Category: Featured

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The Grease Bawl

If you follow me on the socials you know I love a themed party and I love to connect the dots. We dance our parties at The Roma Restaurant in their Ball Room. When ever I can I try to get the theme to be a “ball”

The Grease Bawl is all about getting dressed up 50’s style. You can come in a Tee-Shirt and Jeans or dressed as a greaser with a leather jacket. Poodle skirts are not mandatory but they are encouraged! See you on the dance floor Friday, October 11th for an easy swing lesson 7-8pm and a California Style Mix of music until 10pm. It’s a great night out for $20!

Roma Restaurant
29 Middlesex st
Haverhill, Ma

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Connection Creates Direction

Connection Creates the Direction. It’s a simple sentence, at first blush, but if we dive into how it relates to leaders leading and follower’s following it proves to be quite powerful. Here is the story of how I came to discover this concept.

When I started following, 20+ years ago, I would move forward on count one because it was count one. Most of the time I would blow by the lead and realize, after it was too late, that I missed something…Connection. West Coast Swing (and the world) had not gone through any form of de-gendering. Back then 99.99% of men lead and 99.99% women followed.

Asking another man to dance was daunting task. I was on a mission to improve my connection as a follower. I was known for being a good leader so the expectations were always higher than I could deliver as a follower. With most leaders I had one shot to “impress” and I blew it time and time again. In those days I could dance 6 nights a week as a leader and maybe score one single yes to dance as a follower. No one has been turned down more than I have.

It was around this time I met Ramiro Gonzalez (click his name to see us dance). Ramiro was/is as good at following as leading. After leading him a handful of times, I worked up the courage to ask him to lead me. The dance began terribly…Ramiro, being a seasoned instructor, recognized right away what the issue was and made suggestions while we danced. We took turns swapping who was leading many more times that weekend and something clicked in my body.

The major shift was from “thinking about what to do” to “feeling where to go.” It no longer matters to my brain what the leader is actually leading. What matters is that I “back into” or “press into” the connection. When I began letting the connection create the direction, I never went back. Connected dancing is like riding a bike…once you do it you can never not do it!

This is the lesson plan I used to teach this concept:

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Connection is a Universal Language

Connection is a universal language. It’s so universal that when I have one of my main video partners record a figure with me, 95% of the time they do not know what is coming and we tape the figure in one shot. The other 5% is because I forget where I am and have to start over. The leading and following after a certain point becomes second nature and doesn’t need any help for any other language to get expressed.

Just like learning a new language some parts of connection are exactly as they appear and others seem counter intuitive. One thing that connection is not is intermittent. In the same way a pitcher must stay connected to the ball with their follow thru; dancers must stay connected with each other through the entire figure.

Leaders should be looking to be clear and precise so there is no guess work for the follower and no chance they could “pick the wrong direction.” Followers must resist the urge to anticipate any portion of the figure by “riding the leaders lead” aka “staying in the pocket.” Imagine if the baseball was able to anticipate the pitcher’s throw and left the hand early? It would be chaotic!

I have a couple of drills that I do to keep myself in the pocket when I follow that are based on Oppositional Reflex. When pushed a good follower pushes back…When pulled a good Follower pulls back…Every one of my Classes has drills that will get you Connecting Universally!

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The Black and White Ball 8/16/24

The Black and White Ball is already 25% sold out across all ticket outlets (The Band, The Roma, and myself). To ensure ample dancing space, I’ve capped attendance at 80 tickets, despite the venue’s capacity of 250.

There are a plethora of Swing dancing options across Boston and Southern NH. I’m delighted that many of you are eager to join my unique themed events! Studies suggest dancers enjoy longer lives, lower stress, and heightened adaptability in everyday life.

Few venues offer dancers the chance to groove to live music without monopolizing the floor or intimidating freestyle dancers. That’s why I’m hosting this party. Featuring live music by Planet Earth, this event promises to elevate everyone’s dance experience.

Check out the menu detailed in the flyer above. Following recent improvements by a new full-time chef, the food quality has significantly enhanced since our last gathering. Brett, the new venue owner, has been consistently upgrading amenities since fall, making our regular parties even more enjoyable.

Join us for an evening of live music, dinner, a dance lesson, and non-stop dancing—all for just $60!

Roma Restaurant
29 Middlesex St
Haverhill,Ma

Questions? Call or text Mr. J at 603-475-1391

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Show off Your Partner

You always want to show off your partner when you attend an event that has dancing. The show stoppers are always the grandparents that did ballroom dancing for years and watching them makes you want to do it so bad doesn’t it?

There is no time like the present to get you and your partner on the same page when it comes to dancing. Thursday nights at the Roma Restaurant in Haverhill, Ma (29 Middlesex St) we have a beginner friendly group of dancers that want to help your journey.

Class lasts for one hour and always starts off with beginner basics. Each 15 minute block builds on the last and before you know it you have a few patterns memorized. Following the lesson we have a guided practice session for one hour. Ask for as much or as little help as you want.

After just 2 or 3 classes you will feel very comfortable and capable of showing off your partner! Classes are a drop in format, they are stand alone (you can miss one and not get behind), and the best part is you do not even need a partner. We rotate partners every few turns so we can get the best out of each turn.

Here is the biggest selling point of this program. There is no stress! No one is using class to get ready for their next competition. No one is there to blame anyone for missed leads or missed follows. Everyone is in class to become a better dancer and to be the rising tide that raises all the ships. You will come to class a stranger and you will leave a part of our family!

Roma Restaurant
29 Middlesex st
Haverhill, Ma
$20
6:45-7:45pm Easy Swing Lesson
7:45-8:45pm Guided Practice

You can do this too!