News: 04-29-08

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1. Balboa & Blues Classes with Brenda Collins, May 8 & 10!

Brenda will be coming over from the West Coast to visit and teach classes in New Haven on May 8 and 10. Classes are as follows:

Balboa & Bal-Swing (register here)

$10/class ($8/class for students), at Christ Church:

Thursday, 5/8, 6-7:15 PM
Pure Balboa Basics
The original Balboa was danced in crowded ballrooms, this style is perfect for the small dance clubs we love to dance to live music in. Foundational Balboa patterns and variations to keep you dancing musically in the tightest of dance spaces.

Thursday, 5/8 7:30-8:45 PM
Crossovers
Transition into one of the LA Swing basics of the 30's. Crossovers use an in and out/pivoting dynamic to create a little more space for play and variation.
Kicks Out and In
Another of the LA Swing basics common to today's Bal Swing dancing. Also known as "Lollies" after Lollie Snowden, this dance has an easy twisting and kicking action. Brenda will break down transitioning in and out, as well as fun variations.

Blues (register here)

$35 for all four ($30 for students), or $10/8 per class, at Christ Church:

Saturday, 5/10 12 PM
Slow Dance Fundamentals
Brenda will cover a 12ct basic mixing in hesitations and transitioning smoothly in and out. Next she will work on timing variations as well as changing the character and body movement to fit various music styles.

Saturday, 5/10 1 PM
Ad-ins
Brenda will teach pivots, traveling, and lunges for spice and variety, furthering your mastery of the movements.

Saturday, 5/10 2 PM
Frame Changes
This class will progress on to opening and closing into promenade position and back, as well as cross position and resolving to allow for more variety of movement on the floor.

Saturday, 5/10 3 PM
Turns
You've got the room, now let's have fun with it. We will play with inside and outside turns, then learn Brenda's favorite new move, "the free turn into spoon position!"

Private Lessons (register by e-mailing Brenda)

Brenda will also be available Thursday through Sunday, May 8-11, to teach personalized lessons to individuals or groups. Private lessons are $70 for 50 minutes or $100 for 80 minutes, and can be arranged with Brenda directly by contacting her at: brenda at dancemode dot com

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2. Spring Swing w/Yale Jazz Ensemble, Wednesday, April 30!

Yale's very own Jazz Ensemble will be playing LIVE in the Saybrook Courtyard (Entrances on Elm Street between High and York Streets) from 9-11:30, this Wednesday, April 30. Molly and Mary will get the evening started with a Beginner Swing Lesson from 8-9 p.m. Come join us! (All non-Yale affiliates and Graduate Students are encouraged to join us; however, without key-card access to undergraduate colleges, it may be difficult for you to get into the Saybrook Gate. With the event going on, there should be enough students going in and out to open the gate for you, but if you're anxious about entry, show up to the Elm Street gate closer to York by ten minutes to 8, and we'll let you in.)

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3. Lesson Series Finishes This Week

We've got just one more lesson left in each of our popular series, taught by experienced dancers from the Yale Swing Dance Society. You can still drop in for $5/lesson. Lessons are open to all Yale affiliates and to the public.

Lindy Hop Fundamentals -- 6:00-7:15 pm on Thurs. 4/10, 4/17, 4/24, and 5/1

Lindy, Beyond the Fundamentals -- 7:30-8:45 pm on Thurs. 4/10, 4/17, 4/24, and 5/1

Intro to Blues -- 3:00-4:15 pm on Sat. 4/12, 4/19, 4/26, and 5/3

Blues Movement -- 4:30-5:45 pm on Sat. 4/12, 4/19, 4/26, and 5/3

Classes will be held at Christ Church Episcopal, 84 Broadway, New Haven.

Any changes in location will be announced both in class and over class e-mail lists.

Class descriptions:

Lindy Fundamentals: The starting place for anyone learning to lead or follow lindy hop for the first time, and perfect for the dancer of any experience level who wants to focus on great technique, this class will cover the movement, timing, and connection components of the swing-out and other basic swing dance patterns.

Lindy, Beyond the Fundamentals: The next four classes in the ongoing Beyond the Fundamentals series, for all dancers comfortable with the basic patterns of lindy hop. We will continue to improve our technique through learning new movements and movement phrases, including turns, swing-out variations, and possibly the Charleston!

Intro to Blues: Four classes designed to teach a new blues dancer how to feel the pulse in blues music, how to use the floor, and how to communicate with a dance partner through blues connection. We will cover the foundational posture and movement of this improvisational dance, plus partner-dancing frame and certain jazz dance movements commonly co-opted for blues.

Blues Movement: For all dancers familiar with the rhythm and connection of blues dancing, this class will continue to focus on technique and musicality through movement phrases—patterns of moves from the jazz tradition, from microblues, or inspired by tango.

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4. Come out and experience Yale's hot new blues dancing scene!

What: Blues practicum

Where: GPSCY Senate chambers, 204 York St, 3rd Floor

When: Every Sunday night, 8-11 PM

Who: All ages are welcome.

Cost: FREE

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5. Weekly Lindy Bomb, every Monday, 5:30-7:30 at the Women's Table

With the lovely spring weather we'll be dancing outside at the Women's Table in front of Sterling Memorial Library (just north of Elm St @ High St), from 5:30-7:30 PM each Monday evening. With not-so-lovely spring weather including precipitation (rain, rain, rain, hail, rain, snow or oobleck), we'll be dancing inside Woosley Hall (the Rotunda, College St @ Grove St) at the same time each Monday. Come dance with us!

Cost: ALSO FREE

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About the Yale Swing Society:

The Yale Swing Society represents the non-competitive swing and blues dancing community on campus. We provide a space for people to get together and dance in a fun, informal setting. Our regular events include monthly swing dances, weekly blues practica, and trips to local dancing events. We also offer Lindy Hop and Blues lessons every semester, for a nominal fee. Our events are open to undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff, and members of the broader New Haven community.