Category: Featured

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The Importance of Taking Smaller Steps

Let’s discuss the importance of taking smaller steps in swing dancing. The baseline step size in swing dancing should be about the full length of your own foot. The connection between the leader and the follower switches between A frame and V frame inside of this small step.

When a dancer takes small steps nothing gets missed. Leaders have plenty of time to prepare their lead and followers alive at the lead with enough energy and time to preform the desired figures. If only one dancer in a partnership takes the right sized steps and the other does not the dance will limp along and most of the leads will be felt.

If the follower is taking giant steps the leader has to work harder to send good strong signals. The inverse is true as well if the follower is keeping their steps tight and the leader is the giant stepper the follower has their work cut out for them for that dance.

This is an awesome drill to help you master smaller steps in you West Coast Swing dancing. It has the 2 major footwork patterns (6&8 counts) as well as a nice reward at the end of the whip for both dancers. You can only get to the end if you keep your steps small!

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Rock The Clash Ball

This is the first ever “Rock The Clash Ball.” We have all done it. That first day of school, you get dressed up in your new favorite outfit, and get told you can’t leave the house like that…Your outfit clashes! I say let that freak flag fly on Friday, July 12th,2024 the Roma Restaurant (29 Middlesex St Haverhill, Ma) in the 2nd floor ballroom. Pair those browns and oranges, mix those neons, mashup your patterns, and don’t shy away from jet black and navy blue. I want everyone to get dressed up in THAT outfit.

The music will be a West Coast Swing Heavy California mix. The mix will be mostly crossover WCS songs that dancers can also Cha-Cha, Rumba, ECS, Night Club 2, Along with Waltz and Country Two-Step.

$20 for the night
7pm Easy swing lesson
8-10pm Dancing (and clashing)

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The Disco Ball At The Roma

Mr. Jonathan’s Disco Ball

$20 Friday June 14, 2024 7-10pm in the Roma Restaurant ballroom on the second floor at 29MiddlesexS t Haverhill, Ma

Call or text 603-475-1391 with any questions.

7PM EASY SWING LESSON
8-10PM DANCING
THE MUSIC WILL BE A CALIFORNIA MIX WITH SWING
AND HUSTLE HEAVILY FEATURED SO BREAK OUT THOSE BELLBOTTOMS, PLATFORM SHOES, AND LEISURE SUITS!

Disco balls got their start in the 1920’s as swing via “Big Band Jazz” came into popularity. Later in the 70’s they became synonymous with disco music. Although disco music is the precursor to modern day House music at its root it shares more with swing than not. From large bands, complex syncopations, multiple musical instruments featured and dramatically arranged, they both changed the musical landscape forever. Both were loved by the masses for 3.5 years and then they were both turned on by pop culture at the time only to find their resurgence later in the form of competition dancing.

Over the years I have amassed a collection of great disco swing music that blurs the lines between hustle and swing. What I love about these two dances is that they can share the floor with each other without either interfering with the other. The party will be our standard California mix with some extra swingy hustles thrown in for good measure. I hope you all join me as I celebrate the last great renaissance in musical creativity and dress like it’s the late 70’s all over again. If its vintage great…If its a cheap costume off of amazon that is great too…if its a recycled costume from last halloween its even better!

Want to learn how to swing dance? Check out my Thursday night swing class!

Here are the details:

6:45-7:00 Basics lesson (when there are beginners otherwise we begin at 6:45)

7:00-7:45 Intermediate Lesson

There will be a guided dance practice time that follows and I am available for dances and questions with plans to wrap the night up by 8:45 The restaurant closes at 9pm

The cost of the night is $20

Its held at 29 Middlesex st

Haverhill, Ma 01835

Upstairs in the Ballroom

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The Blues Ball

The Blues Ball will be a show case of my favorite Blues, Soul, and Jazz music that I have amassed as a DJ these past 25-30 years. I will pepper in some other stuff but the vast majority of the music will be in those 3 genres all while the color blue is showcased on our bodies…I have outfit ideas galore!

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February 9th – SpeakEasy Swing Dancing Dinner Party

We are in this generation’s “roaring 20’s” and no one seems to be leading the charge to bring back getting dressed up, going out for a meal, and a night of dancing in a ballroom…until now. As you know I am good friends with the owner of the Roma Restaurant awho was open to us having a swing party there and everyone had a blast!

Since this is the year my teaching career turns 21, I want to go all out and celebrate by having a black tie affair February 9th from 7-11:30pm. I would love the guys and gals that attend to really go all out and get dressed up for a swank dinner party. No one with a ticket will be turned away for being under dressed…I hope you play along but I am not forcing anyone to wear a tie. Tickets are $75 each. There will be Cash and raffle prizes for best dressed and most matched couple along with 2 levels of lessons, dinner, and a couple of surprises I am working on this and next week.

There are only 75 tickets available and 354 people on my email list…they will sell out! Tickets can be purchased at the Roma, in person, at any swing dance I am teaching/DJing at, or via the mail. Mail checks to me at:

Jonathan Barbeau
304 S. Broadway
Salem, NH 03079

Tickets can be purchased at the Roma in person, over the phone with a credit Card (978)374-8001 (The Roma’s front desk line)

The event is being held at:
The Roma Restaurant
29 Middlesex St
Haverhill, Ma 01835

Dinner 7Pm
Lesson 8Pm
Dancing 8:45-11:30
• Dinner includes:
* Salad
• Sirloin Tips
& Vegetable Medley
• Chicken Parmigian
* Rice Pilaf
* Pasta With Sauce
* Coffee/Tea
• Intermediate Lesson (Beginner Lesson Available for new comers)
• Black Tie strongly encouraged
• Cash bar
• Dancing till your feet hurt!

Do I have to dress up? No you don’t…I would like you to so you feel pretty and handsome for that night but I get that its not for everyone.
Do I have to wear 20’s attire? No you don’t you can…some will…I will be dressed to the 9’s but in modern clothing.
Do I have to bring a date? Nope…We have lots of singles signed up and have worked very hard to have a culture of dancers that all dance with each other.
Do you take Venmo, PayPal, Cashapp, or a Credit Card? I do not personally but I spoke with the Roma and They are willing to take the cards over the phone (978)374-8001. Otherwise I take checks and cash.

The Roma is also running a special running the month of February for my students. Mention to your server that I (Mr. Jonathan) sent you and you get 20% off of the food portion of your meal (not alcoholic beverages)