Name
Christopher Smith
Location:
Albany, NY, United States
Hometown:
NY, United States |
|
My Story:
September 23rd, 2006 was the day that I had my first swing lesson. I
know the actual date due to the fact that this free lesson and dance was part of the Albany Lindy Exchange which I knew nothing about. When my friends and I arrived for the lesson there was about 6 of us and there was only around 10-12 people total there for the lesson with Brooks Prumo and Ellie Hanus being the two who actually taught the lesson. After the lesson we had a little bit of time before the dance started and after the lesson some friends and I decided that we should stay and see what a dance is like. Lets just say that we spent maybe an hour there at the dance and that we were taken back by what we saw.
The band playing was the Boilermakers Jazz Band so the music was fast paced and therefore a little intimidating to us beginners. My friends and I danced to a couple of songs kind of huddled next to one another because we knew no one there. After we left that dance all we talked about was how great the people where that we saw and how exciting it was.
A couple weeks later my friend Allie one of my friends who came with me to our first lesson said that she had found a place in Latham only a short bus ride from RPI which had weekly Dances/Practices for swing dancing. Allie and I decided to go and check it out and while there
for our first time got introduced to Brooks again, Jesse Hanus and
Ellie Hanus again. Our first time there we also just watched mostly
and only danced with each other since we really didn't know what we
were doing. Brooks offered to take us back to RPI towards the end of
the night since he was also going there. When Brooks dropped us off he asked if I was interested in going out again that weekend. I told him that I was so I gave him my number and headed back into the dorm.
That Friday Brooks gave me a call and told me that there was a dance
going on with a great band and told me that I should really go. I told him that I wasn't sure since I had only one lesson he talked me into though by pretty much just straight out telling me that he would be at my dorm around 5 and that I would be going. We went out for dinner with some local dancers from the scene and Brooks introduced me to them before the dance so this time I actually knew a couple people but still I felt a little out of place. At the dance the band was amazing just as Brooks said it would be even though I just can't remember who
it was (I had too much on my mind trying to make sure I didn't make a
fool out of myself). At the dance I was introduced to several people
form Rochester and had a really good time overall. On the way back to RPI that night Brooks told me that he and another person Diana Shiroma were starting a swing dancing club at RPI and wanted to know if I was interested. I told him that I was and to let me know when it was going to start up.
The club started in the last week of October with a handful of members. Ben Oaks-Lee and Adrian Warnock-Graham were the teachers with Jessie and Ellie helping out once in awhile. The rest of that year included me becoming the club secretary, Brooks taking me out to
almost every event possible and me taking privates with Ben because I
had well fallen head over heals for Lindy Hop and I wanted to get
better. The next semester I became the President in training for the
club since both Diana and Brooks were graduating. I continued going
religiously to lessons and also did every other week privates with
either Ben or Adrian.
During this Spring semester at RPI I went to the Boston Tea Party for
the very first time with Brooks and Diana (everyone else backed out
from the club). Tea Party was also the first time that I competed
which Brooks also talked me into sadly enough. It was a good
experience looking back but I was way out of my league since I had
only been dancing for 6 months. Ever since I have been attending events whenever possible and love the dance
Website:
http://www.christophernsmith.com
Additional Questions
When/where did you first start doing Lindy Hop?
My freshman year at RPI in 2006 at the Albany Lindy Exchange
Why did you first start doing Lindy Hop?
My freshman year at RPI in 2006 at the Albany Lindy Exchange
What is the size of your local Lindy community?
Small
How often do you go out dancing or take lessons?
At least once a week
What is your favorite thing about Lindy Hop (both as an activity and as a community)?
What do you do for a living?
Student
Male/Female:
Male
Year you were born?
1988
What bit of non-swing info about you would the Lindy community find interesting?
How has Lindy Hop changed your life?
User Feedback
 Thumbs Up: Comments:
|
|
