This week’s song is from Phil Kim!
But first, it just wouldn’t be write on Good Friday of the Easter Weekend not to include Judy Garland and Fred Astaire’s Easter Parade.
The Grabtown Grapple, Artie Shaw
This song is really fun to dance to and was used recently in a Lindy Hop competition.
This week’s song is from Sam Dobbie!
Yacht Club Swing
Fats Waller and His Rhythm
Good-bye Winter! A cheery tune for a sunny Spring day! (Great for Charleston practice too!)
Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive, Paul McCartney
Can’t get enough of our 1.5 warm up? Neither can we! This is such a catchy little song and the fact that it’s performed by Sir Paul McCartney does add to its charm. Dance along if you know it!
Mandi is on vacation this week… in Disney World! There is actually a great history of swing music in Disney films. Here’s Louis Prima as King Louis in the Jungle Book, Wanna Be Like You.
I had a good time dancing with Kevin to this song at the Hive Social a couple of weeks ago. I was reminded of it this morning when Moulin Rouge was on television. Here’s a slightly more contemporary swinging version of Nature Boy, this one by Johnny Hartman.
I’m dedicating this week’s song to one of our regular Bees’ Knees students and family members, Tyler. This isn’t the easiest song to dance to because there are some changes part way through, but it’s just such a fun tip of the hat to South Pacific, by Ella Fitzgerald no less, and I know that Tyler and other musical lovers will appreciate it. Enjoy!
The last surviving Andrews Sister, Patty, died last week at 94 years old.
Here’s the song that the Andrews Sisters were probably best known for.
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
Kevin Miller is a dance instructor at Bees’ Knees Dance in Toronto.
“I just put in some research buying a hat myself. So here’s the skinny on hat shopping in Toronto:
If you’re looking to go cheap because you don’t need a black hat or don’t need a hat period. Your best bet is Honest Ed’s, with the Bay as a close second (they have a sale on their winter stock right now.) But any department store will do. If on the other hand you would like to invest in a quality hat here are some options.
Big It Up: found in many malls has an ok selection of hats with pretty good quality, plus their brand is actually carried at many others hat shops around town.
Brimz (on Queen st. West): fair selection, they carried many of the same hats as Big It Up. Worth a look.
Goorin Bros. (Queen and Spadina): they only carry their own brand, all hand made, fine quality. I found they don’t have a very larger selection, and their hats don’t have a lot of structure. Which is not preferable for our purposes, but I wouldn’t discount them on that account if you like their hats. Also nice feature you get to choose your own feather.
Lastly, Hat Depot (Pape and Dandorth): this is where I usually buy my hats, wide variety, very good quality. I like shopping here because it’s a family owned independently operated business. Plus if you get a bunch if people together he might cut you a deal! On a side not they also make custom flat caps in house in a variety of different styles for a reasonable price.
There are many other shops in the city, but these are the ones I have personally visited.
It is my opinion that everyone should own at least one hat and know when, where, and how to wear it. Respect hat wearing and the etiquette that goes with it is a dying tradition that should be preserved. Let me know if you have any questions. Happy hat shopping!
P.S. This is all if you’re looking to by new of course. You can also find used hats at thrift/vintage stores. But style, size, and colour are a total crap shoot!”
Slim and Slam
Hit That Jive Jack
Slim and Slam are big favourite’s in the swing dance world. Last week we featured Flat Foot Floogie and this week I wanted to follow up with Hit That Jive Jack, a true classic! Love this version!
