Couple's Seductive Impromptu Performance Wins First Place

Sep 24, 2021 by apost team

The Wild Wild Westie Invitational uncovered one of their finest winning pairs back in 2015, and it's all thanks to the super slick moves of Michael Kielbasa and Kristen Humphrey.

When you watch the video, you will immediately understand why these two potential lovebirds were able to inspire such praise, winning first place in the improvisation competition.

Their unbelievable talent was on full display as the two took the dance floor by storm in perfect form. Their flawless maneuvers demonstrated instant chemistry, and they effortlessly showcased the ability to stay perfectly in sync. It's already a challenging feat to display fancy footwork during a solo show, but these two made it look like a breeze — all while working in tandem. Somehow, they pulled off a series of crazy spins and dips that were downright stupefying.

Their style had all the trimmings of a swing dance; however, the music selection was boldly contemporary. At the end of it all, no one can deny the powerhouse beat behind Brandon Beal’s “Twerk It Like Miley,” which is a track that bumps and grinds like no other. Beal's infamous homage set the stage for some back-and-forth rapport between the two clearly enthralled dancers.

An abrupt tempo change signified the midway point, but neither performer missed a beat when "A Place With No Name" by Michael Jackson took over the room. Humphrey instantly struck a chord with the crowd by nailing a fantastic rendition of the late singer's infamous moonwalk. To stay perfectly in sync with his partner, Kielbasa quickly followed suit with his own acclaimed adaptation of the gravity-defying musical display.

Attraction is truly personified when these two get it going. It's abundantly evident that sparks were flying in a major way, and their mutual receptivity to the shared attraction played a major role in propelling them towards the top. Clearly, the moral of the story here is that every cool Kielbasa just needs a good Humphrey.

According to Kielbasa’s bio, he has been dancing for more than 20 years, focusing on “most styles of Partner Dancing.” And beyond his win at the 2015 Wild Wild Westie, Kielbasa is also a champion swing dancer on the west coast. When he’s not teaching and busting a move in the U.S., Kielbasa travels the world — to Canada, France, Switzerland, Germany, Russia, United Kingdom, Brazil and Australia — to show off his dancing skills. Above all, however, Kielbasa is an expert on West Coast Swing, a style of dance that traces its beginnings back to 1930s New York, according to a dance studio that specializes in West Coast Swing.

Back in the 1930s, New Yorkers were dancing in the style of the Savoy Style Lindy at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem. This dance spread to other parts of the U.S. and the world, and as it traveled, it evolved into a variety of distinct styles that were offshoots of Savoy Style Lindy. Dean Collins, a choreographer and prominent dancer in New York, is likely responsible for bringing the Savoy Style Lindy from New York City to the west coast in the 1930s. While trying to break into the film industry in California, Collins began to frequent clubs and dance competitions, exposing the west coast dance community to Savoy-style moves.

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And eventually, Collins began to teach his own version of the dance, which would go on to become West Coast Swing.

According to West Coast Swing Online’s instructional video on how to dance the West Coast Swing, the dance has three basic steps: “The Sugar Push (or push break) The Side Pass (Left Side Pass and Right Side Pass) and the 8 count Basic Whip.”

There are many other varieties of swing dance, including Lindy Hop, which is one of its most popular forms.

Frankie Manning, who passed away in April 2009, was perhaps the most well-known Lindy-Hopper of the 20th century.

“Excelling in what quickly became first America’s and then the world’s most popular participatory form of jazz dancing in the 1930s and ’40s, Mr. Manning led the way in giving the Lindy hop professional expression. The dance, which enables both partners to improvise rhythmically at the same time, has had enduring appeal as both a social and a performance dance, sweeping aside hierarchical, class, ethnic and gender conventions. When questioned about the apparently irresistible allure of the Lindy, Mr. Manning invariably described it as ‘a series of three-minute romances,’” Terry Monaghan wrote in his New York Times obituary for the legendary dancer. 

Whether it’s Lindy Hop, Savoy Style Swing or West Coast Swing, one thing is clear: swing dancing is still popular despite its long history.

The Wild Wild Westie, the same competition where Kielbasa and Humphrey won six years ago, recently hosted its 2021 competition in Dallas, Texas, in July. While neither Kielbasa nor Humphrey made an appearance, champions Victoria Henk and Sean McKeever channeled some of the duo’s red hot energy!

What do you think of this dance routine? Do you have any swing dance stories? Let us know — and be sure to pass this story on to friends and family members.