A Word On Swing: On The Porch with Nina Gilkenson
July 24, 2012
This is part one of a recent interview Jerry and I did (mostly Jerry) with Nina Gilkenson for “A Word on Swing.” The reason I wasn’t there for some of it is because I was out getting another interview for “A Word on Swing.” It was a productive day.
Great interview.
I just have one “issue.” It should should be: …Jerry Almonte and [my] recent…
Good rule of thumb: If you take out the second person’s name (in this case, “Jerry Almonte and”), the sentence should still make sense.
Yup-yup.
How did she become so good so fast pre-YouTube? It would be interesting to hear more details about how she went about studying and practicing lindy hop when she first started… perhaps us newer arrivals can learn about learning.
I can’t remember how much she talks about that specifically, but a lot of it has to do with the following (1) dancing at least five nights a week (2) having a best friend (Naomi Uyama) also involved with whom to inspire you and compete with you to get better (3) practicing a lot (4) being in a prime location to work on things with fellow dancers in a town that had lots of great workshops. Nina was one of many dancers at that time in DC who were getting very good quickly.
But that’s just my take on it, as Nina’s friend and a person who has asked her a lot about her dancing. She might have a different take on it.
I also don’t think (and I may be wrong in some cases) that follows in general do a whole lot of their learning from YouTube clips. They may get some ideas for styling that they practice at home, but I think most of it comes from in-person experience. Being in the right place at the right time and being inspired to devote all of your time to learning and competing would seem to be the key.
So… When/where is part 2?
Great Interview!
As I am dancing for over six years now, and also do some teaching, I’m still taking classes. But I also realized that it’s about time to learn and practice new things on my (our) own. So it was nice to hear Nina encouraging dancers to venture out and develop their dancing on their own.