Alberta Inspiration Saturday – Balboa!
Be inspired by your local balboa community! Check out the workshops tab for more details!
You are currently browsing the archives for the Classes category.Alberta Inspiration Saturday – Balboa!Be inspired by your local balboa community! Check out the workshops tab for more details! Alberta Inspiration SaturdayCome join local instructors Jonathan, Katie, Curtis, Tara and Tim for a day of inspiration, music, dance and community building. Check out the workshops tab for more details! AIW – Class DescriptionsFRIDAY7:30 – 8:30 COOKING SESSION
This class is not included in the regular AIW workshop registration. The cost is $5 at the door. Intermediate dancers only, partners are recommended. We will be teaching a frog jump, jump for joy, L-train (C-train) and if time the start of a fancier aerial. There won’t be any big dangers or lifting, flipping etc. Bring your jumpin’ shoes! SATURDAY10:00 – REGISTRATION 10:30 – 11:30 GREY CELL WAKE UP
Just like you start your day right with a nutritious breakfast, kick off this workshop with delicious Lindy fundamentals! Wake up to scrumptiousness with core moves & concepts, fun exercises, and food for thought. Dust off some of those fun old familiar 6 and 8 count moves, and learn some funky new ones. Try some cool combos and learn how to 11:45 – 12:45 LE PETIT PULSE
Dust off those heels, shine your best cap-toes, and “Shuffle-step” your way down to Balboa Basics for some up-tempo, fun dancing! Julie and Krystal will guide you through the basic footwork patterns and body connection, with a few fun moves thrown in along the way! Beginners welcome! Calgary joins Edmonton for an all-out Balboa exclusive event! Nicole (Calgary) and Birkley (Edmonton) will deliver an advanced Bal-Swing class that is intended to be both challenging and rewarding. Look forward to alternative endings of the bal send-out, rolls and catches, cross-overs, and other dynamic moves. Note: you must be quite comfortable leading/following the bal send-out. 1:00 – 2:00 FREE PIZZA LUNCH & LEARN
Break out of auto-pilot and spice up your dancing by taking cues from the music. Learn to anticipate the music so you can dance every song as if you already knew it by heart. All skill levels welcome, but be prepared to improvise a bit and learn about song structure during this lunch-time lesson. Pizza lunch will be provided free of charge for attendees of AIW. 2:15 – 3:15 RAWK YOUR BODY
We’re taking blues back to the basics. Come and get an introduction to blues dancing or review what you have learned in the past. We will be covering posture, frame, pulse and learning some blues movements. How do we take what we already know and make it feel more like art and less like aerobics? By infusing a healthy dose of fun times! Come with an open mind and be ready to use both your mind and your body as we explore ideas of space, emotion and creativity. We will also definitely do some dancing. 3:30 – 4:30
Leah has provided me with a most amazing description for the J&J. In order to read the full thing, please scroll to the bottom of this page. SUNDAY10:30 – HALL OPENS 11:00 – 12:00 – MAKE YOUR BODY SMILE
Matthew Isenor and Kalina Malowany will be teaching a class on how to enjoy yourselves while dancing and how to change things up so that you aren’t doing the same thing over and over. This will be a fun and innovative class that will make you think about how you dance and the infinite possibilities there are within Lindy Hop. Matthew has been dancing since he was 9 years old and has been teaching for the past 4 years. Kalina, even though she is new to Lindy Hop, has been dancing for over 18 years with a background in Ballet, Tap and Jazz. They both teach for Toe Tappin’ Swing in Calgary and really enjoy dancing up a storm! This class will be high energy and open to all levels. We will be teaching crazy ways to have fun and make your partner want to pay attention. All the moves have been collected from our travels and workshops we’ve enjoyed. 12:15 – 1:15 LE GROS PULSE
Let’s boogie like it’s 1933! Dust off your Apron, Shine your Shoes, and Pimp Walk on down to our kickin’ solo jazz class! We’re gonna Mess Around with those Crazy Legs and Spank that Baby until you Fall Off the Log, Apple Jack. You’ll be Truckin’ like Shorty George and Suzy Q in no time! Okay, no aerials in this class, but partnered Charleston is best when it feels like you’re flying. That’s what we want you to experience. 1:15 – 2:15 LUNCH 2:15 – 3:15 FANCY FEET
Believe it or not, you were born a Tango dancer. Your body knows more about Tango than you could ever imagine. This class has been designed to save you hundreds of hours trying to figure out what this beautiful dance is about. The first thing you have to do is forgetting everything you think you know and the second is coming to this class. An opportunity for all levels of dancers to add some rhythm to their feet, be it with a shuffle ball change or a syncopated beat. This will be a two-tiered tap class, so all are welcome. Come learn a cramp roll or two to spice up your swing dancing! 3:30 – 4:30 STRUT YOUR STUFF
Description: ORIGIN mid 17th cent.: from French, from Italian burlesco, from burla ‘mockery‘, of unknown origin Burlesque history(s) certainly are confusing – but how it makes you feel sure isn’t. Come learn some burlesque basics, get a taste of a couple different styles and find out why so many girls (and boys) are embracing burlesque. A different take on the classic shake! AIW – Jack and JillThis fun contest is a traditional Jack and Jill event. The contest is free to enter for every dancer who is registered for the AIW weekend, if you aren’t able to attend the weekend classes but still want to participate in the Jack and Jill you can pay $5 and join the fun. This event is open to dancers of all skill levels – our one request is that if you have been swing dancing for more than 3 years, OR if you are an instructor, OR if you are on a performance team that you enter as the “opposite” role. This means that if you are traditionally a lead, you can enter as a follow (and vise versa)! Jack and Jill’s are fun to participate in and very inspiring to watch, so please join us for this wonderful event and show off all the wonderful things you learned this weekend. Preliminaries will be held on Saturday afternoon at 3:30 pm at MidSun Community Centre – 50 Midpark Rise SE. Dancers will dance to a maximum of four songs switching partners in between each song, it will be random pairing. Songs will vary in tempo. Although you dance with a partner for the preliminaries you will be judged on your skills as a follow or a lead. Finals will be held Saturday night to live music by Johnny Summers. The dancers chosen for the finals will be partnered-up and will dance jam style. Dancers will be judged by a panel of judges and they will be judged on how much fun they have with their partner, how well they connect and how musical they are when they dance together. One of the most inspiring things you can bring to the prelims and to the finals is your joy and love of this wonderful dance, and how much inspiration you get from dancing with your partner. First prize will be awarded to the top couple from the finals. And the prize is………….free entrance to PLEX! A wonderful tradition held in the prairies, called the Prairie Lindy Exchange – it is a roving lindy exchange and this will be the 11th PLEX. This year’s theme is PLEXi Gras, and it will be held in Edmonton March 11th to 13th. For a bit more background on Jack and Jill competition check out this link AIW – Workshop Details
ALBERTA INSPIRATION WEEKEND THREE!February 18 – 20, 2011 Swing Dance Calgary has been working hard planning the 3rd installment of Alberta Inspiration and we have a great weekend planned! Two live bands, 16 workshop classes, performances, a Jack & Jill and more. We believe that Alberta is full of amazing talent, and absolutely love how this workshop brings out the best of our scenes and lets us learn and grow together, from each other. This workshop is open to dancers of all levels, and we will have two classes happening at once so that you may chose which class inspires you the most. !!!CHANGE IN LOCATION!!! Location: MidSun Community Centre (50 Midpark Rise SE) Instructors: 30*ish people that you know and love from the Alberta (and Saskatchewan) scenes, teaching classes on the things that inspire them the most! Hopefully what inspires them, will also inspire you! (Ashley, Birkley, Carolyn, Curtis, Dave H, Dave P, Eric M, Eric S, Gary, Glenn, Greg, Heather I, Heather R, Heidi, Julia, Julie, Kalina, Krystal, Luis, Matt, Nicole, Rob, Sierra, Tasha, Tracy) Schedule: You can now check out all the class descriptions at AIW – Class Descriptions. They fit into the overarching themes of Grey Cell Wake-Up, Le Petit Pulse, Rawk Your Body, Feel It, Make Your Body Smile, Le Gros Pulse, Fancy Feet, and Strut Your Stuff.
Friday Night: Friday Night with The Fedora Club at Mount Pleasant Community Hall w/ Fedora Club, & snacks! Saturday Night: The Big Band Inspiration Ball at Hillhurst/Sunnyside Community Hall, w/ Johnny Summers, Jack & Jill Competition hosted by Leah, & snacks!
REGISTRATION AIW – Full Weekend Registration – $75 This will cover the entire weekend. Workshops, bands, learning and laughter galore! Instructors – Click Here SINGLE CLASSES Single classes can be purchased for $10 each. Here is the paypal button which allows you to do that. (*note* not “singles” classes, but payment for a class if you’re only attending one, and not the whole weekend… just to clarify….). FRIDAY NIGHT with THE FEDORA CLUB Come join us Friday Feb 18th for some swing dancing to the amazing Fedora Club. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased here, at the Friday night dances, or at the door. This dance is already included if you’ve purchased the weekend pass. Beginner Drop In: 8:30 – 9:30 pm with UofC Swing’s Tasha Hansen and Erik Singendonk.
THE BIG BAND INSPIRATION BALL On Saturday February 19th, Toe Tappin’ Swing would like to invite you to a night of amazing music and dancing! Don’t know how to dance? That is ok, come out and listen to the amazing band, Johnny Summers’ Little Big Band, or join us for the beginner lesson at 8:30pm! You don’t need a partner or any experience. Tickets are $17 in advance or $20 at the door. This dance is already included if you’ve purchased the weekend pass. Beginner Drop In: 8:30 – 9:30 pm Bands Starts: 9:30 pm Tickets available: via Eventbrite http://tbbib-efbevent.eventbrite.com/ Location: Hillhurst/Sunnyside Community Hall (map)
OTHER INFORMATION Volunteers: We will need many many volunteers to help with the door, the bar, set up and take down, etc. Please let Tim know if you’re interested in helping out. We promise to give you an extra hug or two in thank you. (info@swingdancecalgary.com) Housing: Please try to organize your own housing, but if you require assistance email info@swingdancecalgary.com. If you have available space, please also email info@swingdancecalgary.com and let us know! Facebook: Just in case you want to RSVP so that everyone can see :) Questions? Talk with Heather, Curtis or Jo, or email info@swingdancecalgary.com. We’re really looking forward to this weekend, and I hope that you are too! Can’t wait to see you! ♥ July!Guess what?! Summer is here, and that makes us very happy hoppers. Here’s what you need to know for July:
Come test our your latest moves, or practice for Cabaret, or <insert other cool idea here>. 7 – 9pm at Mount Pleasant Hall! FAST! – Wednesdays in July & August Click here for all the dates and details for this awesomeness. Balboa, Lindy, Charleston, and Jam Circles?! OH MY! Register before it’s too late!
Do you have your performance ready? Cuz we’re looking forward to smiling along, and clapping at the end! Let info@swingdancecalgary.com know if you’re performing! See you there!
Come swing it up in Kensington on 10th Ave in front of Carpenters’ while tasting delicious salsa. BYOC (chips) and sunscreen. 11am – 5pm. Best part is, FREE fun! (more details from Bart on the message board) FAST!The Fast! workshop comes with all kinds of summer freedom! Take as many or as few classes as you like. They are all on a drop in basis but the more you take, the more fun you’ll have dancing the fast songs. Most classes will be taught at a level 2.0 but if you have any questions about the level, do not hesitate to ask (info@swingdancecalgary.com). Balboa – Nicole & Matt July 22 Lindy Hop – Meghan & Eric July 29 Charleston – Meghan & Eric August 5 Jam Circles- Matt August 12 June Classes!Starting June 5 we will be running another set of classes! Take your pick: Lindy 1.0 – Beginner 8 count w/ Meghan and Eric Lindy 1.5 – Version 1, Moves to Show Your Mom w/ Dave and Meghan Click on Classes to register! CHANGES!!!! The June 27 Fast Workshop has been reformatted! (aka, cancelled in its current form) We have decided to run mini workshops throughout the summer, rather than one full day. Keep your eyes peeled for the same great content, but in multiple spread out classes. We will (still) be breaking the bpm speed limit. There will be Balboa, Lindy Hop and Charleston at unheard of tempos, taught by local instructors. Stay tuned for more details! Other Excitement:
July 17 ~ Cabaret A night of entertainment of all varieties. Start preparing your act now for this fun community building event. Your act can be just about anything that is entertaining to an audience and less than 2 minutes long. Singing, playing an instrument, reciting poetry, hooping, dancing and whatever else you can think of. The last one was a great success; let’s make the second one even better! August 6-9 ~ Mountain View Music Festival Our friends the Polyjesters put on a phenomenal festival every year out in Carstairs, AB. Join us for a weekend of fun in the sun, great people and live Canadian music. Sept 11-13 ~ Joel and Louise Workshop Mark your calendars for the next big workshop. Joel and Louise are phenomenal instructors from Vancouver who have taught in Calgary, Edmonton and were featured at the recent Lindybout. They specialize in all vintage dances including Jazz, Charleston, Lindy Hop and Balboa. Their knowledge of jazz dance history will blow you away!
Frankie Manning: May 26, 1914 – April 27, 2009
With great sorrow we announce that legendary lindy hopper Mr. Frankie Manning passed away peacefully early this morning. He was 94 years of age. Frankie inspired hundreds – perhaps millions – of people and dancers worldwide. For the past ~20 years, he has traveled the world, shared his stories, and taught dancers about love and respect for one another. It’s with his influence that the swing dance community is a good, friendly community of people. Frankie’s achievements are sensational. He’s appeared in 7 films, choreography for 2 more, and he was awarded a Tony Award for co-choreography for the broadway musical “Black and Blue”. Frankie Manning created the aerial (air-step), which became a signature of swing dancing. In the 1930’s and 1940’s, he pioneered lindy hop with incredible moves, techniques, and choreography. He was the best swing dancer the world has ever seen. Farewell, Frankie Manning.
(Thanks to Birkley for his amazing words, and ability to convey the deep emotion that many of us are feeling) This Friday night at the 10th Street Stomp (May 1) we will be celebrating Frankie’s life and his legacy. Be sure to bring your biggest smile and sexiest swivels. 7:00 – 8:45 ~ Frankie95 World Wide Choreography All proceeds will go to the Frankie Manning Fund. Suggested donation is $10. 8:45 – 9:15 ~ Beginner Drop In Lesson 9:15 – 12:00 ~ 10th Street Stomp in Honour of Frankie April Beginner Lindy Hop!Lindy Hop; thousands danced it during the depression,
Swing Dance Calgary is hosting another beginner series starting Wednesday April 8th. No partner required. Wear comfortable shoes! If you’ve already taken the beginner lindy hop and fallen in love with it, please pass the word on to your friends! The Specifics Register online at www.swingdancecalgary.com/classes or email info@swingdancecalgary.com to let us know that you’ll be there New Spring Classes!
The next round of classes are starting right away! Starting, Friday, Mar 27:
Starting, Wed Apr 1:
Lindy 1.0 6-count!For those of you who took a little longer than usual to recover from New Years, we are starting our Lindy 1.0 6-count class on Jan 21, 2009. Registration is now open, so head on over to the classes page and sign up! This is a great place to start, but also a great place to return to. If you find you have a hard time thinking of 6-count moves this return back to the basics may help. It’ll add all kinds of new excitement to your Lindy! For beginners and everyone! Due to the upcoming Cabaret, we’ve opened up two additional open practice dates to help you prepare. Drop in is only $4. Bring your own material to practice!
Updates!
Don’t forget about Alberta Inspiration Weekend, happening Jan 30-Feb 1 in Edmonton. Spend the weekend getting inspired by your friendly neighbourhood prairie instructors! Workshops for 2 levels (beginner and intermediate) and classes include rhythms, fast lindy, dancing to the music, blues, solo charleston just to name a few. Happy 2009!Hurray for 2009, complete with all kinds of new excitement at SDC!
Don’t forget to sign up for classes starting January 7 and 9!
Class DescriptionsCHECK OUT THE BRAND NEW CLASSES! Introduction 1.0 These classes are taught at a beginner level. There are no prerequisites and you can take them in either order depending on what fits your schedule. We recommend that you take both before proceeding to the next level.
Lindy Hop Essentials 1.5 You will learn plenty of new moves and tricks as well as how to solidify the basics. Prerequisites: Both of the 1.0 level classes. If you have some social dance experience but have not done Lindy Hop before, this might be a good place to start, just ask us. These classes can be taken in any order, each will be different from one another. Note: The class titles are abstract and may not represent class content.
Intermediate 2.0 These classes will really push your dancing to the next level. Prerequisites: All 3 versions of 1.5. You will get the most out of 2.0 if you have been social dancing as well as taking classes.
Intermediate/Advanced 3.0 These classes are for the experienced dancers in the scene. You’ve had lots of social dance practice, taken some workshops and you’re looking to be (re )inspired and challenged. Prerequisites: Lots of social dance experience and all of the above classes.
OPEN LEVEL These classes are designed to inspire dancers of all ages, shapes, sizes and ability. Recommended: 1.0 or some other social dance basics (west coast swing, ballroom, latin, etc)
Classes FAQDo I need to register with a partner? No, you do not need to have a partner. However, we do have to keep our lead and follow ratio balanced in the class to ensure everyone is participating as much as possible. If you register individually, you will be put on a wait list and admitted to the class as balance allows. What is a lead and what is a follow? These are the two roles in all social dance. Leads generally direct the dance and the follows respond to the direction. Typically leads are males and follows are females but we’re welcoming of either choice. Often you are considered a stronger dancer if you can do both. Do I have to dance with people other than my partner in class? Yes, in swing dancing we rotate partners throughout the class. We believe that swing is a social dance and that classes should have a fun, friendly learning environment. In this atmosphere people learn as much from each other as they do from the instructors. Rotating partners is important in learning to lead and follow and we strongly encourage you to participate. If you are not willing to rotate partners in class you may wish to consider private lessons. What should I know before I step on the dance floor? See our Dance Etiquette post. What is the dress code / what type of shoes should I wear? For the regular Friday night dances, casual clothing is most common. You will see everything from jeans and a t-shirt to a fun twirly skirt, so dress in what you feel comfortable. For shoes we strongly recommend starting out with a well-loved pair of flat shoes. Often times, starting out with worn down runners or old dress shoes are best. You want to be able to slide a bit on the floor, but as you’re dancing you also don’t want blisters! High heels, unless dance specific high heels, are not recommended. Do you have a repeat rate? Yes. Once you have completed all the class variations within a level, you will receive 40% off repeat classes in that same level for the following year. For example, once you have completed 1.0 Lindy 6-count and 1.0 Lindy 8-count, you can retake these classes for 40% off. This will be refunded to you after your full-price registration is completed. LocationAll of Swing Dance Calgary’s classes and the 10th Street Stomp happen here: The Carpenters’ Hall This welcoming old hall in the middle of Kensington has become our home. With its hardwood floors and large stage it’s a great location for weekly dances and also live bands. It is block away from Sunnyside C-train station and close to many lovable pubs and restaurants. Parking is available on the north side of the hall, and can be reached from the back alley behind. Upcoming ClassesThinking Lindy Hop sounds like the best thing since sliced bread? There’s another set of Lindy 1.0 and Lindy 1.5 classes starting this week, Friday May 23. Check out Current Classes for more info, and Register! |