Category: WCS General

The last few years have brought about some changes in the world of swing. Is it me does it sometimes feel like the room gets split into “us” and “them”? I guess that any room of people will have better dancers, new dancers, and even dancers that really can’t dance. The very thing that drew me to Swing was the dramatic crossover between the very best and the most challenged. We ALL used to dance with one another. It appears that this is not the case and it makes me wonder…why? Do the promoters encourage this separation by taking part in it themselves? Do the teachers take off right after class or make up excuses why they “Can’t dance tonight”? Are the DJs catering to only one group of people? Think about this as you head out dancing the next time you go. Take notice and report back…What are your thoughts? How can we as a comunity return to what we once were?

In an effort to foster a fun and inviting environment I encourage “mixing” during all of my swing events. I also keep my eyes open for dances and venues that do the same. Over the next few months I plan on drawing your attention to some events that may be a little off the beaten path but they are run by folks that have the right attitude about dancing. 

This Saturday I am teaching the lesson before DNE’s Saturday night Ballroom dance:

78 Princeton St.

N. Chelmsford, ma

$10 for the lesson

$10 For the dance

          or

$15 for both!

DJ Brenda will keep you moving through all 13 of the major Ballroom dances plus she will be playing a few extra WCS songs for you to practice your new moves!

Does anyone want to have a dance at DNE on March 29th? I have the date open in my book and would be happy to run one if people are interested :-) 

On

SATURDAY, MARCH 30, 2013 7pm-12:30am 

I will be attending

Jen Lyon’s Monthly Dance in N. Providence, RI

 6 Piece LIVE BLUES BAND! 
Featuring
JOE BARGAR & 
THE SOUL PROVIDERS  Recorded music in between sets
DJ Louie St George
Instructor
Jennifer Lyons Bloch

LOCATION:
K of C The Bouffard Council
15 Bassett Street
North Providence, RI 02904

ADULT PRICES
On or before March 27 / On or after March 28 
$30/$40 – 2 Workshops & Dance
$20/$25 – 1 Workshop & Dance
$15/$20 – 1 Workshop (no dance)
$10/$12 – Dance Only

More Details

Jen knows how to make everyone feel welcome and she encourages mixing as well. You won’t feel left out I guaranty it!

48 people showed up for our dance last Friday including half of UMASS LOWELL…IT was awesome!

John Festa is coming back for our Dance on March 8th…Mark your Calendar. He is the most prim and proper pro on the circuit. Rather than try and out dress him I thought it might be fun to horrify him a little. March 8th will be an “Ugly Sweater” Party so dig deep into the depths of your attic and find those ugly sweaters. The uglier and more miss matched the better…You get bonus points if you can give him a headache with your outfit by the time class begins!

Weekly Bloviation:

Patience is one of the most virtuous qualities a one can have in their list of characteristics that make up who they are. Who among us doesn’t know someone that we deeply respect because they have put up with us through the years. Someone who is quick to forgive and slow to judge is an indispensable partner in life and is often described as the “glue” that holds that relationship together. 

When this dance was filmed I had been teaching almost 5 years and Kim had been dancing for 3 or 4 months. Even with this obvious difference in experience she and I took turns being patient. Notice that no matter how different or “non swing” the pattern is she never panics or reaches out to reconnect. She patiently holds her place and lets me do my job. During the several disconnects during the dance (the most of any couple during that competition) I never once panicked or reached out to “fix” the problem. 

Dancing has a way of working it self out if both partners do their job and are patient with their partner. No one has to “dance up” or “dance down” to meet anyone in the middle. When your partner can trust that you will be where you need to be and is willing to wait for you when you are not nothing will ever be able to go wrong. John Festa will be running two ALL levels workshops that are both centered in Patience on March 8.

He is teaching 2 workshops:

 “The Work of The Foot” AKA Footwork for Dummies. John lives and breaths by the Acronym K.I.S.S (Keep It Simple Stupid) he is going to share how he breaks down footwork so that its not as hard to put in our dance. Everything from the basics, to how swing starts from the center and dictates how our feet move, to a couple of his favorite footwork patterns.

and

“Whip It Good” How to make your whip look good to others and feel better to your partner through the lost art of patience. Add more style, control, and power through stretching. No one whips like John and its time for him to teach us why!

 Reserve your spot for $30 for both workshops (you can pay $10 more and attend Saturday’s dance at Longfellows), the dance, a pizza party, and all the water you can drink. The event is March 8th and will sell out like the last one did so try not to put it off!

Friday: March 8th DNE 78 Princeton St. Chelmsford, Ma $30 ($40 if you want to attend Saturday at Longfellows 7:00 Pizza and Ugly Sweater Party 7:30 Lesson “The work of the Foot” 8:30 Lesson “Whip it Good” 9:30 Dancing to John’s and My Music till our feet fall off! Saturday: Longfellows 524 Boston Post Rd Wayland, MA March 9th $15 per workshop/$10 for the dance “Whip it Good the Sequel” and “Keeping the Swing in your Swing” 7-8pm and 8-9pm Dance begins at 9pm with  DJ John Festa  This Sunday: Longfellows 524 Boston Post Rd Wayland, MA $10 6:30 Lesson (Two-Step) 7:30 Dance  I am teaching only. Leadership is the manipulation of energy. Following is the embodiment of energy. Connection is the tie that binds the two together.

In the attached video the two dancers are engaged in a very high level of Jack and Jill competition. Jack and Jill’s are competitions where neither dancer knows who they will dance with nor do they know the songs they will draw. Every move is lead and followed on the fly and in real time.  Notice how good this follower (Mary-Anne)is…notice how well she follows…on your 3rd or 4th time through you may begin to see why she is considered by most to be in the top 3 of ALL time. Watch how her hips drive back at the start of every pattern.  At no point does she jump ahead or barrel past her leader (Kyle). Her skill set is completely centered around patiently waiting for her partner to commit to his pattern with his whole body before she goes. Every step she takes in every single pattern is his to do with as he pleases…In fact I would argue that she does not “follow” at all. She “checks” every action that her leader makes with an equal and opposite reaction and the results are impossible to over look. 

We are going to visit this concept at our next dance and lesson on February 15th:

Next Friday:

February 15th

$10

7:30 Lesson “Super Leading meets the Anti Follow”

8:30 Dance

This Sunday:

$10

6:30 Lesson (Two-Step)

7:30 Dance 

I am teaching and also the DJ

John Festa is coming back for our Dance on March 8th…Mark you Calendar and I will have details for you in the next couple of weeks.

I Got the call to cover Larry Mongeau for his Workshops and DJing tonight: West Coast Swing Workshops with Mr. Jonathan    7:00 – 8:00 PM Musical Hits and Accents  8:00 – 9:00 PM Moves that go round 9:00 – 12:30 WCS dance party with Mr. Jonathan     Workshops $25 for both workshops and the Dance $15 for “Moves that go Round” and the dance    $10 includes beginner lesson and dance $10 dance only Larry came down with a bad case of the flu and can not make the class. He called and asked me if I would cover, which the answer is always YES to Larry. Come down and have some fun with the music and begin to see dancing from a different side of your brain! This Sunday: I am teaching the 2Step Lesson at Longfellows 524 Boston Post Rd. $10  6:30-7:30 Then I am DJing the dance afterward 7:30-10:30 Next Saturday: I am driving down to RI for the John Festa lesson and dance. If you want to tag along I need to know in advance. He has the music and the moves so plan on a great time!       Leadership is the manipulation of energy. Following is the embodiment of energy. Connection is the tie that binds the two together.