ILHC 2020 Online - LED Sessions - Live with Sugar Sullivan 11/27/20

Friday, November 27th, 2020

12:00 - 1:00 pm EST - Live with Sugar Sullivan. Interviewed by Ryan Swift. Find connection to the originators of the dance and a true African-American artform. Hear from legends of Lindy Hop and learn about the history and culture of Lindy Hop at our LED sessions. Each day we will be hosting one LED session. LED sessions are FREE for everyone and will be streamed from the ILHC Facebook Page.

Ryan with Sugar Sullivan at ILHC 2019 (📸: JSAlmonte/ILHC)

This year ILHC moves online due to the pandemic, and is offering an incredible schedule of programming. In addition to the usual competition, instruction and social dancing you know and love included with admission, the daily LED (Lindy Enlightenment Dialogue) sessions are FREE for everyone and will be streamed from the ILHC Facebook Page.

Ryan is thrilled to once again have the opportunity to join the incredible & delightful living legend Sugar Sullivan for a conversation about the history & culture of Lindy Hop.

Lindyfest 2018 - Inside the Dancers' Studio - Video!

Hey folks! I hope you're enjoying the new episode with Jenny Shirar that went up earlier today.  I'm currently on a flight and getting the show notes for that episode collected.

Since I'm Houston-bound, I'm also reminded that I haven't posted the video from Lindyfest 2018's edition of Inside the Dancers' Studio, where I was joined by Jo Hoffberg, Kevin St. Laurent, and Mikey Pedroza for a great live conversation.  Among other things, we talked about how they got started dancing, what inspires them, and discovered their favorite curse words.  You can catch the whole thing right here on YouTube:
 

Taken at Lindyfest featuring the Lone Star Championships in Houston, Texas. Visit http://lindyfest.hsds.org for more information. Video by Brett Dahlenburg

Stompology XII Panel Discussion: "Context and Culture in Jazz Dance"

I'm excited to share that I'll be moderating the "Context and Culture in Jazz Dance" panel at Stompology this June in Rochester, NY! Check out the details for this panel from my friends at Groove Juice Swing below:

With their perspectives gained from dancing and teaching around the world, Stompology instructors Mike Faltesek, Marie N'Daiye, and LaTasha Barnes will share their insights into the historic origins and evolving cultural roles of jazz music and dance. They will be the featured panelists during our Context and Culture in Jazz Dance discussion (moderated by Ryan Swift), which we hope will provide a lively and enlightening opportunity to explore the evolving relevance of jazz—from its roots as a reaction to oppression to a tool of integration—and to delve into its sometimes-fraught contemporary role as the centerpiece of a diverse, world-wide jazz dance community.

Hosting "Inside the Dancers' Studio" at Lindyfest 2017

Inside the Dancers' Studio has become a favorite tradition of Lindyfest/Lone Star. Lead this year by Ryan Swift, Inside the Dancers' Studio gives our honored guests a chance to share things about themselves, their lives, their careers, and their art that might not come out during classes. It's a chance to connect with our community's past in a more intimate way than just doing the steps. You definitely don't want to miss it!

DJing at Lindyfest/Lone Star Championships is always one of the highlights of my year, and I am delighted the organizers have also invited me to return as host for their special interview program, "Inside the Dancers' Studio."

This year I will be joined by the one-and-only Jean Veloz and Alde Lewis, Jr.! More info about Jean, Alde, and this year's event can be found here.

I had the privilege of interviewing Dawn Hampton at Lindyfest in 2012 and the honor of talking to Norma Miller, Chazz Young, and Sugar Sullivan last year (left). 

I'm very much looking forward to what we've got in store for 2017.

The Track LIVE at ILHC 2016 with Mike Faltesek!

Django and partner at lunch (via django_chug)

I'm happy to announce that I'll be back doing another LIVE recording of The Track at ILHC 2016 as part of their LED Talks series! This year I'll be joined by none other than Michael Faltesek.

Mike is never short on knowledge, humor, or opinions, so it's sure to be a great talk. (Hopefully he'll bring Django)

If you are going to ILHC, be sure to join us on Friday (8/26) at 3pm in Salon F.

Also, become a Patreon supporter today to submit advance questions for Falty, and have access to the recorded conversation when it's released!