We mentioned this vintage clip in our Shag class recently. This is a 1937 film of Arthur Murray teaching the Shag. Pay little attention to the… um… “watered down” version of Shag that Arthur is teaching. Of more interest are the couples that come out and do the demo in the middle of the clip. These were the actual Shag dancers of the day and their style and technique are more definitive Shag.
Another fun Shag clip from back in the day was the dance scene from the 1939 movie “Blondie Meets the Boss”. As with lots of the vintage clips, don’t pay attention to the actors, but watch the “extras”. In the swing era, it was customary to hire actual swing dancers as extras in dance scenes.
Still time to join in! Due to the Labor Day Weekend break in our current classes, you can still join in on the second week. If you are interested in catching our Swing Dance or Collegiate Shag series classes, now is your chance! We will be doing a brief review before the next class (on Sept. 12th) so you can get up to speed. If you are interested in joining, please contact us.
The fall series class schedule is set! Starting on October 17th, we will be offering our most popular class, the Lindy Hop series. This class will start from scratch and teach you all the basics and fundamentals of the dance in addition to moves, technique, and style. We will also be offering the Charleston series class as the perfect compliment. This class will start with 20′s style partner Charleston and progress into 30′s style (or Lindy Charleston). It will cover everything from basics to a variety of moves and style. Both classes are great for beginners or experienced dancers looking to learn Lindy Hop and/or Charleston for the first time.
Oddly enough, this clip came up in conversation yesterday. This has to be one of the quirkiest of all the vintage swing dance shorts. This is the best quality version of it I could find online with a quick search, however, I know there are better quality ones floating around out there. I thought I would post it and share.
Oh, I probably should have said this before you hit the play button… warning… this annoying little song will get stuck in your head and drive you up the walls!
Only a few more days to register in advance for the classes that start this Sunday afternoon (Aug. 29th). Be sure to reserve your spot now and save $10 over the day-of rate!
Swing Dance Series Class: Looking to get started with swing dancing? This is the perfect class for you! This six week series class will take you step-by-step from the basic to all the essential moves and variations. The goal of the class is to make you a strong dancer that is knowledgeable and feels confident on the dance floor. To do this, the class will introduce solid lead/follow techniques and explain how the dance works as opposed to memorizing steps. No partner or previous dance experience is needed, so don’t be shy! Click here for more information and registration.
Collegiate Shag Series Class: Don’t miss your chance to learn one of our favorite dances, the Collegiate Shag! Not only can you dance to fast music with ease, but you will also have tons of fun learning something new and moving your body. The best part is that you don’t have to have any prior dance experience or knowledge to take this class; it’s designed for everyone from beginners to experienced dancers. It’s been over a year since this class has been offered so don’t let the opportunity pass you by to learn one of the swing era’s most fun and upbeat dances! Click for more information.
Below is a list of the remaining dance shoe inventory that we are running a sale on. The selection will be available for try-on and purchase at select 2nd & 4th Saturday Dances. Keep an eye on the weekly email list to see when we’ll have them out. You can also contact us if you are interested in a particular pair.
Collegiate Shag Series Class - Starting August 29th: If you have ever wanted to learn Collegiate Shag, now is your chance as it’s been a year and a half since we last taught this class! Fast paced and fun, Shag is an energetic dance that is perfect for faster tempos. It’s really EASY to learn and this class will take you from the basics to moves, variations, and style! If you can remember “slow, slow, quick, quick”, then you can learn Shag! Don’t miss your chance to learn this super fun dance and get a bit more fit in the process. Click here for more information and to register.
Swing Dance Series Class – Starting August 29th: Never danced before and want to get started? This six-week series class is designed to give you all the fundamentals of swing dancing, plus some great moves and variations. The class will feature the 6-count swing dance basic and progress into a variety of moves, turns, and combos based off of it. As with most all of the series classes, no previous dance experience is required and no prartner is required either so don’t let either one stop you from signing up! Click here for more information and registration.
We’ll be taking the summer off from teaching group classes. Our teaching schedule will resume sometime in September. We are currently working on setting the dates and classes for that time frame and should have them ready to announce soon. Be sure to check back for the latest news.
In the meantime, if you are looking to get started with swing dancing, we recommend that you go to the beginning lesson before one of the 2nd & 4th Saturday dances. This is a great way to get a head start with dancing. Not to mention, the dances are a ton of fun too! They have some great events scheduled for this summer, so don’t miss out.
Also, we will be available for private lessons during the summer months. While we may be away on occasions, most dates are available, so be sure to contact us for more info and bookings.
Think it’s too late to join the Lindy Hop class that started this past Sunday? It’s not too late because you can join in on the second week! We will offer a brief review before the next class to get you up to speed. Note – the class is closed to follows at this time, but we still have room for leads. Please contact us about joining the class as online sign-up is closed.
This class is geared for people who have never danced a step in their lives as we start you with the 6 count basic. We cover 6 count based material for the first 3 weeks, then move into the 8 count basic and moves for the remaining 3 weeks. All the while, we concentrate on how to get connection for communication and leading and how to make you more comfortable on the dance floor with Lindy Hop. Click here for more info.
That’s right folks, only 2 days left to register for the Balboa 2 Series Class or the Lindy Hop Series Class. This is your last chance to take our 6 week series classes as we will be taking July and August off. Both classes are open to all ages and no partner is required (we rotate on a volunteer basis). So hurry to sign up now before the early registration rate is gone (Sat. @ midnight is the cutoff). Register online or call/email to sign up now!
The Balboa 2 class at 2:30pm is great for anyone who already knows the basic in Balboa and is familiar with the Come Around and Toss Out (we will do a brief review of those two moves). This class is a must if you are looking to learn more Bal combos, style, or moves. Click here for more info.
Following the Balboa class at 4:00pm is our most popular class, the Lindy Hop Series Class! This class is geared for people who have never danced a step in their lives as we start you with the 6 count basic. We cover 6 count based material for the first 3 weeks, then move into the 8 count basic and moves for the remaining 3 weeks. All the while, we concentrate on how to get connection for communication and leading and how to make you more comfortable on the dance floor with Lindy Hop. Click here for more info.
Still time to join in! Due to the Labor Day Weekend break in our current classes, you can still join in on the second week. If you are interested in catching our 
Collegiate Shag Series Class - Starting August 29th: If you have ever wanted to learn Collegiate Shag, now is your chance as it’s been a year and a half since we last taught this class! Fast paced and fun, Shag is an energetic dance that is perfect for faster tempos. It’s really EASY to learn and this class will take you from the basics to moves, variations, and style! If you can remember “slow, slow, quick, quick”, then you can learn Shag! Don’t miss your chance to learn this super fun dance and get a bit more fit in the process. 
