Friday, April 23rd, 2010
So here’s a littl ebit fo randomness to get your weekend going…don’t ask me how I came accross this, because I just don’t know. This starts out as a fun little number…then it all goes a bit crazy…
Wednesday, April 21st, 2010
Swing dancing in a haunted mansion? But of course? What more do you need for a great vintage movie clip? Maybe except the beautiful voice of Ella Mae Morse. Enjoy this vintage clip from 1944 film Ghost Catchers featuring none other than Dean Collins himself. Among the more hillarious moves I’d like to draw you attention to the numerous ‘bed bounces’….coming soon to a Swing Patrol class near you! Well, maybe not eh?
Monday, April 19th, 2010
A while back we shared a funny jitterbugging clip from the Groovie Movie, and here’s some more!
So if you ever needed a tip on how to use an aerials to dispose of a man on a dancefloor…the skip to 2:58 and a note to our Old Street Students; if it wasn’t sinking on on Monday night about letting go of that hand…check out 2:24 
Monday, April 12th, 2010
Strictly Come Dancing, I know I know…not the greatest show. I still cringe when I think of it. However, I can’t help but have soft spot for this Charleston routine to Pencil Full of Lead by Paolo Nutini. It’s such a tune!
Week 11: Ali Bastian’s Charleston – Click here for more blooper videos
Wednesday, April 7th, 2010
Ladies and gentlement check-in has officially opened for “Flight School!” the Aerials workshop with our excellent pilots Ben & Tanya. This workshop will take plac eon 24th April and will cover all new aerials…never seen before at a Swing Patrol London workshop. Excited? Thought so…Passengers are advised to make their way to check in and guarantee their place on this amazing workshop. Here’s a teasing taster of what you’ll be learning…
This is your time to fly. Give it a go…
Tuesday, April 6th, 2010
With the London Swing Festival coming up we really couldn’t resist the opportunity to give you a sneaky peek at some of your teachers. It’s probably fair to say that Dax Hock needs no introduction. Here he is with his lovely dance partner Sarah Breck at the Lone Star Championships (LSC) 2010.
This is their spotlight in the All-Star Invitational Jack & Jill Finals ( If you don’t know what that means stay tuned for our Swing Festival jargon buster!). All the competitors got 2 songs to spotlight to, the first of which was a ‘Lindy Hop song’ and the second a choice of either “Neo-Swing ” (yuck) or “Super Club Jam.” Dax and Sarah chose the latter and I have to say the results are PRETTY COOL. I cannot wait to see what they are going to teach in May. Watch and love.
Wednesday, March 31st, 2010
The title sort of says it all really. After the second world war we saw a lot more women both playing in bands and heading them up. Quite how anyone manages to conduct an orchestra whilst shimmying about in a sparkly number and balancing all those curls on top of their head is a total mystery to me. You’re unlikely to hear this number on a dance floor, complete with yelps and screams, I always think it sounds rather like the B52s if they’d been born a few decades earlier. However, thanks to the power of YouTube we can enjoy some of it’s more visual qualities.
I think i have said this before but chick+brass=winning combination. Don’t believe me? Ask this girl.
Thursday, March 18th, 2010
So you want to learn to swing dance? But you’re a bit pushed for time? Maybe you’re not sure it’s for you? Or maybe you want to nail the fundamentals before you commit to a class? Well whether you’re a workaholic, a commitment phobe or a perfectionist we have just the right thing for you. Yes, we are SO good to you that we are willing to teach you everything we know about beginner swing in ONE DAY. Our Learn to Dance in a Day workshops have been getting people off to a flying start throughout the first half of 2010. In fact they are so popular, we have been forced to run more! You may be arriving a lindy flop but by the time you leave you’ll be able to lindy hop…
This weekend we are looking for leaders for the Brick Lane workshop but we have loads more workshops booked in across London. Check out our Workshops page for more information.
Even owls can Lindy hop! Don’t believe us? See for yourself…
What are you still doing here? Go book!
Monday, March 15th, 2010
Balboa, balboa, balboa, it’s really the buzz word right now and this weekend we have a workshop with England’s ‘Mr. Balboa’ – the great Dan Guest. He is Britain’s busiest teacher of Balboa but we have managed to pin him down to share some of his knowledge with you. Time to get a taste of this wonderful dance we all love so much. Don’t we just spoil you? Oh yes we do. Register now to avoid disappointment.
AND…If you were in any doubt whatsoever as to precisely how cool Balboa is, then check out this clip of Mickey Fortenasce & Kelly Arsenault at EBC 2009. Doing the Bal to a pretty unexpected soundtrack…See you on Saturday, mullets optional.
Thursday, March 11th, 2010
To say we’ve emerged ‘fresh’ from the first of the girls only workshops with Sharon Davis last night would be stretching the truth slightly. However, we’ve all certainly emerged very excited about next week! So let us indulge ourselves for a little bit (sorry guys) with this archival clip from Night Music, a mini documentary on some of the female jazz bands of the 30’s and 40’s.
If you liked that you should check out this clip of the International Sweethearts of Rhythm. Chicks and brass are SUCH a winning combination