Interesting. It's been a while since I was analyzed.

Quoted from "Foehg"
Hmm, maybe. I am a latecomer to the "fight about Zenin" game

I'm not interested in a "Fight about Zenin game" -- not least because I think Zenin really REALLY loves those. But every once in a while, someone exhibits a trait or makes a comment that truly deserves highlight, positive or negative, and I'll have a reaction. As anyone else might.

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This seems more than anything like a good chance to provide positive reinforcement to his improvement-- whether real or feigned. Even if he's only pretending to be nice, the way to get him to really be nice is to promote his nice behavior and let that flow back and fix his motives.

My goodness, that's optimistic. Are you a teacher of some sort? (none of this line is sarcastic, btw)

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You, as a respected opinion-leader of this online community, have an opportunity to help Zenin shed his obnoxious chrysalis of personal attacks and unsourced statements, and emerge as a reasonable and courteous Internet butterfly.

Picturesquely stated. Unfortunately, you're starting from a faulty premise. ;)

Taking that idea seriously: I'm only respected by those who respect me. Clearly, not everyone does. And not everyone respects anyone, ahem no matter how solid the latter's qualifications.

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I admit that his delivery isn't strong on courtesy. At least one of his earlier remarks would even qualify for classification as "puerile". I'm a fan of respect myself

heh and hahaha

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Now, for future reference, are you one of the old-timers with your own reputation for snarky hostility? I know there are supposed to be a few of them around here, but I can't remember whether it's you, or whether I'm mixing you up with Beckto, and maybe RubyMae.

Could any of us accurately answer this for ourselves? I like to think that my Yehoodi personality is pretty close to my offline personality: A mix of snark, sincerity and friendly joshing -- sometimes smart and sometimes silly. But hostility is pretty rare, and only when inspired. It's not my go-to mode.

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Quoted from "Atalanta"
That's just profound hubris. Really a remarkable specimen. Well done!

If I may offer a word of constructive criticism here, I think you could be more effectively caustic if you stay on the same sarcasm-level for the whole train of thought. The "Well done!" at the end calls for an ironic sneer, but your first sentence needs to be read in a sincere, amazed, and/or exasperated tone for best effect-- if you read it sarcastically, it sounds rather like this might be a crummy example of profound hubris, which doesn't seem to be the effect you were trying to convey.

Hey, a diction critique! I haven't had one of those in a while, either. Even though I use words for a living, interpretations do vary. Good reminder. Upon rereading, I realized that I would have said the exact same thing, the exact same way, in conversation, so I'm OK with it as it stands. To my mind, none of it is ironic or sarcastic. Derisive, maybe. But I do believe it is a remarkable specimen of hubris, achieveable only by a master.

Anyway, nicely constructed post. If they all stem from the same POV and mode of expression, then I would have to agree with Redbean. (And that's even with the criticisms of myself, so you know I mean it.) :)

Edited to add, without adding another post: I have now come to regret this last paragraph. Sigh.

Apparently not. :-P

Wait... that's Blues Clues dancing. My bad.

I think maybe I don't understand.

Sorry about the lack of response, but you are right Zenin I am "time starved" at the moment.

However just to respond to a couple of points:

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The winner of a contest (especially of historic significance) has considerable motivation to bolster the image of the defeated competition.

I couldn't agree more, which is how I got into the real detail of the work I'm doing.

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For an historian, what's really needed is the list of entrants and from where they hail. I'm not sure that's available? What is available is the list of winners, which while it doesn't prove anything...does suggest that NY and particularly the Savoy was ground zero for Lindy for a great many years and everything else, if there was much else, an also-ran.

I have compiled various lists of entrants for the HMB, but whether you can believe their addresses or occupations or not is questionable and thus I'm not sure if that get's you much further forward. as such. However I scan whatever factual detail I can assemble in order to watch out for the individual stories that give more tangible and thus useful detail.

While I don't think the Savoy was "ground-zero" in terms of the Lindy taking its distinctive shape there, it obviously played a role in the run up to that occasions in terms of the other preceding dances, and then once the Lindy Hop established itself there it became its home involved. Thus for most of the period the Savoy was it, as far as the Lindy Hop was concerned, although other venues tried to compete at times.

The main point is narrative for the Savoy needs to be established, as oppossed to Norma's and Frankie's (along with many others) all of which are of immense value, but they are individual stories. For the same reason I originally contributed to this discussion re "blues dancing. In comparison, for example, with evidence to support LH championships prior to the HMB I've found nothing about "blues dancing" or "ballrooming blues" etc. I have found evidence (unsurprisingly) of various types of "slow dancing" at the Savoy. I am thus still puzzled as to why current dancers who are keen to be accurate re when and where the Lindy Hop was danced do not apply the same degree of accuracy to "blues dancing." This discussion thus could be a lot more relevant to the main issue of "blues dancing clips."

Re my delays in responding I'm not taking offense at anything, I have just finished directing a tap dance weekend and I have a pile of student assignments to mark, and hopefully then I can get back to my main work. I will contribute when I feel I have something useful to say.

Did you guys know that Steve from Blues Clues is now an indie rocker who performs with the Flaming Lips?

Quoted from "yak0v"
Did you guys know that Steve from Blues Clues is now an indie rocker who performs with the Flaming Lips?

Wrong thread.

Quoted from "Jerry"
If that's what blues dancing is, then I want to learn it - no matter what you call it. The musicality is wonderful. The combination of closed and open moves and turns is what makes this dance so interesting to me. I would definitely take a blues workshop by those two. Where do I go to take one?

Here's a good place to start: http://www.blues-dance.com/aboutus/damonheidi/

Also keep an eye on the Blues Practica stuff once it starts up again. Though most weeks are sort of a grassroots community share kind of thing (which is is good in itself), they occasionally have well known teachers come in and do real workshops as well.

though this rathersounds like tooting my own horn, but josh and i are teaching blues at sandra cameron in may.

Quoted from "swingkittenpsu1"

Quoted from "Jerry"
If that's what blues dancing is, then I want to learn it - no matter what you call it. The musicality is wonderful. The combination of closed and open moves and turns is what makes this dance so interesting to me. I would definitely take a blues workshop by those two. Where do I go to take one?

As far as I know (and I could be wrong) neither Damon or Heidi will be at BABBLE. If you really want to take classes to learn that type of movement I would advise either going to DownHomeBluesShout, Austin Blues Party II, Blues Boot Camp, or Emerald City. Any one of those events will have fantastic teachers and music.

yep, any of those.

6 days ago you could have come to Ottawa for the Blues Blast. But DHBS will be awesome! I'll be there :P

WOW! Great clips on this page, everyone!!! "Hooray" for "Blues Dancing" "clips!!!"

Quoted from "Lindy Trollop"

Quoted from "mme cartier"
though this rathersounds like tooting my own horn, but josh and i are teaching blues at sandra cameron in may.

...speaking of fantastic teachers and music!

Seriously. That is great news for Blues Dancers in New York City. Take these classes.

Back on track: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=bluesshout&search_type=

Them's some sexy heels, Liz.

When I think of what defines blues dancing I would refer someone to the blues dancing section of the spirit moves that is blues dancing at its best! However, I can't find it online :cry: