Snowball Dance Camp - Stockholm

Just before New Years Eve I went to dance at the Snowball Dance Camp in Stocholm. The camp is about one week but I was just there for one night, so I had to choose carefully which night to visit.



I choose this night because of the bands that were playing: Jennie Löbel And the Swing Kings and the Gordon Webster sextet. I've danced to Jennie and her band ever since I started dancing. I first saw Gordon Webster this summer at Herräng Dance Camp. I remember him in a 3AM jam in the pub when the set had stopped but the audience kept on clapping, wanting more. Gordon went back to the piano and improvised a song using the clapping audience as a huge rhythm section.

That's why I wanted to see them.



The ballroom was huge and there were people everywhere, in fact I don't think I ever have seen so many swing dancers at one time. I heard somewhere that the ballroom allows for 600-700 people to be there at one time. Lots and lots of people to dance with. It's fun to be part of such a crowd, but it also makes it difficult if you want to find a certain person you want to dance with.

If you follow the Swedish custom to dance two songs with a person you can dance 10 dances in one hour which meant 80 dances through the night if you danced non stop.



If the middle of the night there were a performance by The Harlem Hot Shots. Great stuff as always. I liked their 1920's number best.

The bands traded sets and they played 3 sets each. How about that!

In the end of the night the fatigue and the fact that my shoes are pretty new and not really worn in yet made my dance less good than it normally is (I hope).

Overall, a very nice night. Afterwards, I reflected on how easy it is to take events like this for granted and how much work it must have taken put it together. I know, because I've arranged half a dozen camps myself and more dance nights than I can remember.

If you meet the organizers be sure to thank them.

The next big event will be here in Uppsala in the and of January: The Uppsala Winter Camp. See you there.



The photos are taken by me and may not be published elsewhere without my permission. Contact me if you want to buy or license them.

What do you think of Snowball? Please comment.

Uppsala Winter Camp coming up

Today the Uppsala Winter Camp, Swingkattens annual swing dance camp, starts. The first 4 years I was heavily involved in organizing the camp. Nowadays I "just" participate in doing practical things during the camp such as setting up sound and light equipment for classes, rigging for live bands, run the light for Saturday night stage show and dj.

I'll dj tonight at Drabanten between 22-23, Friday 01-02 (the late late shift) and on the Sunday tea dance between 16-17.

I'm looking forward to see the band tomorrow, The Ulf Johansson Werre Swing Quartet, I think they'll rock, eh I mean swing.

Will you attend the Uppsala Winter Camp? Please comment.

Sweden Balboa Weekend starts today

Sweden Balboa Weekend starts tonight. It'll be three days packed with lots of fun and lots of hard work.

We have a great lineup of teachers: Peter Loggins and Mia Goldsmith; Laura Keat & Jeremy Otth; Kate Hedin & David Rehm and Joana Ekeström and Andreas Olsson. I really looking forward to learn from them.

People are coming in from Denmark, Finland, France and Russia. It's great to see that the camp is becoming more and more international.

It's also really exciting that the weekend is fully booked. But there's still a chance to get into the dances at night if you volunteer during the weekend. If you're interested you should talk to the organizers at the registration desk tonight at Drabanten.

I hope to see you during the weekend.

Will you be attending Sweden Balboa Weekend? Please comment.

Herräng Dance Camp starts today

The worlds largest swing dance camp, the Herräng Dance Camp, start today. The usually quiet and sleepy little village of Herräng gets invaded by swing dancers from all over the world and doubles its population.

You can literally dance 24/7 for a month if you like (and you can dance in the space which in other parts of the year is the village library). There is nothing like Herräng Dance Camp. It's the Mecca of Lindy hop, if you're a lindy hopper you got to go there at least once in your life.

In the video clip above, you'll see a performance done to Bugle Call Rag with lot of aerials from the main ballroom in Herräng. The dancers are Hanna Zetterman & Mattias Lundmark, Frida Segerdahl & Sakarias Larsson and Henric Stillman & Joanna Ericsson.

What do you think of the Herräng Dance Camp? Have you been there? What is your favorite thing about the camp? Please comment.

Planning for winter in the middle of the summer

The best of the summer is still to come here in Sweden (e.g. the Herräng dance camp starts next week) but the summer solstice was last week and the planning for winter activitives has already begun.

Above you see a photo of Lovisa Gustafsson who is Swingkatten's "General" when it comes to planning the Uppsala Winter Camp in the beginning of February next year. She is on top of all things. If you want to be part of the organizing committee, talk to her. Yes, it is some work but you'll meet active and very interresting people. The information on the website will soon be updated for next years' dance camp.

The photo is taken last week at "Lindy at the quayside". There is dancing at the quayside tonight as well.

Will you go to Herräng Dance Camp? Have you been to Uppsala Winter Camp? Please comment.

The photos are taken by me and may not be published elsewhere without my permission. Contact me if you want to license them.

All Balboa Weekend 2008 + Swedish Balboa Weekend

Last weekend the All Balboa Weekend took place in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. This is the largest event for anyone who dances balboa. They have classes, competitions and lots of social dancing.

Big congratulations to my friend Jonas Pettersson who took first place in the Open Jack & Jill division together with Teni Lopez-Cardenas. I don't have any video clip of them so instead look at Mickey Fortanasce & Kelly Arsenault who won the American Classic Balboa Championship.

I haven't heard the song before, can anyone tell me what song that is?

The Sweden Balboa Weekend in coming up here in Uppsala September 26 - 28th. We've got some awsome balboa teachers coming: Mia Goldsmith & Peter Loggins, Laura Keat & Jeremy Otth, Kate Hedin & David Rehm. Come to Uppsala in September you too!

What do you think of the video clip from All Balboa Weekend? Please comment.

Uppsala Winter Camp 2008: Thursday night

Last week I was busy doing all sorts of things in connection with The Winter Camp here in Uppsala which is a pretty large dance camp.



It started on Thursday night and I and Olle prepared the big hall at Drabanten. Acoustically, the room is very challenging but I belive we did the best we could and it sounded quite good. We also played around with our (*cough* I mean Swingkatten's) new light equipment. I can't tell you enough how good it is to have easy access to equipment, it makes it so much easier to put on good looking events. Good lighting really helps to get a nice atmosphere.




Laura Keat taught a fun 1920's solo charleston routine in the beginning of the night set to the song Stockholm Stomp from the album "My Favorite Band" by Mora's Modern Rhythmists and then Emelie, Jonas and David dj:ed after that. There was a good amount of people there, especially considering that most people had to work the next day.

The photos are taken by me and may not be published elsewhere without my permission. Contact me if you want to license them.

Were you at the Thursday night dance at Uppsala Winter Camp? What did you think of the evening? Tell me.

World Swing DJ Championships

Last Friday it was time for the World Swing DJ Championships which took place at the dance camp Goodnight Sweetheart in Great Britain. The competition is judged by the dancers at the event.
They are instructed to look for the following in the DJs:

1. Creativity
   - Music selection and interaction of various styles, era's etc.
2. Stage Presence
   - Appearance, self-confidence, showmanship & sportsmanship
3. Dance-ability
   - Does the music keep the dancers " a boppin'' or " a stoppin"

It would be fun to participate. I think a little competitiveness can make the djs pull out their best stuff. But performing well in a competition means just that, you're good at competing, it's different from djing a whole night. Still, both formats are about entertaining, making sure that the dancers and the listeners have a good time enjoying themselves. That doesn't change even if the format changes. You've got to entertain.

This year there were swing disc jockeys from USA, UK, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Norway, Belgium and France. The winner was Jamie from the UK.

Maybe I'll be there next year?

Goodnight Sweetheart is organised by the fantastic couple Joseph Sewell and Trisha Purville at jiveswing.com.

Herräng Dance Camp 2007

Herräng Dance Camp is the worlds largest dance camp for lindy hop, boogie woogie, balboa and tap dancing.

This year they celebrate their 25th anniversary and the dance camp will be going on for five (five!) weeks this summer. Unbelivable! Herräng dance camp is truly the Mecka of swing dancing where people from all over the world come to dance. Here you can find the best instructors and there is just so much going on in Herräng that you can dance 24-7 if you like. Here are live music with swing and jazz bands, great swing disc jockeys and also blues nights.

This year, besides a massive amount of lindy hop, there are more balboa courses than last year and they have added some African-Cuban dancing (Rhumba, Mambo, Cha-Cha).

If you heard rumours about Herräng dance camp - they are probably true - it's a fantastic place to be. And, just like Mecka, if you're a swing dancer you must go here at least once in your life. Chanses are that you will be coming back.

If you want to read more about what Herräng Dance Camp is like, check out Lloyds stories from previous years.