This fortnight’s variation is Skipping
For when you’re in a yippy skippy kinda mood!
This is a great one for newer dancers–noticeably different from your standard footwork but the rhythm and the shape are pretty low-stress.
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Get Your Peaky Blinders on This July!
Learn how to dance the Charleston with a partner just like they did back in the day. Bookings are now open for this beginner friendly course starting this July. Its likely to sell out quickly so get in touch to book your place now!
Intro to Partnered Charleston
Wednesdays, 31 July -21 August 2019
8:30-9:30pm at Dance Studio Leeds
cost: £32 for the 4wk course
A course that will get you dancing this energetic dance everywhere you go. We’ll give you a good number of moves and the technique to social dance 20s and 30s style Charleston. So whether you’re going to a Great Gatsby party or a Big Band Swing Dance–we’ve got you covered! This is a great course for complete beginners or those who have done a bit of lindy hop and are looking for more moves to add to their repertoire.
A bit of trivia: Our Charleston dancers were actually featured in the first season of Peaky Blinders (that’s us on the left) and we got to teach the Cillian Murphy and Annabelle Wallis how to dance!
Book your place by emailing: swingdanceleeds@gmail.com
Take a look at this to give you an idea about Partnered Charleston:
Filed under Charleston, lindy hop, What's On?
Try Something New This Summer
Learn the Lindy Hop
Summer is the perfect time to step out of your comfort zone and try something new! Our Lindy Hop Fundamentals Course is a great way to have a go at learning swing dancing in a low pressure environment. We’ll take you through the basics in a small class with other beginners just like you. After four weeks you’ll have the skills and confidence to have a little boogie next time you pass a band on the street or to wow your friends at weddings.
We cover the basics of Lindy Hop over the course of four weeks. Each week builds on the last with plenty of time for review and repetition to give you a solid foundation in basic moves and techniques. We often have people in class who’ve never tired partner dancing before–so if this is you don’t worry. Our small class sizes help you get to know a lovely group of people so that you’ll have friends to dance with when you come along to a social dance or drop in class. The course is appropriate for absolute beginners as well as anyone who wants to brush up on their basics.
Course Details:
Wednesdays 31st July – 21st Aug 2019
6:30-7:30pm
at Dance Studio Leeds
Cost: £32 for the 4 week course
Pre-booking required to register email: swingdanceleeds@gmail.com
Have a look at this video for a taster of what you can expect on the course:
For a full list of course dates visit our courses page
Filed under lindy hop, News, video, What's On?
8 Ways to Celebrate World Lindy Hop Day
Did you know that our favourite dance style has it’s very own holiday? That’s right, 26th May is Frankie Manning’s birthday which we now celebrate as World Lindy Hop Day! You may be wondering, how does one celebrate this brilliant holiday? Does the Lindy Fairy come round to leave gifts in our dance shoes? Do we dress in vintage clothes and knock on our neighbours’ doors asking for a dance? Maybe not but here are our suggestions of how to mark this auspicious day:
- Read up on Lindy Hop history: Frankie Manning: Ambassador of Lindy Hop, Swingin’ at the Savoy: the Memoire of a Jazz Dancer, Swing History 101 (Swungover blog)
- Bring a non-dancing friend to a dance class or social and share the love!
- Attend a local World Lindy Hop Day event. For dancers that are local to our area check out this WLHD event in York on 25th May
- Watch some old dance clips. This Lindy Clips Index has links to pretty much everything that’s out there.
- If there aren’t any special events happening in your scene why not organise something yourself? Make a normal class or social extra special by offering a bring-a-friend deal or bringing cake, organise a house party or a dance in a park, get some friends together and lindy bomb a local jazz club.
- Post about your lindy hop journey on social media—how has dancing enhanced your life?
- Make a donation to the Frankie Manning Foundation
- Send WLHD greetings to your favourite dance partners
Filed under Cats' Corner, News
Footwork Variation of the Fortnight #88!
This fortnight’s variation is Tap Side On
Sometimes you gotta take it to the side!
Lot’s of room for self-expression here! See if you can put your own spin on this shape.
Learn to Dance Like Its 1935!
Ever wondered what it must have been like to go to dance hall in the 30’s? Fabulous dresses, dapper lads, couples moving and swaying across the dance floor executing intricate sequences of moves to the thumping rhythms of a live jazz band. Step back in time with us and find out just what it feels like!
Swing Dancing is alive and well today and you can find pockets of lively dancers in cities across the UK (and the world). Once you try it we promise you’ll be hooked. Sign up today for our Lindy Hop Fundamentals course and see what all the fuss is about.
Learn the basics of Lindy Hop in just 4 weeks!
This course will give you a solid foundation in fundamental lindy hop moves and techniques, ideal for people who’ve never danced before. With small class sizes you will meet a lovely group of people, meaning you’ll have friends to dance with when you come along to a social dance or drop in class. It is appropriate for absolute beginners and anyone else who wants to re-visit their basics in a structured learning environment. We run these courses regularly–the next one starts in May.
Course Details:
Wednesdays 29th May – 19th June
6:30-7:30pm
at Dance Studio Leeds
cost: £32 for the 4wk course
Pre-booking and payment required in advance
to register email: swingdanceleeds@gmail.com
For a full list of beginner lessons and drop in classes have a look here. And for those who might be feeling a bit nervous about their first class, check out this blog post: How to Survive Your First Dance Class
Filed under lindy hop, News, What's On?
Footwork Variation of the Fortnight #87!
This fortnight’s variation is Breezy Knees!
Get a wiggle on!
Add some flashy arm movements to make this simple variation pop!
