I am dedicating my fundraising efforts for the 24-Hour Dance-a-thon to my grandparents on my mom’s side, who both died of cancer. My grandmother was a strong presence in my life (my childhood especially) and I wish that I had had the opportunity to meet my grandfather; if he was anything like my mom, I’m sure we would have gotten along great.  I would also like to make a dedication to my aunt, who is a survivor of breast cancer and one of the strongest people I know.

Compared to the other (amazing) people on the San Francisco team, I am a newbie to Lindy Hop, but I have a feeling that I’m going to stick around for a while. Given the plethora of fun and interesting things to do in the city, I thought I was going to only take Lindy Hop lessons for a month or so, then move on to something different. One year later, I’m not only still taking lessons from Nathan and Cat (pictured), but it seems that I’ve truly been sucked into the world of Lindy Hop – frequenting dance events around SF (ex. Cat’s Corner, The Rent Party, Lindy in the Park), participating in the SF Lindy Exchange, Lindy-bombing public spaces (so much fun!!!), attending a Lindy Hop workshop at San Luis Obispo (which has some of the friendliest dancers ever), and even scheduling my travel plans around Wednesday nights at Savanna Jazz. This 24-hour Dance-a-Thon is a new (and major) milestone in my personal journey with Lindy Hop and I am excited to meet and learn from all of the experienced dancers there – both on my team and from other parts of the state/country.

What do I love about Lindy Hop?

1. The dance itself is a lot of fun! I love the connection you have with your partner, the athleticism of the dance, the quirkiness of particular moves, and the energy of a room full of Lindy Hoppers. I feel like I have grown substantially as a dancer during the past year and there is still so much left to learn! Watching or dancing with people who have been at this for 5+ years is pretty daunting to say the least, but they give me something to aspire to. Which leads me to…

2. The people in the Lindy Hop community are amazing! With most activities I’ve been involved in, it’s the people that really get me to stay. Lindy Hop is no different. I have met so many inspiring, friendly, and good-hearted dancers in SF and beyond. Thanks to all of you for welcoming me so warmly into your fold, patiently teaching me new moves or ways to improve my technique, and not being upset when I accidentally kick you or spin off in weird directions (I still have to work on the dizzy problem…).

3. I love love love live music. Besides being a Lindy Hopper, I am a proud groupie for a handful of talented musicians. Their  concerts are like a rejuvenating breath of fresh air that clears out all of the junk cluttering up my mind and leaves behind the simple belief that life is beautiful and happiness is simpler and closer than it seems.  If you add the normal energy of a live show (the musicians feeding off the audience who’s feeding off the musicians, everyone feeling touched by the music in their own way and connected to one another) to the normal energy of a swing dance venue, you have a winning combination. My all-time favorite band to dance to in SF is the Fil Lorenz Orchestra (pictured). If you’re in town, don’t miss them!

]]> http://www.swingdanceforlife.com/danceathon/diane-cheng/feed/ 0 http://www.swingdanceforlife.com/danceathon/brian-zimmer/ http://www.swingdanceforlife.com/danceathon/brian-zimmer/#comments Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:08:03 +0000 brianzimmer http://www.swingdanceforlife.com/danceathon/?p=110 Click here to sponsor me in the 24 Hour Dance-A-Thon!

Anyone who knows me at all knows that I Swing. It has to a large degree become a part of who I am. I have gained many of my best friends through this dance. It has become much more than just a hobby for me – it is my passion, it drives me, and it provides a way for me to just let loose and de-stress.

Lindy Hop has given me a reason to travel across the US to see new places (Seattle pictured above), make new friends, take part in competitions, and learn from the best dancers in the world. Because of it, I have friends from Hawaii to Seattle to Ohio to Boston that I can call up and visit if I ever come through their neighborhood. But more than just that, it has given me a community of people in my area who I share life with and who encourage and support me.

Most of my close friends would also tell you that purpose and meaning are very central concepts in my life. For the most part, up until now the way that I tried to find meaning and purpose into my dancing was by teaching everyone that I could how to dance and show them the joy that can be found in Lindy Hop. The Dance-A-Thon strikes me as an amazing way to continue trying to give more purpose and meaning to my dancing. I am fortunate enough to not have been directly impacted by the devastating effects cancer can produce, and I hope to keep it that way. However, I can see the effects of it in the lives of many of my friends, and though it is in no way the same, I still share in some aspect of their pain.

Due to my obsession with science during school (and the fact that I’m a huge nerd), I was nominated several times in yearbooks as “Most likely to cure cancer.” I think it’s pretty obvious that on my computer science career path I will not likely be able to do such a thing. However, with your help, I can still contribute to the fight through the journey I am on with swing dancing.

Click here to sponsor me in the 24 Hour Dance-A-Thon!

Christine and I competing at ILHC

Donate Here!!

I never really thought that dancing would be a big part of my life, but now it is.

Lindy Hop came into my life about two and half years ago. I started taking classes at City College of San Francisco with not only a great teacher and leader, but an awesome friend, David Blood. I can’t thank him anymore, continuously pushing me further and further to just get better at Lindy. But because of Capt. Blood, over the past two years, I’ve met great teachers, Carla Heiney and Nick Williams, made great friends, Christine, Kenny, and the rest of the Hot Bloods, and competed in a few Strictly Lindy and Jack n Jill Competitions as well as many performances.

As I began my travels for Lindy events, Christine had the great idea of doing the 24-hour Dance-a-thon. Last year, the one team that came down from San Francisco raised just over $7000 in the span of a 2-3 month period. As I wasn’t able to fund raise as much as others, I was one who helped keep a person on the floor in the late shifts. I ended up staying awake 23  of the 24 hours. My plan is to hopefully stay up the entire time.

Here’s a video of Christine and I during one performance

Yacht Club Swing- Christine and Ben

Two years ago I started swing dancing because of my work. I’m an internal medicine primary care physician in Chinatown. What?! What does swing dancing have to do with that? Well, our hospital happened to have a Dancing With the Stars-themed holiday party for fun, and I got volunteered to be one of the contestants.  I had no idea what I was getting into.  Learned two routines in six weeks – phew!  But I was hooked.  After the party was over, I continued taking lindy hop classes and going out dancing, two, three, four…or more…times a week.  I feel more fit than I have in years, and I’m totally having fun doing it!  Plus, I’ve met some great friends.

I’m joining Team San Francisco this year to help raise money for cancer research, hoping to use my hobby to benefit others more broadly.  For people like my grandmother, who was in excellent health until she died of colon cancer.  For all my patients who have fought against cancer.  The father of two, who happily told me he had quit smoking, but was diagnosed with lung cancer barely two months later, and lost his battle in less than a year.  A young woman with a newborn baby, who had one older sister die of breast cancer, another sister diagnosed with breast cancer, and subsequently tested positive for a genetic mutation which gives her overwhelmingly high odds of developing breast cancer as well.  The woman who, after two months of back pain, learned that she had metastatic breast cancer – after five years, she is still a fighter and living a full and active life.  For them and the so many others.

I would like to make dedications to four people.  The first is a friend who died of leukemia in 2nd grade.  His name was Martin.  The second dedication goes to good friend Liz, a survivor.  And the third goes to my dear friend Joann, a very courageous fighter. The last goes out to my best friend Aaron. He is lucky, if you can say that about a guy who has had two brain tumors and two brain surgeries.  He is still with us thanks his doctors.  I believe I can make a difference too.

Why am I participating in the 24 hour Dance-A-Thon?

I love dancing the Lindy Hop and got involve with a fantastic performance class at CCSF.  Two years ago Nikki Marvin and Mikey Pedroza visited my Lindy Hop performance class to teach us a dance routine called the Black Bottom.    Nikki and Mikey were from Atomic Ballroom in Irvine and they performed the routine at the 24 hour Dance-A-Thon.   They encourage us to join the Dance-A-Thon to benefit Cancer Research and have a great time dancing.    So, last year Christine Nguyen organized our performance team, the Hot Bloods, to make a trip down to Irvine and participate at the 2009 Dance-A-Thon.   I was excited about going to the event but because of a schedule conflict missed the event.    So, I promised myself that I would make it a priority for 2010. 
        Video of Hot Bloods performing the Black Bottom

The second reason I’m attending is to benefit Cancer Research because of all the people I know who have been effected by cancer.   I still remember the days when cancer was almost always terminal.   Because of charity events like the Dance-A-Thon which help fund cancer research and treatment, today many people have the hope of defeating cancer and living a full and healthy life.

I’m dedicating my efforts to my Brother-in-Law  Tommy Lee.   He had Liver Cancer as a result of Hepatitis which is common with Asians.   The 5 year survial rate for Liver Cancer is still less than 10%.   He passed away from Liver Cancer in 2003 after a long courageous fight.   He never gave up the hope of defeating cancer, even after his doctors had given up.   It’s my hope that with more research, Liver Cancer will one day be a battle easily won.

I need your help to reach me goal of $1000, so please sponsor me for $25 or more, but any amount will help.     If you love to Lindy Hop consider joining Team San Francisco.

Thanks for your support!

                Click Here to Donate

Then last year, I found out about the 24 hour cancer dance-a-thon. Wow! Yeah, I like walking, but I love lindy hop. Two years ago, I started going out dancing. Everywhere. And every night. So, you can imagine how I excited I was to find out about the 24 hr dance-a-thon.

the floor at last year's dance-a-thon

And this year, I’m doing it all over again. And this year, I am dedicating it to three friends. Rick, who past away from leukemia several years ago. I don’t have any pictures of him, but lots of memories. Also, his wife, Irene, who survived breast cancer.

on the left is the lovely and talented, Tu (she did the make-up for my friend's wedding)

I can’t forget my friend, Tu, who a couple of years ago went through chemo. She told me that if the cancer came back, she would not go through with the treatment again because it was that unbearable. Hopefully, she’ll change her mind the longer she stays cancer-free.

What more can I say. This dance-a-thon gives me the opportunity to raise money doing something I love.

I’ve never had so much fun raising money.

If you think this is a good cause (and it is!), please sponsor me here.

Or, better yet, join the San Francisco team. You don’t have to dance 24 hours straight (unless you want to, of course).