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...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!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
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!
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;*Music selection still at the discretion of our experienced DJs.
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!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!
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)
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;*Music selection still at the discretion of our experienced DJs. If no one's dancing, they get to change the music :)
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!
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!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)
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.
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;*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".
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.
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)
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.
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.
Despite the slight shortage of blues this week, Lindy lessons are STILL ON this Saturday, October 3, 1-4 PM in the usual location!
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 (miriam.rubenstein[AT]yale[DoT]edu) for more details.
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.
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.
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!
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.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).
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.
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.
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 BOOTCAMPSaturday 9/12 and Sunday 9/13 from 1:00 to 5:00 pm
$35 Regular; $25 Student
Christ Church Undercroft
Elm & Broadway, New Haven, CT
(The Undercroft entrance is on the Elm Street side of the building.)
As is the case (almost) every Sunday, our (almost) weekly Practicum runs TODAY from 8-11 PM in the Enormous Room of Yale's Afro-American Cultural Center, 211 Park St. (Air-conditioned! come chill!)
For those of you who haven't been before, this is a FREE anything-goes event where you show up and can do (but don't have to do) any of the following: 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, whom we don't pay but who very frankly speaking are AWESOME, will be playing both swing and blues dance music for us, so if you've never danced swing before or you've never danced blues before, you can come experience it.
Our next Monthly Dance will be our Kickoff Dance where we welcome all those new grad students and, not coincidentally, undergrads into our fold. It'll be on Friday, September 4th, in the Enormous Room of Yale's Afro-American Cultural Center, 211 Park St.
$5 general admission, $3 students. FREE for the incoming Yale (undergraduate) Class of '13 and also incoming grad/professional students.
8-9 PM: Beginner's (as in, "I just came in off the street 'cause I heard the music and what's that super awesome move you just did?") lesson. If you're all like worried 'cause you don't feel like you know what you're doing, we've got you covered! If you do feel like you know what you're doing, consider coming anyway to brush up, or to be a fabulous helpful dance partner for the new people and show them how much we love them!
9-12 PM: Music from our DJs, whose splendor and majesty must be heard to be believed.
After 12 PM: AFTER PARTY (details to follow)
Email Rosalind Diaz (rosalind.diaz[AT]yale[DoT]edu) for more info or to volunteer to help out at the dance, which we might add gets you in for FREE.
We're working hard to make this semester brim with opportunities for dance instruction! Our tried and true four-week lesson series in Lindy Hop and Blues Dance is coming soon. Check back for more information, or email Richard Scalzo to get on our mailing list!
That's right, the Yale Monthly Dance for August will be Friday 14 August, at the Afro-American Cultural Center, 211 Park Street! (Still air-conditioned!) On this occasion we're also wishing a very happy birthday to Wesleyan dance organizer Jan Marie Olownia! There'll be a beginner lesson from 8-9 PM, followed from 9-12 with live music featuring our esteemed musician friends Josh Fialkoff and Eric Heveron-Smith (plus drummer Ben Bilello). DJed music in the breaks. Blues afterparty to follow, in the same space. Admission is $10, $7 for students, lesson and afterparty included with admission to the dance.
As is customary for weekends on which we have a monthly dance. So please come out tonight (Friday) instead and show your love!
Our Fall Planning MeetingParty is happening Thursday, August 20!
The meeting will officially begin at 8pm, but for anyone free and interested, we'll be having a potluck dinner at 7pm, with dessert to coincide with the meeting at 8. When not eating or planning, there'll be music and dancing for all! Please let us know if you'll be coming to the meeting or to dinner or both, and if coming to the dinner, what you'll be bringing! RSVP to Molly at miriam.rubenstein[AT]yale.EdU or by phone at 917-543-9074.
Come prepared with feedback, ideas, and an appreciation for good food, music, and dancing! Call with any questions, or if you want to put anything on the agenda for the night.
About the MeetingParty:
When we met last August to plan the fall semester, we got a lot of people from our community into a room for food, talk and dancing, and great ideas like the "ask me to dance" shirt and the first ever YS&B bootcamp came out of it. Our reprise in January planning for the spring was a similar success. We want to make the same magic for this coming semester, and we want you to be a part of it! Thursday night we are all going to get together to put in our two cents about the upcoming YS&B events and schedule, volunteer for which bits of stuff we're going to do for the next semester, and eat and dance and catch up (maybe even exchange shoulder rubs, if we're lucky).
If you can't come, please get back to us with any feedback you might have from the past semester, or ideas for the next one! Contact Molly at miriam.rubenstein[AT]yale.EdU to pass on your great ideas.
Awww yeah, Practicum is BACK in STYLE this Sunday, 8-11 PM in the Enormous Room in Yale's Afro-American Cultural Center, 211 Park St. (Air-conditioned! come chill!)
What: YS&B Practicum, a wonderful place to play and practice!
When: Sunday August 9th, 2009, 8-11 p.m.
Who: All dancers, all experiences levels, all ages, no affiliation with Yale necessary at all
How much: FREE!
Where: AfAm House, 211 Park St, New Haven, CT
Our August Monthly Dance takes place Friday, August 14 at the Afro-American Cultural Center, 211 Park St! (Yes, still air-conditioned!)
There'll be a beginner lesson from 8-9 PM, followed from 9-12 with live music featuring our esteemed musician friends Josh Fialkoff and Eric Heveron-Smith (plus drummer TBD). DJed music in the breaks of course with the same signature DJ fun you've come to know and love. Blues afterparty to follow.
Admission is $10, $7 for students, afterparty included with admission to the dance.
We're planning to do our shopping at the CitySeed Farmer's Market in Wooster Square, aaaaand while we're over there who could fault us for putting on a little music, given the (forecasted) nice weather and open air? and of course when the music's playing we kinda have to dance, right?
If you ask me (and this is not necessarily the official opinion of the club, but if it isn't it should be), it's a heck of a lot more fun than the smooth jazz they play at the supermarket. So, BOMBS AWAY 11 AM to 1 PM this Saturday.Contact our very own Rosalind Diaz (rosalind.diaz[AT]yale[DoT]edu for more info.
Thanks to all of you who joined us with the Solomon Douglas Trio last Sunday night during our usual Practicum time slot! We couldn't just let well enough alone after that, so we're going to keep the fun going with the highly talented and devilishly charming Josh Fialkoff of the J Street Band, who we convinced to play piano for us for at this week's Practicum!
Be there: 8-11 PM in the Multipurpose Room in Yale's Afro-American Cultural Center, 211 Park St. (Air-conditioned! come chill!) FREE dancing as always, open to all and sundry. While we'd love it if Josh just played nonstop for three hours, our fabulous DJs will also be on call to mitigate the necessary evil of set breaks with their catchy home-brew blend of swing & blues. Come dance socially, and/or get feedback on your dancing in a relaxed & intimate setting. Yay!
What: YS&B Practicum, a wonderful place to play and practice!
When: Sunday June 28th, 2009, 8-11 p.m.
Who: All dancers, all experiences levels, all ages, no affiliation with Yale necessary at all
How much: FREE!
Where: AfAm House, 211 Park St, New Haven, CT
If you’ve never been to AfAm before, just go to the door of GYPSY and look to your right through that little archway—there it is!
John and John, as they're affectionately known to their fans, are bringing their quirky eclectic geek-rock hijinks to the New Haven Green this Sunday! Check it out at this link. We'll be staking out some prime real estate and bombing away! Come join us, and wear your YS&B T-shirt!
Where: Free concert on the New Haven Green
When: Sunday June 14th, 6 PM
Who: Yale Swing and Blues, passersby, concert-goers, you, everyone in New Haven at that point in time
Following the show, follow us back to the Multipurpose Room in Yale's Afro-American Cultural Center for our continuing newly relocated briskly air conditioned summer practicum!
What: YS&B Practicum, a wonderful place to play and practice!
When: Sunday June 14th, 2009, 8-11 p.m.
Who: All dancers, all experiences levels, all ages, no affiliation with Yale necessary at all
How much: FREE!
Where: AfAm House, 211 Park St, New Haven, CT
If you’ve never been to AfAm before, just go to the door of GYPSY and look to your right through that little archway—there it is!
Solomon Douglas and his Trio are coming back to New Haven! Come out and dance with us Sunday, Father's Day, June 21 at the African American House, 211 Park Street. Bring your dad! And your mom! And your mom's dad! New to swing or need a refresher? Come for a FREE introductory Swing dance lesson, 8:00-9:00 p.m. Band plays from 9 to midnight, with DJed breaks. $10 regular admission, $6 students.
Hear ye, hear ye! Graduation, and the Secretary of State, have come to New Haven and gone, but the Yale Swing & Blues Sunday Night Practicum continues! This week we are moving to our new summer location, close in proximity and far in degrees: Practicum will be at the Yale African American House, which is in the *same courtyard* between Park and York as the regular venue, GPSCY, but unlike GPSCY, is (drum roll, please) ... air conditioned, woohoo!
What: YS&B Practicum, a wonderful place to play and practice!
When: Sunday, May 31, 2009, 8-11 p.m.
Who: All dancers, all experiences levels, all ages, no affiliation with Yale necessary at all
How much: FREE!
Where: AfAm House, 211 Park St, New Haven, CT
If you’ve never been to AfAm before, just go to the door of GYPSY and look to your right through that little archway—there it is!
Where you can reprise your micro-blues at our ever-popular Sunday night practicum, featuring FREE dancing! 8-11 PM this Sunday, April 19, on the 3rd floor of GPSCY, 204 York Street.
Our fabulous DJs will be spinning swing & blues for your auditory & kinesthetic delectation, so come avoid your assignments with us, hang out, dance socially, and/or get feedback on your dancing in a relaxed & intimate setting. Consider this just a teaser, though, an opener for the big fun, which will be the upcoming ...Right next door in Mystic, CT, weekend after this coming one, will be the third annual reunion of Mystic Blues. Many fabulous teachers, including our very own Mary Christensen, and many fabulous DJs, including our very own Chris Oksanen, will be in town lending their talents to make this a fantastic weekend!
Mystic Blues, like other workshop weekends, will be great for a number of reasons. Classes (usually Sat & Sun) will be taught by top instructors, who also will be available for private lessons, to take your dancing to the next level. It will provide an immersive environment including evening social dances (and bluesy late-nites!) with dancers of all levels, letting you use what you just learned. Being in town for most or all of the weekend, you also have the option to crash overnight with gracious volunteer hosts among the local dancers, meaning you make new friends in a new town with whom you should dance a few extra dances, partly out of gratitude but mostly just because they're really awesome dancers. :)
So, check it out! Register right away! then sign up for housing! Carpool with your friends (it's only 1 hour from New Haven)! And it'll be, like, the best weekend ever. Which will prepare you for ...
YS&B welcomes Tin Pan Blues Band for our May monthly dance THIS Friday, May 1 in the Undercroft of Christ Church, 84 Broadway, New Haven, CT 06511. (The Undercroft entrance is on the Elm Street side of the building. See map.)
New to swing dance or need a refresher? We will have a FREE introductory dance lesson, 7:30-8:30 p.m. Open dancing from 8:30-11:30 p.m. $8 regular admission. $5 with student ID.download flyer
If you're looking for a way to lend a hand or a place to rest your head, contact Ben Lash, benjamin.lash[AT]yale[DoT]edu, about volunteering or housing. As always, volunteering gets you into the dance for FREE!
Want to dance in a relaxed, intimate setting where you can get constructive feedback from experienced dancers? FREE dancing 8-11 PM returns Sunday, May 10, on the 3rd floor of GPSCY, 204 York Street. Come to dance to our totally sweet swing & blues mix from our professional amateur DJs.
GPSCY 3rd Floor
204 York Street, New Haven, CT
What's a GPSCY? | Aerial View
What Is Micro-Blues? Blues Dancing is the lead-follow partner dance that is sweeping the nation, popular for combining simple, easy-to learn footwork with hot blues music and lots of room for creativity. MICRO-BLUES is a style of blues dancing that focuses on your communication with your partner and uses small changes in frame to intensify your connection and musicality. Everyone knows “less is more,” and with micro-blues techniques, you’ll see that less is more connection, more control, and more fun on the dance floor! download flyer
Saturday 4/18 12:00 - 2:00 pm
INTRODUCTION TO MICRO-BLUES
Everyone is encouraged to take the Introduction workshop!
Saturday 4/18 2:00 - 4:00 pm
ADVANCED FUNDAMENTALS OF MICRO-BLUES
Some classroom and social blues dance experience is recommended for the Advanced workshop.
Lesson prices: Regular price: $15 one class, $25 both classes
Student price: $12 one class, $20 both classes
Wear comfortable clothes and flat-soled, closed-toed shoes (tennis shoes are fine). Don't forget to grab your water bottle and come out to:
GPSCY Ballroom
204 York Street, New Haven, CT
What's a GPSCY? | Aerial View
Want to dance in a relaxed, intimate setting where you can get constructive feedback from experienced dancers? As (almost) always, FREE dancing 8-11 PM this Sunday, March 29, on the 3rd floor of GPSCY, 204 York Street. Come to dance to our totally sweet swing & blues mix from our professional amateur DJs. Or just hang out and ask wassup. That's cool too. But we think you should dance some while you're at it.
Now's your change to register for our second SWING BOOTCAMP of 2009!
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 of our classes are open to everyone - no Yale affiliation required. However, space is limited, so register today!
SWING BOOTCAMP download flyerSaturday 4/4 and Sunday 4/5
$35 Regular; $25 Student
Saturday's Session:
1:00 - 5:00 pm
2nd Floor of GPSCY
204 York Street, New Haven, CT
What's a GPSCY? | Aerial View
Sunday's Session:
2:00 - 6:00 pm
Afro-American Cultural Center
211 Park Street, New Haven, CT
See Map
Spring Recruitment Special! This bootcamp is FREE for experienced dancers accompanying a paying beginner!
Sign Me Up!!
It's that time of month again... come join us for another great Monthly Dance THIS Friday, April 3 in the Undercroft of Christ Church, 84 Broadway, New Haven, CT 06511. (The Undercroft entrance is on the Elm Street side of the building. See map.)
This edition of our monthly dance features Charleston!
New to swing dance or need a refresher? We will have a FREE introductory Swing/Charleston dance lesson, 8:00-9:00 p.m. Bring your friends and your friends' friends and their friends and we can't possibly go wrong. DJed dancing from 9:00-11:45 p.m. $5 admission. download flyer
If you're a helpful sort who'd like to lend a hand, or if you're a peripatetic sort who's coming from out of town and needs somewhere to crash, contact Ben Lash, benjamin.lash[AT]yale[DoT]edu, about volunteering or housing. As always, volunteering gets you into the dance for FREE!
Want to dance in a relaxed, intimate setting where you can get constructive feedback from experienced dancers? As (almost) always, FREE dancing 8-11 PM this Sunday, March 29, on the 3rd floor of GPSCY, 204 York Street. Come to dance to our totally sweet swing & blues mix from our professional amateur DJs. Or just hang out and ask wassup. That's cool too. But we think you should dance some while you're at it.
It's that time of month again... come join us for another great Monthly Dance THIS Friday, February 27 in the Undercroft of Christ Church, 84 Broadway, New Haven, CT 06511. (The Undercroft entrance is on the Elm Street side of the building. See map.)
New to swing dance or need a refresher? We will have a FREE introductory Swing dance lesson, 7:30-8:30 p.m. Bring your friends and your friends' friends and their friends and we can't possibly go wrong. DJed dancing from 8:30-11:30 p.m. $8 regular admission, $5 students.
Feeling helpful? Rosalind Diaz, our coordinator for this dance, is looking for volunteers to help us with those little things that we need helping with: setting up, watching the door (includes selling t-shirts and minding the email sign-up sheet), checking on water and refreshments, and cleaning up afterwards. As always, volunteering gets you into the dance for FREE! Contact rosalind.diaz AT yale DoT edu for more info.
Want to dance in a relaxed, intimate setting where you can get constructive feedback from experienced dancers? Join us for our next Sunday Practicum on March 8, with mixed Swing & Blues DJ sets. Dancing from 8-11:30 p.m. on the third floor of GPSCY, 204 York Street, while our favorite local DJs spin the tunes. FREE!
Yale Swing & Blues is proud to offer a one-day-only opportunity to improve your Swing and Blues dancing skills with two classes taught by guest instructor Orville Zharoff!
Both classes are at the Christ Church Undercroft, 84 Broadway, New Haven, CT on Friday, February 13, 2009. (The Undercroft entrance is on the Elm Street side of the building. See map.)
As with all of our events and classes, no Yale affiliation is required to participate. Register today!Friday 2/13 6:30 - 8:00 pm
WHO AM I DANCING WITH?
A connection and movement fundamentals class. Students learn to move through their center, creating necessary tension and relaxation with their partner. Static / kinetic counterbalancing, coordination warm ups, and combination exercises are used.
Friday 2/13 8:00 - 9:30 pm
ERR OUT YOUR BLUES
A creative, right-brain focused class. Students learn to learn from mistakes, a very important step to not making mistakes. Even better, students learn to make intentional mistakes to spice up the dance. Discussions of possible positions, and explorations of multiple connection points are used.
There will be open dancing at Christ Church following the classes, from 9:30 until 11:30 pm.
Lesson prices: Regular price: $10 one class, $18 both classes
Student price: $8 one class, $14 both classes
Interested in a private lesson with Orville? Contact Mary Christensen for more information!
Want to dance in a relaxed, intimate setting where you can get constructive feedback from experienced dancers? Join us for our next Sunday Practicum on February 8, with mixed Swing & Blues DJ sets. Dancing from 8-11:30 p.m. on the third floor of GPSCY, 204 York Street, while our favorite local DJs spin the tunes. FREE!
Our Blues classes for this semester begin tonight, Thursday, January 29! Swing classes start in two days on Saturday, January 31! All of our classes are open to everyone - no Yale affiliation required. However, time and space are running out, so register today!
INTRODUCTION TO SWING download flyerFour Classes Saturdays 1/31, 2/7, 2/14, 2/21
3:30 - 5:00 pm
GPSCY, 2nd Floor Ballroom, 204 York Street, New Haven, CT
Four Classes Saturdays 1/31, 2/7, 2/14, 2/21
2:00 - 3:30 pm
GPSCY, 2nd Floor Ballroom, 204 York Street, New Haven, CT
Four Classes Thursdays 1/29, 2/5, 2/12, 2/19
7:30 - 9:00 pm
Afro-American Center, 211 Park Street, New Haven, CT
Four Classes Thursdays 1/29, 2/5, 2/12, 2/19
6:00 - 7:30 pm
Afro-American Center, 211 Park Street, New Haven, CT
Lesson prices: Regular price: $30 first series, $25 second series, $20 third/fourth series.
Student price: $20 first series, $15 second series, $10 third/fourth series. Learn more and save!
While blues dancing at GPSCY on Groundhog's Eve would undoubtedly be great, it turns out that Groundhog's Eve is also Super Bowl Sunday. Football?... blues dancing?... football?... blues dancing?...
Well, now the choice is clear: you can have both! Our very own DJ Chris Oksanen is generously opening his home to us, where we can watch football, blues dance, watch football and then blues dance, watch football while blues dancing (ok, maybe not an optimal combination but in principle possible at this event) this Sunday, Feb. 1.
This is replacing the normal practicum! Don't show up at GPSCY 'cause we won't be there! Instead:
The party will be at Chris's place, 116 Foster St., New Haven. Fun starts at 5:30 PM and goes till someone wins or whenever we feel like not dancing anymore, whichever is later. It is rumored that there will be chili. Bring your own something to share. Or just come and dance.
Want to dance in a relaxed, intimate setting where you can get constructive feedback from experienced dancers? Join us for our next Sunday Practicum on February 8, with mixed Swing & Blues DJ sets. Dancing from 8-11:30 p.m. on the third floor of GPSCY, 204 York Street, while our favorite local DJs spin the tunes. FREE!
Yale Swing & Blues classes are back for the semester with the return of our wildly successful 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 lunch break.
All of our classes are open to everyone - no Yale affiliation required. However, space is limited, so register today!
SWING BOOTCAMP download flyerSaturday 1/17 and Sunday 1/18
2:00 - 6:00 pm
$35 Regular; $25 Student
Saturday's Session is at: 2nd Floor of GPSCY, 204 York Street, New Haven, CT
Sunday's Session is at: Christ Church Undercroft, 84 Broadway, New Haven, CT
Want to dance in a relaxed, intimate setting where you can get constructive feedback from experienced dancers? Join us for our Sunday Practicum, with mixed Swing & Blues DJ sets. Dancing from 8-11:30 p.m. on the third floor of GPSCY, 204 York Street, while our favorite local DJs spin the tunes. FREE!
When we met last August to plan this semester, we got a lot of people from our community into a room for food, talk and dancing, and great ideas like the "ask me to dance" shirt and the first ever YS&B bootcamp came out of it. We want to make the same magic for this coming semester, and we want you to be a part of it!
When we come back from Thanksgiving, we are all going to get together to put in our two cents on the upcoming YS&B events and schedule, volunteer for which bits of stuff we're going to do for the next semester, and eat and dance and give each other a hard time (or a shoulder rub, depending).
This meetingparty will be sometime between 12/3 and 12/13: help us decide which day and time by putting your availability into the poll at http://www.doodle.com/7yy7rg8956588pce.
Meetingparty FAQWe want to continue to bring the joy and gladness of Lindy Bomb to the Yale community during the season everyone is most in need of a pick-me-up: FINALS. Yet so many Yalies spend all of finals camped out in the Library, where they would miss any of our usual bombs. So we've decided to bring the Lindy Bomb to them! To conform with Library quiet rules, we've come up with a strategy to SILENTLY bomb the Library: Yale Swing & Blues presents iBomb!
A playlist of swing and blues music will be distributed to all participants, who will load it onto their iPod or MP3 player before meeting at a prearranged time in the cafe of Bass. On the DJ's count we'll each start our music and then proceed through the Library, spreading good cheer as we seem to dance to the music in all of our heads!
Final date and time are still to be decided (sometime between 12/10 and 12/17), but if you are interested in participating, email Katie.
Gordon Webster will be joining us next Saturday for our last monthly dance of the semester! Come and rock out to fast swing, slow blues and everything in between.
Free beginner lesson from 7:30-8:30, when the band will take over and get the dancing started. At the Center for the Arts at Christ Church, entrance on Elm Street at the intersection with Park, across from Cosi. download flyer
Entrance $8, $5 with student ID.
Blues house party to follow in New Haven. Join us for pizza and dancing late into the night; BYOB.
We would be happy to provide housing to anyone coming in from out of town who would like to stay the night. For assistance with housing or transportation, contact Jenn Santiago.
This event is sponsored in part by the Yale Graduate and Professional Student Senate
Want to dance in a relaxed, intimate setting where you can get constructive feedback from experienced dancers? This Sunday's your last chance to warm up for the big dance next Saturday with the Gordon Webster Quartet. Sunday is our weekly Practicum, now with mixed Swing & Blues DJ sets. Dancing from 8-11 p.m. on the third floor of GPSCY, 204 York Street, this week with an hour of smooth blues courtesy of special guest DJ Laura Eckelman. FREE!
Our second round of Swing and Blues classes for this semester begins on October 21! All of our classes are open to everyone - no Yale affiliation required. However, space is limited, so register today!
INTRODUCTION TO SWING download flyerFour Classes Thursdays 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13
8:00 - 9:30 pm
First Class on 10/23: Berkeley College Multipurpose Room, 205 Elm Street, New Haven, CT
Subsequent Classes: Afro-American Center, 211 Park Street, New Haven, CT
Four Classes Thursdays 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13
6:30 - 8:00 pm
First Class on 10/23: Berkeley College Multipurpose Room, 205 Elm Street, New Haven, CT
Subsequent Classes: Afro-American Center, 211 Park Street, New Haven, CT
Four Classes Tuesdays 10/21, 10/28, 11/4, 11/11
8:00 - 9:30 pm
Christ Church, 84 Broadway, New Haven, CT
Four Classes Tuesdays 10/21, 10/28, 11/4, 11/11
6:30 - 8:00 pm
Christ Church, 84 Broadway, New Haven, CT
Lesson prices: Regular price: $30 first series, $25 second series, $20 third/fourth series.
Student price: $20 first series, $15 second series, $10 third/fourth series. Learn more and save!
We had over 100 dancers at our October outreach dance last Friday! The band, The Blue Vipers, was awesome and kept the floor hot all night long—they played past midnight, and we still had to keep them for an encore. Thank you to our out-of-town dancers, including two carloads of new dancers from Wesleyan who came without even knowing how they would get back to Middletown, and to amazing dancers from Philly and NYC.
And the Jill & Jack was great! Congratulations to everyone who participated, for staying in your secondary dance role for three whole consecutive songs—you’re ambidancetrous! And congratulations to our Jill and Jack of the night, dj Dhruv Bhargava and teacher Molly Rubenstein. I know some of you were curious how organizers could be in the “competition,” but in our group, everyone is an organizer—careful, we’ll make you an officer if you stand still long enough.
If you forgot to return your button at the end of the night, we forgive you! Your only punishment is to go wear it at another dance so people will ask where you got such a cool thing. We still have “ambidancetrous” and “ask me to dance” t-shirts, $7 a piece and we will ship them to you and your loved ones.
Thanks to our sponsors, Maria Trumpler, Special Adviser to the Deans for LGBTQ issues; the LGBTQ Coop of Yale; and the McDougal Center for Graduate Student Life!
Glad the week is coming to a close? Join us for an hour of open-air dancing as we celebrate the coming weekend in our favorite spot this afternoon at 5 PM. We meet outside at the Women's Table in front of Sterling Memorial Library. Any questions or trying to find us, call 917-543-9074.
Want a lindy bomb near you? Let us know! Contact Molly Rubenstein.
Want to dance in a relaxed, intimate setting where you can get constructive feedback from experienced dancers? Join us for our Sunday Practicum, now with mixed Swing & Blues DJ sets. Dancing from 8-11 p.m. on the third floor of GPSCY, 204 York Street, while our favorite local DJs spin the tunes. FREE!
Ever wanted to learn to dance? Get a lesson series FREE when you sign up to represent Yale Swing and Blues in your residential college, grad school department, or professional school. We're looking particularly for representatives from Calhoun, Davenport, and T.D., as well as the Forestry and Divinity Schools. Volunteer 6 hours of your time per semester publicizing our events and organizing one lindy bomb; receive in exchange 6 hours of instruction from Yale's top Swing and Blues dance teachers and a complementary Yale Swing & Blues Lindy Bomb t-shirt. If you're interested, contact Molly Rubenstein for further details. download flyer
NYC Subway Idol Winners the Blue Vipers of Brooklyn will be joining us next month for our October Swing Dance! Our first-ever Outreach Dance celebrates role-reversal and same sex social dancing in the swing and blues community.
Yale Swing & Choose congratulates men who follow and women who lead, and welcomes the LGBTQ communities of Yale and New Haven. Whether you come for the music, to strut your stuff, or to try on a new role, join us to celebrate that swing dancing is for EVERYONE!
Friday, October 10, 2008
Christ Church, 84 Broadway, New Haven
Everyone welcome
Free beginner dance lesson 8-9 PM
Music and dancing 9 PM-midnight
$5 at the door.
Special this month: First time at a swing dance? Get in FREE!
Made possible with the help of Maria Trumpler, Special Adviser to the Deans for LGBTQ issues; the LGBTQ Coop of Yale; and the McDougal Center for Graduate Student Life.
Join us for an hour of open-air dancing in Stiles Courtyard this Friday, 6-7 PM. Entrance behind the Yale Bookstore on Broadway. Any questions or need help getting in, call Rosalind at 970-518-1920.
Want a lindy bomb near you? Let us know! Contact Molly Rubenstein.
Join us at Sunday's practicum to celebrate Jenn and Andrea's Birthdays, and dance in a relaxed, intimate setting where you can get constructive feedback from experienced dancers. Dancing and birthday treats from 8-11 p.m. on the third floor of GPSCY, 204 York Street, while our favorite local DJs spin the tunes. FREE!
INTRO TO SWING 8:00-9:30 p.m.
INTERMEDIATE SWING 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Four Thursdays: 9/18, 9/25, 10/2, 10/9, AfAm Cultural Center, 211 Park St.
INTRO TO BLUES 8:00-9:30 p.m.
INTERMEDIATE BLUES 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Four Tuesdays: 9/16, 9/23, 9/30, 10/7 at Christ Church Episcopal, 85 Broadway.
Missed this series? Our next month's classes begin Tuesday, 10/21. Stay tuned for more info!
Ever wanted to learn to dance? Get a lesson series FREE when you sign up to represent Yale Swing and Blues in your residential college, grad school department, or professional school. Volunteer 6 hours of your time per semester publicizing our events and organizing one lindy bomb; receive in exchange 6 hours of instruction from Yale's top Swing and Blues dance teachers and a complementary Yale Swing & Blues Lindy Bomb t-shirt. If you're interested, contact Molly Rubenstein for further details. download flyer
Yale Swing & Blues classes are back for the semester! Sign up online for your choice of FIVE class series and receive a FREE YS&B T-shirt! All of our classes are open to everyone - no Yale affiliation required. However, space is limited, so register today!
SWING BOOTCAMP NEW! download flyer
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 lunch break.
Saturday 9/13 and Sunday 9/14
3:00 - 7:00 pm
Christ Church, 84 Broadway, New Haven, CT
Four Classes Thursdays 9/18, 9/25, 10/2, 10/9
8:00 - 9:30 pm
Afro-American Center, 211 Park Street, New Haven, CT
Four Classes Thursdays 9/18, 9/25, 10/2, 10/9
6:30 - 8:00 pm
Afro-American Center, 211 Park Street, New Haven, CT
Four Classes Tuesdays 9/16, 9/23, 9/30, 10/7
8:00 - 9:30 pm
Christ Church, 84 Broadway, New Haven, CT
Four Classes Tuesdays 9/16, 9/23, 9/30, 10/7
6:30 - 8:00 pm
Christ Church, 84 Broadway, New Haven, CT
Lesson prices: Regular price: $30 first series, $25 second series, $20 third/fourth/fifth series.
Student price: $20 first series, $15 second series, $10 third/fourth/fifth series. Learn more and save!
Join Yale Swing & Blues and the Yale Tango Club in welcoming new students to the grad and professional schools this Friday, September 29, at 8 p.m. Fundamentals lessons in Tango and Swing & Blues will run simultaneously 8-9 and 9-10 p.m. at GPSCY, 204 York Street, with open dancing from 10 p.m. to midnight. Come! Dance with us, mix, get a drink at the bar. All community members 21 and over welcome.
Want to dance in a relaxed, intimate setting where you can get constructive feedback? Sunday Practicum is back, this time with mixed Swing & Blues DJ sets! Dancing from 8-11 p.m. on the third floor of GPSCY, 204 York Street, while our favorite local DJs spin the tunes. Suggested donation $2. download flyer
Solomon Douglas and his Quartet are coming back to New Haven to help us start the year right! Come out and dance with us Friday, September 5 at the Christ Church Undercroft, 84 Broadway. New to swing or need a refresher? Come for a FREE introductory Swing dance lesson, 7:30-8 p.m. Band plays from 8-11:30 p.m., with DJed breaks. $7 regular admission, $5 students -- Reserve tickets now by emailing Jason Stockmann! download flyer
Ever wanted to learn to dance? Get a lesson series FREE when you sign up to represent Yale Swing and Blues in your residential college, grad school department, or professional school. Volunteer 6 hours of your time per semester publicizing our events and organizing one lindy bomb; receive in exchange 6 hours of instruction from Yale's top Swing and Blues dance teachers and a complementary Yale Swing & Blues t-shirt. If you're interested, contact Molly Rubenstein for further details. download flyer
Fri Oct 10 -- Fundraiser Dance at Christ Church. Late-night blues party.
Tues Oct 21 + Thurs Oct 23 -- Second four-week blues and lindy lesson series begin (blues at 6:30 pm on tuesdays, lindy at 6:30 pm on thursdays). Classes run through Nov. 11 + Nov. 13.
Sat Nov 15 -- Another afternoon dance workshop! Evening Live Band dance + blues after-party.
Well look at that, how time flies, it's been three weeks since CTLX! So clearly we are long overdue for another fantastic Yale Monthly Dance.
What: Lindy Hop and a splash of Blues
When: Sat., Aug 16, 8:00-11:00 pm
Where: Enormous Room, African-American Cultural Center, 211 Park St.,
New Haven
Why: Where else will you find an awesome air-conditioned dance venue
in mid-August?
How much: $5
Refreshments! Dancing! Beautiful venue! Open to the public! Be there!
The latest in a series of outrageously successful Blues Bomb events. We're doing it yet again 'cause we just can't think of any better way to spend a Wednesday afternoon, and suspect that no better way in fact exists. Join us this Wednesday to dance to the music of the Downshift Blues Band! The farmer's market is right nearby for all your summery lunchtime picnic needs.
When: Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12-2 PM
Where: New Haven Green (east side near Church St.)
We'd love to give you (yes, you) the opportunity to host your very own Lindy/Blues Bomb, the upcoming instance of the oldest established permanent floating swing/blues dance in New Haven! Gather up your creativity and enthusiasm and contact Mary Christensen for further details.
Can you believe it? All of this semester's event dates are set. Mark your calendar so that you won't miss out. Details on locations TBA.
Fri Sept 5 -- Kick-off dance for an exciting new dance season! Word has it there will be a blues after-party.
Tues Sept 16 + Thurs Sept 18 -- First four-week blues and lindy lesson series begin (blues at 6:30 on tuesdays, lindy at 6:30 pm on thursdays). Classes run through Oct 7 + Oct 9.
(For details on volunteering to give us a hand with the kick-off events mentioned above, contact Molly Rubenstein.)
Sat Oct 18 -- Afternoon dance Workshop with fabulous out-of-town instructor. Evening Fundraiser Dance. Late-night blues party.
Tues Oct 21 + Thurs Oct 23 -- Second four-week blues and lindy lesson series begin (blues at 6:30 pm on tuesdays, lindy at 6:30 pm on thursdays). Classes run through Nov. 11 + Nov. 13.
Sat Nov 15 -- Another afternoon dance workshop! Evening Live Band dance + blues after-party.
What: Lindy Hop and a splash of Blues
When: Sat., Aug 16, 8:00-11:00 pm
Where: Enormous Room, African-American Cultural Center, 211 Park St.,
New Haven
Why: Where else will you find an awesome air-conditioned dance venue
in mid-August?
How much: $5
Refreshments! Dancing! Beautiful venue! Open to the public! Be there!
Blues Practicum on Sunday nights is CANCELLED until the end of the month. (This includes tonight, August 3 for those who were wondering.) Sunday night dancing will resume on Aug 31. Stay tuned for a venue announcement.
If blues dancing to the Cobalt Rhythm Kings and a picnic spread from the Farmer's Market aren't enough to entice you away from your office/lab/library at lunchtime, then it might be time to consider joining a different club. Stop by for free blueberries and blues dancing! We'll have rolls and fresh produce from the market so you can build your own sandwich.
Location: New Haven Green by Church St right across from City Hall
Can you believe it? All of this semester's event dates are set. Mark your calendar so that you won't miss out. Details on locations TBA.
Fri Sept 5 -- Kick-off dance for an exciting new dance season! Word has it there will be a blues after-party.
Tues Sept 16 + Thurs Sept 18 -- First four-week blues and lindy lesson series begin (blues at 6:30 on tuesdays, lindy at 6:30 pm on thursdays). Classes run through Oct 7 + Oct 9.
Sat Oct 18 -- Afternoon dance Workshop with fabulous out-of-town instructor. Evening Fundraiser Dance. Late-night blues party.
Tues Oct 21 + Thurs Oct 23 -- Second four-week blues and lindy lesson series begin (blues at 6:30 pm on tuesdays, lindy at 6:30 pm on thursdays). Classes run through Nov. 11 + Nov. 13.
Sat Nov 15 -- Another afternoon dance workshop! Evening Live Band dance + blues after-party.
Are you suffering from Post Lindy Exchange Syndrome (PLES)?
Don't let this serious condition go untreated!!
Come get your groove on WEDNESDAY on the New Haven green to the live tunes of the the blues band Bluzberry Pi from 12-2 pm!** Join fellow sufferers and spread the fever among the broader New Haven community! Raise PLES awareness and pick up some tasty farmer's market produce for lunch! We need your support!
**Side effects may include dizziness and uncontrollable urges for further dancing.
Yes! There will be lindy hop and blues dancing classes this summer!
WEDNESDAYS 7/2, 7/9, 7/16, 7/23
Introduction to Blues Dancing at 6:30 p.m.
Intermediate Blues Movement at 8 p.m.
THURSDAYS 7/3, 7/10, 7/17, 7/24
Fundamentals of Swing Dancing at 6:30 p.m.
Intermediate Lindy Patterns at 8 p.m.
All classes will be at Christ Church, in the fabulous Undercroft. Christ Church is located at 84 Broadway in New Haven, where Broadway and Elm merge between Park and York. Street parking is available, metered before 7 p.m. Classes are $15 per person for any four-week series, or $5 per class for drop-ins.
Instructor Bio:
Mary Christensen started swing and blues dancing in 2000, and has
traveled around the world dancing and teaching. Currently a law student at
Yale, she undertakes no liability for the addictive nature of blues, nor any
damages due to subsequent desires to stay up all night dancing.
We will be experimenting with the weekend (Sunday) Blues Practicum format for the rest of the summer, indulging in such things as house parties and field trips to dance to live music! Watch the panlist for announcements, or contact Mary Christensen for more details (or if you'd like to help out!).
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WHERE: Free concert on the New Haven Green
WHEN: Saturday July 19th, 6 PM
WHO: Yale Swing and Blues, passersby, concert-goers, you, everyone in New Haven at that point in time
WHY: Because swing dancing gets our hearts pumping and we should share the feeling with the rest of the world!
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Yes! There will be lindy hop and blues dancing classes this summer!
WEDNESDAYS 7/2, 7/9, 7/16, 7/23
Introduction to Blues Dancing at 6:30 p.m.
Intermediate Blues Movement at 8 p.m.
THURSDAYS 7/3, 7/10, 7/17, 7/24
Fundamentals of Swing Dancing at 6:30 p.m.
Intermediate Lindy Patterns at 8 p.m.
All classes will be at Christ Church, in the fabulous Undercroft. Christ Church is located at 84 Broadway in New Haven, where Broadway and Elm merge between Park and York. Street parking is available, metered before 7 p.m. Classes are $15 per person for any four-week series, or $5 per class for drop-ins.
Instructor Bio:
Mary Christensen started swing and blues dancing in 2000, and has
traveled around the world dancing and teaching. Currently a law student at
Yale, she undertakes no liability for the addictive nature of blues, nor any
damages due to subsequent desires to stay up all night dancing.
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There will be NO blues practicum on Sunday (July 20) this week! However, everyone is invited to roadtrip to Boston for a blues house party Saturday night and a blues studio opening and blues bomb Sunday. Contact Mary Christensen for more details.
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The Connecticut Lindy Exchange is a yearly event when dancers all over the country are invited to our venues to dance for three days and two nights. Going to a lindy exchange is one of the most rewarding experiences of dancing, which is why people travel thousands of miles to do it. This lindy exchange is happening right here in New Haven, Milford, and Middletown, and there will be two excellent swing bands -¿ The Fried Bananas and the Solomon Douglas Quintet -¿ and special visiting dj¿s. So sign up now to meet great out-of-town dancers and hear amazing music!
ESPECIALLY URGENT: All those great out-of-town dancers will need a place to stay! While they could, in theory, just get hotel rooms, it is traditional at lindy exchanges for dancers to host other out-of-town dancers during their stay, to save their guests money and to show them hospitality. If you live in Connecticut near New Haven and have a spare bed, couch, futon or floor, and you want share the love, click here to offer your space.
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News for April, 2008:
Brenda will be coming over from the West Coast to visit and teach classes in New Haven on May 8 and 10. Classes are as follows:
$10/class ($8/class for students), at Christ Church:
Thursday, 5/8, 6-7:15 PM
Pure Balboa Basics
The original Balboa was danced in crowded ballrooms, this style is
perfect for the small dance clubs we love to dance to live music in.
Foundational Balboa patterns and variations to keep you dancing
musically in the tightest of dance spaces.
Thursday, 5/8 7:30-8:45 PM
Crossovers
Transition into one of the LA Swing basics of the 30's. Crossovers
use an in and out/pivoting dynamic to create a little more space for
play and variation.
Kicks Out and In
Another of the LA Swing basics common to today's Bal Swing dancing.
Also known as "Lollies" after Lollie Snowden, this dance has an easy
twisting and kicking action. Brenda will break down transitioning in
and out, as well as fun variations.
$35 for all four ($30 for students), or $10/8 per class, at Christ Church:
Saturday, 5/10 12 PM
Slow Dance Fundamentals
Brenda will cover a 12ct basic mixing in hesitations and transitioning
smoothly in and out. Next she will work on timing variations as well
as changing the character and body movement to fit various music
styles.
Saturday, 5/10 1 PM
Ad-ins
Brenda will teach pivots, traveling, and lunges for spice and variety,
furthering your mastery of the movements.
Saturday, 5/10 2 PM
Frame Changes
This class will progress on to opening and closing into promenade
position and back, as well as cross position and resolving to allow
for more variety of movement on the floor.
Saturday, 5/10 3 PM
Turns
You've got the room, now let's have fun with it. We will play with
inside and outside turns, then learn Brenda's favorite new move, "the
free turn into spoon position!"
Brenda will also be available Thursday through Sunday, May 8-11, to teach personalized lessons to individuals or groups. Private lessons are $70 for 50 minutes or $100 for 80 minutes, and can be arranged with Brenda directly by contacting her at: brenda at dancemode dot com
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We've got just one more lesson left in each of our popular series, taught by experienced dancers from the Yale Swing Dance Society. You can still drop in for $5/lesson. Lessons are open to all Yale affiliates and to the public.
Class descriptions:
Lindy Fundamentals: The starting place for anyone learning to lead or follow lindy hop for the first time, and perfect for the dancer of any experience level who wants to focus on great technique, this class will cover the movement, timing, and connection components of the swing-out and other basic swing dance patterns.
Lindy, Beyond the Fundamentals: The next four classes in the ongoing Beyond the Fundamentals series, for all dancers comfortable with the basic patterns of lindy hop. We will continue to improve our technique through learning new movements and movement phrases, including turns, swing-out variations, and possibly the Charleston!
Intro to Blues: Four classes designed to teach a new blues dancer how to feel the pulse in blues music, how to use the floor, and how to communicate with a dance partner through blues connection. We will cover the foundational posture and movement of this improvisational dance, plus partner-dancing frame and certain jazz dance movements commonly co-opted for blues.
Blues Movement: For all dancers familiar with the rhythm and connection of blues dancing, this class will continue to focus on technique and musicality through movement phrases—patterns of moves from the jazz tradition, from microblues, or inspired by tango.
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News: 01-09-08
Saturday, January 26, 8:00 pm - midnight
African-American Cultural Center, 211 Park St
Practicum 8:00-8:45
Open dancing 8:45 pm - midnight
January getting too cold? Come get into the groove with the Yale Swing Society! Swing tunes by DJ Dhruv followed by late-night blues music with Jonathan Janis.
There will be no lesson, but the practicum is a great opportunity to work on your dancing one-on-one with club officers on hand. Use this time to practice dance steps, ask officers how to improve your dancing, or learn new moves.
$5 at the door. Open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
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What: Blues practicum
Where: GPSCY, 204 York St, New Haven
When: Sunday, 12/16, 9PM-midnight
Who: All ages are welcome.
Cost: FREE
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Email bauhaus2 AT gmail DOT com for advance tickets.
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The Yale Swing Society is pleased to present the Solomon Douglas Swingtet for our big swing dance of the semester.
Join us for a twlight outdoor dance at the Women's Table near Sterling Memorial Library. *** weather permitting *** If it's raining or drizzling, assume that the Lindy Bomb has been called off.
If you're still interested in coming to the lessons, email bauhaus2@gmail.com to see if there is any room in the classes. There will also be both intro and intermediate dance classes later this semester and in the spring, so stay tuned.
Come out to meet other dancers, to show off what you’ve learned in the lessons, or just to get the flavor of social swing dancing at Yale. Quick beginner lesson at 8:00 pm, open dancing at 8:45 pm. $5 cover. Refreshments provided.
Welcome back to New Haven!
We have the perfect line-up of events for people who would like to try out swing dancing. Plus, both new and returning dancers can enjoy our campus-wide monthly dance on Sept 28.
Come out and swing dance with us at twilight. Or just watch club officers as they demonstrate fun swing dance styles. Meet at 7:00 pm at the Women's Table on Cross Campus in front of Sterling Library
Learn Lindy Hop from awesome local instructors Mike Shvartsman and Molly Rubenstein! You’ll be swing dancing in under a month! It's the perfect way to prepare for our monthly dance. Four lessons for only $15. Lessons are followed by a one-hour practice session that is free and open to all club members. Location: TBD (check this site soon for location and registration info)
Come out to meet other dancers, to show off what you’ve learned in the lessons, or just to get the flavor of social swing dancing at Yale. Quick beginner lesson at 8:00 pm, open dancing at 8:45 pm. $5 cover. Refreshments provided.
Monthly Dance: Practice session at 8, open dancing at 9:00!
Friday, July 27th at Sage Hall, Yale Forestry School. 205 Prospect St.
Directions: From I-91, take exit 3 to Trumbull St. At the light, go straight for about four blocks. Turn RIGHT onto Prospect St. After about two blocks, 205 Prospect St will be on the right. Park in the street. Enter from the back of the building.
Monthly Dance: Lessons at 8, dancing at 8:45!
Friday, June 29th at Sage Hall, Yale Forestry School. 205 Prospect St.
Directions: From I-91, take exit 3 to Trumbull St. At the light, go straight for about four blocks. Turn RIGHT onto Prospect St. After about two blocks, 205 Prospect St will be on the right. Park in the street. Enter from the back of the building.
Gallery update: pictures from April's Fourth Friday dance! Thanks to Michael from CSDS for the photos.
Christ Church Episcopal
84 Broadway (enter from Elm Street)
New Haven, CT
Beginner Lesson 8:00
Open Dancing 8:45- midnight
$5 cover- tonight's proceeds benefit the Christ Church Soup Kitchen!
Refreshments will be served
Lessons will be followed by a dance practice session at 9:00 PM
Taught by experienced Swing Club officers
211 Park Street (behind GPSCY)
Lessons take place on the following dates:
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*** Note change of location and date this month ***
ACES ECA DanceSpace
70 Audubon St
Lower Level
(down the block from Koffee)
Beginner Lesson 8:15
Open Dancing 9:15 - midnight
$5 cover
Refreshments will be served
DJ Dhruv Bhargava
Grads: Want to look classy at the Winter Ball?
Come to learn the moves at Yale's "Fourth Friday" Swing Dance.
Free Lessons! Friday, Feb. 23
NOW TAKING PLACE AT 84 BROADWAY, CENTER FOR THE ARTS @ CHRIST CHURCH EPISCOPAL
DJ Chris Oksanen
Beginner (East Coast) Lesson: 7:30 PM
Intermediate (Lindy Hop) Lesson: 8:15 PM
Open dancing 9:00 - 11:30
FREE! Refreshments will be served.
bauhaus2@gmail.com or 315.450.3309 for more info.
Come to Yale's "Fourth Friday" monthly swing dance at Sage Hall!
Friday Jan. 26 at Sage Hall, 205 Propect St (Forestry School). Mike
Shvartsman will DJ. Beginner lesson at 8:00, open dancing 8:45 - midnight.
Refreshments will be served. Tickets $5.
Spring Schedule?
Check back for our spring semester schedule and date/location of our first
meeting!
A new list is being put together for those who would like to hear about more than just our weekly events over at Yale. Interested in hearing about trips to more CSDS events? To NYC and Boston? About cool CT workshops? About general swing coolness? Email Mike to get on the new swing-junkies list!
Another new list is a list for the fine folks with cars who don't mind carpooling with Yale swing dancers. If you're willing to be on that list, you should let Mike know. This places you under no obligation, it just means you'll get an email a little while before a trip announcement, checking if you can drive, and will allow me to announce the number of car spots we have.
Come to meet other dancers and swing to the stylings of Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, and other jazz greats, as well as music by modern bands. Spread the word and bring friends!
As promised, the swing club will be offering a beginner weekend workshop with professional instructors Mark Murphy and Rachel Wilde. The workshop will run 1pm-6pm on Sept. 30th, with a food / hanging out break 3-4pm. The cost is $7 per person, which includes 4 hours of professional instruction and pizza (or some other tasty food). Register early to guarantee yourself a spot!
Registration is done online at our registration form. If you're having trouble with the form, email me! Hope to see everyone there!
The evening of the 30th (that's the day of the workshop), Vinnie's jump and jive in Middletown is having a swing dance. Vinnie's is one of our favorite venues, and their dances are awesome . There's a beginner lesson 7:30-8:30 and then dancing until 11:30. We're probably going around 8:30, so if you're going to miss our beginner blitz and want to catch their quickie lesson, you should let me know and I'll see if we can get a car to go early. $3 for dance only with student ID ($8 for intro lesson and dance).
Swing Club's first meeting is this Tuesday at 8, in the BK Multipurpose room. There will *not* be beginner instruction there, but there will be music for dancing, hanging out and possible pizza-eating.
Directions: To get to the BK multipurpose room, come into BK college from the Elm Street side, make an immediate right into the common room area and another immediate right, whereupon you'll see stairs down. The door to the multipurpose room is downstairs and around the back of the staircase (signs will be posted).
We had a great turnout at our table at the freshman activities bazaar! Stay tuned for information on a weekend "beginner blitz" coming up in the next few weeks! If you missed the sign up and would like to hear about swing events or get on our list, email Mike Shvartsman.
Some of our graduate members are starting a graduate chapter of the swing club. Watch this space for more details. If you missed the signup and would like more info, email Jason Stockmann.
Critically-acclaimed instructor Noelle Gray will be teaching a Lindy Hop basics workshop and a Blues basics workshop (some Lindy required) at the ECA on Audobon for three weeks starting tomorrow (Wednesday, Aug 9). For more information, see the CSDS site.
Vinnie's Jump and Jive is having another one of their dances this weekend (a special 2nd Saturday dance this month!). More information on the Vinnie's Website.
Starting this Tuesday, Vinnie's Jump and Jive in Middletown will be having a beginner Lindy workshop, as well as a "10,000 moves" workshop for more intermediate dancers. During this time, there will not be formal beginner workshops offered by the Yale club (though beginners are, as always, welcome at all our meetings for more informal learning). More information is on their website. Can provide or need transportation? Email Mike Shvartsman
Mostly confirmed: in August, Noelle Gray will be teaching a Lindy-Hop basics workshop in the ECA on Audobon street (practically on campus, right by Koffee). More information forthcoming as we get closer to the date.
Additionally, Vinnie's will be having a "West-Coast for Lindy-Hoppers" workshop on Tuesdays in August. West-Coast swing is a great-looking, fun swing dance, and can be danced to a lot of music besides swing. Some Lindy experience is required for this.
This Saturday (July 8th), the CT Swing Dance Society (CSDS) is having its Membership Party in West Haven. There will be DJing, a potluck dinner for those interested, and there are rumors of a chocolate fountain(!). More info is on their website. Interested in joining the group going? Need a ride or can give one? You know the drill, email Mike.
On Saturday, July 1st, Vinnie's Jump and Jive in Middletown will be having their next monthly dance. It's a great venue, with great music and great people. Beginner lesson at 7:30, dance at 8:30. $10 for dance and lesson, $5 for dance only, $2 discount for full-time students with ID. Interested in joining the group going? Email Mike Shvartsman!
On Saturday, June 24th, FairWest Swing is having "Swing 100," a one-day 4-hour swing fundamentals workshop at Weston, CT. It's $60, $50 if you preregister. See their flier for more information. If you need a ride there or can provide one, email Mike Shvartsman.
This Friday, June 16th at 8:30 is the next bimonthly CT Swing Dance Society "Review and Practice Party" at NEAT in North Haven. During the first 1.5hrs, experienced dancers from the local community will be available to answer questions, offer suggestions and dance with beginners. Afterwards, there is 1.5hrs of DJ'd dancing ($10 at 8:30, $5 after 10:00). If you're interested in joining the group going (and/or can help by driving there), email Mike.
Some of our recent events have been slightly targeted at beginners. If you're an intermediate/advanced dancer and would like to take a workshop this summer, email Mike Shvartsman.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR GRADUATES, PHILLIP AND KATIE! |
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To get on the Summer Swing Society panlist, e-mail Mike! There should be enough swing dancers in town this summer to organize something! Check this page in the next few days for updates.