Swungover*

Tag: maxie dorf

  • Who’s Who in Original Bal-Swing Leaders

    Teachers often mention original dancers in class; however, those names may easily be forgotten between leaving the workshop and getting to YouTube. So, to make it a little easier, this is a list of original Balboa leaders often mentioned in classes, with links to clips of their dancing (other sections for Lindy Hoppers coming as…

  • For Hal

    [This article would not have been possible without the help of many people, especially Hilary Alexander, Marge Takier, Peter Loggins, and Nick Williams.] Harold “Hal” Chavoor Takier, unarguably one of the greatest original jitterbugs, passed away at his home in California on January 9, 2012, from complications of Alzheimer’s disease. He was 94 years old.…

  • Interview with Valerie Salstrom, mastermind behind the All Balboa Weekend

    Valerie Salstrom, a professional swing dancer, founded the very first All Balboa weekend with Joel Plys in 2001, and developed the event with Marty Klempner for many years before taking it all over alone. As the event turns towards its 10th year, she talks to us about working with Maxie Dorf, reflects on the growth…

  • A Way-Too-Brief History of Balboa

      2019 —  This Article from 2010 was an early attempt to explain the history of Balboa in a brief way, which was used for some events. Looking back, I don’t think it did a very good job. From what I know now, it  is incomplete and misleading. The only reason I still have it…

  • A Year of Clips #5: Start Cheering

    Many people can picture Frankie Manning swinging out in Hellzapoppin. But can you picture an original Balboa dancer doing a Toss-out or Lolly Kicks? Try not to blink during this clip, or you might miss one of the most important moments in Balboa/So Cal Swing history. It’s from the enormously long and strange dance sequence…