Erik Novoa makes West Coast Swing the final thought on WNPR's Colin McEnroe Show (guest hosted by Mark Oppenheimer).
On Thursday, April 28, one of my students (thanks Doug) texted me to tell me about a radio program about dance on 88.5. Since I was home, I tried to tune in on the internet but could not find the program about dance. It wasn't until I brought my wife to our local train station when I was able to tune into the car radio and heard the radio broadcast.
WNPR's Colin McEnroe Show was being guest hosted by Mark Oppenheimer. The show entitled "The Elegance (And Pleasure) Of Dancing" was a full range discussion about dance in America. It was so interesting an poignant that I raced back home to hear the final moments at home. Simultaneously, my student had texted the phone number of the radio station to me, perhaps as a subtle suggestion to call in.
I knew that if I thought about it for too long, I would not dial the number. So I put in my phone's ear piece (I don't generally like holding the phone to my ear unless necessary), and dialed the number on the screen. The call was answered immediately. I told my name, location and indicated that I was a West Coast Swing dance instructor in the Connecticut area.
Seconds later, a voice came on and said, "We have time for one last call if he's super-quick. Erik, from Stamford, what can you tell us in 15 seconds about West Coast Swing?" I was introduced 47:46 minutes into a show that would end less than 60 seconds after I started talking.
Of course, after I got off the phone all the adrenaline hit me but I tried to make one solid point about West Coast Swing - that it is a partner dance that be done to many different types of music. On a marketing level, I didn't think it would be appropriate to try to shove and plug my web site. I also wasn't ready to mention my weekly Thursday West Coast Swing classes and parties in Norwalk, CT unless I was asked about it. I wanted to keep the intention noble and plug the dance that I love and that I truly believe is the most creative, musical and versatile of the partner dance family.
Here's a transcript of what I said:
Well, uh, I was hearing your conversation about the Argentine Tango and other forms of dance. And you had asked about a very versatile, favorite form of dance and West Coast Swing covers multiple genres of music and so it allows people to, to dance not only R&B and Blues, but also contemporary music. It's very unlike any other dance form that's in it's contemporary state these days. So Argentine Tango you would dance to Argentine Tango music, Salsa to Salsa music, but West Coast Swing is being done, throughout the country, to versatile forms of music.
It almost seems silly in writing, but for me the mission was accomplished. I was able to get some attention on West Coast Swing for why it's so special. Hopefully, someone in radio-land will look up West Coast Swing in their local area or even find the podcast or replay of the MP3 directly from Your Public Radio's site (see below).
The show in its entirety and Erik's comments during the final seconds of the show, can be heard here.
What is West Coast Swing?
If you don't know much about West Coast Swing, please check out my article, What Is West Coast Swing.
