Now There's A Switch

Can anyone out there explain how this happened? I know the crew in the photo are thinking about how to make it 'un-happen'. Hm-mmm???

No Way ! One Year...

January 28 , 2011 - January 27, 2012

I have been blogging for one year at Blogger.


Hoorah for me !!!



6500 visitors


175 posts




WOW ...

World's Largest Model Railway

The boys over at www.trha.ca have posted an excellent 5 minute video about the world's largest model railway.

Even though railways is the base of this amazing display , there are many modes of transportation represented.

Gather the children and grandchildren beside you for this one. What a feat !

The Model is located in Hamburg,Germany and is viewed annually by a million visitors , from across the world.

What a Control Centre required to keep this going ! It would rival that of a real modern railway.

Why hadn't I heard of this before?

Thanks Russ from TWHA for giving us a nudge that way.

Go the the Railways website to view the video.


www.minatur-wunderland.com

Go-go

Quake.....Shake...Swim...Jerk...Twist...Mash...Monkey...  Pony...Frug...


It was all put into the classification of Go-Go . And go-go I did. Every chance I got.


There is nothing more in tune with the teenager than to jump and contort and appear out of control to the adults in their life. Or at least that stereotype was the one promoted to us . We were supposed to be different , to rebel, to think that we could change the world. 


Life gave us the freedom our parents didn't have . We went for it. We were new and unique. There had been nothing like us before. In true teenage arrogance , we pursued that image eventually in more than dance.


No one really knew what exactly we were going to do to change the world but we would dance  until we found out.

Go-Go was the beginning of that change . Made up of  many individual dances , the need to gel as a group spurred connection. It allowed us to bring our own style and blend in with a like-minded group  while still being individuals. Well ..that is what we thought.

Dance Movies

                                                                                   

Another source of dance knowledge for a new teenager in Northern Ontario were the movies that showed at the Mattawa Theatre. The evening shows on Friday ( if there was no dance at school) and Saturday ( if there was no dance at the arena hall)  were packed with young people . All of them watching carefully. Picking up moves from the stars. As hokey as these movies seem now , they were pretty important for keeping tabs on what was happening in the larger teenage world...Well as far as Hollywood could dictate ...to much to which we could not relate. But we faked it with confidence.

This video shows a current interpretation of what the dances were like. My suggestion more shaking and arm motion.

A Wave of New Dances

The popularity of ' The Twist' and its commercial success encouraged other artists to come up with their own dance craze .

All these new dances were uncomplicated and could be danced without a partner . A sense of freedom had hit the popular dance world. You didn't have to hang on to anyone . You could  ' do your own thing '.

The strong Rock and Roll back beat of The Twist gave way  to Rhythm and Blues  and later Soul. We were prepared to try anything new.

Some dances never took off . But others stuck around for some time.

It inspired me to wear a few more holes into the linoleum.

And Twist Again

Sometimes at home , I would pick up the dog's front legs and Twist in the kitchen singing this song at the top of my lungs , while everyone was out of course.

 Scotty , the dog , didn't seem to mind.  He would wag that big tail of his , do a few steps to keep his balance and pant until there was a puddle of saliva on the linoleum.

Whenever , I started singing , the dog would jump up , put his two paws on my chest and start jigging  his back legs . All ready to dance. I could always count on him. I would have to credit Scotty for my distinct style of twist.

A New Twist on an Old Rhythm

Through most of my young life waltz , square dancing and rock'n'roll dominated dance . Throw in a cha cha and a tango and that covered it.

Then in the early sixties , my pre-teen and new teen years a new twist to the old rhythms  exploded into school yards , school dances and living rooms . It was danced at legion halls , home parties and weddings all over...by everyone...young and old. It was simple , did not require a lot of skill or style. It was the first dance that closed the generation gap for a little while.