Swingin' on a Saturday

1-2pm Putting the FUN in fundamentals: How I learned to stop worrying about the steps and love the dance

Posture, Connection, Rhythm, and Partner Dynamic... they define each dance and are present in every move, but rather than just learning a bunch of vocabulary and picking it up through osmosis we will identify the specific elements that make up Lindy Hop, how they differ from other swing dances, how to keep them present when dancing to slower music, and how we can then apply them to moves and concepts "borrowed" from vintage and contemporary dances. Less experienced dancers will learn the "secrets" of Lindy Hop and what makes a good dancer good. Experienced dancers will learn not just more "how" but the all important WHY of what we do what we do, enabling them to freestyle with confidence knowing when and how to "break the rules."

2:10-3:10pm Closed Position Lindy?

Al Minns and Leon James said that the roots of lindy hop come out of closed position jazz dances that were popular to Black dancers of the South that made their way up North. We'll explore how to take our Swing moves and Jazz steps and rediscover how to make them work in closed position, not just at slower tempos but how to dance with when the music starts to get a energetic without losing that Harlem cool. Less experienced dancers will learn simple steps that are versatile enough to act as building blocks for years to come, while experienced dancers will discover a whole new world of opportunity to improvise and syncopate.

3:30-4:30 Finding the Groove without Losing the Heat

Jazz is often described as Hot or Cool, depending on how much energy is put into it, how it swings, and whether it makes your pulse jump or fingers snap. We'll learn the elements that make our dancing swing from one to another, how to recognize and tap into what the music has, as well as how and WHEN to contrast with the music. Less experienced dancers will learn a different way to think of and even hear the music, while experienced dancers will learn the basics needed to create their own personal and distinctive style of dance.

4:40-5:40 From Lindy Hop to Soul Swing

Lindy Hop has been called the Grandfather of swing dances and with good reason, nearly every modern swing dance either evolved from Lindy Hop or it served as one of its inspirations. In this class we'll learn how Lindy changed with the popular Black music and do a little adaption and improvisation of our own as we try and apply the Grandfather of Swing dancing to the Godfather of Soul Music.

9:30pm-?:?? dance will be an Old School Juke Joint Rent Party!!! Live band Nathan James & Ben Hernandez

Saturday dance info: At FireMark's big place for an old school "Rent Party" style dance. 9:30pm: Damon will lead a discussion about the history of Juke Joint dancing and whatever dance topics everyone wants to talk about. Then,Whitton from La will DJ if there is time afterward, and during band breaks. 10:30-ish: Live duo plays: Nathan James & Ben Hernandez Cover: $4 "Donation" for Workshop attendees/ $8 "Donation" for non-workshop attendees **The proceeds of the entrance cover will go to pay for our live duo, Nathan & Ben, especially to help Ben out w/ his move to North Carolina** You're welcome to donate more if you can. Location: FireMark's place: 10006 Merry Brook Trail, Santee, CA 92071 **BUT it doesn't exist on mapping software yet, so USE 10000 Riverwalk Dr. and park on that street. It's not much of a walk from there.