Spookeasy San Francisco

My fellow chorus girl alerted me to a Halloween themed Vaudevillian show at Chinatown's Great Star Theatre and sent me a link for the pre-view show. Spookeasy San Francisco. The variety show consisted of short skits, burlesque, chorus girls, dance routines, juggling acts and comedy acts. It was incredibly entertaining. It's great to see theatre shows of yesteryear making a return to the stage.

1920s built Great Star Theatre in Chinatown

Great Star Theatre Interior

Talent Show

Contortionist

Minnie the Moocher parody

Mr. Nobody

Great skit. I loved the Raymond Scott music.

Mobile users can view video here.

 Chainsaw juggling act

Mobile users can view video here

Bacon, Babes, and Bingo

The Red Hots Burlesque Revue puts on a monthly game show featuring...what else? Exactly what the show title suggests. People from around the Bay Area descend upon San Francisco's Verdi Club for a Sunday brunch including cocktails such as Bloody Marys and Mimosas. The patrons sit down for not only a bingo session, but also skee-ball, a wheel of fortune, and raffling. Everyone leaves a winner (to some extent). The hostess, Dottie Lux, is such a great entertainer with an awesome sense of humor. Other performers included a hula hoop artist and singer.

Our dance troupe was asked to perform a number. We happily obliged. The audience was really into our dance, and I think this was the first time (in a long time) that I was very happy with this performance. After we were done, I stuck around to partake in the game show. I came very close to winning a bingo, but luck was not on my side...this time. However, I did randomly win a token to return to a future show free of charge. I'm actually looking forward to attending future game shows. It was a lot of fun. The only thing is, being a vegan, I have a strong aversion to the smell of meat and the scent of bacon was definitely in the air. There's only so much I can eat at a show like this, but at least there were plenty of different fruits to choose from.

Dulce de Leche performs

Our outfit for our summer dance routine

Chorus Girl diatribe

I've spent a little over a year with a dance troupe, and I have come to realize that being a chorus girl has lost its appeal; at least it has with The Tartlettes under the "leadership" of Megan. Of course I still enjoy swing dancing, and it's an activity that will be very much a big part of my life. However, I've come to learn a lot of the ills of show business; that is, belonging to a dance troupe whose "leader" has no support for its dancers.

At first, I was very happy to be part of a collaborative effort in bringing back the art of 1920s era chorus line dancing. I did extensive research on choreography, musicality, costuming and cosmetics. I even tried to pick up the old-time dialect so prevalent during the prohibition era. On a personal level, I was learning to love and appreciate my body shape. I'm not rail thin; nor am I obese. I am a big girl standing at 5'9" with ample butt and thighs yet blessed with a wasp waist.  It's not easy to wear really short shorts in front a large audience, but eventually I grew past that complex. Most importantly, though, I was developing a trust in others. Considering what I'd gone through in years past, it was definitely a challenge letting people visit my home. Not since Demian had I ever invited people (other than my immediate family) to my home. Hosting my dance troupe at my home was significant progress in my learning to trust others.

Over time, though, I was beginning to develop a skepticism, and I slowly began rebuilding my personal fortress. I was noticing a change in attitudes that was reflected by poor decision making by the founding member of our group. What began as a collaboration between 12 ladies became the sole decision of 1 person without input from the group. There were several disappointed ladies when it came to costuming. I hated the costumes and the wigs. All were unflattering on my hourglass shape with a naturally dropped waist and long limbs. Other conflicts involved choreography blocking and other challenges on the stage. There was a lack of communication that led to downright anger. There was  a noticeable decline in support, faith and enthusiasm.

I had thoughts about quitting the troupe because I didn't like the direction it was going. I heard talk about booking more shows with burlesque troupes and drag shows. I'm a swing dancer. I want more involvement in swing dance related events. Plus, I wondered where all the money earned from our performances was going. Why am I still paying $50 monthly expenses?

Then came the final deciding factor. Our troupe was invited to perform in one of the burlesque shows in San Francisco. The woman running the show is not a person I would like to know off stage. In short, she's a real bitch. She rules with an iron fist with very little respect for the performers; at least that was the vibe I got from her emails and interaction at the venue. It just creates a lot of tension and unnecessary stress. I just don't work well with people like that; especially those with very little self-respect and class. 

The following night after a successful rehearsal, the troupe leaders informed us of a complaint. Supposedly one or two people were bringing negative energy, taking up space in the dressing room, criticizing the show itself, drinking all of the iron-fisted woman's champagne and eating all the food. Rather than defend our dance troupe, the leaders pretty much disciplined us as if we were ALL at fault. For only 2 people's sins, we were all thrown under the bus. I was livid. I made extra effort to stay out of everyone's dressing space. I spent half the show away from the dressing room. I'm a vegan! Half of our troupe is vegetarian and most of the food was meat. I didn't even drink. I was disappointed that we were not allowed to defend ourselves especially when most of us were completely innocent of those complaints. We were then asked if we could offer an apology and sign our names to a card. I flat out refused.

I absolutely refuse to apologize to either ***** or the other performers as I completely disagree with her painting us all as ungrateful with the same broad brush. I have always been more than polite with the performers and accommodating to their spacial needs. I have ZERO respect for ***** at this point. Absolutely none. I want nothing to do with her or her gigs. Count me out of her future shows. I don't need the added stress of pleasing people who pigeonhole others.

At our two Verdi gigs a few days later, the lack of motivation was evident and there was an unpleasing still in the air. I was actually having a great time because I was in my environment. Verdi Club is where I'm at my most comfortable with other dancers as well as the organizers with whom I've established friendships. But for others in our troupe, it was apparent they didn't want to be there. I then decided, "I'm done."

I recently learned that four other girls are planning to quit at the end of the season expressing the same disappoint that I have. It was fun while it lasted, but I take it as a learning experience. 

Quite possibly the only costuming I least hated.

Update 3/8/15
The troupe's founder, Megan, made it clear that she has an inferiority complex and is obsessed with her role as leader. It was all she kept saying, "I am the leader." And she kept accusing me of never respecting her leadership. She's right. I don't. There's a difference between leadership and dictatorship that Megan clearly doesn't understand. I told her she is a terrible leader and a terrible person. It's no wonder she has the problems she keeps crying about. I'm done with people like her, and I'm done with her troupe.

Radio Sausalito

"The Last Dance"

One of my friends, Dizzy, hosts her own radio show based out of Marin County. The format consists of classic jazz music, a music or dance hall review, the tip of the week and the quote of the week. Sometimes she will invite a guest for a Q&A. Previous guests include members of local swing bands (including members of Stompy Jones), DJs, swing dancers and instructors. Dizzy asked me to guest spot and talk more about my dance troupe as well as provide my own tip and quote of the week. I thought, why not? It's a good way to promote our dance troupe.

I drove out to Sausalito where the radio station is based in a lovely (and ginormous) private home with a built-in studio. Dizzy gave me a tour of the ground level that is currently under construction. The owner is having the floors re-done to accommodate dancers. It also has a stage and bar; perfect for hosting a swing dancing event. Dizzy is hoping to have an event there in the not too distant future.

Dizzy explained the schedule before we sat before our microphones to record the one-hour show. We had a great time laughing and discussing swing dancing, music, and the thrill of being a chorus girl. I won't give away too much as the show will air next Sunday, March 2nd. I urge you to take a listen not just for my show but for all shows. Dizzy has a great voice and great show. The music is always swinging. She can count me in as a loyal listener.

Her show, The Last Dance, airs every Sunday at 10am and 6pm on Sausalito Radio 1610AM. Unfortunately the station's frequency doesn't go past southern Marin, BUT it is always accessible on the internet. For a direct link to the program: RADIO SAUSALITO This can be played on a computer, mobile phone and tablet. Supposedly it's on iTunes Radio but I couldn't find it. Just click on the link provided. Tune in tonight! But definitely tune in next Sunday to hear me shoot the breeze with Ms. Dizzy.

Top: (L-R) My post. Me in headsets and no make-up! Dizzy getting busy

Below is a short segment of my radio interview. Tune in on Sunday, March 2nd at 10am and 6pm.

For Mobile Users: Chorus Girls

Chorus girls!!!

Our dance troupe had a rehearsal shoot not too long ago. These are by far my favorite. Don't we look lovely? Enjoy!

2013: A Year in Review

As another calendar year comes to a close, it is only fitting to reflect on the events over the past 12 months. Overall, it was a pretty decent year. There were some peaks and valleys; of course nothing is ever 100% positive or negative. I can truly say that despite the few hardships, I have the strength to overcome them and I know that what ever comes at me in 2014, I will thrive. The list below consists of the good, bad and ugly of 2013. In some of the entries you will find hyperlinks that will connect you to the original post.

The Good

• Earning my Masters Degree in English - TESOL. It took me 3 years to get through what is typically a two year program. I ended up getting a full-time teaching position, and that cut down my class schedule to part time status. I was okay with the delay considering that I could use my teaching position as my own personal laboratory for my final "Culminating Experience" project. It was a success, and my conference presentation received much positive feedback. What's next? Yes, I will be pursuing my Ph.D. in Literature. I want to stay local so my only options are Stanford, UC Berkeley and UC Santa Cruz. Why does the Bay Area have to be home to the nation's top universities? I'm giving myself two years to adequately prepare for the program.

• Joining a dance troupe. Swing dancing has been my saving grace. I'm always my happiest when I'm on the dance floor. When a friend of mine approached me about a new chorus girl troupe in San Francisco, I immediately signed up. It took me a while to adjust to the thought of wearing skimpier clothing. I'm known for wearing dresses that fall below my knees, so when it came to wearing costumes that exposed my legs, I was nervous. Then I started getting compliments not only for my performance but for my hourglass physique. I've trimmed down some and have developed more strength in that I no longer wear myself out. But most importantly, I've developed new friendships with my fellow chorus girls, and I've learned to be more comfortable in my own skin. This new self-acceptance has led to modeling gigs with local photographers and building my portfolio.

• My promotion. The director at my campus promoted me to Coordinator of Staff and Curriculum. So in addition to teaching my classes, I am in charge of hiring and training new teachers as well as developing new curricula. My primary focus was promoting reading and literacy through American literature. I was given the green light to use this curriculum in my class (which I subsequently used for my MA degree project). My students enjoyed reading unabridged American novels, and now I have more students signing up for my class next quarter.

• Home loan approval. I am in the market to buy a house. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I was approved for a loan. The next step is to find the right house. I'm looking to buy in San Mateo County, but it is no easy feat. Many sellers are greedy and the buyers are just plain nuts. I can't comprehend people paying $100K over the asking price. Seriously? Did they not learn from the last housing bubble that burst? I'm not in any sort of rush. The right house is out there, and I will find one to call home.

• Vindication. It was really tough having to sit before a lie detector test to determine the truth of what happened that fateful 2007 evening. I've made no secret of the fact that I am a rape survivor and that justice was never served. But it's now documented that I was not only a victim of rape but a victim of Orange County's miscarriage of justice. To finally have it confirmed was a tremendous weight off my shoulders.

• Vintage galore! Although I'd been vintage shopping for several years, I've pretty much topped off this year. Not only did I expand my vintage wardrobe, I also expanded my vintage collection of furniture. My most prized purchase is my 1912 Victrola. And it works! 

• Being at peace. I made it a point to take mini-excursions throughout the year. Sometimes, you need to get away from the daily grind and surround yourself in serene environments. I found that in the following places: Half Moon Bay, Port Costa, Santa Cruz, and Pescadero.

The Bad

• The SuperBowl. After 18 long years, my 49ers finally made it back to the SuperBowl...and they...they...I'm still stunned and in disbelief. Lets move on.

• The Family Crisis. My family was dealt a a major blow this summer. I was the one who had to step up and be the strong one. I dealt with a range of emotions from sadness and despair to outright anger, yet I managed to keep myself from falling apart. I am definitely a much stronger person to have been able to handle that stress, and my mother was pleasantly surprised to see that strength. Eventually, crisis was averted. There's always something to be learned. No one is perfect and you can't expect others to be either. You have to accept that everyone has their vulnerabilities and no one can get through them alone. I learned that my dad isn't Superman. He's more like Batman; he has his flaws and his demons, but he's still a hero.

• Be careful who you trust. When I was going through the aforementioned crisis, I turned to my cousin who had gone through a similar experience. I confided in her and told her that I felt that I could count on her the most to not disclose my feelings to certain members of our family. Well, she did exactly that. When I found out about her act of betrayal, I wasn't really upset. I wasn't even hurt. I never even confronted her. I guess I just didn't care anymore. Not for the situation and certainly not for her. I just know now that she isn't a person to be trusted. It's sad that you have to come to that realization with blood relations.

• Raccoons are vile creatures. Quite possibly the biggest scare of the year was waking up to my dog, Daisy, fighting with a raccoon. When I ran out to the backyard, I was aghast to see a huge raccoon wrapped around Daisy. Luckily, she sustained only minor cuts to her back side. She may be a little poodle, but she's a tough girl. I think I'm more afraid of her going outside at night than she is.

The Ugly 

• Gia. The herpes outbreak. It lies dormant only to pop up from time to time. That is what this individual is. One of my friends knew her personally and he started off saying, "She's got a mouth on her. She doesn't know when to shut up. That girl..." And without hesitation, I blurted out, "she's a cunt." (Now I rarely use profanity...RARELY, but when I use it, people know I mean it.) I thought I had encountered some vile people in my past, but this girl takes the cake (and eats it, too). Over the past year, she had harassed, threatened and stalked me (and even some of my friends). She still does. Admittedly so, she was a nightmare, but having my strong support network really helped. Now, I could care less; she's just an insecure little girl who lacks self-esteem. I hope Demian has finally seen her for what she truly is; a total psychopath.

And that is pretty much 2013 in a nutshell. Yes there were some challenging times, but overall, I can truly say that it has been a good year. I know 2014 will be even better. 

Dead can dance - Zombie Prom 2013

The Verdi Club has held five annual Zombie Proms. The club dresses itself as a haunted mansion with a ghostly ballroom. Slim Jenkins provides the musical entertainment with their "voodoo swing" style of music. DJ (Undead) Jeff keeps the dancers cutting a rug with Halloween (or just scary) themed music from big band jazz to rock n roll. I prefer to get an early start of the Zombie Prom so that I can can get enough dancing in. As the night continues, it gets more crowded with precious dance floor space disappearing by the minute.

It's always a fun time seeing the creativity people put into their costumes. It's usually just your typical costume that is zombified. Some of the make-up and dress are so well done, it's hard to recognize people. Often times I'd gasp in surprise shouting, "I didn't recognize you!" before giving a big hug. I have dressed as the following: 

• zombie 80s prom queen
• zombie queen of hearts
• zombie gypsy
• zombie chorus girl

Considering that this year's theme was Haunted Hollywood AND our dance troupe were performing, it was only appropriate to be a zombified chorus girl dance troupe.

Being part of the act definitely has its perks. Free entry, free dinner, free drinks. It is also a great way to promote ourselves since we now have gigs booked through February (having confirmed a few shows at Zombie prom).

Anyhow, the photos below are a few random shots before and during the zombie prom. Enjoy!

Can't repeat the past? Why, of course you can!

3/4 of our dance troupe take over Gatsby Afternoon

Each year, the Art Deco Society of California has their annual Gatsby Picnic at the famed Dunsmuir Historic Estate in Oakland, CA. It is an afternoon transported back to the Jazz Age when music and entertainment was at its apex. It is an afternoon to enjoy the days when ladies and gentlemen dressed in their Sunday bests, feasted on homemade picnic goodies, enjoyed a foxtrot or charleston on the dance floor and interacted with myriad patrons scattered across the lawn.

I chose to wear my vintage chiffon gown; a light fabric to keep the body cool on a steaming hot day. My picnic items consisted of vegan sandwiches, vegan potato salad and sliced watermelon. I met with my fellow chorus girls and established a seating area where we set our blankets/sheets and emptied our picnic baskets of sandwiches, deserts, fruit and mixed drinks. We sat enjoying friendly chatter while a live band played period appropriate jazz music. There was an endless parade of patrons walking about the grounds toasting their champagne glasses and making small talk before venturing off to the next picnic area. 

Later, the DecoBelles performed their number and sad to say, I was less than impressed. Here we are kicking our butts with our rigorous routines, and theirs was just a number prancing about in circles. 

I walked about admiring the vintage fashion and auto show all the while grasping my iPhone for the latest 49er game updates. I am a 49er Faithful and it pained me to miss the home opener. Following this entry are the pictures I snapped of the picnic. Would I do this again? Perhaps, but to shell out $50 just to sit on a lawn where we have to provide our own food seems a bit ridiculous. Though I definitely enjoyed the experience with my dance troupe. We'll see what I decide next year.

Chorus Girl Musings

In February, a friend and fellow swing dancer alerted me to a dance troupe's recruitment. She lamented that she was the only person with a swing dance background and asked a few of us to join. I was immediately on board especially since my friend is heavily, heavily tattooed. I'm only moderately inked, and it was definitely a hindrance for some other local dance troupes.

It took some time before we determined who was committed to the troupe (some girls dropped out) before finally developing our routine. It took weeks of practice with occasional conflicts. Some girls were missing rehearsals, others were disappointed with aesthetically unappealing moves, a terrible seamstress who ruined our costumes, differences of opinion, etc. That is to be expected. Nothing is 100% perfect. The important thing was, we all remained committed to each other and made improvements. Once we refined our moves, it was on to the stage.

I figured we would have an occasional gig here and there. I never thought that after our first performance, we'd be booked for the next six months. Audience members would come up to us to congratulate and compliment our choreography, performance, appearance, style, etc. We were even told that our troupe is better than the Deco Belles. Wow. It's definitely flattering to be recognized and exalted for your talent.

What I've enjoyed most is developing new friendships. We've spent some time doing activities such as swing dancing, meeting for dinner, attending shows around the city, roller skating, karaoke, etc. It's nice not having to focus on rehearsals when we can just enjoy a good time as a group. We're also networking quite a bit with the swing dance and burlesque communities as well as contacts with photographers for modeling shoots.

Aside from receiving all the accolades, the most rewarding experience is learning to be comfortable in my own skin. I grew up with curves, the round posterior, long legs and a small waist. Growing up, I was always shameful of it because most of my peers were short, petite, and rail thin. It wasn't until I was an adult that I learned to appreciate myself more, yet I still felt uncomfortable. I'm always hiding my body. Since our troupe has begun performing at burlesque shows, we share the changing room with other dancers. They have no qualms about letting it all out. Girls walk around nude without apology. Heck, even guys enter the room, and it's no big deal to them. I'm still a bit of a prude that I have to look away. It's not just the thin girls, either. Very, very large girls also walk nude. I have to appreciate their confidence in that they don't care what others think. In fact, given their positive attitude and confidence, everyone (men and women alike) love them. Still, for me it's baby steps. I've gone as far as being in just a bra/underwear in the changing area.

My self-image awareness has undergone tremendous improvement, but I still have to build up more confidence. After all, I'm not yet ready to be a burlesque dancer. This is still something I'd like to do; I even have a stage name. For now, I'll just focus on being a chorus girl.

La bailarina

For nearly a decade, I had been an occasional swing dancer at various Rockabilly venues. After awhile, it got pretty boring since most Rockabillies don't know anything beyond the 4-count Jive and few knew how to do East Coast Swing. Trust me, any dancer who touts how great they are at Jive really aren't great dancers at all. In 2009, I decided to try other forms of swing such as Lindy Hop, Charleston and Balboa. I took a few private lessons to refine what I already knew and my teacher immediately said, "what's your purpose? Do you want to perform or compete because you already know how to dance." I never gave the matter much thought since I felt I needed more improvement. So he trained me to be a performer and recommended joining a troupe.

When I returned to San Francisco, I was determined to join a dance troupe. A friend of mine introduced me to one lady who ran the Deco Belles. When I expressed my interest, she took a good look at me and stated, "there are other dance troupes in the Bay Area," and she immediately dismissed my presence to talk with my friend. I was insulted. She judged me solely on my appearance and not my ability as a dancer. At first I thought, "is it because I'm not rail thin?" That had always been something that deterred me from inquiring about other troupes. Most of the girls are really short and petite. I'm very tall and curvy. Later, I met a Deco Belle who was much larger than me. She stated that it was my tattoos that this person took exception to. It made sense. None of the Belles had tattoos. I guess I felt a little better.

I heard about other troupes and saw their routines, but I didn't really feel a connect with them, or I thought they just weren't that great. I thought about training for burlesque but I'm not quite confident enough to take my clothes off in front of an audience. Again, I attended shows and noticed there were plenty of bigger girls who knew how to get a crowd going. More power to them, but I'm just not that confident...yet. 

Earlier this year, I was told about a newly formed dance troupe looking for more swing dancers...and they had tattoos! Without even a meeting I said, "count me in." The troupe is focused more on a 1930s style Chorus Girl dance troupe. The style is Charleston as well as some Lindy moves. Over the past four months we had been learning new routines and training for future performances. We met every Monday night to learn new moves. It was a bit of a challenge getting all 12 girls committed to the troupe and we ended up losing 2 of them. Other times, someone was always absent (I admit I missed 2 practices). It made it harder to foresee how this whole routine would look, but I remained committed to the group (as did everyone else) and began meeting twice a week for practice.

We had custom fitted outfits to go with our first routine including bobbed wigs. We started doing dress rehearsals a few weeks ago and the first thing I noticed was that the outfit was a little big. I'd lost weight since the measurements, but it didn't look that bad. After everything was put together, I stared at myself in the walled mirror. I have NEVER shown this much leg in public. All my dresses are at or below knee length. It took me awhile to get past my image. (I have a complex about my body; an issue I've battled since I was 14 which will be saved for another post later.) One of the girls asked what was wrong. I just stated that I'm not used to showing my legs. My legs take up more than half my body and they're not stick thin. The first thing she said was, "you have great legs! You're lucky that yours taper. Nice ample thighs, strong limbs going down to a thin ankle." I never really thought of my legs that way, but it definitely changed my perception of how I viewed them.

Last night (June 2, 2013) was our debut performance in Alameda. I was super nervous; not so much about the routine but exposing my legs. I wore a long coat to cover myself before finally revealing my shape. I was incredibly surprised by the positive comments I received. Curves and hourglass were the two words I heard most to describe my shape. I never minded them much because I'd always had a smaller, cinched waist which was something I liked about myself. My posterior has always been round and firm; another plus. But my legs....I am learning to accept them more. 

The performance was an absolute success. Everyone was whooping and hollering as we danced. They especially liked our "grapevine" where we kicked out and flashed our legs. I was very nervous most of the time, but after that first performance was over, I just smiled. We had such a positive response that other promoters want to book us for future events. I am absolutely amazed. It was definitely a blast being up there with the other ladies that I'm looking forward to our future performances and additional routines.

Being a part of a Chorus girl dance troupe has not only heightened my love for swing dance, but it has helped me to be more comfortable with my body. I think, eventually, I will continue with burlesque (in addition to the chorus line). I already have a song and dance; I just need the right costume. That will come in due time. For now, it's about the chorus line. Stay tuned for additional posts, pictures and videos as they come.

April's Getaway: Los Angeles

Back in February, I posted about making quick getaways from San Francisco life (thanks to my friend Jean who encouraged me to make weekend trips at least once a month just to relax and clear my head.) In March, I took a trip to (and blogged about) Santa Cruz.

April's getaway was meant to be a trip to Folsom, CA where I could tour the area and attend its antique festival. The sole purpose was to find The Victrola Man, but since I had already found him and purchased a victrola from him at Alameda Antique Faire, I thought it best to cancel and reroute my trip. I decided to fly down to Los Angeles for the weekend.

Art Deco Airport

During my stay, I visited with my parents. They have the most peaceful house nestled in the hills. The only sounds are the humming birds, the wind chimes and rustling trees dancing in the breeze. We usually wander around in the backyard tending to the plants and chatting about random topics. Those are always my favorite moments with my parents; enjoying the morning with a warm cup of coffee and letting time pass us by. We drove down to Old Town Orange to dine at a Mexican restaurant that was once a church. It had the most beautiful stain glass. Afterward, we walked around Old Town browsing all the antique shops; another one of our favorite past times.

Old Town Orange

I spent Sunday with my brother at his loft in Downtown Los Angeles. My brother has always been the urban nightlife type of person whereas I tend to prefer quieter, peaceful environments (like HMB). Though he lives on the top floor (with spectacular views of DTLA), you can hear urban life quite clearly, especially all the sirens. I just smiled and sighed, "ah life in the big city." My brother sort of laughed to himself. Like San Francisco, DTLA has everything within walking distance. We had dinner at the Los Angeles Brewing Company while watching our L.A. Lakers take game 1 over the Spurs.

Relaxing with my hermanito

Downtown Los Angeles structures

After the game, we dressed up in our 1930s best and walked down to The Cicada Club. Each Sunday they have a weekly swing band and dance. On this particular Sunday, they had a Jive Aces and Satin Dolls collaboration. It was a classic jazz ensemble paired with a chorus girl act reminiscent of the prohibition era. I was pleasantly surprised to see some of my SoCal swing dance friends in attendance. It had been quite awhile since I last danced with them; at least 8 months. But it was like old times; only this time it was in classic Art Deco elegance.

I didn't get to do as much vintage shopping as I'd like. However, I finally got to patronize the Remix Vintage shop. I'm not too fond of buying clothing and shoes online because I prefer to try on an item before purchase. This is why I always stick to antique/vintage fairs for my purchases. I don't purchase reproduction clothing (I've amassed a large collection of vintage threads), but I do make exceptions for shoes especially when they're designed from authentic vintage styles. I've kept my eye on the "It Girl" shoes (a la Clara Bow) and they definitely cost a pretty penny. But they are oh so worth every cent I spent; perfect for collegiate shag dancing. I've strayed from wearing early 1950s attire in favor of 1920s-1940s (that will be another post for later). The It-Girl shoes are the classic 1920s style.

The "It-Girl" shoes.

The one thing I did not get to do was contact my tattoo artist for more work. I found a really great design, but I just didn't have the time to fit it in my ultra short schedule. Perhaps on my next visit (June?).

About the only downer of the trip was my return home to SF. As much as I abhor SoCal (I've become quite the NorCal girl), it does sadden me to leave my family. I have the greatest, most supportive and loving parents a person could have and it always pains me to say goodbye. But I know it's not the last of my visits. Thankfully my preferred airline always has fare sales. 

So that was my getaway for April. May's Getaway is still in the early planning stages. Stay tuned.

Renaissance Lady

Since moving back to San Francisco a few years ago, I'd been thinking a lot about what to do with my future since it took a couple of dramatic turns. Then I asked myself, "do I really have to do just one thing?" There's so much I love doing, and I feel that if I settle on just one type of activity (i.e. career),  I'd have cheated myself on fully enjoying my time on earth. I consider my talents and wonder how I can put them into productive use simultaneously. Of course my career will always remain in education; I love teaching college, and eventually I will teach at the university level. However, I am not JUST a professor and scholar. I am other things; a linguist, a dancer, an artist and model who occasionally dabbles in music supervision.

Language
I've always wanted to be a polyglot and learn as many languages as possible. I speak three languages fluently (English, Spanish, Italian), and I have a basic knowledge of Japanese.  I know some phrases in Korean and Turkish, too, but not enough to have a simple conversation. Part of the requirements for a Ph.D. at Stanford is to complete two foreign language requirements. I could take the easy way out and just use Spanish and Italian, but I love a challenge; perhaps French and Portuguese.

Swing Dancing
I enjoy dancing; it is not only physically healthy, but it is also emotionally healthy. I'm always happiest when I'm dancing. Swing dancing is an umbrella term and most lay people have no idea that there are various styles and techniques: Lindy Hop (Savoy and Hollywood styles), Charleston, Balboa, Bal-swing, Collegiate Shag, East Coast Swing, Jive. I am able to dance all of them, but my favorite is Collegiate Shag. It's high energy and super fun. The problem is, not many people know how or are too intimidated to shag. We're trying to build that community.

Before I left Southern California, I was asked if I'd be interested in being part of a dance troupe. I had already committed myself to starting my life anew in the Bay Area and respectfully declined. I tried to find some troupes and inquired about one. However, one look at my heavily tattooed arms and I knew the answer was no. There were others that had auditions but the locales were too far away to be able to commute between home, work, and graduate school. Then a friend introduced me to a fledgling troupe looking for swing dancers. It's a 1920s-30s chorus girl troupe performing Charleston. I accepted the invitation once I learned their acceptance of tattooed women. I'm about two weeks into my practice with the troupe, and I'm absolutely thrilled.

Ultimately I would love to assist other teachers at various swing dance festivals; I already have the experience having assisted three different leads. I'd also love the opportunity to swing dance around the world. The additional language skills would come in handy here.

Art
Very few people know that I'm an artist. I usually sketch pencil to paper often transforming my friends' pictures into Día de los Muertos themed portraits. What I'd like to do is transfer my sketches to canvas and be able to paint a background with depth. I don't expect to make money off them, but I wouldn't mind having them displayed around local galleries. We'll see.

Portrait of my prima

Music
I don't make music, but I can make a very good compilation. One thing Dem complimented me on was my talent for putting good tunes together. I moonlight as a DJ from time to time, and yes, I've had a paid gig here and there. I'd like to be good enough to DJ larger swing dance festivals just so I can travel and dance for free. Swing dancing is always the main priority. My music library literally has several thousand songs. When you put it all together, it's mind-boggling to see how many songs you know. Most of my compilations consist of various swing dance music, rockabilly (original and modern), psychobilly, and 80s. Perhaps I'll just make several copies and sell them for dirt cheap. I've known some L.A. DJ's who've done the same. Hmm...we'll see.

DJ Rose Red. I need to do another shoot now that I have red hair.

Modeling
My first shoot ever was when I was only 20 years old. I had been living in San Francisco for barely a year when I was approached by two gay men in the Castro. They looked at me and said, "Bettie Page!" They encouraged me to do some modeling since I had "that look" so I figured, "why not?" I used to work at a corsetry shop and the owner often used her employees to model her products. I regret not having asked for those photos. I don't even think the store exists anymore as I've tried looking for it recently. Lesson learned. I occasionally shot photos with a few amateur photographers in the late 90s so they could build a portfolio, but then I stopped in favor of getting a real job. I'd never taken it seriously. In recent years, I was encouraged to go back into modeling and I'm finding that although I am older than the average model, I find that I have more confidence in front of the camera. I guess that comes with age. Once this dance troupe gets underway, I'm pretty sure I'll be doing more current pictures. Although I already have a photographer who wants to shoot me, he's been pretty lax, lately. I need to get his bum in gear.

Life should not be spent doing one thing. We live an average 80 years, and I just find it unfortunate that people spend most of that time doing the same thing day after day. Once retirement kicks in, what is there left except to just deteriorate and die? I've seen it happen to many good people who forget to enjoy life more. When I retire from teaching (which won't be for at least 30 years), I expect to live another 25 years after that. After all, I'm seeing all these original swing dancers living well into their 90s (and still dancing!). And that's what I will continue to do. Utilize all my talents from here on out so that I live a long, healthy, fruitful life.

Cheers!