4. Mark your Calendars: Lesson Series in February
Our next four-week Lesson Series will be running the four weeks of February. Like last semester, Intro classes in both Blues and Swing will run on Thursday nights (Intro Blues 6-7:30, Intro Swing 7:30-9), with intermediate workshops on Sunday afternoon before practicum. Prices are being (belatedly) adjusted in view of the ongoing economic downturn, so hopefully no one will be left out for reasons of pocket! Stay tuned for more details about classes, schedule, and prices.
January 10, 2010
The Good Parts Version:
1. Practicum Tonight! Sunday, January 10
2. LindyBomb! Christabel & The Jons at Cafe 9, Wed, Jan 13
3. MeetingParty Thursday, Jan 14
4. Bootcamp January 16 & 17
Dear Dancers,
Here we go! Yale Swing & Blues is back and ready to go–come out tonight for Practicum and keep up with our events all week! As always, we want to know what you want to see–reply to this email if there’s anything you want us to plan that you don’t see happening. In the meantime,
See you on the floor!
1. Big Bad Back-to-school Practicum Tonight, January 10
I don’t know about you, but I miss Practicum! Luckily, tonight ends our Sunday night music and dancing fast in New Haven. Come celebrate the new year where no one cares what resolutions you’re breaking! Our Big Bad Back-to-School Practicum is the perfect place to fortify yourself against the imminent Monday morning blues. Practicum is FREE and open to the public, and runs from 8-11 PM in the Enormous Room of Yale’s Afro-American Cultural Center, 211 Park St, EVERY SUNDAY. Our favorite New Haven DJs artfully spin us from Lindy into Blues over the course of the evening as we chill, eat, work on our dancing or just take to the floor with the great dancers of New Haven & CT.
2. LindyBomb Alert! Live music at Cafe 9, Wednesday 1/13
Join the YS&B regulars as we descend upon Cafe 9 to dance to the folksy swing tunes of Christabel & the Jons! Cafe 9 is at 250 State St, between Chapel & Crown. $5 cover, 21+
3. Making plans for the New Year–Meetingparty Thursday, 1/14
The organizers of Yale Swing & Blues will be meeting, eating, and most likely dancing a week from Thursday as we take stock of the organization and see where we want to go in 2010. These meetings are open to anyone who wants to be involved, or even just to give us feedback–if you’re interested, or can’t make it but want to let us know what you’ve most liked and most want to see in the coming year from us, contact Rosalind at !
4. Mark your Calendars: next beginner BOOTCAMP Jan 16-17
More information now available about Bootcamp! See the details below; registration will be posted online in the next couple of days.
Beginner Bootcamp
Saturday 1/16, 3-6pm + Sunday 1/17, 1-5pm
$35 registration/ $25 with student ID (Yale Swing & Blues T-shirt included!)
Broadway Rehearsal Lofts, 294 Broadway
Bootcamp is a two-afternoon immersive dance-class experience. Three hours of class each day Saturday and Sunday with YS&B instructor Molly Rubenstein brings you the basics of partnered dance connection and movement that will start you out on the right foot, whether you’re looking to impress on a Blues or Swing dance floor or both. Finish the weekend with your debut at Sunday night Practicum, entry FREE!
Feel free to email Molly at with any questions.
January 3, 2010
The Good Parts Version:
1. No Practicum Tonight; Back again next Sunday, January 10
2. LindyBomb! Christabel & The Jons at Cafe 9, Wed, Jan 13
3. MeetingParty Thursday, Jan 14
4. Bootcamp (Tentatively) Scheduled for January 16 & 17
5. January Monthly Dance Friday, 1/22
Dear Dancers,
Yale Swing & Blues has been underground since final exams and holidays hit, but get ready; 2010 is looking to be a big year, and we’ll be coming back with a bang. Mark your calendars now–January 10 is our Big Bad Back-to-School Practicum, starting us off for a month jam-packed with great music and dancing. So happy New Years to all from the organizers of YS&B, and here’s to seeing you on the floor in the new year!
1. Big Bad Back-to-school Practicum next Sunday, January 10
I don’t know about you, but I miss Practicum! Luckily, tonight marks the last cold empty Sunday night without music and dancing in New Haven. Next Sunday, come celebrate the new year where no one cares what resolutions you’re breaking! Our Big Bad Back-to-School Practicum is the perfect place to fortify yourself against the imminent Monday morning blues. Practicum is FREE and open to the public, and runs from 8-11 PM in the Enormous Room of Yale’s Afro-American Cultural Center, 211 Park St, EVERY SUNDAY. Our favorite New Haven DJs artfully spin us from Lindy into Blues over the course of the evening as we chill, eat, work on our dancing or just take to the floor with the great dancers of New Haven & CT.
2. LindyBomb Alert! Live music at Cafe 9, Wednesday 1/13
Join the YS&B regulars as we descend upon Cafe 9 to dance to the folksy swing tunes of Christabel & the Jons! Cafe 9 is at 250 State St, between Chapel & Crown. $5 cover, 21+
3. Making plans for the New Year–Meetingparty Thursday, 1/14
The organizers of Yale Swing & Blues will be meeting, eating, and most likely dancing a week from Thursday as we take stock of the organization and see where we want to go in 2010. These meetings are open to anyone who wants to be involved, or even just to give us feedback–if you’re interested, or can’t make it but want to let us know what you’ve most liked and most want to see in the coming year from us, contact Rosalind at !
4. Mark your Calendars: next beginner BOOTCAMP Jan 16-17
Just found us and want to learn more? Hoping to brush up rusty basics before weekly classes begin? Keep meaning to learn to dance, but never have time during the week? Experienced dancer wanting to learn the other role? The beginner bootcamp is for you!
Bootcamp is a two-afternoon immersive dance-class experience. Three hours of class each day Saturday and Sunday with YS&B instructor Molly Rubenstein brings you the basics of partnered dance connection and movement that will start you out on the right foot, whether you’re looking to impress on a Blues or Swing dance floor or both. Finish the weekend with your debut at Sunday night Practicum, entry FREE!
Due to spacial conflicts and Yale University facilities still being closed for the holidays, time and location have still not been finalized, but mark the 16 and 17 of January on your calendars if you think Bootcamp is for you! Feel free to email Molly at with any questions.
5. Next Monthly Dance Friday, January 22!
The fourth Friday of this month, the Undercroft of Christ Church will be swinging to the tunes of our fabulous djs, with a late night Blues house party not far behind. Come join us for a fabulous night–be ready to let your hair down and shake it all out, whether you’re coming as study break or to escape from the 9-5 grind. We have a fabulous mix of DJs spinning tunes over the course of the night, and a fabulous mix of lovely local and regional dancers on the floor waiting to ask YOU to dance!
What: YS&B Monthly Swing Dance & Blues Late Night
When: Friday, December 11; Intro Lesson, 8:45, DJed music & dancing 9:30-midnight, Late Night, midnight–3 am
Where: Dance at the Undercroft of Christ Church, at the intersection of Park and Elm Streets; Late Night info available at the dance
$: Entrance to dance $8, $5 for students; Intro lesson & late night FREE with entrance to the dance
If you’re interested in volunteering, bringing food, or otherwise totally making our day (and getting into the dance for FREE), please email Sarah Larsson, our volunteer coordinator! ()
December 6, 2009
1. Practicum Tonight, No Classes
Feeling the cold today? Come warm up at your favorite FREE New Haven dance event to the sweet tunes of New Haven’s favorite DJs! Practicum runs from 8-11 PM in the Enormous Room of Yale’s Afro-American Cultural Center, 211 Park St, EVERY SUNDAY. We now offer a (very rough) practicum SCHEDULE: Mostly Swing: 8-9pm; Mixed/fusion/whatever DJ wants: 9-10pm; Mostly Blues: 10-11pm. ***Music selection still at the discretion of our experienced DJs.
2. December Monthly Dance this Friday!
Missing the music, dancing, and vibe of Yale Swing & Blues? Then don’t miss this month’s Swing Dance & Blues Late Night coming up this Friday! We have a fabulous mix of local and regional DJs spinning tunes over the course of the night, including Dhruv Bhargava, Chris Oksanen, Julie Brown, Hether Samuels, Gui Cavalcanti, and Richard Scalzo, and a fabulous mix of lovely local and regional dancers on the floor waiting to ask YOU to dance!
What: YS&B Monthly Swing Dance & Blues Late Night
When: Friday, December 11; Intro Lesson, 8:45, DJed music & dancing 9:30-midnight, Late Night, midnight–3 am
Where: Dance at the Undercroft of Christ Church, at the intersection of Park and Elm Streets; Late Night at Richard’s (directions available at the dance)
$: Entrance to dance $8, $5 for students; Intro lesson & late night FREE with entrance to the dance
If you’re interested in volunteering, bringing food, or otherwise totally making our day (and getting into the dance for FREE), please email Sarah Larsson, our volunteer coordinator! (sarah.larsson[AT]yale[DoT]edu)
3. Next Swing & Blues BootCamp postponed to January
Want to learn how to impress on the dance floor? Don’t despair! We’ll be running another Swing & Blues bootcamp in January, when we come back from winter break. Cover a whole 4-week series’ worth of material in a two-day crash course and come out on the other side ready to hit the floor in style! Great for total beginners, for dancers who want to brush up on their basics, and for anyone interested in working on their dancing in the other role. More information and registration available soon!
4. Want to get more involved in Yale Swing & Blues?
There’s a lot of work that goes into making the events you love happen, all done by a wonderful group of volunteer djs, teachers, and organizers from the local scene. If you want be a part of the behind-the-scenes work, and get to not only hang out with all of us but have the satisfaction of creating a dance scene you can love, let us know! Email Rosalind Diaz, rosalind.diaz[AT]yale[DoT]edu.
November 12, 2009
Exciting regional events coming up! Don’t forget to sign up for our new travelers’ list! Email molly.rubenstein[AT]gmail[DoT]com with “YS&B Travelers’ List” in the subject line.
1. Swing & Blues Dances, Workshops, Live Music + DJs, Outreach and exploration in CT this weekend!
The first ever Connecticut Melting Pot swing/blues fusion weekend is upon us! This very weekend, Yale Swing & Blues, WeSwing&Blues, and the Connecticut Swing Dance Society are bringing you music, teachers and dancers from all across the Northeast to see what we can cook up.
For all the details and to register for the weekend for a super-affordable price, visit the Melting Pot website! Events mostly in New Haven, Saturday night in Milford. Line-up summary below.
Not local? Not a problem! There’s a spot for YOU on a couch in New Haven. Register and request housing here.
2. Volunteer/ Offer to Host/ Drive
Local, and willing to offer housing/ rides? Offer housing here. Please do! We get to house all of our exciting out of town dancers and make them feel welcome so they come back and dance with us again!
Want to save money on the weekend/ an event? Offer to volunteer! Our volunteer coordinator will get back to you with more information.
3. Find us on Facebook! (and tell your friends
)
Attend Friday Night’s Swing & Choose
THIS WEEKEND’S EVENTS:
Friday: SWING & CHOOSE Outreach Dance with Gordon Webster
This incredible weekend starts off with Gordon playing our second annual Swing & Choose Outreach Dance. Yale Swing & Choose congratulates men who follow and women who lead, and welcomes the LGBTQ communities of Yale and New Haven. We’ll be bringing back favorite features of last year’s dance, like the “ambidancetrous” t-shirts, the “ask me to lead/follow” buttons and the Jill & Jack role-reversed social dance competition. Dancers in the Jill & Jack will compete for free weekend passes to Boston’s Sweet Molasses Blues and Philly’s LaBLove!
Whether you come to enjoy the live music, to strut your stuff, or to try on a new role, join us in celebrating that social dancing is for EVERYONE!
What: Swing & Choose Outreach Dance with Gordon Webster
When: Friday, November 13: FREE Intro Lesson 8-9, band plays 9-12
Where: African-American Cultural House, 211 Park St
$12, $6 for students, FREE for first-time dancers!
Blues late-night to follow, only two blocks away from the dance.
Saturday: Blues/Swing/Fusion Workshops!
We have two tracks of exciting innovative partner dance workshops running Saturday afternoon! Classes will be taught by Emilio Estevez & Jackie Stahl from Philly and Gui Cavalcanti & Jenn Martinez from Boston and run from 1-5:15pm. There will be a beginner-oriented track and an intermediate-oriented one: the intermediate classes will be at the AfAm House, the Friday night dance venue, and the the beginner classes will be just down the path at GPSCY, at 204 York St. Check out the full class descriptions and register on the Melting Pot website.
Saturday Night: Solomon Douglas in Milford with CSDS, Blues house party to follow in New Haven
Saturday night, the festivities continue! The Connecticut Swing Dance Society is having Solomon Douglas and his band to play on Saturday Night at the Ballroom Experience in Milford, just a 15-20 minute drive from New Haven. For transportation from New Haven, email us at ctmeltingpot@gmail.com.
Intro lesson: 7:30-8:30 pm, Dance: 8:30-11:30 pm
$15, $10 for CSDS members, $6 for students.
For Directions to the Ballroom Experience, visit the CSDS website.
Latenight back in New Haven starting at midnight chez our beloved Chris Oksanen–more information available at the dance! If you won’t be coming to the dance but want to come to the latenight, email Chris for more information.
Sunday: Brunch, Special Class with Mary and Practicum
We’re going to finish the weekend out family style–big happy exhausted dance family style! So after sleeping in late after the late night goodness at Chris’ on Saturday, we’ll be having a pot-luck Brunch in New Haven. We want everyone who wants to to come, but in order to make sure we have enough food, we will make the following requests from Brunch attendees: Either 1) register for the whole weekend, 2) bring food with you (enough for 2-3 people) or 3) let us know by Saturday afternoon that you’ll be coming and be prepared to donate $5 when you arrive.
After the early afternoon chilling and eating, we’ll have our last classes of the weekend, where we’ll be building on and responding to all the things we learned on Saturday, including a special class with Mary Christensen (who, sadly, had prior obligations during the workshops on Saturday but is thankfully staying to teach us Sunday afternoon!). Details soon.
And finally, finish up with your favorite FREE weekly chilled-out New Haven dance event! Practicum runs from 8-11 PM in the Enormous Room of Yale’s Afro-American Cultural Center, 211 Park St, EVERY SUNDAY. There is a (very rough) practicum music schedule: Mostly Swing: 8-9pm; Mixed/fusion/whatever DJ wants: 9-10pm; Mostly Blues: 10-11pm. Music selection, however, is still at the discretion of our all-star DJs.
October 30, 2009
Exciting regional events coming up! Don’t forget to sign up for our new travelers’ list! Email molly.rubenstein[AT]gmail[DoT]com with “YS&B Travelers’ List” in the subject line.
1. New Classes Series Started 10/25…
…but it’s still not too late to jump in on the action!
This month, we’ve rearranged the class schedule slightly; now both intro classes will be offered on Thursday evenings, and both intermediate classes will be offered before the practicum on Sunday afternoons/evenings. We particularly encourage intro-level dancers to sign up for both! The connection focus in blues class will help your lindy lead and follow, and learning lindy basics will help diversify your blues. Classes, as always, are open to everyone–no Yale affiliation, partner, or special shoes required.
All classes meet at the African-American Cultural Center, 211 Park Street New Haven
Intro classes on four Thursdays: 10/29, 11/5, 11/12, 11/19
INTRO to BLUES 6-7:30 p.m.
Welcome to the meta-partner dance: blues dancing boils it down to the essentials. How do we communicate with a partner and dance to wonderful music at the same time? Intro to Blues gives you the tools you need. Work on connection, musicality, and basic moves you can use in your dancing. Be introduced to swing’s free, flexible, late-night sister. Guaranteed to improve your partner dancing in any tradition!
INTRO to SWING 7:30-9 p.m.
New to swing dance/ lindy hop? Have some swing experience but never learned your way around a swingout? Been leading/following and want to learn the other role? This is the class for you!!
Intermediate classes on four Sundays: 10/25, 11/1, 11/8, 11/15
INTERMEDIATE BLUES 5:30-6:45 p.m.
Already have some experience with blues? Come in on Sunday afternoons and take your pick from a smorgasbord of delicious developments for your dancing. Dips, turns, advanced connection workshops and more! The Intermediate Blues workshop format has been such a success that we decided not to limit it to a 4-week series! Payment for the month and willingness to contribute get you in every Sunday till the end of the semester. Note: Intermediate Blues starts at 5:30 PM, not 5:00 as printed on our flyers.
INTERMEDIATE SWING 6:45-8 p.m.
This is a class for dancers looking to refine their lindy. Smooth out your swingout, tweak your transitions, and vivify your dancing with musicality and variations. Familiarity with the swingout expected. Something new every week–drop-ins welcome!
Class series prices – learn more and save!
Student Price: $20 first series; $15 second series, $10 third/fourth series.
Regular Price: $30 first series; $25 second series, $20 third/fourth series.
2. Gordon Webster at Swing & Choose to Kick Off the First Annual Melting Pot weekend! Nov 13-15!
Yale Swing & Blues, WESwing & Blues, and the Connecticut Swing Dance Society are coming together this fall to host the first ever Connecticut Melting Pot swing/blues fusion weekend. We will be bringing music, teachers and dancers from all across the Northeast to run ideas together in Connecticut and see what we can cook up. We have fantastic live music: Gordon Webster playing at Yale on Friday, Solomon Douglas in Milford on Saturday. We have exciting innovative partner dance workshops taught by Emilio Estevez from Philly, Mary Christensen from New York, and Gui Cavalcanti & Jenn Martinez from Boston. We have dancers and djs coming from far and near and a spot for YOU on a couch in New Haven.
Check out the full schedule and register on the Melting Pot website. Housing and volunteer opportunities available!
Become a fan of the Melting Pot on Facebook!
Need help getting here? Start a conversation on the Melting Pot – Let’s go! event on the Northeastern Blues Traveler’s group page.
This incredible weekend starts off with Gordon playing our second annual Swing & Choose Outreach Dance, Friday, November 13. Yale Swing & Choose congratulates men who follow and women who lead, and welcomes the LGBTQ communities of Yale and New Haven. We’ll be bringing back favorite features of last year’s dance, like the “ask me to lead/follow” buttons and the Jill & Jack role-reversed social dance competition, with exciting new prizes! Whether you come to enjoy the live music, to strut your stuff, or to try on a new role, join us in celebrating that social dancing is for EVERYONE!
What: Swing & Choose Outreach Dance with Gordon Webster
When: Friday, November 13: Free lesson 8-9, band plays 9-12
Where: African-American Cultural House, 211 Park St
$12, $6 for students, FREE for first-time dancers!
Blues late-night to follow, only two blocks away from the dance.
See the Facebook event!
Swing & Choose is sponsored in part by the
Yale Graduate & Professional Student Senate
3. Halloween Swing/Blues Dance in Middletown Saturday, 10/31!
We helped them raise money for it, now it’s happening! Our sister scene at Wesleyan is throwing a Swingin’ Halloween Costume Ball with live music from Josh Fialkoff and the J-Street Band. The band will be playing Saturday, from 8-11pm, with breaks DJed by CT’s beloved Wil Reed. There’ll be a free beginner lesson from 7-8pm and a costume contest with prizes! Facebook event here.
In case you were worried, the dancing won’t stop at 11! Walk down the street to Vinnie’s Jump & Jive for Dancing in the Dark, a blackout blues bash to bring us into the wee hours. 424 Main St (corner of Wash & Main, across from New World Laser Tag), donations go to the DJs. Facebook event here.
Need a ride? Contact WESwingandBlues@gmail.com — we’ll hook you up!
4. Practicum this and every Sunday!
Come back from Middletown for your favorite FREE chilled-out New Haven dance event! Practicum runs from 8-11 PM in the Enormous Room of Yale’s Afro-American Cultural Center, 211 Park Street EVERY SUNDAY.
For those of you who want to know something about when what music will be playing at practicum, we now offer you a (very rough*) practicum SCHEDULE:
Mostly Swing: 8-9 pm;
Mixed/fusion/whatever DJ wants: 9-10 pm;
Mostly Blues: 10-11 pm.
*Music selection still at the discretion of our experienced DJs.
October 22, 2009
Exciting regional events coming up! Don’t forget to sign up for our new travelers’ list! Email molly.rubenstein[AT]gmail[DoT]com with “YS&B Travelers’ List” in the subject line.
1. New Classes Series to start 10/25: Register Now!
This month, we’ve rearranged the class schedule slightly; now both intro classes will be offered on Thursday evenings, and both intermediate classes will be offered before the practicum on Sunday afternoons/evenings. We particularly encourage intro-level dancers to sign up for both! The connection focus in blues class will help your lindy lead and follow, and learning lindy basics will help diversify your blues. Classes, as always, are open to everyone–no Yale affiliation, partner, or special shoes required.
All classes meet at the African-American Cultural Center, 211 Park Street New Haven
Intro classes on four Thursdays: 10/29, 11/5, 11/12, 11/19
INTRO to BLUES 6-7:30 p.m. Sign Me Up!
Welcome to the meta-partner dance: blues dancing boils it down to the essentials. How do we communicate with a partner and dance to wonderful music at the same time? Intro to Blues gives you the tools you need. Work on connection, musicality, and basic moves you can use in your dancing. Be introduced to swing’s free, flexible, late-night sister. Guaranteed to improve your partner dancing in any tradition!
INTRO to SWING 7:30-9 p.m. Sign Me Up!
New to swing dance/ lindy hop? Have some swing experience but never learned your way around a swingout? Been leading/following and want to learn the other role? This is the class for you!!
Intermediate classes on four Sundays: 10/25, 11/1, 11/8, 11/15
INTERMEDIATE BLUES 5:30-6:45 p.m. Sign Me Up!
Already have some experience with blues? Come in on Sunday afternoons and take your pick from a smorgasbord of delicious developments for your dancing. Dips, turns, advanced connection workshops and more! The Intermediate Blues workshop format has been such a success that we decided not to limit it to a 4-week series! Payment for the month and willingness to contribute get you in every Sunday till the end of the semester. Note: Intermediate Blues starts at 5:30 PM, not 5:00 as printed on our flyers.
INTERMEDIATE SWING 6:45-8 p.m. Sign Me Up!
This is a class for dancers looking to refine their lindy. Smooth out your swingout, tweak your transitions, and vivify your dancing with musicality and variations. Familiarity with the swingout expected. Something new every week–drop-ins welcome!
Class series prices – learn more and save!
Student Price: $20 first series; $15 second series, $10 third/fourth series.
Regular Price: $30 first series; $25 second series, $20 third/fourth series.
2. Lindy-Bomb the Women’s Table TODAY Thursday, 10/22!
We’re having a lindy bomb TODAY to get the word out about the dance TOMORROW – come dance with us in the nice weather from 5:30-6:15pm at the Women’s Table in front of Sterling Memorial Library! If you think you’ll be attending, please email sarah.larsson[AT]yale[DoT]edu — but if you haven’t emailed, come along anyway!
3. October Monthly Dance is TOMORROW Friday 10/23!
Don’t miss this month’s Yale Swing & Blues headliner event! The usual great music and good times are coming up Friday, October 23. Our fabulous DJs Wil Reed, Chris Oksanen, and Rosalind Diaz will be spinning swing tunes from 9:30 to midnight, at which point we’ll head to Chris’ apartment for our famous AFTER PARTY: food, blues dancing, and sweet, sweet music till the wee hours of the morning.
What: Monthly Dance with hopping DJs Wil, Chris, & Rosalind
When: Friday, October 23rd; free beginner lesson 8:45-9:30, dancing 9:30-12
Where: Undercroft at Christ Church, 84 Broadway, New Haven, CT (at the intersection of Elm & Park Sts.)
$8 regular admission, $5 for students
AFTERPARTY to follow, information available at the dance
If you’re interested in volunteering, bringing food, or otherwise totally making our day (and getting into the dance for FREE), please email Sarah Larsson, our new volunteer coordinator! (sarah.larsson[AT]yale[DoT]edu)
4. New, Improved Practicum this and every Sunday!
Our practicum has become so popular that we’ve decided not to let it go dark once a month! Your favorite FREE chilled-out New Haven dance event will be running from 8-11 PM in the Enormous Room of Yale’s Afro-American Cultural Center, 211 Park Street EVERY SUNDAY.
We’ve heard your feedback! For those of you who want to know something about when what music will be playing at practicum, we now offer you a (very rough*) practicum SCHEDULE:
Mostly Swing: 8-9 pm;
Mixed/fusion/whatever DJ wants: 9-10 pm;
Mostly Blues: 10-11 pm.
*Music selection still at the discretion of our experienced DJs. If no one’s dancing, they get to change the music
5. Gordon Webster at Swing & Choose 13 Nov
We are so excited to have Gordon Webster bringing his music for our annual gender-bending queer-friendly outreach dance and have Solomon Douglas playing in Milford the very next night that we’re thinking about filling in the blanks. Expect a melting pot of blues & swing and everything in between to welcome new people to our dance community and give regulars from all over the northeast a chance to mingle, exchange, and experiment (think classes, think late-nights, think mm-mm goodness). Details in the works–stay tuned!
October 16, 2009
1. New Classes Series to start 10/25: Register Now!
This month, we’ve rearranged the class schedule slightly; now both intro classes will be offered on Thursday evenings, and both intermediate classes will be offered before the practicum on Sunday afternoons/evenings. We particularly encourage intro-level dancers to sign up for both! The connection focus in blues class will help your lindy lead and follow, and learning lindy basics will help diversify your blues. Classes, as always, are open to everyone–no Yale affiliation, partner, or special shoes required.
Intro classes on four Thursdays: 10/29, 11/5, 11/12, 11/19
INTRO to BLUES 6-7:30 p.m.
Welcome to the meta-partner dance: blues dancing boils it down to the essentials. How do we communicate with a partner and dance to wonderful music at the same time? Intro to Blues gives you the tools you need. Work on connection, musicality, and basic moves you can use in your dancing. Be introduced to swing’s free, flexible, late-night sister. Guaranteed to improve your partner dancing in any tradition!
INTRO to SWING 7:30-9 p.m.
New to swing dance/ lindy hop? Have some swing experience but never learned your way around a swingout? Been leading/following and want to learn the other role? This is the class for you!!
Intermediate classes on four Sundays: 10/25, 11/1, 11/8, 11/15
INTERMEDIATE BLUES 5:30-6:45 p.m.
Already have some experience with blues? Come in on Sunday afternoons and take your pick from a smorgasbord of delicious developments for your dancing. Dips, turns, advanced connection workshops and more! The Intermediate Blues workshop format has been such a success that we decided not to limit it to a 4-week series! Payment for the month and willingness to contribute get you in every Sunday till the end of the semester. Note: Intermediate Blues starts at 5:30 PM, not 5:00 as printed on our flyers.
INTERMEDIATE SWING 6:45-8 p.m.
This is a class for dancers looking to refine their lindy. Smooth out your swingout, tweak your transitions, and vivify your dancing with musicality and variations. Familiarity with the swingout expected. Something new every week–drop-ins welcome!
All classes meet at the African-American Cultural Center, 211 Park Street New Haven
Class series prices – learn more and save!
Student Price: $20 first series; $15 second series, $10 third/fourth series.
Regular Price: $30 first series; $25 second series, $20 third/fourth series.
2. October Monthly Dance is next Friday 10/23!
Don’t miss this month’s Yale Swing & Blues headliner event! The usual great music and good times are coming up next Friday, October 23. Our fabulous DJs Wil Reed, Chris Oksanen, and Rosalind Diaz will be spinning swing tunes from 9:30 to midnight, at which point we’ll head to Chris’ apartment for our famous AFTER PARTY: food, blues dancing, and sweet, sweet music till the wee hours of the morning.
What: Monthly Dance with hopping DJs Wil, Chris, & Rosalind
When: Friday, October 23rd; free beginner lesson 8:45-9:30, dancing 9:30-12
Where: Undercroft at Christ Church, 84 Broadway, New Haven, CT (at the intersection of Elm & Park Sts.)
$8 regular admission, $5 for students
AFTERPARTY to follow, information available at the dance
If you’re interested in volunteering, bringing food, or otherwise totally making our day (and getting into the dance for FREE), please email Sarah Larsson, our new volunteer coordinator! (sarah.larsson[AT]yale[DoT]edu)
3. New Email List for Dance Event Travelers!
We’ve been struggling with the fact that there are tons of dance events that we want to go to and that we want our community to know about that are outside of New Haven, but we don’t want to load down our weekly email with too much information. So we’ve devised a plan. Anyone who gets our weekly emails who would be interested in receiving more information about events in other parts of Connecticut, in New York, Philly, Boston (even Montreal), and who might want to coordinate travel to those events with other Yale Swing & Blues dancers, email molly.rubenstein[AT]gmail[DoT]com with “YS&B Travelers’ List” in the subject line, and we’ll add you to the new panlist! We’ll send out lists of regional events we’re going to, and people can email the list to coordinate travel plans.
4. New, Improved Practicum this and every Sunday! (New Location Just This Week)
Our practicum has become so popular that we’ve decided not to let it go dark once a month! Your favorite FREE chilled-out New Haven dance event will be running from 8-11 PM in the Enormous Room of Yale’s Afro-American Cultural Center, 211 Park Street EVERY SUNDAY.
We’ve heard your feedback! For those of you who want to know something about when what music will be playing at practicum, we now offer you a (very rough*) practicum SCHEDULE:
Mostly Swing: 8-9 pm;
Mixed/fusion/whatever DJ wants: 9-10 pm;
Mostly Blues: 10-11 pm.
*Music selection still at the discretion of our experienced DJs. If no one’s dancing, they get to change the music
This Sunday, we have a scheduling conflict with AfAm, so we’ll be holding Blues classes and Practicum at GPSCY, 204 York St (just down the alley from AfAm), on the third floor. The sign outside says “Gryphon’s Pub”.
October 11, 2009
1. MeetingParty Tomorrow October 12!
Because we have SO MANY AWESOME NEW PEOPLE coming in and wanting to get more involved, we’re going to throw ourselves a party! This is the party where we hang out and plan what we’re going to do in the coming year — discuss what worked, what didn’t work, what we want to stop, start, or keep. For some of you, this is routine already, but with the addition of exciting new faces and energy. For others, who’ve just started getting involved (or communicating interest in getting involved), this will be a great opportunity to get to know who’s on the team and see how we work! (Generally, with lots of music and food and possibly — no, definitely — backrubs).
If you’re interested there’s still time to email Molly (miriam.rubenstein[AT]yale[DoT]edu) for more details.
2. October Monthly Dance is Friday 10/23!
Friday, October 23rd; free beginner lesson 8:45-9:30, DJed dance 9:30-12
Christ Church Undercroft
Elm and Park Street, New Haven, CT
$8 regular admission, $5 for students
AFTERPARTY to follow at location to be disclosed
If you’re interested in volunteering, bringing food, or otherwise totally making our day, please email Rosalind Diaz (rosalind.diaz[AT]yale[DoT[edu)
3. Save the Date: Gordon Webster / Brianna Thomas to Play Swing & Choose Fri, Nov 13
Last month we had the intergalactic swing/blues dance celebrity Solomon Douglas and his Quartet play for us. Next month we have the intergalactic swing/blues dance celebrity Gordon Webster and his band, including impossibly amazingly talented vocalist Brianna Thomas (featured on the album Blues Till Dawn), playing for us on Sunday, November 13. This will be our next Monthly Dance, and it’ll be a special one — our 2nd Annual Swing & Choose Dance, where we encourage everyone to switch roles! Last year we had follows leading, leads following, and the first “Jill & Jack” dance contest I ever heard of or participated in. It was an all around fabulous time.
October 02, 2009
1. Practicum this Sun, Oct 4; NO BLUES LESSONS
As you may or may not know, this weekend is Blues Blaze in NYC, where Steven and Virginie are giving what will no doubt be a fantastic workshop. Many of our most experienced blues dancers are going. Because of the attendance drain we seriously considered cancelling Practicum. But, last week’s practicum was sooooo much fun, with so many people present, and we talked to you all and you were all like, “I’ll totally come if you have it!”
SO, you talked us into it. By popular demand, esteemed local dancer and YS&B weekly newsletter author Richard Scalzo will personally run Practicum this weekend, 8-11 PM in the Enormous Room of Yale’s Afro-American Cultural Center, 211 Park St. For the low low price of absolutely FREE, you can: dance, hang out and watch us dance, listen to music, and/or ask questions in a relaxed & intimate setting. Richard will be playing swing and blues dance music for y’all, and offering feedback on blues and Lindy and we may have one or more additional guest DJs.
2. Lindy Lessons are STILL ON for THIS SATURDAY, Oct 3
Despite the slight shortage of blues this week, Lindy lessons are STILL ON this Saturday, October 3, 1-4 PM in the usual location!
3. Wanna Volunteer? Email Molly about MeetingParty!
Because we have SO MANY AWESOME NEW PEOPLE coming in and wanting to get more involved, we’re going to throw ourselves a party! This is the party where we hang out and plan what we’re going to do in the coming year — discuss what worked, what didn’t work, what we want to stop, start, or keep. For some of you, this is routine already, but with the addition of exciting new faces and energy. For others, who’ve just started getting involved (or communicating interest in getting involved), this will be a great opportunity to get to know who’s on the team and see how we work! (Generally, with lots of music and food and possibly — no, definitely — backrubs).
The details of this MeetingParty are still being planned, but we look forward to it being very productive and fun, so if you’re interested email Molly for more details.
4. Save the Date: Gordon Webster / Brianna Thomas to Play Swing & Choose Fri, Nov 13
Last month we had the intergalactic swing/blues dance celebrity Solomon Douglas and his Quartet play for us. Next month we have the intergalactic swing/blues dance celebrity Gordon Webster and his band, including impossibly amazingly talented vocalist Brianna Thomas (featured on the album Blues Till Dawn), playing for us on Sunday, November 13. This will be our next Monthly Dance, and it’ll be a special one — our 2nd Annual Swing & Choose Dance, where we encourage everyone to switch roles! Last year we had follows leading, leads following, and the first “Jill & Jack” dance contest I ever heard of or participated in. It was an all around fabulous time.
September 17, 2009
1. Four-Week Lesson Series Start THIS Sat & Sun, Sept 19 & 20
Yale Swing & Blues four-week class series start THIS weekend! We have the amazing and talented Kaitlin Ainsworth bringing her years of professional dance instruction to both levels of our swing classes, and everyone’s favorite practicum organizer Jenn Santiago will be leading Intro to Blues. Intermediate Blues will be team-taught by the best and brightest of the Yale/ New Haven blues scene. Sign up today to reserve your spot! All of our classes are open to everyone–no Yale affiliation, partner, or special shoes required.
INTRO to SWING 1:00-2:30 p.m.
New to swing dance/ lindy hop? Have some swing experience but never learned your way around a swingout? Been leading/following and want to learn the other role? This is the class for you!!
INTERMEDIATE SWING 2:30-4:00 p.m.
This is a class for dancers looking to refine their lindy. Smooth out your swingout, tweak your transitions, and vivify your dancing with some flashy new variations. Familiarity with the swingout expected.
Swing Classes on Four Saturdays: 9/19, 9/26, 10/3, 10/10.
GPSCY Ballroom, 204 York St.
INTRO to BLUES 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Swing’s free, flexible, late-night sister, Blues dancing boils it down to the essentials. How do we communicate with a partner and dance to wonderful music at the same time? Intro to Blues gives you the tools you need. Work on connection, musicality, and basic moves you can use in your dancing. Guaranteed to improve your partner dancing in any tradition!
INTERMEDIATE BLUES 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Already have some experience with blues? Come in on Sunday afternoons and take your pick from a smorgasbord of delicious developments for your dancing. Dips, turns, advanced connection workshops and more!
Blues Classes on Four Sundays: 9/20, 9/27, 10/4, 10/11.
African American Cultural Center, 211 Park St.
Lesson prices – learn more and save!
Student Price: $20 first series; $15 second series, $10 third/fourth series.
Regular Price: $30 first series; $25 second series, $20 third/fourth series.
2. Registration Open for Solomon Douglas Musicality Workshop
Intergalactic swing/blues dance celebrity Solomon Douglas has agreed to teach a special Workshop on Musicality for Dancers on Saturday September 26 from 6:00 to 7:30 PM. For those of you unfamiliar with Solomon, this is a great way to BECOME familiar with him, a course of action which we can heartily endorse.
The workshop is open to dancers of all levels, and will be followed later that evening by our Monthly Dance in the same venue, featuring … the Solomon Douglas Quartet! (See below for details.)
Musicality Workshop with Solomon Douglas 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Saturday September 26, 6:00 to 7:30 pm
$12 Regular; $10 Student
Christ Church Undercroft
Elm & Broadway, New Haven, CT
(The Undercroft entrance is on the Elm Street side of the building.)
3. Lindy Bomb Sterling Memorial Library TODAY 9/17
For the uninitiated, no animals are harmed by Lindy Bombs; they are best described as only slightly planned outdoor dances, mostly intended as promotional events for our club, where we hang out and dance with each other and dance at passersby and sometimes even dance with passersby if they want to dance. They’re informal, low-pressure and totally fun, especially given the really nice early fall weather we’ve been having lately.
Tomorrow’s Bomb will be held at 5:30 PM in front of Sterling Memorial Library, near the Women’s Table (approximate location here).
4. Practicum Sunday September 20
Join us for our (almost)weekly Practicum, which runs this Sunday 9/20 from 8-11 PM in the Enormous Room of Yale’s Afro-American Cultural Center, 211 Park St. For the low low price of absolutely FREE, you can: dance, hang out and watch us dance, listen to music, ask questions or get feedback from experienced dancers on specific aspects of your dancing in a relaxed & intimate setting. Our professional amateur DJs will be playing swing and blues dance music for us… come experience the swing, the blues… the swing and blues.
5. Upcoming Monthly Dance Saturday, September 26
The amazing Solomon Douglas and his Quartet will be playing for us once again at the Christ Church Undercroft at Broadway and Elm here in New Haven. A free intro swing lesson will run from 8:00 to 9:00 pm, followed by live music from 9:00 to midnight, followed in turn by a Blues Afterparty. (Directions to the afterparty will be available at the dance.) Admission is $10, $6 for students.
August 30, 2009
1. Fall 2009 Swing Bootcamp Registration Now Open!
Now’s your chance to register for the Fall ‘09 edition of our fabulous SWING BOOTCAMP!
Learn everything you need to get out on the social dance floor, in a single weekend! The basics of six-count, swing-out, blues connection and Charleston will be taught by fabulous YS&B instructors. Each day includes 3 hours of lessons with a one hour break.
All participants receive a free Yale Swing & Blues t-shirt!
All of our classes are open to everyone – no Yale affiliation required. However, space is limited, so register today!
SWING BOOTCAMP