Danielle Mirabella has been dancing Lindy Hop for about two years . She has an authentic and appealing style. Already she is performing and competing with some success. And recently, Danielle has been assisting local San Francisco Bay Area swing teacher Michael Marangio in teaching St. Louis Shag and Lindy Hop as a first step toward teaching herself.
Danielle moved to the Bay Area from Washington DC where she learned Lindy from swing teachers Tom Koerner and Debra Sternberg, who among other things are 1994 UK Lindy Hop Aerial Champions. After moving here, Danielle had a dream of bringing her teachers here to teach Lindy. A few months later, they were here for a 4 day Lindy weekend with a demo at the Claremont Hotel, dancing and 6 excellent workshops including one on aerials.
I've asked Danielle to share her experience of how this dream unfolded from her point of view because I'm touched by her story and believe you may be too.
GW: Tell me about the process of how you learned Lindy from Tom and Debra.
Danielle: I believe it was New Year's Eve. My boy friend and I were enjoying The big band sounds of Doc Scantlin and his Blue Palms Orchestra. Couples were dancing to the tunes of Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway and Benny Goodman. It was "Sing, Sing, Sing" that inspired the fast feet of Tom & Debra, and once they hit the floor people stood back. I was in awe - what was it? Could they teach me? I knew I had to learn that dance.
I got Debra's card, and a few month's later we had our first two privates. We learned the basic Lindy 6 count and 8 count and were told to practice that until it was second nature. We took their advice practicing at the different dance clubs that the cool dancers hung out at and we not only picked up a lot just watching but we started to really have fun.
While out dancing one night we won a small swing contest. That got us interested in competing and a couple of months later we entered the Virginia State Championships. To our surprise we finished second in the Classic Amateur and also won the Rising Star Award.
GW: Earlier this year you had a dream to bring Tom and Debra to the Bay Area to teach Lindy. Why was that so important to you?
Danielle: Tom and Debra are my idols. They are incredible teachers for both social and competitive dancing. I thought it would be wonderful to have them here to inspire people as they have me.
GW: A little later they came. How did that happen?
Danielle: To make a dream come true, it's important to enroll others and have them help you. So I took my dream to the Northern California Lindy Society which had already put on some Lindy Weekends. Eventually they decided to bring Tom and Debra here. Everyone in the Lindy Society was involved, each doing their part. Together we made it happen.
GW: What was one of the highlights of Tom and Debra's visit?
Danielle: Tom and Debra did a demo at the Claremont Hotel on Thursday to start off the weekend. It was really fun for me to see them again. It was a great setting for them to do a demo and show people what they have to offer. There was no announcement, but when they started dancing, people cleared the floor and were soon clapping. The energy went back and forth between the band and Tom and Debra.
GW: What did you feel as your dream became a reality?
Danielle: Through most of the weekend I was in a state of shock. After the workshops were over, a group of us had dinner with Tom and Debra and I melted into my chair. Only then, did I really grasp how wonderful it had been. When they left, I was sad and wanted to do it again.
© Copyright 1996 George Woolley
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