiredness (us lindy hoppers are known for dancing until we drop) all worth it. 

So for the lady who’s organised one of the biggest dancing events in the lindy calendar, what are her favourite moments of the weekend? 

‘One of my favourite things at my event is the annual EuroStar Award we give out,’ she tells me.

‘It is an award for exceptional performance given to one European leader and one European follower at ESDC, who have exemplified the spirit of the dance throughout the weekend. As well as a trophy and inauguration into the EuroStar Hall of Fame, the winners will also receive free passes to swing dance events all around the world, to encourage them to pursue their love of dancing.’

At the last event winners Marcos Agote (Spain) and Ciana Skeete (UK) won tickets to whopping 63 swing dance events around Europe and the world, for a year of professional development and exposure. 

So, with tickets still available, what can you expect from this event if you haven’t been before and are looking to book? 

Well firstly there is the stellar line up of teachers; Max Pitruzzella (France) and his current partner Pamela
Gaizutyte (Lithuania). Max is one of the names people look for when booking onto dancer weekenders. Having won countless competitions, he is known as one of the world’s best; Remy Kouakou Kouame (France) started his dancing career as a Boogie Woogie dancer, transitioning into the world of Lindy Hop. Today he is best known for being the Director of French event Xpress Your Swing, and the choreographer of the infamous Caribbean Shim Sham; William Mauvais & Maeva Truntzer (both from France) have been dancing as a couple since they were just 14. Their years of experience has seen them take 1^st place titles at ESDC and numerous other events.

To keep the event swinging for the four huge nights of social dancing, there is also a great line up of bands. 

Created just for ESDC, the European Swing All Stars consists of a group of handpicked musicians ,loved from around Europe, who will play for the entire weekend, including playing live for contest finals. To name a mere few, members include London’s very own dancer and musician Steve Combe on trumpet, Italy’s Luca Filastro on piano, Shannon Barnett from Germany on trombone, with more musicians to be announced.

The Hot Sugar Band from Paris and London’s own Basin Street Brawlers will be adding to the musical feast over the course of the weekend. 

The competitions, whether you’re a competitor or merely watching, are also a key part of the weekend. For those watching, it’s the chance to be inspired by some of the best dancers from around the globe. For those competition, it’s a great chance to get yourself noticed by some of the best Lindy Hoppers today. 

European Swing Dance Championships, 15-18 October: www.europeanswing.com 

 

My name is

I am the first to admit that I'm the worst for remembering names.

I've met people at parties (both prs through work and people outside work) and I've forgotten names by the next time I bump into them.

I went to sixth form and was friends with twins, and for the entire time I was there, I could not remember who was who. That was pretty tricky when it came to handing out Christmas cards! 

The worst thing though is when you met people at a dance, and then you start to see them around a lot.

There was one guy who I met when I first started dancing in London three years ago, whose name I promptly forgot and only found at what it was again a few months ago at LLX. And the only reason I found out was because of a cunning plan to get someone else to ask for a dance and find about said name and then relay the intelligence back to me...ok so not a revolutionary plan but still did the job!

You see the thing is, there really is a limit to the number of times you can ask someones name. Two or three times is deemed acceptable, but any more than that and it starts to verge on rude.

But I don't forget because I'm not paying attention when someone says ' hi I'm *insert whatever name you want here*', I'm just a bit crap!

So what's the solution? Swing Patrol adopt a name sticker policy, which is great for new arrivals but for regulars who stop the whole sticker wearing thing - how am I supposed to remember?!

I think I'll have to stick to the age old adage that ignorance is bliss.

Shall we dance?

For the first time since 1955, the Hornsey Town Hall grand ballroom was filled with music and dancing on Saturday thanks to Richard Pucci's event, Nighthawks: The Big One. Richard has been running Nighthawks previously in the Supper Room in the town hall, but this is the first opportunity he and the dancers of London have had to dance in the main Art Deco ballroom.

The town hall was built by Reginald Uren in 1935

With most of London's dancers descending on the venue for the event (dancing in the ballroom for the first time since 1955, lets make that historic event!), the evening ended with the same question on everyone's lips; when will we be able to dance in the ballroom again?!

Richard's event in the Supper Room has been a sell out since it started

Well the answer to that question sadly doesn't lie with Richard, who I'm sure would be keen to make it a monthly event (much like the many, many dancers who attended the event). The answer to that question lies with Haringey council, who, after the building had sat vacant for a number of years has approved a proposal to allow companies to bid for the future use of the Grade II-listed building.

Richard at the grand event on Saturday

Built by Reginald Uren in 1935 (and listed in the Telegraph's top ten town halls to visit) , the opinion of those in the local area is that the building should be used to benefit the arts - I can see it as a North London type Battersea Arts Centre type venue - a venture which would hopefully see Richard and his event have a place in it's future. Luckily the council have said they will only take into consideration bids that ensure community access.

The ballroom in its heyday, which hopefully it will be again

A quick scout of Google hasn't shown up any petitions we can sign (please anyone reading this, comment below with links if I've missed one!) to save the town hall, but hopefully the lindy hop and dancing community can help to fill the ballroom with the songs of Shaw, Goodman and Miller and the sound of tapping toes for many years to come.