Name
Ronaldo Velaroca
Location:
Los Angeles, CA, United States
Hometown:
La Paz, Bolivia |
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My Story:
My Stars Align: It's 9:30 pm on cold Thursday night in L.A, circa 1998 - I'm en-route home; wondering what heartbeat will miss her a little less.
Anita O'Day's voice swirling ever-so-silky in my car. The CD on which she's allotted a spot, contains recorded songs from an a.m. Saturday morning show broadcast on AM radio in the LA area - songs from the Era, the era of Jazz, Big Band, and crooners male and female alike; an era which was being re-birthed in me at the time.
My eye catches a purplish neon sign on a corner at Los Feliz and Hillhurst where a line of people, some if not most, dressed in vintage 40's clothing.
My intrigue is peaked; I venture forth on a different night, stand in line and enter the sounds of a throw-back place and time - It's The Derby. I'm quickly transported to nothing that permeates my loss at the time - it's all new! No memories, and what grand new memories to be forged.
The new season whisks me into an upward spiral of "right, left, rock-step" to Basie, Miller, Goodman, and the Belles - Ella, Billie, etc. From "Opus One" to "Two O'clock Jump" - I Jump, Jive an' Wail.
Soon after, 8 count steps pop on the radar ready to mince with those lonely 6 count Betties. Later - deep therapy sessions to wash out round-about swing-outs from Savoy style (gratefully learned at PBDA) to slotted whips in Hollywood style, which Lindy Groove seems to deeply demand.
Oodles of lessons, dances, strikes and gutters ...And - like Count Basie's "I'm Walking".....I'm still a work in progress!. Groove on, Lindy!
Additional Questions
When/where did you first start doing Lindy Hop?
Before the rooster crowed at 9 am Saturdays at PBDA in Pasadena, cicra 1998-9.
Why did you first start doing Lindy Hop?
The "whips' got me - they looked so cool - I had to learn it!
What is the size of your local Lindy community?
Well, there's the Butcher, the Baker, and the Candlestick maker...that's 4 of us! no follows, drag! Ha ha! ... actually, I thik LA is one of the biggest scenes.
How often do you go out dancing or take lessons?
At least once, often twice, and then there's those gluttonous 3 and 4 nights from time to time!
What is your favorite thing about Lindy Hop (both as an activity and as a community)?
No. 1 The music!. And it's the healthiest drug on the planet! - Cures those blues, unless you're doing the 'blues', right away!
What do you do for a living?
Q.C. for a big corporation.
Male/Female:
Male
Year you were born?
What bit of non-swing info about you would the Lindy community find interesting?
I broke the track record for the mile run in high school.
How has Lindy Hop changed your life?
It crosses out many a town, should I be challenged to move. In the words of Gene Kelly - Gotta dance!
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