LINDY HOP

BEG / INT - You must know a Swingout, Circle, and Charleston. If you are an experienced or advanced dancer, you know that this class is for you as well.

INTERMEDIATE - You must be able to social dance to faster music with someone that you don’t know. The idea of mixing 8 count steps with 6 count and 10 or 12 or whatever count steps shouldn’t bother you, and you are aware of phrasing in the music.

ADVANCED - You have been there and done that and now your greatest problem is fighting your own muscle memory and getting out of that rut that you're in. You are waiting for someone to kick your butt and stand all of your cherished Lindy ideas on their head. You can do your swing out in 5 different ways on command and you don’t expect to learn any steps when you come to class.
 
       
       
   

Q&A with P&S

What better way to start your Sunday morning than witha nice, relaxing question and answer session with Paul and Sharon ? Bring all of your Lindy Hop questions and we will attempt to answer them, standing up only when absolutely necessary. If the weather permits, this class will be outdoors.

   
     
       
 

 

STEVEN'S JAZZ

This class is for all levels, but that doesn’t mean that it will be taught at a beginning level. Just hang on and try to keep up. The more of Steven’s Jazz classes that you take the more fun it gets and the closer that you will get to Nirvana. Remember that true enlightenment must come at a price. Steven will teach whatever jazz steps and routine that he is inspired to do, and you will try to get your body moving in new and challenging ways that will ultimately spill over into your Lindy Hop.

 
 
       
 

ZEN AND THE ARTOF LINDY HOP

Join Chad for his signature workshop, integrating thousands of years of martial arts principles with lindy hop.   Both leaders and followers will learn to make smooth, seamless transitions between patterns, understand what it means to move from the "center," as well as develop a feeling of grounding and connection. This workshop will move your dancing to a new level where your dancing is fluid, graceful and effortless.

This will be an entirely new "Zen and the Art" class.   In addition to putting you through the paces of frame, balance, awareness, and connection,   Chad will illustrate   the principles that are common to both martial arts and dance movement   using some never-before-seen-on-the-dance-floor   demonstrations   of aikido, karate,   and judo.   Don't try this at home!   But we will also show you how to apply these principles in your Lindy Hop.

This workshop is appropriate for all levels, from beginning to advanced. (We will group dancers of similar experience levels within the class.)
       
       

VIRGINIE'S MOVEMENT AND STYLING

Virginie will concentrate on excercises to help you move like a dancer, i.e. push off the floor, move from your center, and absorb the movement in your muscles not your joints. She will make you challenge your body and give you ideas for styling as well. This class is for both leaders and followers in all levels.

 
     
       
       

BEGINNING RHYTHM TAP

No experience necessary. Students are encouraged to bring tap shoes, but they are not required.

     
       
       

BALBOA

BEGINNING - Balboa uses basic 8 count step that has no triple step. It is danced in a more upright style and in a very close dance position. It is danced to very fast swing music and many Lindy Hoppers combine this dance with their Lindy to give themselves and their partner a rest during faster tunes. Sylvia Sykes is known for her Balboa expertise and is probably the most popular Balboa teacher on the planet!

INTERMEDIATE - To take this class you must be able to dance the following Balboa steps: Basic, break time or come around, and throw out.
     
         
     
 

B**LS TO THE WALL

Catrine Lundgren and Elliott Donnelly will be teaching this class and the pace will be as the name implies. Fast, furious, frenetic, old skool Lindy Hop. Bring lots of water, a towel, and a heart monitor.:-) You must bring a partner for this class.

   
 
         
 

LINDY HOP - BACK TO BASICS

This class assumes that you know your Lindy basics, but would like to revisit them and strengthen your foundation.

 
 
         
 

LISTENING FOR CLUES IN JAZZ

Paul and Sharon answer all your questions about the music as well as giving you the tools to actively listen to what's going on WHILE dancing. This will be largely a "sit down" class so bring us your tired, your weary, etc...

         
         
         
 

MOVES TO GET YOU NOTICED

While it's true that in social dancing it is better to feel good than to look good and one should dance for one's partner, in this class we will give the extroverted showboater in you some fun things to play with..

         
         
         
 

FLASH MOVES

Cool and flashy tap steps and slides. (over the tops, toe stands, trenches, scoot steps, etc.) Great styling ideas for your Lindy Hop. Tap shoes optional.

         
         
         
 

CONNECTION AND PARTNERING

This class will use excercises to improve your connection with your partner, one of the most important aspects of your dancing. No matter what level of dancer you are we will make your connection better.
         
         
         
 

HIP HOP

BEGINNING HIP HOP - This class was a huge hit last year. Eric will make Hip Hop moves fun and accessible for everyone.

INTERMEDIATE HIP HOP - Eric will assume tthat you have done Hip Hop before and will present this class with some fun and challenging material.

         
         
         
 

ARGENTINE TANGO

This year we are happy towelcome back Bay Area Tango sensation Homer Ladas . We feel that Homer's energy, style and philosophy of social dancing are a perfect match with the festival. Make sure you take advantage of at least one of these terrific offerings! You won't be disappointed.

The Great Tango Train Ride - A great introduction to Argentine Tango focusing on connection, music and etiquette.

A Tango Musical Odyssey - How to listen and walk to classic Tangos, Vals, Milongas and modern day tunes. Some familiarity with Tango will be helpful for this class.

Four Flavors of Expressive Walking - A Tango class that explores four flavors of expressive walking via the staccato/legato connection and the impulsive in-line Boleo. Some familiarity with Tango will be helpful for this class.

The Swing/Tango connection - Introducing intermediate elements of Tango that will also enhance your swing dancing.

 

         
         
 

BEATBOXING with Manu Smith -

We are very excited to offer this new class. Manu will put you through the paces of making music with your mouth.

 
         
 

SWING RUEDA

BASIC SWING RUEDA - Swing Rueda is Lindy Hop danced in a circle where all the couples execute moves simultaneously as they are called. Many moves change partners. This is the swing version of Casino Rueda which uses Salsa moves. You must know your swing-out to take this class.

CRAZY SWING RUEDA MOVES - This class assumes that you've done basic Swing Rueda - you must know OPEN BREAK and DAME. Manu will teach his craziest Swing Rueda moves. And that's saying something!

 
 
         
         
 

YOGA FOR LINDY HOPPERS

You're tired, you're sore, and you ache. You don't want to miss these morning classes, they will get your juices going again. Pick up a few helpful yoga poses to do on our own and learn to use yoga as a way to put that spring into your swing.
         
         
         
 

SWING WALK

Swing Walk is very much like Foxtrot, and is what Frankie and Norma used to do at the Savoy.   Since it is danced to Swing music, it can be incorporated into your Lindy Hop which Steven and Virginie can be seen doing all of the time!   Learning Swing Walk will also improve your connection and frame for any other partner dance.

Beginning Swing Walk will of course start from scratch.   To take Intermediate Swing Walk, you must have taken basic Swing Walk from Steven and Virginie before and be able to perform basic steps, or you must have prior Foxtrot knowledge.