Blues Dance World Podcast

Join us on our maybe-final episode (at least for 2018) as we send up our New Years Bluesolutions. Katie talks about Bo Diddley and his highly influential ‘Bo Diddley’ beat for the Monthly Blues Jam. We also take a look back on trends during 2017 in the national blues dance scene then look forward and try to ineptly predict the future of blues dance competitions, social dancing, and events. Finally, we read some really touching letters from the audience and weep gently on each others' Skype shoulders. Blues Dance World Podcast focuses on topics of blues dance culture. These podcasts will be posted once a month, so keep an eye out for them. If you like what you’re hearing, please let us and the world know! Rate and review us on our iTunes page! Main Host: Clyde Wright Co-hosts: Katie Alexa and Aaron Brown Producer: Andy Lee

On this special holiday episode of Blues Dance World, we are so hyped to have Blues artist Brother Yusef join us on the podcast! Not only are we treated to a special live Monthly Blues Jam, but we also chat with Brother Yusef on Blues History, the Blues Dance Scene, and the future of Blues music. Don’t mind us, we’ll just be fangirling in the background. Happy Holidays Everyone. You can find more of Brother Yusef’s music here: https://brotheryusef.bandcamp.com/. Blues Dance World Podcast focuses on topics of blues dance culture. These podcasts will be posted once a month, so keep an eye out for them. If you like what you’re hearing, please let us and the world know! Rate and review us on our iTunes page! Hosts: Katie Alexa and Aaron Brown, Producer: Andy Lee, Special Guests: Brother Yusef, Photos: Ben Hejkal, Andy Lee

On November’s episode of Blues Dance World, Katie introduces us to Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the godmother of Rock and Roll and someone who’s influence heavily shaped modern music. Then, the regular Blues Dance World crew takes a bit of a backseat this month as we bring on a panel of special guests, Curtis Ellis, Elizabeth Kilrain, Cierra Ruffin, and Kenneth Shipp, to talk about blackness in the blues dance world, a conversation that our community’s been having with itself for a while now. Our discussion ranges from personal experiences to things that the community is doing well to ways that our panelists think we could improve. We also talk about some of the events we’ve been to recently and have a special visit from a very spooky individual at the end of the podcast! Finally, we’ll discuss the Blues events that are coming up. Blues Dance World Podcast focuses on topics of blues dance culture. These podcasts will be posted once a month, so keep an eye out for them. If you like what you’re hearing, please let u

In our October episode of Blues Dance World, Katie gives us a glimpse into the life of Big Maybelle and her famous song ‘Candy’. Then, Katie, Clyde, Aaron, and Andy, along with special (repeat!) guest and sociologist extraordinaire Tim O’Neill, have a freewheeling discussion about the value of touch in our society and the ways that touch impacts dancing. We also give a well-deserved shout out that we missed in last month’s episode (get it Sommerville!), hear about the joys of partying with Icelanders, and learn about Clyde’s out of this world retirement plans. If you want to read Tim’s Thesis Paper from 2005, “Hugs for Sale: The Commercialization of Human Touch”, which is mentioned in this episode, check it out here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TIjLYFSYpfPIrIuFNbg1L7FHGbGh4W8mO5WP6KsjK0U/edit Blues Dance World Podcast focuses on topics of blues dance culture. These podcasts will be posted once a month, so keep an eye out for them. If you like what you’re hearing, please let us and the world know! Rat

Hey folks. This month for our September edition of Blues Dance World, we have not one but TWO special guests: Laney Barhaugh and Ben Hejkal! First, we’ll start this month’s episode with Clyde, Lanie, and Aaron summarizing their experiences at Southbound Blues, an exchange that happened recently in Nashville. We’ll also briefly discuss other events we’ve been to: Mezzjelly, Sweet Mo. Then, Clyde will take us through our Monthly Blues Jam! This month our featured artist is Jimmy McCracklin, a San Francisco based “texas shuffle” blues musician. McCracklin’s style is influenced by West Coast blues, Jump Blues and RnB. He’s recorded over 30 albums, written almost a thousand songs, and earned four gold records. We will listen to a song by McCracklin, called “The Walk.” After that, we will dive into our main topic: How to throw an event! Dance events take a lot of meticulous planning, hard work, and coordination. As anyone who’s been involved in organizing knows, it is a thankless, underappreciated job. We’ll share

On August’s episode of Blues Dance World, Katie calls some people out when she takes a look at Little Walter and his song “Mean Old World”. Katie, Clyde, Aaron, and Andy, along with special guest and all-around badass Mike Legenthal, have a discussion about the do’s and don’ts of judging blues competitions. We also get a bit of an inside look into the Blues Experiment, learn some exciting news from Clyde, and reveal our secret love for balboa dancing. Can’t get enough Blues and want to know which events are happening around the world? Check out http://bluescal.com/ and https://www.annettedances.com/blues-in-europe-calendar/ Blues Dance World Podcast focuses on topics of blues dance culture. These podcasts will be posted once a month, so keep an eye out for them. If you like what you’re hearing, please let us and the world know! Rate and review us on our iTunes page! Main Host: Clyde Wright, Special Guest: Mike Legenthal, Co-hosts: Katie Alexa and Aaron Brown, Producer: Andy Lee, Photos: Buksil, Ben Hejkal, an

For July 2017, Blues Dance World looks into the life of Blues singer Alberta Hunter, highlights Man Camp in Colorado, takes another shot at defining the term “Modern Blues”, and investigates the idea of Follow Voice inside of modern vernacular Blues dance with special guest host Ruth Evelyn. Can’t get enough Blues and want to know which events are happening around the world? Check out http://bluescal.com/ and https://www.annettedances.com/blues-in-europe-calendar/ Blues Dance World Podcast focuses on topics of blues dance culture. These podcasts will be posted once a month, so keep an eye out for them. If you like what you’re hearing, please let us and the world know! Rate and review us on our iTunes page! Main Host: Clyde Wright, Special Guest: Ruth Evelyn, Co-hosts: Katie Alexa and Aaron Brown, Producer: Andy Lee, Benoît Guérin

On this episode of Blues Dance World, Katie highlights Piedmont artist Etta Baker during the Monthly Blues Jam. Etta started learning the guitar at a young age and played for over 90 years! She was highly influenced a number of different artists, including Taj Mahal and Bob Dylan. We highlight a few of her songs: her 1956 original field recording of Railroad Bill, her version of Railroad Bill from her 1991 album, as well as “Carolina Breakdown”. Our main topic this month is all about Blues Idiom Dance. Join guest host Julie Brown and the rest of the BDW crew as we talk about the history of the Blue Idiom Dances, the value they have for our community, as well as the challenges in finding information and figuring out creativity within. Finally, we’ll discuss the Blues events that are coming up. Can’t get enough Blues and want to know which events are happening around the world? Check out http://bluescal.com/ and https://www.annettedances.com/blues-in-europe-calendar/ Blues Dance World Podcast focuses on topics

In this episode of Blues Dance World, Katie kicks it off for our Monthly Blues Jam with modern artist Joe Bonamassa. Joe started learning the guitar at a young age and even opened for B.B. King when he was 12 years old. He advocates for music education and started the “Keeping the Blues Alive” foundation, funding programs and scholarships to help people reach their potential in the music industry. We highlight his song, “You Shook Me”. Our main topic this month is all about Crosstraining: the study of your body in other contexts besides Blues dancing. Join guest host Ross Blythe as he dissects reasons for crosstraining, the most useful techniques to assist in your cross training, and ways to make sure your Blues movement doesn’t get crowded out by all of the new movements you’re teaching your body. Read more of Ross’s thoughts here: http://rethinkmundane.blogspot.com/2016/12/on-movement-cross-training.html Finally, we’ll discuss the national events that are coming up. Blues Dance World Podcast focuses on topi

This month, Blues Dance World takes a deep dive into four influential songs that we believe really shaped the modern blues dance scene. We’ll be having an extended Monthly Blues Jam this time around, with each of our hosts focusing on an individual song. Join Clyde Wright, Katie Belsky, Aaron Brown, and Andy Lee, along with our special guest Meghan Mehta, as they talk up a storm and cruise their way through some of the hottest songs in blues dancing. Can’t get enough Blues and want to know which events are happening around the world? Check out http://bluescal.com/ Blues Dance World Podcast focuses on topics of blues dance culture. These podcasts will be posted once a month, so keep an eye out for them. If you like what you’re hearing, please let us and the world know! Rate and review us on our iTunes page! Main Host: Clyde Wright, Co-hosts: Katie Alexa and Aaron Brown, Producer: Andy Lee

On this episode of Blues Dance World, we’re going live in Nashville at Mo Better Blues! Katie celebrates Nashville’s “Queen of the Blues” Marion James for our Monthly Blues Jam. Marion James worked hard to help out fellow musicians and keep Blues alive and kicking. The song this month is “That My Man”. Our main topic this month is “Romanticism, History, and the Search for Authenticity” where we pose a lot of questions and give some thoughts about how our modern Blues scene fits into a historical context. Finally, we’ll discuss the national events that are coming up. Can’t get enough Blues and want to know which events are happening around the world? Check out http://bluescal.com/ Blues Dance World Podcast focuses on topics of blues dance culture. These podcasts will be posted once a month, so keep an eye out for them. If you like what you’re hearing, please let us and the world know! Rate and review us on our iTunes page! Main Host: Clyde Wright, Co-hosts: Katie Alexa and Aaron Brown, Producer: Andy Lee

On this episode of Blues Dance World, Katie kicks us off covering Esther Phillips for our Monthly Blues Jam. Esther battled with addiction for years, but recorded tons of music throughout her career. The song this month is “Please Send Me Someone to Love” from the album “Burnin’ (Live at Freddie Jett’s Pied Piper Club, L.A.)”. As the spring season of events gets underway our main topic prepares dancers how to “do” a weekend! We cover everything including helpful mobile apps, what to pack, how to make events more cost effective, as well as auditions and potential FOMO. Finally, we’ll discuss the national events that are coming up. Blues Dance World Podcast focuses on topics of blues dance culture. These podcasts will be posted once a month, so keep an eye out for them. If you like what you’re hearing, please leave a rating and comments on our itunes page. Main Host: Clyde Wright, Co-hosts: Katie Alexa and Aaron Brown, Producer: Andy Lee, Guest: Sara Cherny, Photos: Ben Hejkal

In this month’s Blues Jam segment, Katie will be covering the origins of Robert Johnson’s “Sweet Home Chicago.” After that, Clyde talks about his experience at Snowbound Blues. In our main topic we talk to Sara Cherny, the head director of BluesSHOUT!, and discuss how BluesSHOUT! will be going into their 10 year anniversary for 2017. We dive into topics of: the origins of the name of the event, how it got from Cheap Thrills to now the biggest blues competition event of the year, and some tips for people who want do event organizing. Finally, we’ll discuss the national events that are coming up: Mo’ Better Blues, Blues With Friends, LA Blues, BluesSHOUT! Blues Dance World Podcast focuses on topics of blues dance culture. These podcasts will be posted once a month, so keep an eye out for them. If you like what you’re hearing, please leave a rating and comments on our itunes page. Main Host: Clyde Wright, Co-hosts: Katie Alexa and Aaron Brown, Producer: Andy Lee, Guest: Sara Cherny, Photos: Ben Hejkal

We wanted to give you a WARNING ahead of this podcast that it is less about dance and bit more about our reactions to the world we’re living in post elections. There’s some harsh language that comes up a little later in the podcast, and a lot of discussions about the racial and sexual aggressions we’ve been and are dealing with after the elections. So if it doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, definitely feel free to skip this one; we’ll be getting back to more dance focus topics in our next podcast. In this month’s Blues Jam segment, Katie will be covering Sam Cooke. She picked his anthem song “A Change is Gonna Come.” In our main topic, we’ll be discussing what Safe Spaces mean Pre and Post Elections Era and echo chambers within what we post on facebook. (Reference Site: A man shouts racial slurs in a Seattle Starbucks: full audio clip) Finally, we’ll discuss the national events that are coming up: The Blues Experiment 2017 Cruisin for a Bluesin: March 9-12 Blues Dance World Podcast focuses on topics of

We have Damon Stone joining us as a guest for November's BDW Podcast. During our monthly Blues Jam segment, we'll be covering Screamin Jay Hawkins, and we'll get to hear his famous blues song, "I put a Spell on You." Then Clyde will briefly discuss his experience at Blues Muse, before Andy and Damon dive into discussing Korea Blues Camp. In our main topic, we talk about looking at competitions as a game. We'll go over the strategies and tactics of each competition type through the lens of gaming. Finally, we'll discuss the national events that are coming up: Rose City Blues and Snow Bound Blues. Blues Dance World Podcast focuses on topics of blues dance culture. These podcasts will be posted once a month, so keep an eye out for them. If you like what you’re hearing please leave a rating and comments on our itunes page. Main Host: Clyde, Co-hosts: Katie and Aaron, Guest: Damon Stone, Producer: Andy Lee

Willie Dixon is the subject of our Monthly Blues Jam for October. Katie goes over Willie's involvement with several other blues artists, and then we get to listen to one of his more interesting songs, "Nervous." Then we briefly discuss Aaron's recent move to Chicago before Katie, Aaron, and Clyde tell us about their experience at North Star Blues. In our main topic, we discuss the many ways you can improve your dancing, from walk-in classes, private lessons, and peer-led groups, to self-improvement tips like listening to music, stretching, and video recording. Finally, we discuss all the national events that are coming up in October. Blues Dance World Podcast focuses on topics of blues dance culture. These podcasts will be posted once a month, so keep an eye out for them. If you like what you’re hearing please leave a rating and comments on our itunes page. Main Host: Clyde, Co-hosts: Katie and Aaron Producer: Andy Lee

This month we’re talking about DJing for our blues community. To help guide us through our trek with her impressive blues music knowledge is Anna Washenko. She is one of the main competition DJs for BluesShout! and the headline DJ for many other national events. For our Monthly Blues Jam, Katies doing something special. She will be tracking down the lineage of one of the most well known and covered blues songs, St. James Infirmary. Reference Site: Smithsonian Folkways Song #1: A.L. Lloyd and Alf Edwards – The Unfortunate Rake Song #2: Alan Lomax – St. James Hospital Song #3: Dave Van Ronk – Gamblers Blues Song #4: Louis Armstrong – St James Infirmary After that, Katies tells us about her experience at Sweet Molasses, which involved Airbnb cats, American Idol style prelims, and awesome performances. Here are some of those performances if you’d like to check them out: http://bluesdanceworld.com/2016/07/29/sweet-molasses-2016-29th-videos/ We then dive into our main topic of what’s involved in Blues DJi

This month we have a special guest joining our podcast, national blues instructor Tim O’Neill! First, Katie will present Big Mama Thornton in our Monthly Blues Jam and we’ll play for you a sample of her song called “Since I fell for you.” Later, we’ll answer a question from one of our listeners about the difference between Slow Dance and Blues Dance. After that Clyde will discuss his experience at Mile High Blues, and then we’ll dive into our main topic: why do we love this dance called blues. We’ll also discuss the favorite dance each of us has had during our dance careers. Blues Dance World Podcast focuses on topics of blues dance culture. These podcasts will be posted once a month, so keep an eye out for them. If you like what you’re hearing, please leave a rating and comments on our itunes page. Main Host: Clyde, Co-hosts: Katie and Aaron, Producer: Andy Lee

In this episode's Monthly Blues Jam, Katie will discuss the blues artist Leroy Carr, and you'll get to hear one of his songs, How Long, How Long. After that, we'll be giving some advice for beginning dancers - pretty much the Do's and Dont's of the blues dance scene. Blues Dance World Podcast focuses on topics of blues dance culture. These podcasts will be posted once a month, so keep an eye out for them. If you like what you’re hearing please leave a rating and comments on our itunes page. Main Host: Clyde, Co-hosts: Katie and Aaron Producer: Andy Lee

This month Katie’s going to introduce a new topic called Blues Music Research, in it she discusses the history of the artist Slim Harpo and his song titled I’m a King Bee. After that we talkS about Clydes experience at the Canadian Swing Championships. We finish it up with our main discussion on sexiness within the blues dance culture, how others scenes perceive it, what does sexiness mean to us, and criticism of “too sexy.” Blues Dance World Podcast focuses on topics of blues dance culture. These podcasts will be posted once a month, so keep an eye out for them. If you like what you’re hearing please leave a rating and comments on our itunes page. Main Host: Clyde, Co-hosts: Katie and Aaron Producer: Andy Lee