Dancing Through Life: A Multimedia Experience

Last weekend was a whirlwind of activity that started Thursday evening.

The Solomon Douglas trio performed live at the PPAA on Thursday night. I took my sister dancing with me and we met up with a bunch of my swing dance friends. The band was pretty good, a bit lounge-y and low energy at times but still, live music still beats DJed music. After the dance we went to Rimsky's for dessert. I was the only one who had never been so of course I checked out their famous bathroom.

Friday night was Elaine's celebration of her new apartment. We were treated to wonderful homemade Mexican food. We played some games: Splash, which is basically Spoons with plastic dolphins that squeak and Taboo.

Saturday, I went to the first half of the local Big Apple Workshop with Gillian and Coyle. The Big Apple is a Jazz Steps Routine choreographed by Frankie Manning and originally performed by Whitey's Lindy Hoppers.

If you've never seen it here's a clip (Just the first half of the clip though there is some wicked lindy hop in the second half):

Then I went to my regular Saturday night dance afterwards.

Sunday was really crazy. I had to be in Church to play with the Handbell Choir for Bach's 325th Birthday. There was some seriously awesome music on Sunday. Our organist is fantastic and we had special music from two members of our congregation who normally play with the Oregon Symphony. The music from this Sunday:

All Glory Be To God On High (BWV 711)- Helen Hollenbeck, Organ

Gigue from Cello Suite No. 3 in C Minor (BWV 1009)- Ken Finch, Cello

Hymn Blessed Jesus, At Your Word with Chorale Prelude Liebster Jesus, Wir sind hier (BWV 731)- Helen Hollenbeck, Organ; Lynn Finch, Violin; Ken Finch, Cello

Aria from St. John Passion Mein teuer Heiland (BMV 245)- Bennett Bailey, Baritone; Ken Finch, Cello; Helen Hollenbeck, Continuo

God's Time Is Always Best (Sonatina from Cantata 106)- Tabor Heights Handbell Choir

Siciliano from Sonata No. IV in C Minor for Violin (BWV 1017)- Lynn Finch, Violin; Ken Finch, Cello; Helen Hollenbeck, Continuo

Toccata and Fugue in D Minor (BMV 565)- Helen Hollenbeck, Organ

I went straight from Church to a Dance Workshop on Dancing in Tight Spaces with Syncopated Rhythms followed by a short practicum with the band Kung Pao Chickens. There were some very fun moves for both Balboa and Charleston. From there I went to the second day of the Big Apple Workshop where we learned the second half and the hardest part of the choreography.

After that I was home long enough to eat and shower before heading out for the regularly scheduled Sunday dance (though at a different venue, the Paradise). Even though I was pretty tired by then I still had a good time and went out to Old Chicago afterwards with everyone like we usually do.

I was feeling pretty good, if tired after my busy weekend until about Tuesday when it caught up to me with a vengeance. I got sick with an awful sore throat and swollen tonsils and was generally feeling awful and listless. I'm finally getting back into the swing of things, though I'll definitely be taking it much easier this weekend.