Musical Entertainment

Robert Bell and the Hot Swing Combo with Nancy Harms (website)

The Hot Swing Combo brings a high energy and notably similiar set of characteristics as the namesake for this event.

Octopus: In laboratory experiments, octopuses can be readily trained to distinguish between different shapes and patterns.
Hot Swing Combo: In dance event performances, the hot swing combo has been readily trained to distinguish between different styles of jazz and find what shapes and patterns inspire dancers.

Octopus: Octopuses move about by crawling or swimming.
Hot Swing Combo: Hot Swing Combos move about by grooving or swinging.

Octopus: An autonomic response keeps the octopus's eyes oriented so that the pupil slit is always horizontal.
Hot Swing Combo: An autonomic response keeps the hot swing combo's tempos oriented so that the dancers are always more or less vertical.

Octopus: Octopuses can eject a thick blackish ink in a large cloud to aid in escaping from predators.
Hot Swing Combo: Hot Swing Combos can.... okay NEVER feed beans to the drummer, period.

The Hot Swing Combo will once again present a fresh sound when local vocal phenom Nancy Harms steps to the mic for her debut with the combo. Past performance experience for the hot swing combo includes; Cowtown Jamborama 2007, ULHS 2004-2007, MWLF 2005-2007, TCRJR 2008, TCLX 2005, DCLX 2007 and Hiding in Coral 2006.

Sources: Wikipedia and that guitar player with the piano wire, brass knuckles and tea tree oil.

Hips Don't Lie (website)

Co-composing an all original repertoire, Tasha Baron and Liz Draper draw elements from their combined eclectic musical backgrounds. Their music draws elements from the electronically produced precision of a drum machine to the sounds of quirky lopsided carnival rides. The music is composed for the timeless arrangement of a piano trio, yet is written and performed with personalized programmed sounds and effects. The acoustic bass and drum set are utilized in ways quite characteristic to that of their role in a traditional jazz trio, but extreme attention is given to exploring the sounds, timbres, range, and personality of the instruments. The songwriting also pays homage to its roots of traditional "American jazz" heritage: structurally having themes and improvised variations (heads and solos) as well as harmonically ranging between definite chord changes, modal and atonal. Also as in the standard practice of "traditional jazz", Hips Don't Lie improvise in the style of popular music of the day. They often don't "swing" their eighth-notes and instead play in rhythmic feelings more closely related to rap, dub, and afro-beat music.

Armadillo Jump (website)

Armadillo Jump has taken the music they love --rockin blues-- and cranked it up. The passion, excitement and energy they pour into the music comes across as something that's fresh and crispy. Mix in a little Texas-style rockin' blues attitude, slather it with moppin' sauce and a generous splash of the hot stuff and my friends, you have a recipe for a show that's unmistakably jumpin'. Have You Been Jumped??

Disc Jockey Artists

Melissa Varriano

Melissa Varriano, more notably know to all as Mel, was introduced to the wonderful world of Lindy Hop in the Fall of 1998 while residing in San Diego, CA. Since that day she has dedicated herself to traveling all over the United States and Europe, taking workshops from numerous talented instructors, teaching classes in several locations, competing at various events, organizing local events, and dancing the nights away whenever possible. DJing is a passion Mel found one day when a popular local San Diego venue, Lindy by the Bay, needed some tunes played. Since then, she has dj'd at many regular SD venues, national venues, and was a regular DJ at LindyGroove in Pasadena. Now residing in Minneapolis, Mel's DJing has been a treat to local ears and always draws a crowd. Recently she has DJ'd for TCSwing's 3rd Friday, Pazaz's 4th Sunday, and a Madison Invasion.

Ginger Brown

Ginger Brown is an emerging DJ and a formative blues scene dancer from Minneapolis, MN. An experienced dancer (5 years Lindy, 2 years Blues) and now an extensive traveller, she has att ended swing and blues events across the nation including Southern Belle Swing Bash, SoFlex 2007, ATLX4, ULHS 2007, Sving Du Nord 2006 & 2007, SOLFest 2007 & 2008, Buenos Aires Blues 2007, Austin Blues Party 2007, Blues Boot Camp 2007 and Enter the Blues 2008. Ginger's love of dancing paired with her extensive exposure to a wide variety of music have lead her into DJing. In her short ti me as a DJ she's already racked up a great local resume that includes regular dances, house parti es, workshops, and the Minnesota Lindy's fundraiser primary Blues DJ. Modeling herself after her idol Tina Davis, the artists Ginger plays will surprise you and keep you dancing all night long.

Jason Zabinski

Jason has been dancing Lindy Hop since 1998, and teaching on and off since 1999. As a t eacher he brings his enthusiasm and joy of movement to his students. When he DJs he plays music t hat brings forth his obvious love of the dance and promotes everyone to enjoy the movement. His extensive knowledge of the dance and its history preserves the wild excitement and energy of Swin g.

Adam Baus

Adam Baus is an avid lindy hopper from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He most recently taught a Partner Charleston Series, DJed at Chicago's Stay Chi, taught 100 5-6th graders to Lindy Hop, DJed the Purdue Exchange, and taught Collegiate Shag. He DJs monthly at Milwaukee's Hot Water, where he distills Jazz, Blues, Gospel, and Pop music on the dance floor. When not dancing, he runs a piano teaching business, performing or practicing, downhill skiing or teaching to ski. He had a blast at FOREPLEX, and is thrilled to be a DJ for OCTOPLEX.

Terry Gardner

House DJ at Minnesota's largest regular swing dance, Late Night Swing.

Krista Haskins

House DJ and owner of Pazaz Dance, Minnesota's newest biweekly swing dance.