| CLASSES |
Classes
Intermediate Lindy Hop
| Advanced Lindy Hop |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Swing Rueda |
| This has been adapted by Jeff and Elaine from Casino (Salsa) Rueda and is so much fun that we want to get all Lindy Hoppers doing it. Rueda (which means wheel) is danced with partners in a circle. All moves have a name and a caller will tell you which move to do. Most of the steps involve partner switching so you end up dancing with everyone in the circle. Many of the moves are based on Lindy Hop steps that everyone knows like mini dip, texas tommy, swingout with inside turn. Many moves are just fun and silly like boing boing, kick the can, and the matrix. Beginning Rueda will teach open break , dame, inside turn, outside turn, and texas tommy. Intermediate Rueda will take it from there. |
| History of Hip Hop with Kwikstep and Rokafella |
| Learn about the emergence and elements of Hip Hop culture from people who have lived it, giving you the East Side and West Side perspective. Kwik and Roka will demonstrate the different steps and styles. After seeing this talk and demonstartion in Houston at this year’s Lindyfest, we KNEW we had to bring this duo to Oakland. |
| Salsa for Swing Dancers |
| This class will add help you steal some great Salsa ideas for your Lindy Hop as well as show you how to adapt your Lindy Hop to Salsa. |
| Cha Cha for Swing Dancers |
| Add some Latin styling to your Lindy Hop! Cha Cha and Lindy Hop share the same basic rhythm- step, step, triple-step, step, step, triple-step, and there are many cha cha songs that truly swing. Jeff and Elaine will be teaching latin (or social) Cha Cha as opposed to the more formal ballroom Cha Cha. This class will teach you steps that you can put directly into your Lindy Hop as well as helping you adapt your Lindy steps to more of a Latin feel. |
| Smooth Style for Savoy Dancers |
| If you have been around in the Lindy world then you probably know that Sylvia Sykes is the master at explaining and comparing different dance techniques. In this class, Sylvia and Jason will help you to understand the difference between these two styles of Lindy Hop, but more importantly they will help you to adapt to a partner with a different style so that you can dance smoothly and confidently with anyone! |
| Beginning Balboa |
| 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 Balboa |
| To take this class you must be able to dance the following Balboa steps: Basic, break time or come around, and throw out. |
| Advanced Balboa |
| This class will be very advanced! It will move fast and teach some tricky patterns. You must be able to perform an entire dance using "straight Balboa" as opposed to "bal-swing" and have experience with "Bal-swing" patterns and break time steps in order to take this class. |
| Dean Collins Whip |
| There are many styles of smooth Lindy that are taught today, which means that there are many styles of whip (swingout). Sylvia and Jason will teach the Dean Collins version of the whip that Sylvia learned directly from Dean who she studied with for many years. Dean Collins was a hugely influential dancer who appeared in many Hollywood films and helped to popularize and create the Smooth Style of Lindy Hop. This class is for all levels. |
| Slides and Tricks for Everyone |
| Slides are fun and can add style to anyone’s Lindyhop. Sylvia is known for her slides and she will be teaching you her secrets to good slides, as well as showing you steps where you can use them. |
| Lindy Basics for Everyone |
| Think of this class as a private lesson for 20 –50 people. We will be working on all the techniques that will make your basics and all of your dancing better. This class will teach no new material- it will be your Lindy “tune up”. |
| Spinning for Everyone |
| Paul will show you excercises that you can practice, and tips to make your spinning better. |
| West Coast Swing for Lindy Hoppers |
| West Coast Swing is Lindyhop done in a slot with a more leveraged smoother style that is done to blues music. This class will show you the difference between Lindyhop and West Coast Swing, giving you the tools to adapt your Lindyhop steps to West Coast Swing, and showing you how to adapt West Coast moves to your Lindy hop. This class will also improve your connection! Alas it will not bring about world peace or guarantee you a better paying job, but hey, what will? |
| Rhythm Improvisation |
| Caren Cadile is a tap dancer who brings her rhythmic expertise in the form of excercises to give you ideas for your Lindy Hop. Most teachers will tell you that the best improvisations and styling come from rhythmic ideas. Caren taught this class at OSDF 2001, and it was so well received that we are bringing it back again. |
| Connection |
| 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. |
| Jazz History with Grover Sales |
| Grover has given Jazz History talks at all three of our past Swing Dance Festivals. He has written the book “Jazz- America’s Classical Music” (which I highly recommend) and has lectured at Stanford and the Berkeley Jazz School. More importantly, however, Grover was there when Jazz was happening and has heard, met, or interviewed all of the Jazz greats- and Grover is not afraid to tell it the way he sees it. |
| Hip Hop |
| Hip Hop and Lindy Hop are cousins, and not such distant ones at that. Hip Hop is challenging but will help bring bounce and style to your Lindy Hop dancing. Also, it's fun! |