Taiwan Swing Dance Movement

Mission accomplished! :-)

2008-08-18T21:47:00.000-07:00

This blog is temporarily discontinued because the mission is successfully accomplished. People are swinging and dancing in Taipei!!

Swing on and keep dancing, Taipei dancers!

Thank you and goodnight

2008-07-31T06:43:00.000-07:00

This blog is now discontinued. For information about Swing in Taiwan please visit
Taipei Swing.

這個部落格已經停止了, 有關台灣Swing的消息請參閱 Taipei Swing.

The Changeover 接手

2008-06-09T05:44:00.000-07:00

The Taiwan Swing Dance Movement is currently being taken over by a brand new management committee. We are also in the process of looking for a new venue. Everything will be a bit up in the air - for latest information, please join the Google Group, where latest updates will be communicated.

我們正在有新的委員會接手中... 在塵埃落定以前請加入 Goole Group, 以便接收最新資料!

Picnic Swing 野餐 Swing

2008-04-26T05:32:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys,

Sorry this message came so late. We were trying to find a venue till the very last minute, and nothing has really materialized yet. In view of this we have decided to have an out-door swing event this week, at a park. Feel free to bring a bottle of wine and a picnic basket, it might turn out to be a very nice idea.
Jon has picked a little park between Minchuan and Jianguo rds.

See you there at 8

Bye for now,

Angela

P.S. if anyone has a good outdoor sound system, can you bring it?

大家好

對不起這麼晚才發信... 我們一直在找新的場地, 但是這個星期可能會需要戶外教學喔! Jon 選了一個民權和建國交叉的公園...歡迎你順便野餐... 八點見!

香香

p.s. 如果你有戶外的音響, 請你帶來...!

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BoPoMoFo @ Sappho this saturday! ㄅㄆㄇㄈ星期六在 Sappho 表演!

2008-04-16T22:19:00.000-07:00

If you saw BoPoMoFo last time at Bliss, I'm sure you'll want to see them again. If you didn't see them, then don't miss out this time. So come along to Sappho on Saturday the 19th, from 10:30 to late, and dance along to some great blues!

Sappho is at:
B-1,1, LANE102, SEC.1, ANHE RD. TAIPEI (NEAR XINYI RD.SEC.4)
http://www.sappho102.biz

如果你上次有看過ㄅㄆㄇㄈ的表演, 那你一定會想再看一次! 如果你上次沒機會, 那這次可不能錯過 :D 星期六晚上10:30在 Sappho - 來秀一下你的舞技吧!

Sappho 位於:
台北市安和路1段102巷1號B-1(近信義路4段)
http://www.sappho102.biz

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BoPoMoFo @ Bliss

2008-03-17T23:37:00.000-07:00

Come and dance to BoPoMoFo at Bliss this Saturday (Mar. 22nd)!
這個星期六晚上(3/22)來 Bliss 與ㄅㄆㄇㄈ共舞!

ㄅㄆㄇㄈ (BoPoMoFo) is steeped in the history of the Blues. Formed by DC Rapier, a Chicago-land native, the band is dedicated to bringing the power of the Blues to Taiwan audiences. Joining him in the quest for mo' better Blues is Japanese guitar virtuoso Aki "The Flame" Ikeda, Daisuke 'Dafu' Neishi on drums, Canadian Michael 'Steel-fingers' Tennant on bass, Klaus 'Amadeus' Tseng on keyboards and DC on vocals, harmonica, guitar and tenor sax. ㄅㄆㄇㄈ (BoPoMoFo) plays Chicago-style Blues, vintage Soul and R&B and well-crafted originals with an infectious heartfelt passion that sets feet tapping and booties boogying.

Time/時間: 10:30 pm
Cost/價錢: NT$200
Venue/場地: #148 HsinYi rd., Section 4 信義路四段148號

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All Asian Swing Team Takes First Prize!

2008-03-13T03:37:00.000-07:00

A good friend of the Taiwan lindy scene, Vicky, passed along this video of all all Asian swing team which won first prize at Kollaborations, an US based Asian talent show. Check out their amazing performance!

Vicky, 我們的 swing 好朋友, 寄來了這個影片: 全亞洲人的 swing 隊伍在美國的 Kollaboration 比賽獲得第一名! 看看他們的表演

Vicky will visit Taiwan (where she is originally from) in April!
Vicky (台灣人) 會在四月的時候回來拜訪我們 :D

SWING at Franz and Friends

2008-02-17T20:49:00.000-08:00

這個月開始，每月的最後一個星期三，城市舞台文藝沙龍邀請爵士樂團ｌｉｖｅ演奏ｓｗｉｎｇ音樂，無論喜歡聽爵士音樂或喜歡跳舞的ｓｗｉｎｇ舞者，都歡迎來這裡齊聚一堂，交流感情，切磋舞藝。
前十二位預約者，享有餐飲優惠。
預約請寫E-MAIL給Claire:clairenici@goog.email.com
>詳細介紹請見: "城市舞台文藝沙龍/Franz & Friends"

From now on, every last Wednesday in the month, there is a live Jazz Band playing Swing Music at Restaurant "Franz and Friends". Either you like Jazz Music or you like to dance Swing, you are welcome here to enjoy this lovely Wednesday evening.
>more information please check "城市舞台文藝沙龍/Franz & Friends"

Swing Workshops with Adam

2008-02-15T05:59:00.000-08:00

When: Saturday, March 1.
1-4:30pm Balboa Workshop
&
Sunday, March 2.
1-4:30pm Lindy Hop Workshop
(each workshop will have a 30 minute break in the middle.)

Where: NTUST (Tai Ke Da)
#43 Keelung Road, Section 4 (MRT Gongguan, exit 2)

Parties: Saturday night at NTUST, 8pm
Sunday night at Plan B, 8pm

Prices: Advance Registration: NT$300 for single workshop, NT$200 for NTUST students
NT$500 for both workshops, NT$400 for NTUST students
At the door: NT$400 for single workshop, NT$300 for NTUST students
NT$600 for both workshops, NT$500 for NTUST students

For more information, contact CLAIRE at clairenici@googlemail.com
or MARIA at maria.kelley@yahoo.com

三月一日，星期六／1-4:30ｐｍ BALBOA WORKSHOP
三月二日，星期日／1-4:30ｐｍ LINDY HOP WORKSHOP
在台科大:基隆路四段，43號（捷運公館站／二號出口）

提前報名: workshop x 1=300元，台科大學生 200元
workshop x 2=500元，台科大學生 400元

當天報名: workshop x 1=400元，台科大學生300元
workshop x 2=600元，台科大學生500元

連絡方式: CLAIRE: clairenici@googlemail.com
MARIA: maria.kelley@yahoo.com

這就是BALBOA
這就是LINDY HOP

漸入佳境的 Lindyhop

2008-02-07T21:10:00.000-08:00

This is from the blog of one of our lindy regulars, James. (這是轉載 Lindy 常客 James 的部落格)
-------------------------
這半個月開始總算對Lindy Hop比較有興趣跟心得了。
為什麼是「總算」呢？
因為從去年認識Jon開始，其實我接觸Lindy Hop已經有七、八個月，
每週日晚上在PLAN B的Lindy Hop work shop也已經進行五個月，
但是我一直都是有一次沒一次地參加workshop，通常是上課一次蹺課兩三次，
所以直到現在，對Lindy Hop也還是在beginner的程度。

不過最近兩次的上課真的比較有fu了。
上上週的課程仍然是在學基本步的swing out，這是第一堂課就會教的東西。
其實，一開始進去上課的時候，心裡是覺得「怎麼workshop都開這麼久了，還在swing out？」
不過Angela很有耐心地跟大家強調swing out是最重要的，把這學好以後要做變化就會比較容易。
「基本步是最重要的」，這道理在各種舞科皆然，所以我也就乖乖的再來上基本步了。
可能是Lindy Hop的固定班底慢慢建立起來的關係（也就是學生變得比較少了:P），Angela跟Maria在每個學生上花了很多時間做個別指導，我很明顯地感覺到自己佔據了老師很多時間。
當Angela指導完，Maria就正好rotate到我這邊來，等Maria離開，Angela馬上又到了，這樣充滿密度的教學簡直就是個人班的等級。
那天我的swing out做了兩個蠻重要的修正，
一個是把Salsa的hip movement拿掉，一個是「利用女生的力量幫助自己旋轉」。
以前無論跳Salsa還是其他拉丁舞，都是自己旋轉，同時利用frame來帶領女生旋轉，跟「利用女生的力量幫助自己旋轉」是兩種不同的原理。
這次總算做對了。

上上週的課程上得很開心，回家以後開始認真的在youtube找很多Lindy Hop的教學短片，有點迫不即待要把更多舞步學會，立刻達到能上場即興跳完一首歌的階段。
不過，還是只能慢慢來。
果然大家把swing out的基礎建立得比較好之後，就可以開始學習更多變化的舞步了。最近這一次的workshop，Maria帶大家練習了兩種inside turn跟兩種outside turn。Jon隨後也教了一招stop & pop還有一個free spin（舞步名稱都是從youtube教學短片看來的）。
因此，在跟老師還有同學做自由練習的時候，我的舞步組合可以開始有一些簡單的變化了。照這樣的進度看來，應該再一兩個月後就可以隨心所欲跳完一首歌，而且舞步的組合不會太枯燥。

有時候想想覺得好險，在這萌芽的階段，Angela、Claire、Jon跟Maria都是無償地在付出。
而這段期間，來跳Lindy Hop的人大多是來來去去，固定留下來的班底應該只有不到10人。
在這樣的情況下，Lindy Hop work shop還是持續在運作，Brian跟PLAN B也還是支持發展這個舞蹈。
所以在我蹉跎四個月之後，還是有機會回來work shop上課。
希望Lindy Hop還能夠再發展下去，在未來幾年能夠像Salsa跟Argentine tango一樣，
在台北有一群固定的同好，有蓬勃的work shops，還有幾個可以讓大家展現成果的clubs。

Taipei Lindy workshop
每週日晚上8點-11點在 PLAN B
台北市安和路一段29-1號
NT 200 for lesson & 1 drink

New Year Hiatus

2008-02-02T04:01:00.000-08:00

Hello Everybody,
We're going to be taking a short break during the Chinese New Year period. Maria will be going to the states for a holiday, I'm going to be moving house, and I suspect Jon and Claire will each be busy celebrating :) I hope you will be doing the same. We begin class anew on February 17th. See you then.

各位好
在過年期間我們將要放春假 - Maria要去國外度假, 我要搬家... Jon 和 Claire 也會忙著過年. 祝你新年快樂. 我們二月十七號見!

Shim Sham

2007-11-22T06:44:00.001-08:00

Anyone wants to practice SHIM SHAM at home!?!?
Hope this clip will help you a bit! or click here!

The Taipei Lindy-Bomb

2007-11-15T00:19:00.000-08:00

The First Taipei Lindy Bomb is here! On Sunday the 18th of November, we will be congregating at the following locations for shameless public self promotion and flyering. Come one, come all! Join us for a quick dance, to hand out flyers, or simply to gawk!

Join us at

12:00 pm Gongguan MRT, Exit 3

1:00 pm CKS Memorial Hall MRT, Exit 5

2:00 pm Ximen MRT, Exit 6

5:15 Taipei Main Station, Exit 6

6:00 pm Taipei City Hall MRT, Exit 3

7:00 pm Taipei 101, Outside Main Entrance (near Taipei City Hall MRT)

8:00 pm Zhongxiao Dunhua MRT, Exit 6, Eslite Books

We are unlikely to be 100% on time, as this is a tentative schedule. But if you want to find out where we are and join us, call Angela on 0986410914.

See you Sunday!

Swing on Tuesday

2007-11-09T08:58:00.000-08:00

There is also swing during the week
Tuesdays with Maria
Beginner Lesson at 8pm
Tai Ke Da (NTUST)
43 Keelung Road, Sec.
4International Building lobby
搖擺星期二
給有興趣的初學者
免費的搖擺舞課
台灣科技大學北市基隆路4段43號
科技大樓一樓大廳

Größere Kartenansicht

The Current Lindy Scene in Taipei

2007-09-15T01:30:00.001-07:00

After the coordinated efforts of many individuals, Taipei now has its own swing scene! Please come and join us: sunday nights, 9 p.m., Plan B, No. 29-1, Sec. 1, An-He rd, Taipei.
經過各方面的努力, 台北有 Swing 了! 請來參加: Plan B, 安和路1段, 29之1號.

* No partner required! 不需要帶舞伴喔!

Questions? 有問題嗎?
Call / 請洽
Jon 0939338616
Angela 0986410914

Oops! We forgot to invite him!

2007-08-22T02:36:00.000-07:00

We forgot to invite the Damper Boy in Taipei 101!

(picture contributed by Jose)

It's been a long time, my new friends!

2007-08-18T11:52:00.000-07:00

It's a bit early to decide whether the Movement is a success or not but friends and lindy hoppers are doing their best to ignite the fire while having fun and making new friends.

In addition to dancers from Asia, Europe and America we have a super typhoon, Sepat (maximum sustained winds of 191kph with a radius of 250km which covers an area of 196,250km2 -- greater than the area of Taiwan), joining us. The weather has made dancers who come to Taiwan from abroad delayed their flights, detained on traffic-packed highway and even canceled their trip. However, those who made it to Taipei got to enjoy the typhoon-washed clean and less crowded streets of the city. We've met twice to get to meet and know each other. Tomorrow, all of us plus a few more will meet again at the workshop to try our best to influence, if not convert, ballroom and salsa dancers to swing. :-P

Oh, let's not forget another objective of the Movement - to introduce Taipei and Taiwan to friends and dancers from all over the world. This is actually an easier one. Taipei IS a nice place after all. As long as people get to experience the warmth and hospitality of Taiwan and Taiwan people, they just can not not like this place especially when the warmth and hospitality is accompanied with good food, efficiency, confidence and openness.

One more thing that deserves a separate section - although it's the first swing dance exchange in Taiwan, it's definitely an International event. Nationality-wise we have US, Germany, Korea, Canada, Japan (?) and ROC. Race-wise we have German/Taiwanese, Korean/Taiwanese, Portugal-French, Russian-Canadian, Taiwanese-American, Croatian/German, Japanese (? again), Canadian and alien (?). Don't ask me what those ? mean.

- Orchid; August 18, 2007

台灣首次搖擺舞研習交流會!

2007-08-08T16:35:00.000-07:00

Getting to know "Taiwan"

2007-04-11T23:44:00.000-07:00

People told me this blog was blocked in China. Somehow I am not too surprised. When there is anything coming with the word "Taiwan" and the word "Movement", it must triggered the Great Firewall to react with fear that it would contain something unacceptable.

I am definitely not trying to get myself into trouble. For us, Taiwan is where we were born and raised and a place we call "home". But, true, the tension and disagreement across the straits exist. I came across a blog written by a Westerner living in Taiwan the other day. It might help you understand the complicated feeling most Taiwanese have toward China. It also explain the identity crisis Taiwan and Taiwanese are facing today.

=======================================================

Anyone who has been around Taiwan for any length of time knows that the claim that "Taiwan preserves Chinese culture better than the mainland" is an old KMT propaganda chestnut. Such claims of "preserved" cultures that view traditional culture as both identifiable and unchanging are romantic fantasies of the western colonial era, but more fundamentally, they beg the question of what is meant by "Chinese culture."

Looking at Taiwan, what does one see? Taiwan has a democratic government -- there is nothing else like it in Chinese history, and a growing awareness and appreciation for democracy -- also a rarity in Chinese history. The educational system and police structure are European filtered through Japanese colonialism and postwar authoritarianism. Japanese influence is enormous, from food and fashion to technology. The business culture is an eclectic blend of imported ideas like double entry bookkeeping and local ideas like guanxi networks. For breakfast I can get a "western" breakfast of a layer sandwich that is entirely a local cuisine, or I can eat a Chinese breakfast consisted of foods updated by modern technology and altered thereby, whose ancestral dishes stem from the continent next door. I drive on western-style roads, in western-style cars....well, I could go on forever. Just what's "Chinese" about Taiwan? (Purely as an aside -- why does technology always disappear when we talk about culture? None of the tech now used on Taiwan is of recent Chinese vintage. The major shaping influences are all western).

Well, on the other hand, just about everything, one could answer. The local languages are all Chinese languages, except for the aboriginal tongues. Cultural ideals about women, the family, child-raising, male and female relations, politics, sex, religion, power -- many deriving from "Chinese culture," (again, except for aborigines) but as for actual culture practices? Your mileage may vary. What people say about themselves, and how they actually behave, are very different things.

The only reason anyone even raises the "Is Taiwan Chinese" issue is because Taiwan's alleged "Chineseness" is a claim that is part of the package of assertions that Beijing makes about Taiwan to support its drive to annex the island. Definitions like "Is Taiwan Chinese?" are a matter of values, not facts, only worth arguing about over beer -- unless some predatory power decides to base a foreign policy on them. It's a shame that an academic who says he knows better has nevertheless chosen to use a highly debatable title that is so useful to Beijing.

(from http://wulingren.blogspot.com/index.html)

"Prelude"

2007-03-28T12:06:00.000-07:00

Every story has a story. Sometimes, it's even more interesting than the story itself.

Claire and Orchid met on Internet during 2007 CNY holidays. They have something in common: they were both born and raised in Taiwan, they are both the child of two cultures, they both love swing dancing! And, of all the good things about Taiwan, they both feel that there is one thing missing - No swing dancing. They thought Taiwan is doomed to be a swing-less island until recently.

Over whining and bitching over MSN during the boring CNY holidays, they finally decided to stop being negative and do something to make things happen. Claire proposed a lindy exchange in Taipei. Orchid accessed the feasibility, the do-ability, etc. as she often does before doing anything, and found it at least worth a try.

So, they plan to organize a lindy exchange (without local swing dancers, sad) and invite dancers from Japan, Korea, HK, Singapore, China, and etc. to come. The idea is to combine sight seeing, food tasting, shopping with dancing. Since Taiwan receives thousands of tourists from the above regions (except China) every year, adding the dancing part should make the dancers feel more attractive about going to Taiwan! Taiwanese dancers of other lines of dance will be invited to join the parties, meet the dancers and even try out some classes provided by volunteer visiting dancers. Hopefully, some of them will find it interesting and carry on the torch. The date is not set yet. Will be sometime around mid to late August. People from Canada, US, Japan ASEAN, most of EU countries do not require visa to visit Taiwan.

Before the trip, Claire and Orchid would like to give you a list of summary what you can do and experience in Taiwan when you are not dancing -

- Hot Spring (actually there are cold spring, too; about 30 minutes outside Taipei to the north) - Tea (including taste, buy and visiting the tea plantation; also 30 minutes outside Taipei, another direction though)

- Massage (foot massage is invented in Taiwan by a Catholic priest, you know that?)

- Food and snacks (each little town has its own specialties.) - Sight-seeing (visit both mountain and seashore within one day, if you like. And, lots and lots of sea food!!!!)

- Bubble milk tea (it deserves a separate listing because you can find about 30 different kinds of tea drinks in any roadside milk tea stand or shop. A 500cc-cup cost about 10rmb only; I know it's cheaper in China but hold your complains until you taste the REAL milk tea make of REAL good quality tea.)

- Papaya-milk / Watermelon-milk / Mango-milk drinks (healthy, nutritious and delicious!)

- Fruits (from tropical to temperate. for taiwanese, it's difficult to differentiate fruits and desserts because we make fruits into desserts and even dishes)

- Beef Noodles (Taiwan has a beef noodles street. you will get to know what "satisfaction" really means after enjoying the beef noodles there.)

- Streets and People (taiwanese don't spit on the streets, cars wait for you when you pass, taiwanese say "please""thank you""sorry" a few hundreds of times a day, taiwanese form a single line when they cue)

Here is a link for you to find out more about Taiwan. It's an official website from the Tourism Bureau so it tends to be a bit humble like Orchid usually when it comes to things about Taiwan. :-) http://202.39.225.132/jsp/Eng/html/attractions/index.jsp

Come join the 1st Taiwan Swing Dance Expedition!

2007-03-28T11:38:00.000-07:00

Our Goal : to Swing-nize Taiwan!

The Concept:
By inviting the swing dancers from China, Japan, Korea, HK, Singapore, etc. to visit Taiwan and showcase the dance to local dancers of salsa, ballroom, etc. Hopefully, some of them will join the crusade of swing.
The time is preliminarily set to be in late August, 2007
Format will be as 5 - 7 days of touring Taipei and nearby areas and lots of dancing

If you are interested or just think it's a good idea, please let us know. You may post your comments here or send emails to twnlindymovement@gmail.com.

If you would like to help in anyway, we do need people to promote the event among their communities, please also let us know.

LET THE MOVEMENT BEGIN!!!