Ballroom Dance Team to Perform with MMB at UM-MSU Halftime
I just received an indication that the MMB will be welcoming the Michigan Ballroom Dance Team on to the field to do a jive with them for halftime at the Michigan-Michigan State game.
Below is one of the UMBDT's tryouts from the beginning of 2009 (note that everybody tries out at once so you'll see varying levels of experience):
Of special note: The UMBDT has won the last three USA Dance Collegiate National Championships in Columbus, OH. This year can probably expect more of the same, since they are a huge power in the midwest collegiate circuit.
September 7th, 2010 at 11:25 PM ^
September 7th, 2010 at 11:28 PM ^
Something like that is entirely likely, to be honest...
September 7th, 2010 at 11:47 PM ^
with the MMB backing him up. That would not suck.
September 8th, 2010 at 12:18 AM ^
Let's give some credit to Louis Prima, and the others who started making great jazz/swing music in the 50s. Setzer's best stuff was just covers of the old music, although I guess he did have some good stuff of his own as well.
September 8th, 2010 at 7:50 AM ^
and you're right that Setzer's musical career isn't marked by huge creative innovation. His reinterpretation of the big band/jive/swing stuff has been greatly enlivened by the infusion of his rockabilly/rock influences, and to me it makes his BS Orchestra-era swing stuff especially great to listen to. I doubt whether he'll ever get the opportunity, but I think Setzer would be a far more dynamic Super Bowl act than the tired, aging rock geezers they insist on having lately.
September 7th, 2010 at 11:51 PM ^
The MSU show is almost invariably always something jazzy or experimental. It's all a show-off for the MSU band, like it matters...
September 8th, 2010 at 2:21 AM ^
it matters
September 8th, 2010 at 2:36 AM ^
no offense to anyone in band or on the brdt.
I don't go to Michigan football for the beautiful tones of the mmb. it's not the f'ing opera!
September 8th, 2010 at 7:54 AM ^
September 8th, 2010 at 8:10 AM ^
You may hate both, but they're radically different. IMHO, the decision to program "An afternoon at the Opera" or whatever the hell it was titled to follow the DSU band was the single most ridiculous programming decision in the history of marching bands everywhere. I'd still like to know just how in hell the MMB bigwigs concluded that opera would be a winner in a football stadium.
September 8th, 2010 at 9:08 AM ^
September 8th, 2010 at 9:29 AM ^
Opera on it's own was a bad idea. Opera following a predominantly black band performing hip-hop was a very bad idea. I understand wanting to show something off to the other band, but that just further solidified the "wine and cheese" stereotype.
September 8th, 2010 at 11:42 AM ^
It wasn't just a bad idea in general, it was a HORRIBLE idea for that week. The comparison was not a good idea, either in entertainment value, or how it made the school appear.
For a contrast, this last week's halftime show would have been EXCELLENT for that game. Fun, lively, and still played with musicality or whatever.
Though it does make me think, if they were doing something like this, and using it to feature say, some Opera singing U-M student or grad, it might have worked. I think we're all up for highlighting an accomplished talent from Michigan. But guessing that no marching band members are headed to Opera orchestras anytime soon, it was missing something.
September 8th, 2010 at 11:47 AM ^
Yeah, but jive dancing music is not opera.
And FWIW, (and, perhaps, sadly) "jive" in the ballroom dancing world is different than jive as referenced in the movie "Airplane."