The weekend is here again, offering a whole plethora of opportunities to get out and dance! All we have to do is get through Friday. So here is a bit of lunch break inspiration fodder to get you in the mood This clip is from the film Stormy Weather (1943) and features Cab Calloway doing a version of the Jumpin’ Jive. It features an amazing tap break from the Nicholas Brothers about half way through. By the way, anyone who knows for sure what it means to like your eggs on the ‘Jersey side’….PLEASE let us know.
To say we’re pretty excited to be offering GIRLS ONLY EVENINGS with Sharon Davis from Wed Mar 10, 17 & 24 is a bit of an understatement. Sharon hails from Perth Australia but these days spends spends most of her time teaching and performing around the world with her dance partner Juan Villafane (Argentina), and dance troupe The Killer Dillers. Sharon is also a founder of Australian burlesque company Sugar Blue Burlesque, with which she has delighted audiences with her graceful feather fan dances and sassy showgirl antics. You can see her show reel here..
Sold? Yeah….we thought so. Register now to avoid disappointment! Sharon will be teaching two course at two levels in Solo Jazz for Girls and Josephine Baker (Bananas optional). This is an amazing treat for the ladies…! Never heard of Josephine? Allow us us enlighten you…
Hang on hang on! Despite the dodgy title…it’s not what you think. That said, there’s more flashes of satin pants in this than your average Anne Summers. Take a look at this great vintage clip we stumbled accross on YouTube. A bit of a Swinging threesome if you will. Albeit a classy version. Oh the moves….
Hands up if you enjoyed the Balboa workshop with Joel Plys and Evita Arce last night. Mmmm….learning Balboa from two international stars? Who wouldn’t enjoy that? Well,we thought any Spotify users among you might appreciate a Spotify playlist with some Balboa – slow and fast, new and old. Enjoy!
All you new Bal addicts should hurry and get signed up for Balboa: Beyond the Basics workshop with Heidi Salerno and Steve Garrett on the 4th March. Famous for their amazing and creative footwork, Steve & Heidi teach Balboa as it was done by the old-timers and Bal-Swing & LA Style Lindy Hop with their very own style and flair and what they call JitterBal, their fun and exciting combination between Balboa and Lindy Hop. They ALSO broke the Guinness World Record for “Most Dance Spins by a Couple in a Minute” at Balboa on the River in Brisbane, Australia on September 18, 2009. The old record….a dizzying 113 was upped by Heidi & Steve to 116 Spins in a minute! If you don’t believe me, watch them in action here.
Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to carry on improving your Balboa. Register now! Share
I know it’s very British to talk about the weather but hasn’t it been funny lately? On the weather theme take a look at this brilliant clip from the 1942 film “The Powers Girl” featuring Benny Goodman. If you watch closely through the rain and the ‘old movie’ haze there’s some lovely dancing from Dean Collins and Jewel McGowan. Not to mention a whole load of sliding around. Enjoy
I remember the first time I ever saw Ina Ray Hutton I wanted to be her. I mean who wouldn’t want to be an all singing, all tap dancing, female band leader?! What’s NOT to love?
Ina was one of the only only prominent female leaders during the big band era. Ina started dancing when she was just eight years old and in 1934 she started one of the most famous all-girl jazz bands of the 1930’s, the Melodears. She was known for her deadly combination of great band leading and her seductive stage persona. People called her the Blonde Bombshell of Rhythm. she once said “I’m selling the show as a music program, not on a sex-appeal basis . . . But if curves attract an audience, so much the better.”
The Melodears disbanded at the end of the thirties and in 1940 she went on to lead an all-male orchestra….and all without putting a single pin-curl out of place. If you’re not familiar with her work, see her in action in this YouTube clip Doin’ The Suzy Q.
Now I don’t know about you, but where I come from bugger is a rude word….this weekend we have a great workshop showing you how easy and fun it can be to compete. The London Swing Festival is just around the corner but if you’re new to competing this workshop could be just the thing to get you warmed up. Remember, this is supposed to be fun! No one expects you to be as good as the dancers in this clip! But, as usual, here’s some Jitterbug inspiration from way back in the day. Watch it close and see if you can’t pick up some tips…
Busy on Wednedsday night? Well cancel it. If you haven’t already signed up then now is the time to get your name down for the Balboa crash course (very low emphasis on crashing btw) at the Littern Tree on Wednesday night. Scott and Lynelle will be walking you through the basics and getting you warmed up for our workshops with Joel Plys in Febrary and Dan Guest in March.
The first type of swing dancing I ever saw was Balboa and I fell in love with it immediately. I challenge you to not do the same
This workshop has now sold out! For those of you who didn’t manage to book on this time, worry not, we will be running another one Sat April 24th For those of you that did, what better opportunity to watch some YouTube clips and get yourself all excited for your flying lesson?
This clip is from the film Stormy Weather (1943) and features Cab Calloway doing a version of the Jumpin’ Jive. It features an amazing tap break from the Nicholas Brothers about half way through. By the way, anyone who knows for sure what it means to like your eggs on the ‘Jersey side’….PLEASE let us know.
I remember the first time I ever saw Ina Ray Hutton I wanted to be her. I mean who wouldn’t want to be an all singing, all tap dancing, female band leader?! What’s NOT to love?