"Satan in the Dance Hall" is coming this fall

In the beginning of last year I did a long interview with Ralph Giordano, author of the book Social Dancing in America. Then he also told me a some about his next book project: Satan in the Dance Hall: Social Dancing and Morality in 1920s New York.

The book is now finished and is named Satan in the Dance Hall: Rev. John Roach Straton, Social Dancing, and Morality in 1920s New York City. It will be released in late November by Scarecrow Press.

I think it will be an interesting book, I think many people in the swing dance scene would like to know more about what it was like dancing in the 1920s.

While you wait for this book, you can sign up at Amazon.com to be notified when the "Satan in the Dance Hall" becomes avaiable.

Looking for authors to "The American Dance Floor.”

Mr Giordano's next project is as the series editor for a ten-volume series
on social dancing from Greenwood Press and he is looking for authors.

If you are a writer or know a suitable writer, contact him at RalphGGiordano@aol.com or 718-816-1240.

He has more info about the book series, he writes:

Ten volume companion set: “The American Dance Floor.”
A series of 10 small books that focus on types of dances.
Here are the proposed topics:
Ballroom Dances (author: Martin)
Swing dances
Hip Hop dances/Break dancing/urban dances
Rock 'n' roll dances: 1950s-60s (Author: Sagolla)
Ditto (1970s-present?)
Latin dances
Folk and Square Dancing
Country Dancing and Line dancing (Author: Giordano)
Fads and Party Dances
Underground (like slam dancing)

The projected retail cost is $39.95 HC, intended as a reference / general reader. Each book will be packaged and sold separately, but under a general style and format so that each follows a similar set-up. 75 to 80,000 words. Two-year contract beginning on or about May 1, 2008.

We are in negotiations to have the author’s receive 10% royalty and a small advance. Photo permissions would be set up as a budget and paid by Greenwood.

We will be selecting authors (myself and my senior editor at Greenwood Debby Adams) based on C.V., prior authorship, and submission of an outline/proposal; of the subject matter. We can certainly talk and iron out all the details, if you are interested. In addition, if you know any others that might be interested, let me know.

All the best,
Ralph Giordano

What do you think of the forthcoming "Satan in the Dance Hall" Would you be interested in reading it? Please comment.

Alice Faye and Louis Prima: I'm Just Wild About Harry

A while back I wrote about Louis Prima being the voice behind King Louie in The Jungle Book, but Louis Prima has been in front of the camera as well. Take a look at his wild and funny style in this video clip where Alice Faye sings "I'm Just Wild About Harry" accompanied by Louis Prima in the movie Rose Of Washington Square from 1939.

The handsome bloke that is looking at the show, enjoying it, is played by Tyrone Power who was the Brad Pitt of the 1930's.

I recognize the lick that Louie plays at 0:45 into the clips, but from what other song? Do you know?

What do you think of the video clip with Louis Prima and Alice Faye? 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.

Where the hell is Matt? Matt Harding dances all over the world.

Matt Harding travels all over the world and dances in all kinds of locations. This is a video clip that really makes you want to dance. Awesome! Yeah!

Do yourself a favor, watch the video clip in the high quality mode at Youtube or watch this clip at Vimeo.

If you like the video as much as I did, leave Matt a comment.

My top 3 locations that Matt Harding dances at:

• Demilitarized zone, Korea


• Poria, Papua New Guinea


• Tongatapu, Tonga

I got this tip by the lovely and charming Miss V. Thank you so much. Now I've featured tips from readers two days in a row. Keep sending me these tips. I love it. And remember, if you're a Facebook user, please become a fan of the Swing, jazz, blues blog on Facebook. I'd like to get to know you.

What is your top 3 locations that Matt Harding dances at? Please comment.

The Blue Dolls: Vocal group from Italy

Andrea gave me a tip that if you like the Puppini Sisters you might also like The Blue Dolls which is a vocal group from Italy.

The Blue Dolls consists of Erika Celesti (soprano), Federica Pallante (soprano), Viviana Dragani (alto) and is backed up by Marco Parodi (guitar), Paolo Volante (piano), Riccardo Vigorè (double bass), Luca Rigazio (drums).

You can listen to some songs from their album on their website.

On the album they mix swing jazz standards such as Shoo Shoo Baby, Sing, Sing, Sing and Some Of These Days with Italian songs from the swing era. They also sing a version of Charleston and even the blue grass song, Down In The River To Pray, that you might recognize as the song that the sirens sing in the movie Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?.

If you like retro stuff, you also might want to check out one post from my archive where Christina Aguilera sings "Candy Man".

What do you think of The Blue Dolls? Please comment.

Facebook for Swing, jazz, blues fans

Are you a regular reader of this blog and a user of Facebook? Then I encourage you to join the Facebook fan page for Swing, jazz, blues: Dance to the music.

In this way I hope to connect more with all you readers out there.

Welcome!

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.