A bit of Lindy hop & salsa

_MAL9212, originally uploaded by Michael A. Lowry.

After skating on Sunday, I went to Chicago for a couple of hours of Lindy hop. I saw Lisa D. & Sara H. there, as well as these two happy dancers whose names I didn't catch.

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A bit later, I went to Container for a few more hours of dancing — this time, salsa dancing. I met some folks I had never seen dancing before, including Sara and Sanna, above. I also met Martin, right, and Alfred. I don't often meet the men when I'm out dancing, so it's nice to have a chance to learn their names once in a while. Actually, it's always nice to meet nice folks.

Dancing on Wednesday

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Wednesday night was full of dancing. After my salsa lessons at Sacuye, I went down to Chicago for the Lindy hop social. Mathias & Beate were there, and showed off some fancy moves.

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Then around 23.00, I went to La Isla for a few more dances. Liza was there and favored me with a dance. Pierre took a few photos of us.

Lindy hop lesson @ Chicago on Monday

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Monday was the last of this batch of Lindy hop lessons. I had a great time and actually got two lessons for the price of one because I arrived an hour early by mistake.

I have already signed up for the intermediate course that begins soon. Lindy hop is beginning to grow on me!

Emma & Peter @ Container

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I swung by Container for a bit of salsa dancing tonight. It was a fun couple of hours, but too short! I had failed to notice that they had changed their hours; tonight they closed at 22.00 instead of their normal closing time of 23.00. I suppose I should have arrived earlier! As it was, I only got in a couple of hours of dancing.

There were many familiar faces there; and I also made some new friends.

For more dancing, take a look at tonight's photos.

Me & Caroline @ Sacuye's salsa social

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Thursday evening, the fine folks at Sacuye arranged another of their excellent salsa socials at Chicago.

It was a blast! I danced with many excellent dancers that night, including the lovely Caroline.

Erlend took the photos that have me in them.

Lindy hop course @ Chicago

_MAL7253, originally uploaded by Michael A. Lowry.

I recently started taking a Lindy hop course at Chicago on Hornsgatan down on Södermalm. It's the same place where Sacuye has its salsa socials every other Thursday evening.

The idea to take Lindy hop lessons began to take shape my head about a year ago, when I was taking a salsa course a Chicago. Chicago is a club and dance studio primarily centered around swing dances; but they also have a few latin dance courses there too. Right after our salsa course was a Lindy hop course. So while I was changing back into my street clothes and getting ready to leave, I would hear the jazz & big band music playing and would watch the folks warm up, dancing all sorts of fun looking moves.

Then a few months later, I saw a documentary film on SVT called Swingen Anfaller (Swing Attacks). The film was about Herräng Dance Camp, probably the world headquarters of swing dance, including Lindy hop. I was reminded of Herräng when I went out for a bit of salsa dancing at Dallas night club in Austin last November. I was dancing and chatting with with a girl there. When she learned I lived in Sweden, she said “Oh, I was there last year to dance Lindy hop at a place called Herräng!” It's a small world.

Well, back in Sweden, I discovered Glenn Miller Café; this rekindled my appreciation of jazz music, and at the same time frustrated me because there's just not enough room to dance there. The place is tiny. Plus, I have not taken a swing lesson in years, and I was never much good at Lindy hop, the swing dance that seems to be in fashion these days.

So I started taking Lindy hop lessons and going to swing dance socials at Chicago. Now I'm most of the way through a series of 5 beginner's lessons in Lindy hop. The last lesson is tomorrow, and I'm sure I'll continue with more lessons after that because it has gotten under my skin!

Naturally, I have many more Lindy hop photos from the lessons and socials.

Sacuye Lesson

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Last night was the first Sacuye lesson of the season, and it was a good one. As usual, I was dancing too much during my own lesson to take many photos; but I stayed after and took lots of photos of level 4+ course. Above, Mats & Hanna practice the new moves. Take a look at the other photos!

Happy Feet at Bristol in Sumpan

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Saturday night went to Happy Feet, a nice evening of salsa dancing at the Birstol Theater in Sundbyberg. When I arrived, a bit after 19.00, there was only one other person there, but after an hour the place was hopping. I'd say about a hundred people showed up eventually. A bunch of girls from Riga were there, and I had a great time dancing with them. Of course there were also many familiar faces from the Stockholm salsa crowd. Take a look at the photos!

I'd like to thank Andrew, Annika & Niklas for arranging such nice evening. I'm looking forward to the next one!

Fun night at Container

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Sunday night, I spent a few hours dancing at Container near Odenplan. I saw many friends there, including Rebecca & Leif. I also made a few new friends. Salsa dancing folks are friendly people.

The place was neither dead nor packed. The dance floor had plenty of people on it, but there was also room to move around.

A few hours at Container

_MAL3415, originally uploaded by Michael A. Lowry.

Tonight I went down to Odenplan to get in a few more dances before the workweek begins. I saw many familiar faces, and had a great time dancing. The place was not too crowded, and it was cool inside so it was easy to keep on dancing. It was a fun night. My neighbor Liana was there with her friend, so we all took the same subway back home to Bergshamra afterward.

Friday night at La Isla

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I went dancing at La Isla last night, and took a bunch of photos, including a bunch of great shots of Johan dancing with Susanne. Check them out!

More dance photos!

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Greetings from La Isla! I have posted lots of recent dance photos to my Dancing photoset on flickr. Check 'em out!

Back in the swing of things.

I went dancing last night at La Isla and had a great time. Liza was looking good as always.

I saw lots of other friends there too. Alexandra (in black) was in top form.

Hi Alexandra & Lotta!



Johan was also there, and he's the photographer of some of these photos (including any with me in them).







Roden was having a good time.











This was my first time to go out dancing since I returned to Stockholm a couple of weeks ago.











Ibi and Marina returned from a dance competition and showed their stuff!

Salsa social @ Chicago

Last week's Salsa social @ Chicago.











A self-portrait.