Together at the Melbourne Lindy Exchange (MLX 2023)
With the schedule of local dance classes winding down for the year, it’s a good time to reflect not just on my recent attendance at the Melbourne Lindy Exchange (MLX), but also on the year of major dance exchange events that was.
For me, it started with the Adelaide Lindy Exchange, Hullabaloo (in Perth), Brisbane Swing Thing, Canberräng (in Canberra), the Swing Into Spring Lindy Hop Weekender (in Sydney), Brisbane Balboa Weekend, and finally, the Melbourne Lindy Exchange.
It goes without saying that, aside from having the opportunity to dance in different venues and to different live bands (and DJs), attending a major dance exchange event (of any kind) is a great way to meet and connect with swing dancers from all over Australia (and overseas), to cement (or test) your social dancing skills, and to gain valuable experience dancing with a diverse range of people of varying abilities who have been shaped by different ideas. Plus, it’s just a whole lot of fun, and my time at MLX was no exception.
Throwing down in a jam circle
After a 4-year break due to the global pandemic, the return of MLX saw it's 20th Anniversary edition brought to life with 4 nights of social dancing (to some amazing live bands and DJs, in some incredible venues), plus 2 late-night events (with an excellent range of snacks), and even included a high stakes dance competition (the Savoy Cup Australia Qualifier). But that's not all - whilst MLX itself is a social dancing only event, I did take the opportunity to attend two separate dance workshops (Lindy Hop and Balboa) with some experienced dance teachers during this same trip also - it was full weekend indeed!
Finalists at the Champions Cup qualifier
With MLX tickets having sold out in about 3 minutes, this was certainly the biggest major dance exchange event in Australia in recent times, and the fear of missing out (FOMO), both for those who had actually missed out on tickets as well as those who didn't, was very real... And I get it, I really do. You pay a lot of money for a full weekend pass, for flights and accommodation. You see familiar faces from all of the previous dance exchanges you have ever attended, and you want to catch-up and dance with all of them because you've missed them terribly. But 4 days of social dancing (often with very little sleep) is a lot, and when you start to feel sub-optimal, the urge to keep going despite the beginnings of a cough or a sore throat can be very strong. (Life in general may have opened up again, but the threat of debilitating respiratory illnesses still remains.) I could say more about this, but I want to keep this light because overall, this was a good trip.
Brisbane Crew’s take on the theme “Friday at the Foot ball”
Thanks again to the organisers, venues, musicians, DJs, volunteers, attendees, and my Brisbane crew for making MLX the event that it was – a great way to bookend the swing dancing year! Thanks for all the dances and the catch-ups, and here's hoping we see you all again at another major dance exchange event soon. In the meantime...
Remember to stay safe, look after each other, and happy dancing! ~
Mama Trang
Postmodern Jukebox: Old School Cool
Scott Bradlee has come a long way in the past couple of years – from recording in his tiny basement apartment in NYC with a couple of friends to touring internationally with sell-out shows across Australia’s biggest cities. It seems that Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox, which has rapidly risen to fame through the power of YouTube, is a force to be reckoned with.
Image from http://www.motherjones.com/files/postmodern-jukebox.jpg
Scott Bradlee has come a long way in the past couple of years – from recording in his tiny basement apartment in NYC with a couple of friends to touring internationally with sell-out shows across Australia’s biggest cities. It seems that Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox, which has rapidly risen to fame through the power of YouTube, is a force to be reckoned with.
This is fantastic news for us swing dancers! We can now swing-out to our favourite (and least-favourite) modern pop songs and classic rock songs thanks to Bradlee’s vintage style covers of artists from The White Stripes to Britney Spears and everything in between.
I was lucky enough to see Postmodern Jukebox live in their first ever Brisbane show on their first ever Australian tour last Saturday. Let me say: WOW. Apparently Scott Bradlee just collects the best singers in the world and tours with them now. The talent on stage was phenomenal. And it wasn’t just the singers – their percussion session included world renowned tap dancer Sarah Reich who tore the house down with her sweet rhythms. We exchanged chit chat with her after the show about Swedish swing dance camp Herrang (which Sarah agreed is the “happiest place on earth”) and the cross overs between the tap and swing worlds.
Our image from the Brisbane performance
All the musicians were flawless and the MCs charismatic but when all but one musician left the stage it was clear to see just how talented Scott Bradlee the man actually is. He gave us a taste of his old party trick – collecting 5 names of artists or songs and mashing them together on the spot in an improvised piano solo. It’s amazing how well Bohemian Rhapsody goes with a little Justin Bieber, Mama Mia, Uptown Girl and the Ghostbusters theme song!
The band played favourites Creep, No Diggity, Oops I Did It Again, All About that Bass and the stunning Hozier song Take Me To Church. Sadly they left out Macklemore’s Thrift Shop - “Grandpa Style” - the song that seemed to start all the interest back in February 2013, and the hot jazz version of Stacy’s Mom. Not all the songs were *swing*-danceable, but others you couldn’t help but swing out to, and even though the floor was dark, fairly crowded and carpeted we still danced to more than half the set.
Corner Pocket Swing dancers with Maiya Sykes.
If you haven’t jumped on the PMJ bandwagon yet it’s time to get on board. It’s refreshing to hear great songs covered with a twist, and there's something satisfying in hearing a Justin Bieber cover that’s so much better than Justin Bieber. With 100 videos on YouTube and around 7 albums released you’re sure to find your favourite song turned into your new/old favourite song!
Not only that, but PMJ’s style of turning new into old (and thus into new again) is raising the profile of Motown, soul and SWING music. And if interest in swing music converts a few more dancers for us to dance with, well, all the better!