兩週前開始在 Stuttgart 的 Swingstep 教 Tranky Doo 的課程,為了學生們整理了一下相關的資源,順便跟各位分享。根據 Wiki:Tranky Doo 為四零年代由 Pepsi Bethel 編舞,最早出現在哈林的 Savoy Ballroom。當年,Tranky Doo 搭配的樂曲是 Tuxedo Junction,但是後來因為出現在 1987 年 The Spirit Moves 這個紀錄片的時候被配上了 Ella Fitzgerald 的 Dipsy Doodle 這首歌,所以現在也常常搭配 Dipsy Doodle。其實 Tranky Doo 本身的架構適用於多數 32-bar chorus 歌曲,所以學會了之後可以隨處發揮。
Two weeks ago I started teaching a Tranky Doo class for Swingstep in Stuttgart, so I thought I'd share some related resources. Tranky Doo was choreographed by Pepsi Bethel in the 1940s and first appeared at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem, to the song Tuxedo Junction. However, a video of the routine was dubbed to Ella Fitzgerald's Dipsy Doodle in the 1987 film The Spirit Moves, so now it's often danced to this song too. In fact the structure of Tranky Doo is suitable for most 32-bar chorus songs, so once you learn it, you can dance it to many tunes ^^
Two weeks ago I started teaching a Tranky Doo class for Swingstep in Stuttgart, so I thought I'd share some related resources. Tranky Doo was choreographed by Pepsi Bethel in the 1940s and first appeared at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem, to the song Tuxedo Junction. However, a video of the routine was dubbed to Ella Fitzgerald's Dipsy Doodle in the 1987 film The Spirit Moves, so now it's often danced to this song too. In fact the structure of Tranky Doo is suitable for most 32-bar chorus songs, so once you learn it, you can dance it to many tunes ^^
音樂 Music
不管技術如何,節奏感欠佳的話就難為「舞」T^T 以下是我上課時用的音樂,平常可以一面聽一面做一些簡單的節奏練習。/// Regardless of technique, without rhythm, it's hardly "dance" T^T Here's the music I'm using this time in class. Feel free to use them to do your rhythm exercises.
- Meschiya Lake & the Little Big Horns - Gimme a Pigfoot
- Buddy Johnson & His Orchestra - Stop Pretending (So hip you see)
- Tuba Skinny - Do Your Duty
- Tuba Skinny - Ain't Gonna Give Nobody None of My Jelly Roll
- Tuba Skinny - Six Feet Down
- Andrew Sisters - Tuxedo Junction
- Ella Fitzgerald - Blip Blip
- Tuxedo Junction - Erskine Hawkins
- Ella Fitzgerald - Dipsy Doodle
節奏練習題 Rhythm Exercises
這是我自己在常用的一些簡單練習,因為覺得對我有幫助所以上課的時候都會教學生。/// Here's some exercises I do. I find them really helpful so I always teach them to my students:
- 數拍子:注意每小節從 8 開始,並且可能的話數 8-1,2,3,4,5,6,7, 8-2,2,3,4,5,6,7 等等一直數到 8-4,這樣更能加深對於歌曲基本架構的印象 ^^ 這個練習可以在走路的時候或搭捷運的時候做... 但是小心對別人看起來像是在喃喃自語。/// Count: If you can, try to start on 8, and count 8-1,2,3,4,5,6,7, 8-2,2,3,4,5,6,7 all the way up to 8-4. The purpose is to strengthen your feel for musical structure. You can do this while walking or taking the bus (but it looks like you are talking to yourself).
- 打拍子:每個 off-beat 都拍手一次,沒問題之後隨機做一點變化(比方說在 2,4, 打拍,其他不打,或是 6,8 打拍,其他不打)。這個練習可以在走路的時候或搭捷運的時候做... 但是用拍打大腿之類的取代拍手,但是要小心對別人看起來像是在自殘。/// Clap: clap on every off-beat. Once you get that, try to throw in some variations like clapping only on 2,4, or on 6,8. You can do this on the bus or while walking but maybe just tap yourself on the thigh instead. But don't do it too hard, or you might look like you're into self-harm.
- 步法練習:不管是哪一種 basic(八拍也好,六拍也好,charleston 也好),隨著歌曲一面練習的時候雙手不停地打拍子~ 這個練習比較不建議公共場合做。/// Steps: take your basics (6 or 8 count or charleston, or anything), and do it to music while clapping on the off beat. This is less suitable for practising in public.
影片 Video
Tranky Doo 的版本很多。因為這次課程中多數是完完全全沒跳過舞的菜鳥所以我特別挑了個我覺得比較簡單的版本(其實差別沒很大啦)。這個影片的 Tranky Doo 就是我教的版本,可惜不是從背面攝影所以要看著練比較累。音樂是 Slim & Slam 的 Jump Session. /// This is the version of Tranky Doo I'm teaching. Unfortunately it's not filmed from the back so it's a bit more tiring to use it for practice. The music is Slim & Slam - Jump Session.
我跟朋友們看影片學 Tranky Doo 的時候是用這個影片,但是這隻編舞到了尾端跟上方的稍有不同(差別不大)。因為是從背面所以看著練習很方便,但是速度比較快。音樂是 Ella Fitzgerald 的 Dipsy Doodle。/// When I learned Tranky Doo with my friends, this is the video we used. This choreography is a little different toward the end but the difference is small. It's filmed from the back so easier for practice. But it's also faster. Music is Ella Fitzgerald's Dipsy Doodle.
編舞 Choreography
我學編舞的時候通常會隨手記錄一下,免得日久忘了。另外,寫過看過之後記憶更加深。這是 Tranky Doo 配兩個版本的 Tuxedo Junction,但是要先聲明一下我不是樂手,所以上面跟樂理相關的關鍵字不正確,但是對於我自己跳舞的需求來說應該滿清楚的 ^^ /// Normally when I learn a routine I will make notes. Otherwise I tend to forget quite easily. Writing it down and reading it once through really deepens my recall. Here's Tranky Doo to two versions of Tuxedo Junction. But please remember that I'm not a musician so the terminology in there is incorrect - it's just my personal notes so I write what works for me :)
Tranky Doo 不是最困難的編舞,但是也不是最簡單的 :) 不過只要多多練習一定可以學得起來~ 加油囉!/// Finally, while Tranky Doo isn't most difficult routine, it certainly isn't the easiest either. So congrats to everyone in the class for doing such a good job :) See you next week!
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