BEGINNING SWING - tba
No Prerequisite

Swing Dancing is a worldwide favorite partner dance that was created right here in America. Swing is an offshoot of the Charleston.

Swing developed during the Jazz Era of the 1920s as an 8-count dance then known as the Lindy Hop. As time passed, the Lindy gave birth to a 6-count offshoot that became known as "Swing". This was the major dance of the celebrated Big Band Swing Era of the 1930s and 40s. Later when Rock 'n Roll came along, a popular triple step variation of Swing known as Jitterbug became the partner dance of choice during the 50s and 60s.

Swing returned to the forefront of national attention in the late 90s and remains one of the best partner dances ever developed. Swing is particularly useful because it can be used to a wide variety of dance music.  

RUMBA - THE LATIN DANCE OF ROMANCE - Jill
No Prerequisite

The Rumba is a slow, very elegant dance that is quite sensual and provocative.  Think of the song "The Look of Love" and get the picture of a woman with slow, graceful hip motion dancing to well-known Waltz and Foxtrot patterns.

The Rumba was a popular dance in Cuba before World War II. It was introduced into America in the 1920s and 30s.

Rumba is sometimes called the "Latin Waltz" or "Waltz with a Sizzle". Indeed the patterns to both dances are practically interchangeable while the "Look" of the two dances is completely different.

The Rumba is a "spot dance" because it is danced in one spot on the floor. The character is romantic and sexy due to the style known used cuban hip motion.

Danced to certain popular music (e.g. the Beatles’ classic “And I Love Her”) and to slow beautiful Latin rhythms (Besame Mucho), a modern use for the Rumba is to slow jazz music such as Diana Krall's "The Look of Love" or Celine Dion's "Falling into You". It is an exceptionally graceful, sensual dance that is fairly easy to learn.

SWING CHARLESTON - Maureen
No Prerequisite

The fascinating Charleston kick patterns are a major part of the Lindy Hop. However they can just as easily be used to a Swing system as well. This courses covers Side by Side  Charleston patterns and shows you how to get in and out of them using Swing 6-beat timing.

Swing Charleston Classic patterns include Bus Driver, Kick and Rock, Side by Side Charleston, and Crossed-Hand Charleston as well as others. Many people are not aware that the Lindy originated out of the Charleston. In particular, the “Side by Side” and “Crossed-Hands” patterns were pretty much the first Lindy patterns ever used when Lindy was making its breakout from the Charleston in the 1920s.

Please note this is an Advanced class, so if you are a beginner, steer clear. Thanks!!

SLOW DANCING - Marla
No Prerequisite
Couples only and NO Switching

This is the one dance class that any man with an ounce of common sense should take.  As a word to the wise, there are moments in every man's life when the ability to dance gracefully to romantic music is mighty important. 

There are special occasions like the First Dance at weddings, a fancy New Years Eve party, or a torch song at a nightclub that call for the Art of Formal Dancing.

You could be on a cruise, you could be on a date, you could be at a party, or the moment could come as a complete surprise. The smart ones learn how to Slow Dance AHEAD OF TIME.  As they say in the Boy Scouts, be prepared.  You never know when you will need to learn how to Slow Dance.

As Time Goes By, there are moments when the ability to slow dance gracefully becomes the most important skill in the world. If you don't have that skill, you're out of luck. 

Just like the ability to change a tire comes in pretty handy at unexpected times, when the opportunity to turn on the charm arises, a sophisticated gentleman should know ahead of time how to gracefully lead his partner on the dance floor. And when he sees her smile, he smiles to himself because he knows exactly what we are talking about here.  When it comes to l'affaire d'amor, you do not want drop the ball.

This course covers ways to Slow Dance gracefully with several footwork combinations. We explain how different songs may require different timing and footwork.

INTERMEDIATE SINATRA FOXTROT - Rick
For Advanced Dancers and graduates of Western Waltz

Sinatra Foxtrot is an Accelerated class. It assumes you have completed two months of Western Waltz. If you don’t know what a Triple Twinkle is ahead of time, you will struggle in this class.

Foxtrot is the high society forerunner to the Texas Twostep. But oddly enough, many of the advanced Foxtrot patterns are strikingly similar to Western Waltz.

This class was offered at Christmas time last year.  It was extremely popular. Women love Sinatra and they love to dance. Consequently they loved this class!

There are three good reasons for you guys to take this class:
1) It will help you review your Western Waltz patterns
2) You will find that practically everything you know to Western Waltz can be transferred to Foxtrot
3) Best of all, the ladies will love you for learning how to lead this dance. So when I play “New York, New York” at our Party, you guys will be ready to shine!
 

STEVE’S FAVORITE
ADVANCED SWING PTNS - Steve

Prerequisite:  Adv Swing/Ladies Better Know how to Turn in Advance

No telling what Steve has cooked up for you, but don't expect much mercy. Steve likes to be very tricky!!

You are about to learn some of his favorite Advanced Swing patterns!

Please note this is an Advanced Swing class, so if you are a beginner, steer clear because it isn't fair to hold up the class. Thanks!!