If you are interested in volunteering at the door, please Contact TTS. Hope to see everybody out on the dance floor! Bring a friend and have a great time.

www.ToeTappinSwing.com

Swing Dance Calgary would like to take this opportunity to wish our community

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Unfortunately, our dances and classes are now done for the season.  There will be dances up and running at our new venue, Mount Pleasant Community Hall, starting January 8th.  Check back later to get updated details!

Charleston Penguins photo by Sean Steele

Join us as we say farewell to our time at Carpenters’ Union Hall, and have our end of year bash!

Date: Dec 11, 2009

Entertainment:
The Polyjesters (polyjesters.com)
If you haven’t seen these fellows play, this is your chance! Amazing people, and amazing musicians, the Polyjesters are sure to knock your socks off.
AND! As if they aren’t incentive enough, they will be bringing their fiddler, Jonathan Lewis, too!

Band starts at 9:30pm.

Price:
$15

(and bring a little extra for our cash bar!)

Drop In Lesson:
Come learn a mini routine from 8:35 – 9:30pm. Heather & Carolyn will get you messin’ around in no time to one of the Polyjesters’ favourite songs!

Dress Code:
Your holiday season or swing finest! Wear that extra spinny skirt, or your suspenders, and don your favourite hat.
**Don’t worry, starting January 2010, dances will still be on Fridays, but will be held at Mount Pleasant Community Hall (602 – 22nd Avenue NW). Toe Tappin’ Swing, in association with Swing Dance Calgary, have decided that it’s time to switch it up. Mount Pleasant is a lovely hall, and we’re looking forward to the move.

ANNOUNCEMENT:

As many of you are aware , the Calgary swing dance scene has a new member. Matthew Isenor has come to our city with many hopes. One of these is to contribute to our existing scene not only by becoming a member but he also has big desires to create another company for everyone. Matthew has started TOE TAPPIN’ SWING. He will offer exciting lessons , dances and expand the Lindy Hop experience.

We at Swing Dance Calgary are very excited about this and would like everyone to know we fully support all of Matthew’s intentions. SDC will continue to operate and will participate with Toe Tappin’ Swing on many events.

So, let’s all welcome Matthew and contribute to making our scene even better.

SDC board members

Swing Dance Calgary is looking for volunteers for Friday’s 10th Street Stomp!  Are you available?

Check out the Volunteer Page for details on the variety of positions!

THANKS TO OUR CURRENT VOLUNTEERS!

(Volunteer Stats for September & October thus far – Name followed by number of times volunteered)

Charles 2, Joanna 1, Carla 2, Michael 4, Ryan 1, Nicole 2, Greg 2, Tasha 2, Dave 3, Jo 2, Shelley 1, David 1, Bobbie 1, Matt 2, Timothy 2, Heather I 2, Curtis 3, Amber 1, Margaret 2, Aron 2

Also thanks to our Coordinators
Dana – DJ Coordinator
Dave – Dance/DJ Equipment Coordinator, and Finances
Jo – Volunteer Coordinator

Due to an unfortunate double booking that Carpenters’ Hall made, we have had to cancel this week’s dance.  Therefore:

NOVEMBER 6
NO 10TH STREET STOMP

We’ll be back as usual the following week, Nov 13.  See you then!

Welcome to our dance at Carpenters’ Union Hall!
301 10th Street NW, Kensington

Every Friday!

Dance starts at 9:15
$7, $6 for Students

Drop-In Beginner Lesson 8:45-9:15
Included in Admission!

Drop-In Beginner Lessons give you a taste of the movement and music involved in Lindy-hop. They run with a variety of themes including 20’s or 30’s Charleston, Jigs and Six-Count Lindy.  Come and find out which lesson will be this week!

This October 30th, come to your favourite swing dance dressed in your favourite and/or most original costume!

Toe Tappin’ Swing and Swing Dance Calgary are teaming for an evening of awesome. Be prepared for competitions, prizes, and a whole lot of fun.  And keep your ears open for some Halloween theme music.

Drop In Lesson will be Micheal Jackson’s Thriller routine, taught by Ashley and Heather. So bring your friends, come early (8:45pm), and learn this memorable dance!

(Deets: The same as your usual 10th Street Stomp.  Drop In Lesson at 8:45, dance at 9:30.  Carpenters’ Union Hall, Kensington)

If you’re interested in helping out, please contact Matt Isenor at matthew@toetappinswing.com

October 16 – 18, 2009

Sugar Swing Edmonton is hosting another amazing workshop, this one with Todd & Ramona!  Registration is now open (links at the bottom), and SDC looks forward to seeing you there!

Todd Yannacone and Ramona Staffeld, both part of the highly regarded “Silver Shadows” performance group, are international performers, instructors, and competitors. Each has won titles at the most prestigious competitions, including the Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown, Rhythmic Arts Festival, US Open Swing Dance Championships, All Balboa Weekend, American Lindy Hop Competition, and many more. Both have taught and performed at Herrang Dance Camp in Sweden, Camp Jitterbug, Barswingona, amongst others.

Class Schedule:

Saturday

9:45: Check-in
10:00-11:00: Fertilize Your Lindy!
11:15-12:15: Spirits and Slides
12:15-1:45: Lunch!
1:45-2:45: Bountiful Balboa
3:00-4:00: Spins and Turns Ho-down

Sunday:

10:45: Check In
11:00-12:00: Fancy Footwork
12:15-1:15: Blue Moon
1:15-2:30: Lunch!
2:30-3:30: Jazz and the Beanstalk
3:45-4:45: Silver Shadow Faves

Featuring Live Music by The Don Berner Quintet on Saturday night!

Early bird price of only $105 for intermediate and $125 for advanced if registered by Sept 30!

Registration now open at Sugar Swing
Official Facebook Event
Official “Calgary Goes To” Facebook Event

It’s that moment you’ve all been waiting for! Registration for the Joel & Louise Workshop is NOW OPEN! So click on over to http://swingdancecalgary.com/workshops/ where you can find all the details.

Workshop Dates: September 11 – 13

EARLY BIRD DEADLINE: September 5 at Midnight
Only $92 until then, so be sure to take advantage!

Confirmed!
The Bow Djangos will be performing for us on the Saturday night. Dance only tickets are also available on the website!

This workshop we are testing out a two stream system – intermediate and advanced. Both streams will take 6 classes total (3 per day). 1 class each day will be with only your stream, allowing you to focus on specific questions, and the other 2 will be with the entire group, allowing you to mix and mingle and socialize with everyone. The cost for both streams will be the same. Please read through the descriptions on the website and register appropriately.

Out-of-towners:
If you are able to arrange housing on your own, please do so. If you are in need of housing, please say so in the “Note” box in paypal, or send an email to info@swingdancecalgary.com. Bobbie will arrange housing for you and let you know a week before the workshop.

In-towners:
If you have housing available please let me know in the same way as above.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to drop Jo a line or email info@swingdancecalgary.com

This is where you can find the Wild Rose Church Hall. It is located just west of Centre Street on 13th Ave. Easiest access is from the lights on 12th Ave.

View Larger Map

On behalf of Swing Dance Calgary, Jo would like to invite you to Community Cafe!
Date: August 12
Time: 8:30 – 10pm
Place: Mount Pleasant Community Hall, 602 – 22nd Ave NW

Have some great ideas that will make SDC better? This is your chance to share those ideas!

This structured discussion will begin promptly at 8:30pm, so please arrive on time. (It happens to be immediately after the Fast! Jam Circles workshop taught by Matt)

Things to bring:
- your thoughts
- a cushion to sit on
- coffee/tea/other to drink

I can’t wait to see our scene grow and transition, and look forward to hearing your ideas on how that can happen!

If you have any questions, please don’t hesistate to contact me at jkpesta at gmail dot com.

• Sun and Salsa Festival – July 19th

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)  We are looking for some volunteers to man the booth, so please let us know if you can help out!

• New  Classes

FAST! – Wednesdays in July & August starting July 22!

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!

• Joel & Louise Workshop – September 11 – 13th

Make sure you save the date in your iPhone/Google calendar/Agenda for this will be an awesome workshop.  Registration will open soon!

Guess what?!  Summer is here, and that makes us very happy hoppers.  Here’s what you need to know for July:

• Open Practice – July 13th

Come test our your latest moves, or practice for Cabaret, or <insert other cool idea here>.  7 – 9pm at Mount Pleasant Hall!

• New  Classes

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!

• Cabaret – July 17th @ 9pm

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!

• Sun and Salsa Festival – July 19th

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)

Friday July 17
Doors Open 8:45pm
Show Starts 9:00pm

How much? Bring a couple bucks as a donation to the Swing Dance Calgary Workshop Fund.  And also a couple bucks for some beer or wine.

What to wear? Dress up a little, because it’ll be more fun that way.

There will be NO Beginner Drop-In Lesson, this week only.

Dance starts after Cabaret, at around 9:30pm.

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!

Starting June 5 we will be running another set of classes! Take your pick:

Lindy 1.0 – Beginner 8 count w/ Meghan and Eric
Fridays, 7:45 – 8:45pm  4 classes – $50

Lindy 1.5 – Version 1, Moves to Show Your Mom w/ Dave and Meghan
Fridays, 6:30 – 7:30pm 4 classes – $50

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!

Finally spring is starting to show signs of its arrival.  In excitement for the warm weather and sun to come, we are pleased to share some important upcoming dates.

May 15 ~ Open Practice Session

7pm-845pm @ Carpenters’ Union Hall.   Come practice everything you learned at the workshop! There will be no instruction but bring your notes, youtube clips and ideas to practice a thing or two with a friend. Be sure to have something in mind before you show up. Cost $5

June 27 ~ Fast Workshop

Get ready for a full day of mind blowing, heart racing fast dancing! We will 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 and possibly the announcement of live (fast) music!

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!

Just a heads up that the 10th Street Stomp on Friday MAY 8 has been CANCELLED.

This dance has been cancelled as the majority of us are heading up to Edmonton for the Sharon & Juan Workshop.  So we’ll either see you in Edmonton, or see you again next week, May 15, same time same place!

(They are looking for leads for the class, email birkley@sugarswing.com to join in!)

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)

7:00 – 8:45 ~ Frankie95 World Wide Choreography
This was created by Peter Strom and Ramona Staffield with all of Frankie’s best moves to honour his birthday. If you are attending the event in New York, you won’t want to miss this! The class will be at a 1.5 (intermediate) level. Please watch the video to get a feel for the choreography, as the class will move quickly.

All proceeds will go to the Frankie Manning Fund. Suggested donation is $10.

8:45 – 9:15 ~ Beginner Drop In Lesson
Regularly scheduled drop in lesson with Ashley and Greg

9:15 – 12:00 ~ 10th Street Stomp in Honour of Frankie
Dress up a little, there will be lots of swinging out and of course a Shim Sham.