Performance – Saturday 18th May 2024

Hey there. It’s been a while. A very long while. Not that I haven’t had anything to say. Quite the opposite actually.

So, yeah. This is happening.

https://www.siobhandavies.com/events/mearchivingme/

So yeah, last year in January, I applied for the Artist Archive at Siobhan Davies Studios. Not thinking that I would ever get it. And of course as these stories go, I did.
So here we are with just a few weeks to go. Propa full on.

Was meant to have been at the end of ’23, but that was never going to happen as I had way too much stuff to sort through. So now I’m doing the do in May. Saturday 18th May from…well…yeah evening time.

What’s it all about?

It’s all about me. Lil’ ole me. Moi. Io. Jag. Mwé.

“mearchivingme is an anthology of Angela’s works and career. Sometimes ordered. Sometimes not. But there. A collection of objects, images, costumes creating a landscape to explore.”

That part.

Hope you can make it. 🙂 You can get your tickets here

p.s. US. FR. IT. SWE. DM.

p.p.s. AI says I should include use more descriptive language to enhance to post to attract more readers. Maybe next time.

Too Black if I do, too Blac

k if I don’t

So.

I started my classes properly last Monday. What I mean by properly is that I advertised them openly. In November leading up to Christmas I did a six-week stint for my regulars who kept connected during the pandemic. It’s going to cost me, well more like it will break-even if I don’t pay myself!!! Most small business owners know this. But I’ve decided to continue. The reason I am ‘going it alone’ is because I don’t have a choice. I don’t believe I’ve been given a choice. I’ve been deprived of choices. 

Oh poor me. #victim

To say I’m different is well…true.

friendly fire

Sorting out my coin vase.

During the period of mourning I learned about the #konmarie method of decluttering.  I even started my show, Radical Integration (2018) with it. It helped so much with separating what were my feelings and what were other’s projections.  I also found that the process of sorting helped me to channel pain that was out of my control. Pain that was hurting me pretty badly, yet was unintentional stricken.  Pain which I had to learn how to describe succinctly whilst being asked to take care of other’s feelings.

So, this is what I do.

Anduze Jazz Dance Camp July 2022

Here is my little speech that my lovely friends Stephen and Émile (aka Miles) agreed to share for me. It’s a pity I wasn’t there. But hey, next time.

Hello!

Hello everyone. 

It’s been a while.

I’ve been off the socials, etc. for a bit of time now for various reasons. Most of them are about adulting and other such mundane everyday stuff. A big part of it is also about my mental wellbeing. These last two years have taken it’s toll on my resources. Before I was able to keep smiling and carry on. Now I have less energy and quite frankly less inclination to keep #doingthework behind the scenes and underground with little to no support.

Last year I celebrated my 30 years Lindyversary. In all that time I kept to my values, which are

The Swing Debates: 5th Edition

The Swing Debates©:

A safe space for open discussions concerning issues regarding the Global Lindy Hop community.

Sunday 15 August 2021, 1.15 – 2.15pm

at South London Swing Fest, Balham, South London

Let’s talk about….What we’re talking about.

Following the murder of George Floyd in May 2020, the global Lindy Hop community was catapulted into a season of acute introspection. The responses displayed the full palette of humanness: ‘I told you so’s, shame, ‘I’m part of the solution’s, denial, rebuttal, self-flagellation to righteousness and self-righteousness.    A year and a half of reflecting on choices and decisions made. 

Now we’re back.

The Lindy Hop community recognises that the Black Lindy Hop originators lived a life of mandated segregation. It is interesting to note, however, that during that particular time frame, the British revelled in the abundant riches of the Empire and Swedish scientific thought informed school curricular that Africanus niger was biologically inferior to other human groups.

Happy Anniversary to me!!!

Happy 30th Anniversary to me!!!

Yes folks, today marks the 30th anniversary of my Lindy Hop journey.

That momentous day was Wednesday 24th July 1991. That was the day when I opened the door to the magic wardrobe – and never came back out.

It’s been a ride.

Never in a million years did that hyped young woman believe that by stepping across the threshold of the Notre Dame Hall in Leicester Square into the new location of Jitterbugs, that her life would be changed forever. Never did she imagine that her skills from the telecoms field and community and music would merge to create a cacophony of beautiful yet overwhelming experiences. Let alone sharing moments with the silver screen stars of days gone by, that her soul absorbed through witnessing their art in motion at home and at the cinema. Never did she imagine that she would one day make eggs for her idols or wash their dishes.

Norma Adele Miller

“Still I Rise”
.

#loveyounormatothemoonandback

.

#queenofswing

.

#risefilter

.

#blackgirlmagic #StillIRise #stillirisemayaangelou #blacklindyhoppersoflondon

Miss Norma Miller on her 99th birthday, whilst being driven to Los Angeles, picked up my video call to wish her a Happy Birthday. I was one of many, but she was so happy to chat for quite a while. “Stay still for bit, I’m going to take a picture”. “What?” I’m going to take a picture of you on my phone”. “Go ahead darling”.

p.s. she knew how to use a smart phone. #bosslady

Norma Adele Miler

2nd December 1919 – 5th May 2019

Black Women’s History Month

A short bit ago, I posted this in an fb group. It was in response to a post on a thread for Women’s History Month mentioning “Bullies Ballerinas”

—> Jeanefer Jean-Charles and Pearl Jordan are still working. Jeanefer being one of the movement directors for the 2012 Olympics. <—.

Because of the type of person I am, I chose to refrain from sharing my deeper thoughts on the “What happened to them” inquiry. I felt it more appropriate, judicious even, to express them here.

Yes, what happened to them?

The Swing Debates, York, 9th February 2020,

The Swing Debates©:
A safe space for open discussions concerning issues
regarding the Global Lindy Hop community.

Sunday 9th February 2020, 2.45 – 3.45pm

at Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Hop Swing Dance Festival, York University

Let’s talk about….The Legacy of Lindy Hop: the shape of things to come

The Savoy Ballroom in Harlem, New York is the model which the majority of lindy hoppers worldwide celebrate. Whilst being an incubator for vernacular jazz art forms, it was also a community centre at the heart of a vibrant and developing neighbourhood. A diverse set of people frequented the Savoy as it was a welcoming space for everyone. Yet, everyone knew their place. There were unspoken rules which were adhered to, on and off the dance floor e.g. Cats Corner or Patron seating. Much of these rules were explicit. However, there were also implicit ones which were governed by the ‘real’ world in which the Savoy Ballroom patrons lived.