Visiting one of my old Lindy Hop haunts is always a (rare) pleasure these days.  We were at the 920 Special this past week, excited about testing out a photobooth concept.

An added bonus were special visitors in town. Not only was a special class taught by members of the Swedish performance group the Harlem Hot Shots (who gave the audience a brief performance), but Dawn Hampton was in town, celebrating her 82nd birthday. This wonderful lady is an inspiration to all with her charm and personality. Brimming with talent and musicality, she mesmorized the crowd with her dancing.

In the back room, we had the pleasure to capture some cool, fun images.

Below are teasers.

Click here to see the entire 920 Special Gallery. Password: 20100603

When fellow Lindy Hopper Nathan Dias called asking if we could do some promo shots for his performance group, Swing or Nothing, we knew it would be a fun romp!

Here are a few favorites from last week’s shoot at the 920 Special.

If you’re in search of a wedding DJ and/or wedding first dance instructor, definitely check out Nathan’s site: www.SwingorNothing.com

We were on hand to cover Frankie’s Friday Night Talk at the Ashkenaz Music and Dance Community Center in Berkeley, CA.

Even though we’ve done this numerous times, it’s always a tremendous pleasure to listen to his stories (while getting some great shots) — the room is always filled with laughter as Frankie’s quite the storyteller and has a great sense of humor.

Of note was that this year, Frankie’s son, Chazz Young, was on hand (as he was here to teach for his dad, who’s still recovering from hip surgery).  It was heartwarming to also hear Chazz laugh at all his father’s stories as well.

It’s hard to believe the man is going to be 95 this May — that’s right, NINETY-FIVE.

After the talk, there was dancing to the lovely Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers.
It was great to see some old friends, and make some new ones, too.

Enjoy!

Frankie Manning's Friday Night Talk at Ashkenaz

Frankie Manning's Friday Night Talk at Ashkenaz

Frankie Manning's Friday Night Talk at Ashkenaz

Frankie Manning (r) with his son Chazz Young

Frankie Manning's Friday Night Talk at Ashkenaz

Frankie Manning's Friday Night Talk at Ashkenaz

Frankie Manning's Friday Night Talk at Ashkenaz

Frankie Manning's Friday Night Talk at Ashkenaz

Frankie Manning's Friday Night Talk at Ashkenaz

Frankie Manning's Friday Night Talk at Ashkenaz

Frankie Manning's Friday Night Talk at Ashkenaz

Frankie Manning's Friday Night Talk at Ashkenaz

Frankie Manning's Friday Night Talk at Ashkenaz

Frankie Manning's Friday Night Talk at Ashkenaz

Frankie Manning's Friday Night Talk at Ashkenaz

Frankie Manning's Friday Night Talk at Ashkenaz

Frankie Manning's Friday Night Talk at Ashkenaz

Frankie Manning's Friday Night Talk at Ashkenaz

Frankie Manning's Friday Night Talk at Ashkenaz

Frankie Manning's Friday Night Talk at Ashkenaz

Frankie Manning's Friday Night Talk at Ashkenaz

Frankie Manning's Friday Night Talk at Ashkenaz

The event began Friday night at Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center, where the 94(!) year-old Frankie gave another of his signature telling of stories from his youth.

Saturday and Sunday featured the Lindy Hop Workshop with Frankie, as well as optional “elective” classes taught by a whole lotta local swing dance instructors. Saturday night also featured the 6th Annual Shiny Stockings Ball, with the Royal Society Jazz Orchestra.

The NCLS also presented its first ever Distinguished Community Service award to Chad Kubo, one of the long-time pillars of the San Francisco Bay Area Lindy Hop scene (bus ad notwithstanding).

Sunday night’s closing dance featured the Tipsy Gypsy Trio.

Here are some image from the weekend. Enjoy!

The 920 Special, a San Francisco swing dance venue, had a special night of dancing to the live music of two bands — The San Francisco Medicine Ball Band (what a name, huh?) and Corner Pocket — and I was there with my honey for a little bit of dancing, and a little bit (more) of photo-taking.

I used to be a regular when I started learning Lindy Hop, but now with running the photography business, leisure activities like this is often more rare.

It definitely was nice to to be back.

Here’s the scene at the front door.

The main crew out front: Mark, Nicole, and Jeff
Here’s a view of the San Francisco Medicine Ball Band

Corner Pocket from backstage.

Usually between Christmas and New Year’s, the dance venues have light turnouts — but not Thursday — pretty nice numbers.

MC Manu doin’ his thing.

Jean and Bromley are two local swing dancers who are relatively new to the scene, but are already making a big splash.

They’ve entered and placed in a number of competitions, and they bring fresh new enthusiasm and passion that is noticeable by anyone dancing on the same dance floor.

They also happened to be Cal alums — go, Bears!

Thus, it was a pleasure to do a photo session with them to provide them with some high-caliber promotional photos.

Here are a few favorites:

Jean and Bromley can be found at many local swing dance venues (click here for more info).

You can also visit Jean and Bromley’s website at: JeanandBromley.com

I was able to get out to Lindy in the Park for the first time in what seems like months!

It was a beautiful day, and my! the kiddies were out with their moms (and dads). After all, it was Mother’s Day.

Here are some favorites:

The complete set of my photos is at LindyinthePark.com

This past Sunday, I was happy to take part in celebrating 10 years of Lindy in the Park. Who could have believed, way back in 1996, when Chad Kubo and Ken Watanabe innocently brought out a portable boombox to play some swing music so that they and their friends could dance in the great outdoors, that the idea would catch on and last…a decade!!!

In fact, thanks to swing dancer Cary Tucker, San Francisco’s Mayor Gavin Newsom proclaimed August 13, 2006 to be officially, “Lindy in the Park Day”.

It’s been a great run thus far, and I’m happy that I am part of it (although, admittedly, now that I’m doing photography full time, I don’t get to go out there as often as before).

Check out the photos here

I happened to be out and about and took a stroll to an old, familiar haunting ground — Golden Gate Park’s Music Concourse, specifically the Bandshell, site of many a Lindy in the Park’s.

However, things are not quite that familiar anymore. Renovation has been progressing steadily, and here’s the latest:

As you can see, the stage is still roped off.

View from the front. Notice the newly laid asphalt footpaths.

Toward the center of the concourse, a few of the new benches have been installed.

Nice.

Here is the original “alternate” location — still asphalt, but no longer bumpy. I presume more benches will be installed here before all is said and done.

Some newly planted trees can be see as well.

More noticeable changes are the new accessways to the underground parking.

New landscaping.

When will Lindy in the Park return to the Bandshell?

Don’t know. Stay tuned to the LitP site – www.LindyinthePark.com

March 4th was the inaugural edition of the Doghouse Saturday Night Swing Dance Party at the new ODC Dance Commons, located at 355 Shotwell in San Francisco.

I was on hand to shoot a few photos, dance a few times, and chat with old friends.

This is on the wall when you walk in — a (partial) list of donors.

Reception area — pretty nice!

The room you see first is the Doghouse Classic Room, where they spin “classic” swing music all night long.

In the room to the right is the “third” room, where different a different “genre” of music might be played for the evening. In this case it was “Blues night” (after this class, of course).

Here are some photos of the Doghouse Main Room, where most of the dancing takes place.

And the new Doghouse comes with a swanky Lounge Area, where one can relax and chat, and catch some old (and new) clips on the monitor.

Hope to see you out there some time!