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2008 Summer Classes

Ryder Park Pavilion
Adjacent to Dewitt Town Hall
5400 Butternut Drive, Dewitt <go to map>  

5:30-5:45 PM
practice & extra help

~ 5:45-6:30 PM
Dance Movement Basics-1;
Swing Dance Basics+1
 (Track #1 – Novice)

~ 6:30-7:30 PM
Dance Movement Basics-2;
Swing Dance Basics+2 ;
 Lindy Hop-1
(Track #2 – Beginner)
~ 7:30-8:45 PM
Dance Movement Basics-3;
Swing Dance Basics+3;
Lindy Hop-2
(Track #3 – Advanced Beginner/
Intermediate)

 


Swing Dance Classes
(Jitterbug ~ East Coast Swing)


Introduction to Swing Basics+1 (Novice-Beginner)
        Tues 5:45 PM

This class introduces the basics of 6-Beat Swing (aka "Jitterbug" or East Coast Swing). Topics
covered include: basic footwork w/variations; basics of leading and following with easy moves
and turns; "hearing" the music; and having fun with your dancing.

<detailed description>
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Swing Basics+2 (Beginner/Advanced Beginner)
        Tues 6:45 PM

Second tier beginner footwork with advanced beginner moves and sequences
to increase fluidity and mastery of basic 6-Beat Swing. Increased emphasis
and practice re: partner connection (lead-follow) and musicality.

Requirements: Fluid Triple Swing footwork; it generally takes 2-3 months of
Swing+1 level of experience to get a solid grasp of  the required footwork .

<detailed description>
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Swing Dance Basics+3 (Advanced Beginner/Intermediate)
        Tues 7:45 PM

The primary goals of “Swing+3” are: 1)-solidify your basic Swing/Lindy Hop foundation
skills; 2)–elevate your level of dancing by introducing more advanced, more complex,
footwork and lead-follow variations. The central focus is Lindy Hop, including
patterns from ECS, WCS, Cha, and Balboa, with a strong emphasis on lead–follow
skills and musicality.  

Requirements: to qualify for this class, you must have a smooth Lindy Hop Basics
(swingout, circle and basic Charleston); generally about one full year of Swing/Lindy
Hop Dance experience; you will need moderate to strong, lead–follow skills; and
familiarity with a range of 6 and 8 beat moves and sequences at an advanced beginner
level. *Prospective students with less experience but with proper attitude, aptitude
and sufficient work ethic, may be accepted  into this class on a provisional basis,
space permitting, with instructor permission.

<detailed description>
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Swing Dance+4 Integration (intermediate/advanced)
        
Our "Integration" class is about connecting all the dots.  It's about melding swing dance
technique, enhanced lead & follow abilities and a heightened sense of musicality, into a
more fluid/fluent, unified whole, to help you create a dance that becomes more reflective
of the moods, rhythms and emotions expressed in the music.

This challenging class will help you combine & integrate more advanced level moves,
sequences and routines (including elements from Lindy Hop, East Coast Swing, West
Coast Swing, Cha, and others) into your Swing Dancing, while helping you to "not lose"
your strong positive connection to your partner, to the music, and (increasingly)  to the
other dancers in the room.

Requirements:  1-2 Years Swing dance experience including  at least a full year of
Lindy Hop experience.  Dancers need to be able to demonstrate proficiency in a variety
of advanced beginner/intermediate level Swing/Lindy Hop 6 & 8 Beat patterns and
sequences,  including fluency with Swingout, Lindy Circle & Lindy Charleston. Advanced
Beginner/Intermediate level  lead/follow and musicality abilities are also required.

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Lindy Hop

Lindy Hop+1
        Tues 6:45 PM
       
Introduces 8-Beat footwork,
swing out, Lindy Circle & Lindy Charleston.

Requirements: fluid Triple Swing footwork; it generally takes 2-3 months of
Swing+1 level of experience to get a solid grasp of  the required footwork .

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Lindy Hop+2 (Advanced Beginner/Intermediate)
        Tues 7:45 PM
       
Reviews
Lindy fundamentals and includes more advanced Charleston variations;
increased focus on musical awareness; partner connection and more challenging
routines than "Novice/Beginner". Lindy circle; basic
Lindy Charleston and simple Lindy routines

Requirements: to qualify for this class, you must be able to demonstrate fluid Lindy
Hop Basics (Swingout, Circle & Charleston w/variations) as well as mastery of mastery of
Triple Swing Footwork; you will need moderate to strong, lead–follow skills; and
familiarity with a range of 6 and 8 beat moves and sequences at an advanced beginner
level. Generally it takes about one full year of Swing/Lindy Hop Dance classes, practice
and social dancing to reach this level.
level. *Prospective students with less experience but with proper attitude, aptitude
and sufficient work ethic, may be accepted  into this class on a provisional basis,
space permitting, with instructor permission.

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Lindy Circle ––(

Beginner/Advanced beginner Lindy Hop) a chance for experienced
(and beginner) Lindy dancers to practice and get individual “coaching” related to
elevating the level of their Lindy Hop dancing.

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Group Jazz Dance

Intro to Lindy Hop Line Dancing (Beg/Adv Beg)

Low impact, and slightly aerobic, this is a great way to develop your own personal

dancing abilities, while having a lot of fun in a group dance experience--learn & practice
a challenging Shim Sham & Lindy
Charleston routine as well as a variety of challenging
6 & 8 Beat footwork patterns.

Participants need to be very comfortable with basic 6-Beat Swing.


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Jazz Line Dancing for Lindy Hoppers (adv beg/int)

We will continue to develop the Shim Sham—Charleston Choreography and introduce
new footwork variations and additional basic jazz routines in order to develop at least
one piece for public performance by the end of the 6 weeks.

Requirements: it would be helpful for you  to know Shim Sham, and some basic Lindy
Charleston. All sequences and steps will be reviewed on a weekly basis, but not
necessarily taught.  

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Basic Dance Rhythm & Movement

An "entry level" class for everyone. We will teach you a little about basic music structure
and then introduce you to a variety of basic movement patterns and "entry level" dance steps
which you will find useful for basic social partner dancing. You should find the skills you learn
here to be helpful if you decide to go on to formal dance classes afterward, particularly in Swing
Dance and/or Ballroom.

<detailed description>
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Senior Citizen Swing Dance Classes
Available as interest arises. Contact us for information for your group.

We teach a little about basic music structure and then a variety of basic
movement patterns and "entry level" Swing Dance Steps that are fun
and easy to do.

The big "hit" with this group is the music---music from your era, the 20's, 30's
and 40's. You know you're going to love this class.


<detailed description>
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Musicality Classes

 

Introduction to Swing Music (beginner/advanced beginner)

A bare bones basic “music appreciation” course for anyone interested in learning more
about the music of swing (for dancers and non-dancers alike).  We will teach you about
basic music structure, focusing in particular on the underlying basic rhythmic patterns.
You will also get a chance to practice some very simple patterns of movement to help
you begin to responding to this wonderfully compelling music.


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Musicality for Lindy Hop Dancers (intermediate)

In this class we will examine some of the basic music forms typically associated with
swing and Lindy Hop dancing (primarily jazz & blues), in order to help you develop a
“higher level relationship” with the music you’re dancing to.  In addition to recognizing
meta-structure, we will be listening for nuance and subtlety as well as for the more obvious
and recognizable changes in the music. In the Swing+2 class that follows, we will suggest
ways for you to reflect  your new “musical awareness” in your dancing


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