Andrew and Karen's ILHC 2010 Showcase

The International Lindy Hop Championships 2010 is not even over and there’s already “best event ever” buzz flying around the blogosphere.
I had an amazing time at it’s first two iterations and was really sad to miss out this year. There’s an undeniable energy in the air when so many talented competitors get together and show off their best stuff.

Patrick and Natasha have graciously shared many of the videos already. As of Sunday afternoon, they’ve posted all of the Classic Lindy routines, all of the showcases, and the Pro Strictly Finals. I love that they post videos during the event, providing us with instant nostalgia.

Robert E. White III, err, I mean Bobby White, mentioned Andrew and Karen’s Surprise Showcase piece as a Saturday late-night update.



It’s based on the “evolution of dance” video that was posted online years ago except with lindy hop (they even wear the same shirt). It references several vintage dance clips, “classic” songs and moves from the revival, and memorable choreography from the past 5 years. I’ll try to provide links to these videos as well. Some of the best digital copies of vintage clips can be found on Daniel Newsome’s website: Danceonline.tv

There are at least 25 snippets of clips and music. Here’s what I noticed. (please help me figure out the rest in the comments section).

(ok, I don’t currently have the bandwidth to look up all the clips; I’ll update if I get the chance)

1. “Shorty” George Snowden in After Seben.
2. (not sure)
3. Big Apple Routine from Keep Punchin’
4. Helzapoppin’ If you recognize anything from this collection, this should be the one.
5. Dean and Jewel in Buck Privates dancing to the Andrews Sisters singing “Bounce Me Brother with a Solid Four”
6. Groovie Movie (such a hilarious reference)
7. (not sure)
8. The Shim Sham Song - Bill Elliot Swing Orchestra
9. Jitterbug Stroll - Steven Mitchell (Ryan Francois choreography)
10. Rhythm Hot Shots dancing to Jumpin’ at the Woodside (not sure which clip)
11. (not sure)
12. They do a pretzel to Go Daddy O! - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
13. Candlestick to Jump, Jive and Wail - Louis Prima
14. They do Savoy Kicks to Scrub Me Mama with a Boogie Beat. (Not sure if this is from a clip)
15. The highly influential Minnie’s Moochers choreography to “Love Me or Leave Me” (reprised at Frankie95)
16. (not sure)
17. (not sure)
18. I think this is from another Max and Annie routine, but I don’t remember/can’t find it.
19. Skye and Frida’s Iconic “Twenty Four Robbers” routine first performed at ULHS 2007 (as far as I know)
20. Max and Annie’s Lotus with a hat switch from their 1st place ILHC 2008 showcase routine
21. One2Swing The California Rolls Team Routine from Camp Hollywood 2009
22. The Silver Shadows’ Frankie Manning Tribute to the song “Shiny Stockings” at Frankie95
23. (not sure)
24. (not sure)
25. Self-reference to the ending to their Lindy Focus 7 (NYE2008) routine to “Bugle Call Rag”

I really enjoyed watching this routine and it was even more fun recognizing most of the references. The beauty of the internet is that we immediately get to watch videos of dancing very soon after they are performed. Andrew and Karen are clearly very aware of the dance world around them; you can see clever nods to other’s routines in their choreography (like Mike and Laura’s Blues Apache number from Lindy Focus reference in their “Everybody Loves My Baby” routine [among several others]).