I remember the first time I ever saw Ina Ray Hutton I wanted to be her. I mean who wouldn’t want to be an all singing, all tap dancing, female band leader?! What’s NOT to love?

Ina was one of the only only prominent female leaders during the big band era. Ina started dancing when she was just eight years old and in 1934 she started one of the most famous all-girl jazz bands of the 1930’s, the Melodears. She was known for her deadly combination of great band leading and her seductive stage persona. People called her the Blonde Bombshell of Rhythm. she once said “I’m selling the show as a music program, not on a sex-appeal basis . . . But if curves attract an audience, so much the better.”

The Melodears disbanded at the end of the thirties and in 1940 she went on to lead an all-male orchestra….and all without putting a single pin-curl out of place. If you’re not familiar with her work, see her in action in this YouTube clip Doin’ The Suzy Q.

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Congratulations to our very own Scott Cupit and Pippa Tooher who won first place in the inaugural DJam Blues competition in Durham last weekend. One look at these photos and it’s not hard to see how they stole the show!  Scott Cupit said of the win “I rarely compete these days so it was great fun to dance and have a lot of friends cheering.” So, congratulations Scott and Pip…and thanks to Barry Crabtree for the photos

Now I don’t know about you, but where I come from bugger is a rude word….this weekend we have a great workshop showing you how easy and fun it can be to compete. The London Swing Festival is just around the corner but if you’re new to competing this workshop could be just the thing to get you warmed up. Remember, this is supposed to be fun! No one expects you to be as good as the dancers in this clip! But, as usual, here’s some Jitterbug inspiration from way back in the day. Watch it close and see if you can’t pick up some tips…

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Haworth 1940s Weekend is an annual event in Haworth. Where’s Haworth I hear you ask? It’s a small town in West Yorkshire, where the streets are cobbled and everything is is sepia….well, almost. I can vouch for it’s amazing vintage shops and delectable scones. That part of England is sometimes reffered to as Bronte country because its where you’ll find Haworth parsonage, home of the Brontes. SO, over with the history lesson and on the the blog post…

Each year in springtime, Haworth host a 1940’s weekend. The whole town is decked out to recreate the 1940s for a weekend with an RAF vintage plane flypast, morale boosting visits from “Sir Winston Churchill” and swing dancing in the streets during the day and in local dance halls and pubs in the evening. If you liked the atmosphere at the Blitz Party, or if you’re just partials to men in uniform then you’ll probably love this. Visit www.haworth1940s.co.uk to find out more.

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Welcome to our second installment of essential twenties slang where we walk you through the slang of the flapper sub-culture!

Caper - a criminal act or robbery

Cash or check? – Do you kiss now or later?

Cat’s Meow – Something splendid or stylish; similar to bee’s knees; The best or greatest, wonderful.

Cat’s Pajamas – Same as cat’s meow

Chassis - the female body

Cheaters - Eyeglasses

Copacetic - Wonderful, fine, all right

Daddy - a young woman’s boyfriend or lover, especially if he’s rich

Dame - a female

Darb - An excellent person or thing (as in “the Darb” – a person with money who can be relied on to pay the check)

Dogs - feet

Don’t take any wooden nickels - Don’t do anything stupid

Drugstore Cowboy – a guy that hangs around on a street corner trying to pick up girls

Dry up - shut up, get lost

Click here for Essential Twenties Slang A-B

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Go on, be  a chap! While not ones for shameless brand plugging we simply had to doff our caps at The Chap – a marvellous website championing the rights of ‘the gentleman.’ In their own words…The Chap believes that a society without courteous behaviour and proper headwear is a society on the brink of moral and sartorial collapse. Well, quite I say.

Have a read of their manifesto. There may be some controversial content for Swing dancers, I for one am not a huge fan of dancing in Tweed.  However, any gentleman worth his salt should take a moment to marvel at the fantastic array of  dress braces and sock suspenders. Not to mention the cravats, hats and spiffing stiff wing collars. Quite simply the cat’s pyjamas.

“All men are equal. All men, that is, who possess umbrellas.”
E.M. Forster

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Are you out getting your Charleston on this weekend? Well, while you’re out practicing your steps why not get down with the lingo too? Let Swing Patrol walk you through the slang of the flapper sub-culture! Why not memorise some of these and see if you can’t crowbar them in to some of your between dance conversations at the Speakeasy tonight. Stay tuned for more over the coming weeks. Enjoy!

All Wet – describes an erroneous idea or individual, as in, “he’s all wet.”

Applesauce - an expletive, As in “Ah applesauce!” See also horsefeathers

Attaboy - well done!; Can also be used for women…Attagirl!

Balled Up – confused, messed up

Baloney - nonsense!

Bank’s Closed – no kissing or making out – i.e. – “Sorry, Mac, the bank’s closed.”

Bearcat - a hot-blooded or fiery girl

Beat one’s gums – idle chatter

Bee’s Knees – An extraordinary person, thing, idea; the ultimate

Beef - a complaint or to complain

Beeswax - business, i.e. None of your beeswax.”

Berries - That which is attractive or pleasing; similar to bee’s knees, As in “It’s the berries.”

Big Cheese – The most important or influential person; boss. Same as big shot

Big six – a strong man; from auto advertising, for the new and powerful; six cylinder engines

Bimbo - a tough guy

Bronx Cheer – A loud spluttering noise, used to indicate disapproval. Same as raspberry

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