Figuring Out A Team Name

A group of us Bal Dancers recently decided to start a team that would strive to embody the look and spirit of the original 1930s So-Cal Swingers such as those seen in the Beach Clip or the film “Start Cheering.” (We’ve already performed it at The Jump Session Show, and we’ll be doing our routine at ILHC this weekend.)

By far the hardest thing has been trying to find a name. Often times, while we try to think of names, we loose all our filters, and just begin throwing ideas randomly, shooting from the hip, hoping a bullet will hit something and not kill us all.

Here are some of the many we’ve gone through, both serious and comical.

White Heat Jimmy Lunceford’s White Heat was the favorite song of many of the original So Cal Swing dancers. Unfortunately, it would be awkward to compete with this name, especially to a non dancing public. Though, I have to admit, we are crackers on fire.

The Flashbacks

Stormy Rhythm

The Next Group “As in, “And now, ladies and gentleman, the next group.”

The Backbeats Perhaps a little too Beatle-y?

So-Calefaction is, I think, a very cool name, since the definition of Calefaction involves the process of heating up. Though, in reality, people think it’s a bad pun involving the word “Satisfaction.”

The Beach Clippers From “The Beach Clip,” one of the few surviving clips of so cal swing (bal-swing) from the original era.

The Last Jumpers

Stompeed You know, like Stampeed? It has the word “peed” in it.

Start Cheering (It’d be great for announcing us, as in, “And now Ladies and Gentleman, Start Cheering!” When our act would be over, we’d ask them to say “Thank you, thank you! Stop Cheering!”)

Step Step and the Hold Steps.

The Awkward Moments

The Dukes of Venice As in, Venice beach, where the “beach clip” was filmed.

J-K-L-M-N-O-B Except for me, the rest of the teams names all fall into line in the alphabet. The “B” rhymes with “P,” get it? Er, except for “O”, of course. There’s no one in our team with that name. This is what happens around hour eight of trying to think up a team name.

The Solid Four As much as I like this one–“Solid 4” being both a straight rhythm and jive talk for “The Awesome Four,” sadly, there is six of us.

The Rhythm Section

The Cobra Kai (Balboa Team Division)

Trickeration Cab Calloway jive for “Showing your stuff, muggin’ lightly and politely.” This is currently one of the possible winners, next to…

Top Drawer A 30s slang for “the best.” If an original So Cal dancer thought what you did was good, many would reportedly say “Top Drawer.”

After a few weeks, in a battle between Trickeration and Top Drawer, Top Drawer has come out the winner. However, if we put together a Lindy Team, we might go with Trickeration, which has more of a high-flying feel to it.