Weekend at Lindy Fest

This past weekend was Houston's annual Greater Southwest Lindy Fest. It's a four day extravaganza full of lessons, classes and all the Lindy hopping you could imagine. Kristi and her friends have been going every year for the past several years, and this year they finally managed to get me to sign up and go, haha. This year though, my schedule with med school was pretty lenient and actually allowed me time to go as well, so that definitely helped. The event has brought in some world class instructors and participants for the past several years in a row, and this was no exception. There were certainly a lot of people there who know a whole lot more what they were doing that I did, or probably ever will, and that certainly got intimidating at times. It was also really crowded, showing the popularity that Lindy Fest has been gaining. However, by the end of it all, I had really learned a lot, and had gotten a lot more confidence in this style of dancing, and of course I was having a lot of fun as well. I managed to get a lot of help on my lindy help and also picked up the Shim Sham along the way, or least tried to, still working on that one. I also met some really fun people along the way. Kristi and her friends had just made it back from a week long "Tour de Tejas" spring break of dancing across the state, I have no idea how any of them had any energy left for the weekend, but they all seemed to have enough to have a blast, and I'm sure they're all ready for next year again.

Two of this year's special guests are two living legends in the world of swing and dance, Frankie Manning and Dawn Hampton. Frankie Manning is currently one of the most famous swing dancers and lindy hoppers alive. He's personally responsible for developing the fast paced and high flying aerials that most people think of when they imagine Lindy Hop, and he's also been dancing since the 1920s! He's also been in numerous movies both as an actor, dancer, and choreographer, his last being Malcolm X. This year he turns 92 and still going full steam.
Dawn Hampton grew up in a family of musical performers playing the Saxophone and singing as well. She made herself famous in caberets across the world and then later turned to dancing when she lost her voice due to medical reasons. She has also been in numerous movies including Malcolm X with Frankie Manning. She's about to turn 78 years old and still travels the world teaching music and dance. Both are very friendly down to earth people and it was really nice meeting both this past weekend.


Me with Frankie and Dawn



Kristi with Frankie and Dawn.


So the weekend came and went, and I sure need a new vacation from this weekend. But I did have a really good time, and learned an awful lot, and I can't wait to try some of it out again at the next dance. But now it's back to Family Medicine and a week of exams coming up.. Wish me luck!