Hamfats.ca » Vancouver

Chillin’ like a villain @ UBC Robson Square

Tien — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 23:15:00 +0000

In the last little while, I have felt bombarded with a mess of things to do in the dance scene other than just dance. At some point I will have my chance to do my own Half Year in Review and you’ll see what I have been up to. But, finally, in the last week, I have been able to just pause and breathe for a moment. Usually I am led to one of my favorite summer spots of the year – UBC Robson Square.

Pictured above, Robson Square is one of the main areas for dancing of all kinds to be found here. During the summer months, there’s Friday night Dancing at Robson Square (rotating forms of dances, mainly ballroom) and Sunday Afternoon Salsa. But what keeps on drawing me back is the street dancers who come and practice there every day.

There’s lockin’, poppin’, whackin’, hip hop, b-boys/b-girls, and crews of all kinds that rotate in and out of the area. You’ll find new dancers to some of the best instructors/dancers in the city watching, training, and giving advice to each other. Most of them there, probably because it’s free, open, and perfect for dancing and they are absolutely inspiring to watch. It makes me feel like I should be training as well.

Maybe that’s what I’ll do. Who wants to join me? :)

A Shortcut to Learning

Randy — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 08:54:14 +0000

I have a new plan for improving my blues dancing – I’m going to follow Damon and Heidi around the world. Amiright?

The Weigh-In – Lindybout Round IV

Tien — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 08:53:17 +0000

Some of you folks may remember about a year ago, while Hamfats was in it’s infancy, Randy had a chance to compete and capture the moments at Lindy Bout 3.

As for myself, I have never attended any past Lindy Bouts so I am PUMPED for tomorrow as it is the start of Lindy Bout 4! While I will not be participating in the competitions this year (I wish I could!), I will be there taking shots and recording the action this weekend. Once again thanks to Kane, a Vancouver dancer and organizer.

As you may remember, Kane gave me the opportunity to shoot for a day during Rhythm City Mess Around using his equipment, a Nikon D70, an older but still reliable workhorse.

I am also glad to say that there will be two Torontoians at the event; Stephanie Taylor, a transplant in Toronto from Vancouver (also a key organizer for Lindy Bout) and Alcina Chiu who flew out for the weekend to dance and compete. Cheer her on and stay tuned! I will hopefully get some photos out as the weekend commences.

Vancouver’s Rhythm City Mess Around

Tien — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 07:30:53 +0000

Drats!
When I moved back to Vancouver from Toronto, I had missed out on a great opportunity to take classes with Daniel Heedman and Åsa Palm who visited Toronto to teach workshops. But the week after, they came to teach in Vancouver for Rhythm City Mess Around, along with Mike Faltesek & Casey Schneider from Seattle (one of my favorite instructors, and only 3 hours away!)

But drats! Again…
Being the poor unemployed soul that I am, I didn’t think I would get a chance to learn from them again. Lo’ and behold though, I was given an opportunity from lindy hopper Kane to see them in action through the eyes of a lens for their last Sunday workshop in Vancouver. Equipped with a borrowed Nikon D70 and a couple of lenses (Thanks Kane!), I was able to capture the moments and learn a few things along the way.

Thanks to Lucy Falkner and her organizers, and Kane Tan for the opportunity to take photos once again.

Lawdy, Clawdy

Randy — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 06:02:08 +0000

This weekend I had the fortunate opportunity to travel back to Vancouver for Lindy Bout 3 for dance competitions and some rhythm social games. Fittingly, all the dances and competitions were held at the Legion Auditorium on Commercial Drive where I learned to cut my dance shoes and triple steps.

Like last year, I chose to compete in the Title Jack and Jills, Inter-Regional Jack and Jills, Partnered Blues, and Solo Jazz competitions. I ended up placing first for the title j&j (admittedly my seattle dance partner did most of the work :) and placing in the finals for solo jazz. I did not have much luck in the Inter-Regional and Partnered Blues but I felt my dancing was somewhat better than last year so I did not mind too much.

Coming home from dance competitions and big exchange/congresses is always a bittersweet feeling. I am always invigorated from all the great dancing and awestruck from all the talent there is in our dance scenes. However there are always periods directly after those events of self realization that there is so much more training and work to do to get to that level. It’s awesome and scary at the same time.

Pictures

For more pictures of this event, head to http://hamfats.ca/photos/lindybout3.