What is fusion?

Rising in popularity are fusion events and venues.

When you hear the word “fusion,” what kind of music do you think of? Right now, many DJs and dancers expect to play/dance to experimental songs that fall under multiple categories: dub-step, trip-hop, electronica, hip-hop, and whatever else stretches the dancer to experiment with the dance techniques and try new things. “Blues fusion” can be any song that you can potentially blues dance to that isn’t actually blues. Sometimes, hopefully more often than not, “fusion” means combining 2 different dances; other times, it means anything goes.

Fusion has so much potential for growth for all dancers because it provides an environment where multiple dance styles are encouraged. However, I really feel that the term “fusion” should be saved for when you’re fusing 2 dances together, like “tango-blues fusion,” for example. A song that you can potentially blues dance to that isn’t a blues song, I feel, should be called “experimental” rather than “fusion.” Fusion, in itself, is not a genre, and I think the term has gotten very ambiguous in the dance scene. When someone is scheduled to DJ a “fusion” set, what does that mean? I’ve come to expect just about anything, which makes me feel like there is absolutely no structure to what fusion DJs are being asked to play.

“Can you play a fusion-y set?” hmmmm . . . . . okay so a blues song maybe every . . . 4-5 songs? And what do I play in between? Anything you potentially blues dance to, which means something different to everyone. Play all the music that makes you want to dance that you can’t play anywhere else. That makes me want to play “Lean On Me” by Club Nouveau.

I would love to see more required of fusion DJs. Give us a reason to really learn the dance! Fusion events and venues organize these kick-ass classes, but those classes will produce little results if the dancers aren’t pushed to use those skills on the social dance floor. This is why I like the traveling fusion exchange so much – they have assigned sets for WCS, tango, and blues. There still are “fusion” sets, where anything goes, but you at least have multiple opportunities to dance the dances you’re learning in the workshops.

As far as “fusion” dances and venues, I think the DJs need more structure. If your lesson is on Tango, hire a Tango DJ to trade 3s with a blues DJ; do the same with WCS, Lindy-Hop, Salsa, or any other kind of dance style you’re focusing on that night. Because what it really comes down to what the DJs are playing. You can talk and teach these multiple dances at the beginning of a dance or during workshops at an event, but you’ll get nowhere if you teach different dance styles at fusion workshops and then send your dancers off to evening and night dances that aren’t full of this kind of music. Right now, there’s no salsa played in a fusion set. There’s most definitely no upbeat big band to Lindy-Hop to. I do like hearing tango-alternative music, or pop for WCS, or real blues in these fusion sets, majority of the songs you can dance all 3 of these styles to. THAT is great “fusion” music. Tango, blues, and west-coast dancers can dance to many different kinds of music and there is a lot of music that you can do all 3 dances to in one song if you want. However, the “experimental” songs, the ones that are not blues, not good songs for WCS, not Tango songs, but just something a little different to stretch the imagination for your dancing, are being classified as “fusion.” I’ve seen it called “liquid” or “alt-blues,” which I think are both appropriate. I believe this is where there is exponential room for improvement. This is where there is very little structure, and very little requirements for DJs. We need guidance! Leaders, give us direction! WHAT IS FUSION?! When you ask me to play fusion, what exactly are you wanting me to play? Because everywhere I go, it’s something different.

In the future, I plan to host a Lindy-fusion workshop and dance specific to the blues dance community who started out doing blues and haven’t yet taken the jump into the world of Lindy. More to come on that later.

Urban Blues Recess 2011

I've taken time figuring what to write on the blog for this event. I like writing a review about the event as a whole, but as I didn't see much of this event, it's difficult. The parts that I did see I didn't really enjoy because it just wasn't my thing. I will say this, however, this event certainly has my mind racing, finding my own definition of what fusion means to me. That I will post in a later blog. This blog is my reflection of the event.

It started with Friday evening for us. We were planning on leaving Seattle around 6-ish. Around 4-ish, I found out, from a friend, not from the event itself, that tent city was totally packed and there wouldn't be any room for us so we had no where to stay. The warehouse venue had to be changed last minute; last minute meaning 10 days before the event. Being that we were planning on bringing Evelyn, we can't exactly find somewhere random to crash last minute, and we weren't up for getting a hotel since I was only committed to one set, which was during the Saturday workshop lunch break when everyone leaves for lunch. Aside from the fact that we didn't hear this from the event itself, and the main organizer of the event had personally told me that we could stay there, I was less than happy about this. So we weren't going to go at all. Then fate happened to have a friend who had bought a house the day before and had not yet filled it, giving us plenty of space for a toddler and her pack n' play. Had it not been for this friend, we wouldn't have gone, for sure. Thanks, Dennis, for buying a house and sharing it with us and Jean, for inviting us to stay there with your group.

Friday night venue was split between 3 different places: 2 bars and a coffee shop. With Evelyn in tow, we chose to spend the whole night at the coffee shop. I actually loved this venue and probably would have gravitated toward that one regardless of having a toddler as company. The only downside was that there was only one blues set. The rest was "fusion." (Hence my recent contemplation of what that even means). I like blues dancing because I LOVE blues music. Take that away and I'm just not that into it. Old school R&B, modern electronica, hip-hop and trip-hop are fun to experiment with for one song here and there, but I like the night to be brought back to blues during a set with those kinds of songs and these sets didn't. There was very little blues at the Urban BLUES recess (not too surprised since I read a description of the event).

Looking over the workshop schedule, I was impressed by everything that was offered! He really had a great line-up of teachers and an extremely wide variety of classes, ranging from ballet to wresting to acro to education about female health (taught by Midwife Mindy :). Very cool. The part I didn't like was actually the one set I was assigned to DJ: the lunch break blues set to keep people dancing during the lunch break. What I did not know what that this was also the schedule time for the preliminary competitions, and they didn't want blues competition songs, they wanted "fusion-y" competition songs (again, what does that even mean?!?!). I had 10 minutes to prepare. I have plenty of blues competition songs ready at any moment, but alternative, hip-hop, electronica, soul competition songs? Not really. I would have, had I known at least a day in advance. They gave me 10 minutes. What was also not communicated was that they needed to be 2-minute segments. As I was trying to find the right music, I was not paying close attention to how long a song was going. I think I even let one song go the entire 4 minutes. Sorry. I had Ruth talking to me when I couldn't hear her and was feeling the pressure of finding the right non-blues song when I'm primarily a blues DJ. I could have done so much better had I known before-hand. Oh well. That scenario has inspired me to examine all of my non-blues danceable songs and star the really awesome ones in case that ever happens again.
I will give props to Justin for finding my laptop charging cable that I left at the venue. I didn't notice I'd left it until I got home. He found and mailed it to me a week later. THANK YOU!!

*deep breath of frustration* Moving on.

The evening dance. A public, social dance for a national event. I guess I can't say I wasn't warned. The event publicized the theme. I didn't fully understand until I showed up. I'm sorry, I'm just not into that. Perhaps it's the pregnancy, but dancing without clothes on just isn't appealing to me, in any circumstance. I don't want my hand on some guys sweaty back unless I'm . . well . . in a completely different setting . . . Majority of the crowd, men and women, were dressed in women's lingerie. Some men pulled it off really well (Chris Harris with his blond wig ;), some didn't (dude in the shiny-silver, crotch-wrap thing). I mean, I know guys have packages. I don't enjoy seeing them outlined in their clothes. Some people are into that and those people had a great time, and that's awesome! A majority of the crowd was totally into the theme. The ones not into it were ostracized. I like themes and all, but I like themes where the people who opt out of participating can still have a good time. This was not one of those themes. If you weren't into it, there were a handful of people you could dance with, and rest of the time, you were uncomfortable.

Two really great things came out of this event: the organizers, although lacking in a lot of organizational skills during the weekend, did an amazing job bringing in great dancers from all over the country. There were many teachers and DJs with only one set to spin and/or one class to teach. That quickly gets a lot of really talented people at your event. I had a great time seeing and spending time with friends that I hadn't seen in a long time. I love that about dance events. Item #2: This event has motivated to me to really think about how I feel about blues, fusion, and events as a whole. My mind is somewhere different as I'm listening to my music every day. My opinion has strengthened (or changed. . I'm not really sure), about what blues means to me and about what fusion means to me. I have a new motivation to make improvements in the scene and I'm excited to see where it takes me!

Here is my lunch hour set list, and the songs I played for the competition:
Basin Street Blues by Ray Charles
This is Hip by John Lee Hooker and Ry Cooder
Zip a Dee Doo Dah by the Fabulous Thunderbirds (this is from the Blues Album we bought for Evelyn: Big Blues Blues Music for Kids :D )
Come On In My Kitchen by Rory Block
Blood On the Ground by Richi Sambora
One Meat Ball by Annie Ross
Come On Baby by Jimmy Reed
The Walk by Big Bones

comp break. Then:
Round & Round by Bonnie Raitt
I Prefer You by Etta James
Step Into the Light by Mavis Staples

Competition songs:
Swamp Dream by Roy Rogers
Gospel Groove by Shuggie Otis (sorry I let this one play too long :(
As I Am by Alicia Keys (Contemplating over this one, I should have let the beginning of the song play, but I didn't because it doesn't have a dance beat.)
Death Letter (organized Noize Remix) by Johnny Farmer
Baby, Don't You Tear My Clothes by Louise Hoffsten
I Don't WAnt You On My Mind by Janiva Magness (definitely should not have played these 2 back to back for a comp, but didn't have time to find something else)
Sweet Thang by Shuggie Otis
Money by The Lovin' Spoonful
Wade in the Water by Mavis Staples
Long Way to Go by Little Axe

Next time I DJ a "fusion" comp, I'll be a bit more prepared.

With Evelyn, we brought her to the Friday dance and traded off for the Saturday dance. We skipped the workshops. This was not an event for kids, at all, and it sent me home with fantasies about having a family-friendly dance event. . .