Getting Some Swing and Blues Dances at LA's Dance Downtown Series

  • by: Darrell Hope
  • recipient: The Los Angeles Music Center's Active Arts Program

A decade ago the neo-swing era was kick-started from an activity of the fringes to a mainstream movement on the power of a Gap Commercial and a 10-minute sequence in an indie film called Swingers. Wouldn't you love to help something like that started again?

Los Angeles' Dance Downtown series is a wonderful program designed to celebrate dancing in a terrific outdoor location of the Music Center Plaza right in the shadow of City Hall. Hundreds of dance fans will fill the square on alternate Friday nights this Spring and Summer to enjoy dances and music from many of the myriad cultures that make up our city.

However, in the past several seasons, the organizers of Dance Downtown have completely ignored fans of swing and blues, both of which have strong roots in Los Angeles and vibrant communities that support them. But wouldn't you still love the opportunity to help our numbers grow and share our passion with others who haven't had the opportunity to experience it? To to that we need every avenue we can to promote our favorite dances.

So here's an easy way for those of you looking for some swing/blues love at our city’s wonderful Dance Downtown series, to make your voices heard by emailing them to request some representation for at least one of the dances this season.

Dear Active Arts.


As dancers we are all huge fans of your wonderful Dance Downtown series. You have done a remarkable job of balancing cultures and genres and we appreciate all the hard work we know goes into this. But for the past two years the swing and blues communities have been overlooked, despite their deep roots in Los Angeles.


To that end the signers of this petition are asking that this year, if at all possible, you might dedicate an evening to Swing and Blues. There are any number of amazing performers from both these genres who are residents of LA, and also a number of teachers who would be willing to participate should you find your way clear to make this possible.  The response to our online petition has been quite amazing as we have signers from as far afield as Texas, Ohio, England and Serbia. But you'll see that the vast preponderance are local LA dancers who're hoping you can accommodate us this year.


Although we are sending you this list of petitioners on Monday, March 16, 2015, we will keep the petition open for the rest of the month to give even more swing and blues dancers the opportunity to reach out to you on behalf of this cause.


We sincerely hope that you will find it possible to help us out this season, and thanks again for your efforts on behalf of dancers everywhere.


Best,


The Los Angeles Swing and Blues Dance Community.

Update #59 years ago
Well, the DD folks just got back to me and once again their answer is no swing and blues for 2015. Now we can either just swallow this, or keep going in the hopes that if they can't/won't do anything this season, they'll know darned well we want something next season. So I'm keeping the petition open and hoping you'll continue to pass it along. Thanks for your support.
Update #49 years ago
I'm realizing now that 1K signatures may have been a little ambitious. But I'm sure we can make it to 250, which should at least catch their attention. So if you've signed and your dancing friends have not, let's see if we can get them on board. Thanks.
Update #39 years ago
Hi dancers,
Thanks to everyone for signing this petition. It has been sent to the Dance Downtown folks but let's keep it going adding more and more signatures as I'll resend it to them on a regular basis.
D
Update #29 years ago
Hi Dancers,
We're getting there, but still need more signatures. Get your fellow swing/blues/westie dancers to sign this petition. I'll start sending the list to DDT next week.
Update #19 years ago
We're aiming for 250. C'mon dancers, we can do this! If we don't get any swing and blues at Dance Downtown this season, let's not let it be said that we didn't do our best! Get your dance friends to sign on. So please pass it on to your dance friends by emailing, Facebook, etc. Tell them that a few seconds effort might just improve their chances for having a great couple of nights this summer.
Thanks again.
D
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