Jean-Charles Zambo, a.k.a. Joyss, shot to overnight fame after this video of his Take Five routine at Montreal Swing Riot 2015 went viral. 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5iMNzDG_g4

In a preview of our forthcoming episode, we hear from Alain Wong, the maker of that and many other famous videos. 

For Joyss' side of the story, listen here: www.fromthetoppodcast.com/episodes/8

Take Five: the other side of the story

Modern swing dancing has been deeply influenced by the rapid dissemination of video content and the corresponding revolution in video recording technology: videos have become much easier to get and create, and that has turned them into a powerful learning tool, especially in remote communities. 

On the other hand, the march of technology has resulted in oversaturation: every major event now spews forth dozens of videos; all competitions are thoroughly documented, all participants logged: it's getting increasingly difficult to choose what and who to watch. Questions are also being asked about whether video uniformity is killing individual styles. 

We get down to the real nitty-gritty. 

*** 

Contributors to this episode:

Jeannie Elliott, hardened swing dancer&instructor and leader of Cape Town Swing
www.capetownswing.co.za

Alain Wong, key swing dance videographer, organiser of Montreal Swing Riot 
www.youtube.com/user/alainkinwong
www.montrealswingriot.com

Alina Sokulska, jazz dancer based in Kiev and St. Petersburg, IG HOP's Dancer in Residence#5
www.facebook.com/jazzworkshopsalina

Jerry Almonte, veteran swing dancer and author of popular blog Wandering&Pondering
www.facebook.com/JSAlmonteWandering

For more, please visit www.fromthetoppodcast.com/episodes/10

***

Produced and presented by Alexei Korolyov
www.alexei-korolyov.com

From the Top theme song by Alexander Forstner, Nina Jukić and Alexei Korolyov

Cover photo courtesy of the Dutch Nationaal Archief

Video and swing dance

In this second of our special features, we hear from Alina Sokulska about how she sees herself in the world of swing and jazz dance. 

Originally from Kiev, Ukraine, Alina is IG HOP's Dancer in Residence this spring and an aspiring anthropologist. Check out her latest dance video here: 

www.vimeo.com/164904299

You can hear more of Alina in our latest episode, Video and swing dance. 

Alina Sokulska: Rebel Rebel

In this our summer-minded episode, we look at something that binds us all together: travel. Man's deep-rooted desire to travel and explore, coupled with the increasing globalisation of the swing dance market, has produced a generation of dancers, DJs and musicians that is almost constantly on the go. We meet some of them. 

***

Contributors to this episode:

Diana Geisler, Vienna-based dancer, performer and instructor who travels almost every weekend to competitions and events

Simon Bressanelli, British-Italian dancer who travels and teaches full-time
www.simonbressanelli.co.uk

Adrian Cunningham, Australian-born travelling musician and bandleader based in NYC
www.adriancunningham.com

Meghan Gilmore, Canadian DJ and dancer, head of DJs at Herrang Dance Camp, citizen of the world

Marcus Nutzinger, From the Top co-editor

***

Produced and presented by Alexei Korolyov
www.alexei-korolyov.com

From the Top theme song by Alexander Forstner, Nina Jukić and Alexei Korolyov


Travel and swing dance

Drummer and composer Dave King is perhaps best-known as a co-founder and one-third of the U.S. jazz trio The Bad Plus. He has also co-founded a number of other groups, including Happy Apple and Halloween, Alaska. He has played with more than 30 artists and appeared on over 50 recordings. 

In this third of our special series, we talk to Dave about his relationship with music and about his hit postmodern YouTube show Rational Funk.

Cover photograph by Christopher Herndler

Dave King: loving irony

Swing dance isn't usually classified as art. This title is normally applied to ballet, tango, folk dance or contemporary dance. But is this fair? And does swing dance need to be on a par with these well-established and recognised dance genres? Is swing dance perhaps just a form of entertainment - or even a niche specialism? This and more in an episode packed with insight both from within and outside the swing community.

***

Contributors to this episode:

Marina Losin, dancer, choreographer and researcher at ImPulsTanz, one of the largest contemporary dance festivals in the world
www.impulstanz.com

Gaby Cook, noted U.S. jazz dance performer and instructor
www.gabycook.com

Anaïs Sékiné, swing dance performer and instructor based in Montreal; PhD researcher of modern swing dance culture

Peter Loggins, one of the pioneers of the swing dance revival, veteran performer and instructor
www.jassdancer.blogspot.com

Camille A. Brown, award-winning U.S. dancer and choreographer and champion of black rights
www.camilleabrown.org

***

Produced and presented by Alexei Korolyov
www.alexei-korolyov.com

From the Top theme song by Alexander Forstner, Nina Jukić and Alexei Korolyov

Swing dance: art or what?

In this fourth of our special series, we talk to Anaïs Sékiné, a dancer and researcher (or, to use her own definition, a dancing researcher) in Montreal who is conducting PhD research in modern swing dance culture.

For a selection of Anaïs' smaller publications on the subject, go to the website of the Université de Montréal at www.umontreal.academia.edu

Anaïs is also featured in Episode 12 - Swing dance: art or what?

Cover photograph courtesy of Anaïs

Anaïs Sékiné: swinging academic

We return to the topic of globalisation with an episode that is full of stories of border-crossing. From London to Vienna to Leipzig to Seoul, we hear from those who started dancing in one place but continued in another. Together with them, we reflect on the differences and similarities between various swing dance communities around the world.

***

Contributors to this episode:

Lisa Carman,  Marc D'Olimpio, Sam Jozeps, Ben Beccari, Nancy Hitzig, Katie Latter

***

Produced and presented by Alexei Korolyov
www.alexei-korolyov.com

From the Top theme song by Alexander Forstner, Nina Jukić and Alexei Korolyov

A world without borders

Veteran performer and instructor Peter Loggins has a powerful message for his fellow dancers: go out and do it in public. 

Peter is also featured in Episode 12 - Swing dance: art or what?

Cover photograph courtesy of Peter

Peter Loggins: Enough with the shoebox mentality

Swing dancing seems far removed from the daily grind of business life but in fact it's just as much about money and value as any other human activity. It's just that its financial system is extremely opaque. There are no clear, universally agreed upon prices or tariffs and often no legal oversight either; it's effectively a black market economy. 

In this episode, we ask how you survive in this remarkably unregulated and non-transparent economy, who sets the prices and who pays for everything, what goes into running a successful swing dance business and how to fight off unscrupulous competition. 

***

Contributors to this episode:

Jerry Almonte, dancer, photographer, organiser and blogger based in Washington D.C.
www.jsalmonteproductions.com

Mandi Gould, Canadian swing dance entrepreneur and organiser 
www.mandigould.com

Jana Grulichová, co-founder of the Swing Maniacs school in Spain
www.swingmaniacs.com

***

Produced and presented by Alexei Korolyov
www.alexei-korolyov.com

From the Top theme song by Alexander Forstner, Nina Jukić and Alexei Korolyov

The economy of swing dance

Swing dancing may seem like a carefree world that is "open to all" but even some perfectly fit and healthy people can have a hard time entering it, to say nothing of people with disabilities. In this episode, we meet two disabled dancers who beat the odds to have a healthy and fulfilling dancing life, and hear from one of the most successful integrated dance troupes in the world.

***

Contributors to this episode:

Johannes Priebsch, dancer, software engineer and mediator based in Vienna
www.priebsch.at

Dominic Eagleton, London-based dancer and senior campaigner at Global Witness

Stine Nilsen, artistic co-director at Candoco Dance Company
www.candoco.co.uk

***

Produced and presented by Alexei Korolyov
www.alexei-korolyov.com

From the Top theme song by Alexander Forstner, Nina Jukić and Alexei Korolyov

Swing dance and disability

A person's height affects all aspects of their life, and it matters when it comes to dancing, too. We hear from both ends of the spectrum.

***

Contributors to this episode:

Sofi Mirkovic, Maria Grabherr, Ruben Garred, Johanna.

***

Produced and presented by Alexei Korolyov
www.alexei-korolyov.com

From the Top theme song by Alexander Forstner, Nina Jukić and Alexei Korolyov

Small and tall

Drugs don't seem to play a big role in the swing dance community but they are there - though it's mostly just cannabis and other soft drugs. In this episode, we hear from two anonymous dancers that admit to taking drugs while dancing, and learn a little history with Peter Loggins.

***

Produced and presented by Alexei Korolyov
www.alexei-korolyov.com

From the Top theme song by Alexander Forstner, Nina Jukić and Alexei Korolyov

Swing dance and drugs

From the Top is a podcast from IG HOP, a swing dance collective based in Vienna, Austria. 

It looks at the big issues in contemporary swing dance culture.

Researched, produced and presented by a dedicated team, it brings you the best expertise and knowledge from around the world. 

Feel free to contact us with comments and questions at contact@ighop.at or on Facebook. 

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