A FEW VERY IMPORTANT POINTS ABOUT ILHC

1. Aside from Frankie's 95th Birthday and The Jefferson County Montana 3rd Grade Spelling Expo, it is the only other event of the year YOU WILL BE TERRIBLY SAD IF YOU MISS.

2. International level contests in Lindy Showcase, Lindy Classic, Team, Pro-Am, Solo Charleston, Cabaret, Strictly Open, Champions Strictly, Jack and Jill, Open jack and Jill, Advanced Jack and Jill, Champions Jack and Jill, Strictly Balboa, Balboa Jack and Jill.

3. Incredible workshops with great instructors such as Nick Williams, Carla Heiny, Andy Reid, Naomi Uyama, Max Pitruzella, Annie Trudeau, Ramona Staffeld, Skye Humphries, and Frida Segerdahl.

4. All the incredible sights and sounds of our nations capital, Washington D.C., as well as tons of monuments named after people you only vaguely rememebr about from history class.

5. World-renown swing judges such as Sylvia Sykes, Steven Mitchell, Valerie Salstrom, Kenneth and Helena, and many more!

6. Incredible music by The Boilermaker Jazz Band and some of the country's greatest DJs.

7. On May 1st, the price goes from $139 to $149! Register now! www.ilhc.com.

Hey everyone, this is Andrew Thigpen, a fellow Lindy Hop addict and active competitor in the scene. I'm helping out with ILHC this year and wanted to share some thoughts with you about the International Lindy Hop Championships.

ILHC is not a contest, it's a competition. A contest is about finding a winner; a competition is about honoring the preparation and dedication of a community. There is a saying I've heard that says "competition is the whetstone of talent." ILHC exists because our dance community has such amazing talent and it's our wish to allow this talent not just to be seen, but sharpened and shared.

In this spirit (and in addition to the other awesome classes at ILHC), we are offering two unique sessions focused around improving your competitive edge - and both are happening before any competitions begin! On Friday, August 28th, Nick Williams and Carla Heiny will leading a two hour choreography critique and idea session from 2-4pm. Afterward, our illustrious head judge Sylvia Sykes will be leading a discussing around what judges look for in competitions from 4:15-5pm.

I know that competitions can be daunting, but just remember that it's not about the competition itself - it's about the glory of the dance. It's about inspiration, innovation, and ability to share such an experience with a community. ILHC is here for each and every dancer because every single lindy hopper has talent.

So come join us starting Thursday, August 27th, for a weekend filled with amazing talent and great competition!

Register today!

A few final notes:
- Yes, you read correctly, ILHC is now opening its doors on Thursday, August 27th!
- Yes, there is a full day of classes on Friday, August 28th. Check our our workshop schedule for the entire weekend.
- And yes, the competition schedule is also online.

Hey everybody, this is Andrew Thigpen here to remind you that today, July 31st, is the last day to register for only $159. Remember, if you want to compete, you need a weekend pass. If you don't have one, there's no better time than right now [Emoticon not found]

Where was I? Oh yes, I believe I was saying that Lindy Hop is a social sport.

Yes I said social. And yes I said sport. Social. Sport. Both are aspects of Lindy Hop that attract me not just to the dance itself, but also to the dance events.

The social aspect of Lindy Hop is what hooked me and what keeps me coming back for more. From that weekly dance in your home scene to the national events you just can't miss - sharing memories and special moments with others is a big part of it. I also love hanging out and hate missing out so you better believe I'll be at ILHC this year.

Lindy Hop is also a sport. Just look at how much we sweat. What other sport requires constant physical movement for upwards of 24 hours in one weekend! Not to mention the amount of preparation and practice that can been seen throughout the Lindy Hop world. However, what really attracts me to Lindy Hop "The Sport" is that, unlike other sports, Lindy Hop competition isn't about the search for the best - it's about the showcase of dedication, passion, and excitement.

From the social fun to the sporting competition, I seriously can't wait to see what is going to happen at ILHC this year. If last year is any indication, I can guarantee that August 27-30th will be 4 nights and 3 days that you will not forget.

I know you want to, I know you need to. Just click the button and register today!

-The Thursday night dance is co-sponsored by Gottaswing.com. The Red Hot Rhythm Chiefs will be playing from 8:30pm until midnight. Don't miss this first night of fun!
-For follows - the Advanced Jack & Jill and Open Jack & Jill competitions are almost filled! Once capacity is reached, we can only put you on a wait list.
-The Sunday schedule has changed. Please see the updated schedule on our website.

[b]PRIDE AND PRETZEL-TURNS[/b]

ILHC is proud to present the thrilling final chapter.

ILHC. For him, OR HER!

[b]CHAPTER 5: Comps and Compassion[/b]

At ILHC, the emcee called for all the Strictly Lindy contestants, and Victoria looked for a seat close to the front. She had tried to talk Lydia out of competing with Mr., Wickoughby, but she realized she had a better chance of talking a kettle out of being black than a freshman out of making a stupid-guy mistake.

The contestants began lining up when she suddenly felt a hand touch her shoulder.

“Excuse me,” Mr. Stone said, “I know you have rejected this offer before, but please know I would not make it again if it were not for the utmost urgency. If you would do me the honor of dancing with me in the contest, I believe we can thwart Mr. Wickoughby’s plans.”

She accepted, and just in time for Mr. Stone and his partner to be called to the floor. The contest was set and Mr. Stone and Victoria danced admirably. Mr. Stone paid attention to the variations she offered, and changed his lead accordingly to best reflect her strengths. For her part, Victoria concentrated on hanging back more than she was used to, so that Mr. Stone could use their momentum to the service of the dance. Their jams, though without aerials, were musical and connected and brought much exultation from the audience. And, during the final all skate, what Victoria lacked in energy, Mr. Stone made up for in throwing her around and flopping his hair admirably. All in all, it was no surprise that they were called first, and Mr. Bingle and Jane placed second. Lydia and Mr. Wickoughby finished fourth.

During the closing ceremonies, Mr. Wickoughby was seen asking another girl to be his partner, while Lydia, for her part, was seen walking away from the ballroom with a blushed demeanor. Though it pained to see her sister so, Victoria was relieved that her younger sister’s dealings with Wickoughby were dissolved.

“How did you know?” she asked Mr. Stone, who approached with a glass of water for her.

“Mr. Wickoughby has always been the kind of person that, when not placing, blames his partner. He somehow believes it has nothing to do with the fact that, when he gets excited, he dances like a drunk monkey falling down stairs impersonating Skye.”

“I see.”

“I figured if you and Jane beat him, he’d simply assume he chose the wrong sister to compete with. I knew you could win with the right partner, so I’ve spent the last few days training. I did not mention it to you because, not having a partner, my strength is in Jack and Jills, and I figured it would produce the best results.”

“You figured right, I guess.”

“I apologize, I cannot fight it more, I must apologize for my conduct when we first met. Your words, that I was not a gentleman, have consumed me since.”

“Please, think nothing of it, I made a fool of myself in that conversation, too, you know.”

Before they could continue their resolution, however, they were interrupted by a man in a tight suit and fedora, smoking a cigar.

“Say, kids, you got star quality, see? And I should know, I’m an organizer. Widdleburn’s the name. Say, hows about you come teach at my Jitterbugg Camp. You’ll make hundreds. Hundreds, see?”

Victoria looked at Mr. Stone, who gave a small bow.

“Victoria, you are far too kind to trifle with my feelings. I have such pride, I thought I was above ever letting the glories of becoming a champion Lindy Hopper affect my attitude. Now you have shown me I had become arrogant and harsh. Please forgive me. If you want to teach, I will be honored to teach with you. But I must admit, I do not care so much about being your dance partner.”

Victoria’s heart sank.

Then he said. “I wish instead to be your boyfriend. It is a far more important thing to me.”

“Say Kids, you got a lot of drama,” Mr. Widdleburn said. “You’ll go far in this business.”

Over the course of the next few years, the professional Lindy Hop instructors Mr. Stone and Victoria lived very poor, but very happy indeed.

A very important note: The Virginia Tech swing dance scene is not really as I described it in this story (I was describing more the year 199[Emoticon not found] and it has a great college swing dance scene. It’s placement compared to DC, however, was perfect for the story. I apologize if this offended anyone. IF it did offend you, please fill out the complaint form here: