The Arizona Lindy Hop Society - Arizona's Source for Swing Music and Dance

Classes offered by the AZLS:
Lindy Sunday School - Four week course at Dance Starz AZ
with James and Danielle Ferguson
New Course Starts Sunday, February 5, 2012
- Each 4 week course starts on the first Sunday of each month.
Join the Arizona Lindy Hop Society for an exciting four week course that will have you on the dance floor feeling more confident and having fun. Lindy Hop is the original dance that was done to swing music in the late 1920's, remained popular through the 1950's and has had a resurgence since the mid 1990's. Today, Lindy hop is done all over the world.
12:30 pm: Lindy Hop Fundamentals - Block B
2:00 pm: Balboa
NOTE: The first week is a special start time due to SuperBowl Sunday. Classes will be at 3pm and 4:30pm for weeks 2-4.
Sign up at the door on first day. Drop ins welcome for week 1. No partner needed.
New 4 week courses start the first Sunday of each month.
NEW STRUCTURE: These classes will now be progressive and we ask that you commit to all four weeks.

NEW LOCATION: Dance Starz AZ - 5555 North 7th Street (NE Corner of 7th St. and Missouri)

Prices:$45 for each 4 week course. Drop in class (only on week 1) is $15.
NEW: 10 or 20 class cards available>>
You may pay at the door on the first day of class.

Private lessons:
Private lessons are the best way to learn how to dance. With individual, focused attention you are more likely to:
     * Learn more and at a faster rate
     * Avoid bad habits in dancing which can be difficult to correct later
     * Learn at your pace and learn what you want/need to learn

Fees:
Private lessons are $75 an hour any day of the week, on your schedule.
One Private - $75.00
Package of 3 or more lessons - $60 per lesson
Package of 10 or more lessons - $50 per lesson (Best Value)
We currently have three locations for private lessons. North Phoenix, Central Phoenix, North Scottsdale.

E-mail steveconrad@cox.net to set up group lessons, private lessons, or for more information.

About the instructors:

AZ Lindy Hop Society Dances:

TUESDAYS:
Fatcat Ballroom - Phoenix
3131 E. Thunderbird Rd., Phoenix, AZ
7:30 pm: Swing Dance Lesson
with Steve and Amber
8:30pm - 11:00 pm: Dance to DJ or live band
$7 includes dance lesson and dance
ALL AGES

WEDNESDAYS:
Swing and Blues at Copper Blues - FREE.
50 W. Jefferson St., Phoenix, AZ
7:30pm: The Sugar Thieves
8:30pm: Swing and Blues lesson
Band plays until 10:30pm.
FREE
21 and Over

THIRD FRIDAYS:
Just Breathe in Downtown PHX
828 N 2nd St., Phoenix, AZ
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Balboa lesson from 7-8pm,
open dancing from 8-9pm.
$5 for lesson/dance
ALL AGES

FIRST SATURDAYS:
Lindy Underground at Dance Starz AZ
5555 North 7th Street
NE Corner of 7th St. and Missouri
8:00pm: Lindy Hop and Flashmob Lesson
9:30pm - 12:00am: Dance to DJs or LIVE Band
$8 for lesson/dance
ALL AGES WELCOME
Opening Night is Saturday, January 7, 2012

Steve Conrad started swing dancing in 1995 and had his first lindy hop lesson with Frankie Manning in 1996 at Swing Camp Catalina. He was hooked and soon became a founder of the AZ Lindy Hop Society that same year. He has been teaching/performing Lindy hop and East Coast Swing for over 15 years. He has taught on six Lindy Cruises, at the Desert Dance camp in Las Vegas and Laughlin, Carnage Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA, at Lindy Groove in Pasadena, and throughout Europe. He worked with the Mercury hip hop squad, the Phoenix Suns dancers, and the Arizona Sidewinders, teaching or performing at half time. He also performed with the Judds for the Millennium New Years Eve reunion and taught Ashley Judd aerials. Steve has also taught more than 20,000 people how to swing dance through workshops, school districts, classes at Borders Books, and over 14 years of lindy hop classes in Arizona. He founded the Phoenix Lindy Exchange in 2001 and he was also the promoter/DJ/instructor for the Bash on Ash for 5 years.
Currently Steve is teaching dance in schools and is working with a non-profit organization to help bring social dance into the school system of Arizona.
As Producer:
In the past 13 years Steve has produced over 200 concerts including Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, The Jive Aces with Keely Smith and Toni Prima, Sam Butera, Royal Crown Revue, the Count Basie Tribute at the Biltmore Resort, Indigo Swing, The Juke Joint All-Stars, Margo Reed, Barbara Morrison, Johnny Boyd, Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums, Lavay Smith and her Red Hot Skillet Lickers, and more. For 12 years he has presented the "Arizona Swing Jam" with Frankie Manning, until Frankie's passing in 2009.
On the Radio:
Steve has been an on-air jazz host on KJZZ 91.5 FM (NPR and Jazz) for over 7 years where he and Blaise Lantana created and hosted "In the Groove", a two hour program dedicated to great swing music.
As DJ:
Steve has DJ'd all over the world including six Lindy Cruises; As a guest DJ for Yehoodi Radio; Lindy Groove in Pasadena; Swing 46 in New York; Apollo Jazz Cafe in Montpellier, France; The Hep Cat Club in Dublin, Ireland; Lindy and Party Weekend in Phoenix, the Phoenix Lindy Exchange; Lindy on the Rocks in Denver, CO; Minneapolis, MN; Herrang Dance Camp in Sweden; and much more. He has his own DJ business and loves to travel and share music.

Outside of dance:
Steve has had what would seem to be a random life. Pursuing his first degree in Pre-Veterinary medicine from Northern Arizona University, working as a veterinary technician for over five years before changing his mind. He soon went into acting (a natural transition) and was in commercials (Colt 45, Kit Kat, Ping) and a few films (Robin Cook's Terminal - 1995, No One Would Tell with Fred Savage and Candace Cameron - 1996, No Code of Conduct with Charlie Sheen and Brett Michaels - 1997). He had a short stint in stand-up comedy (very short) and then found dance.
Steve has spent much of his life supporting non-profit organizations through fundraising efforts and organizing events for the Arthritis Foundation, MDA, Childhelp USA, and many more. In 2005, he went to work as Director of Development for the New Foundation, a treatment center for abused and drug addicted teens. He developed a signature gala event, the Arizona Celebrity Dance Challenge, a live local version of Dancing with the Stars, that featured local celebrities in a dance competition. Currently he is Director of Development for the Lodestar Day Resource Center, a not for profit, community benefit organization based in Phoenix that empowers homeless people to lift themselves out of homelessness and gives them the tools they need to stay off the streets. www.LodestarDRC.org

Danielle and James Ferguson are partners on and off the dance floor. They have been married since 2005, and together they have become dance performers, instructors, and choreographers specializing in Lindy Hop, Charleston, and Argentine Tango. They have performed at X-Fest International Dance Festival in Quebec, Canada in 2010; at Le Hot Sauce, produced by Carla Heiney in San Francisco in 2011; and for Honeywell�s International Corporate Convention in 2010. James and Danielle have also been featured as members of the Arizona Lindy Hop Society, on Arizona Highways, AZ Channel 12 Evening News, and the AZ Fox 10 Morning News Show. They won 1st Place in the Strictly Lindy competition at Atomic Ballroom in Orange County in 2011, and Danielle won 1st place in the Jack and Jill. Danielle also placed 2nd in the Jack and Jill competition at San Diego Lindy Exchange in 2011, and placed 3rd in the Jack and Jill competition at X-Fest in Quebec, Canada 2010. James placed 3rd in the Jack and Jill competition at Lindy And Party Weekend in Phoenix, AZ 2010. James has assisted Lindy Hop World Champion, Carla Heiney, at multiple dance workshops in Phoenix, AZ. Danielle and James regularly train under the top Lindy Hop Instructors, Performers, and Choreographers in the World. They also attend several lindy hop Workshops throughout the year including Lindy Focus, Let Hot Sauce, X-Fest International Dance Festival, Lindy On The Rocks, Swing Camp Catalina, and also lindy exchanges including the San Diego Lindy Exchange. Danielle and James have also attended local California and Phoenix workshops with lindy hop champions including Carla Heiney, Nick Williams, Laura Keat and Nejc Zupan. Danielle and James keep their classes fun and challenging, where students can laugh and learn. They really love watching their students grow in their dancing. They focus on technique, connection, playing with opportunities for movement, and creating more dynamic movement in dance. Danielle and James are available for events, private parties, group classes, and private lessons.

Jen Greer has been dancing and teaching swing dance since she was sixteen years old, and hasn't looked back since! Jen started her career at the now-legendary Atomic Ballroom in Southern California partnering Lindy Hop instructor and performer Peter Flahiff. Together, they taught lessons from Los Angeles to Seattle and were featured instructors at Vancouver, B.C.s Swing Summit Dance Camp, where they judged at the Western Canada Swing Dance Championships; they also taught workshops in London, England during a month-long residence there! Jen went on to guest teach in Orange County and now lives in Arizona teaching whenever she can in Phoenix. Wherever she goes, Jen brings a signature smoothness, awesome technique and an infectious playfulness along with a real passion for good connection and a never-ending sense of fun!

Becky Lee Walters: Becky Lee has been dancing Lindy hop for 14 years and is a patient and incredible teacher. Her dancing has brought her around the world, teaching in Las Vegas, Bern, Switzerland, Vienna, Austia, and the prestigious Herrang Dance Camp in Sweden. She teaches Lindy Hop and blues where she emphasizes technique, connection and pushing students to the next level with their dancing. Becky is also an accomplished musician and plays around the world with her one-woman band "Becky Lee and Drunkfoot". Becky is extremely talented and will help follows understand the dance and enjoy it on a new level.