Proposals

I have been longing to have a Hamilton singalong for a long time. Seems to me there are many challenges in doing it online, but I am hoping I can figure them out by the time we have this workshop! So, during the workshop, we'll talk about the things that go into doing an online singalong sort of thing for maybe 10 minutes, and folks can (hopefully if I figure it all out) sing one of their favorite songs from the show for us to all sing along with! There will probably be some setup sorts of things to make this work, but since I haven't figured them out yet, come with some flexibility and a desire to learn some things about settings in zoom to make things sound better. Anyone is welcome to come to this workshop if they like the show, or even if they don't know it and want to learn some things about it. If you live in a pod with folks who also like to sing, you could even do some of the songs that have more banter or back and forth or harmonies!Remember, you don't need to be an expert to teach at Skill Swap, you just need to want to try!

The closest thing swing dancers have to a line dance, the shim sham is often done in the middle of a swing dance while the band is on break.  As a solo jazz routine that is usually done communally, it's a great way to feel the shared-ness of dance without having to be physically close together.  Come get moving and learn it! If you want a sneak peek, here's the dance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2FyvoAi2ew (Please note, though it originated as a tap routine, I will be teaching the variation I learned from swing dancing.  No tap shoes required!)

In this workshop, we will learn how to cook a healthy vegetarian dish called 'Chana Masala' i.e., Spiced Chickpeas. All you need are a few locally available ingredients (list will be provided beforehand). This dish is often a party favorite.

Your kitchen has things with sharp edges. If you aren't maintaining them actively, they're probably dull. Dull tools require more effort for the same cuts and are often unsafe. Want to fix 'em? It's easy. You probably already have the tools you need.You'll need a tool with a dull edge (usually knives or scissors), a factory-made ceramic mug with a smooth unglazed base (or ring around the base), a Sharpie, and some paper. Bonus points if you have a protractor and some cardboard, a leather belt, a "sharpening" steel, etc. I've taught basic sharpening a bunch of times at ESS, and several people have recently reached out asking me to teach it again. Seems like a lot of folks are spending more time in their kitchens than they used to, thanks to COVID-19, and it might be a good time to make sure your tools are sharp, safe, and ready to go. There are some ways in which this might actually be easier to teach at ESS_remote than at ESS_Wilmot, since people will be at home with their knives, etc., and can also point the camera directly at what they're doing.This workshop is based on the premise that, although sharpening tools really well relies on precision surfaces and abrasives, often uses custom-built jigs and fixtures, and demands rigid adherence to grit-staging, "good enough" sharpening is often a HUGE improvement over the default state of edged tools, and that good-enough sharpening rests on a foundation of use-whatcha-got and can-do mindset and aims for "better" rather than "perfect". This is a great approach if you're wanting to sharpen your chef's knife; less good if you're wanting to sharpen your scalpel, straight razor, or bagpipe reedmaking gouge.