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 Swing Music and Dance Events for Winter and Spring 2010

  • Workshop with World Champion Lindy Hopper from Quebec City, Canada    Sun., March 7
  • Solomon Douglas Quartet at Paragon     Thurs., March 11
  • Swing Sunday School - Next Course starts     Sun., March 14
  • Night in the 40's Big Band Hangar Dance at Falcon Field in Mesa (special discount available) Sat., March 20
  • Ongoing Events
  • Upcoming Events / Calendar 
  • National Events and Exchanges
  • What's On The Web?
  • Dance Etiquette
  • Deep Thoughts 

 Not all events listed are produced nor endorsed by the AZ Lindy Hop Society.  
 Listings of events are merely provided as a service to those interested in swing dance and/or music.


1. Workshop with World Champion Lindy Hopper Benjamin Ricard
Sunday, March 7, 2010 @ FatCat Ballroom  11AM-5:15 PM
A full day of classes with a great instructor from Quebec City, Canada 
Seen on "So You Think You Can Dance"

Benjamin Ricard is Showcase winner at the 2005 World Lindy Hop Championships, 2006 and 2007 National Jitterbug Champion (Camp Hollywood) along with Grand Slam Pro (best overall scores in Shag, Balboa and Lindy), 2007 World Swing Dance Champion and 2008 Canadian Swing Dance Champion. His awe-inspiring performances have taken him onto many TV shows and live performances at corporate events. He even performed with the Hop Swing & a Jump dance team on "So You Think You Can Dance" in 2006. Besides being a great performer and dancer, Benjamin is a wonderful, colorful and caring teacher. 
Schedule:
11:00AM-12:15: From Zero to Hero (Fundamentals) ALL LEVELS
12:30PM-1:45PM: Jazz and Spice up your SWING OUT! (Musicality & styling) req. class 1 or know basic swing out
1:45PM-2:30PM: Lunch
2:30PM-3:45PM: Fast Lindy and Charleston   requires class 1 or know basic swing out
4:00PM-5:15PM: Lindy Routine  (be an int./adv dancer or have taken all classes)
Videos: 
Clips of performances: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WikYZitJMA (check out parts 2, 3 and 4, too)
Location: FatCat Ballroom - 3131 E. Thunderbird Rd., Phoenix 
$12 per class or $45 for all day. All levels and all ages welcome.

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=340462294480&ref=mf#!/event.php?eid=340462294480&ref=mf 

 


2. Solomon Douglas Quartet at Paragon
Thursday, March 11   @ Paragon Dance Center - Tempe  7:00 pm 
The Solomon Douglas Quartet is rooted in the music of the Count Basie Orchestra and Duke Ellington Orchestra, with other big-band standards and classic jazz tunes thrown in as well. They are highly sought after for lindy exchanges and swing events nationally and worldwide.
7:00 - 8:00 pm: East Coast Swing lesson
8:00 pm - 11:00 pm: Dance to the Solomon Douglas Quartet
931 E Elliot Rd., Tempe, AZ 85284
$10 in advance/$12 at door. ALL AGES WELCOME

 


3. Swing Sunday School - New 5 Week Course
New Course starts Sunday, March 14 - Join by March 28
Sunday afternoons with Steve Conrad and Heather Hill
Join us for an exciting five week course that will have you on the dance floor feeling more confident and having fun. The Lindy Hop is the original dance that was done to swing music in the late 1920's and remained popular through the 1950's.  It is done all around the world thanks to the passion of people like Frankie Manning and lovers of lindy hop everywhere. The East Coast Swing class requires you to know the 6-count basic step which can be learned at any swing night prior to the class. 
2:00 pm: Balboa (beginning through Intermediate)
3:00 pm: Lindy Hop Intermediate
4:00 pm: Lindy Hop Beginning
5:00 pm: East Coast Swing Intermediate/Advanced

Price: $10 per class OR all five for $45
Sign up at the door on the first day of class.  Class is open through week 3.
LOCATION: Fatcat Ballroom - 3131 E. Thunderbird Rd., Phoenix, AZ  85032
MORE INFORMATION>>

 


4. Night in the 40's Big Band Hangar Dance
Saturday, March 20, 2010   @ Falcon Field in Mesa   4:30 pm - 11:00 pm
Take a Sentimental Journey back to 1943 with “A Night in the 40s” Big Band Dance. This glamorous event is one of the largest Big Band Dances in the country. The “Night in the 40s” features a WW II 1940’s Musical Show followed by a Big Band Orchestra playing sounds of the era to dancing men and women dressed in period styles – all in the shadow of the vintage B-17 WW II Flying Fortress bomber “Sentimental Journey”! 
5:30 p.m.: 1940’s Musical Show
7:30 p.m.: Sun Lakes Big Band 
There be a costume contest for the best 1940’s costume and swing dance contest with age brackets.
Food and refreshments will be sold at the event including a barbeque plate. 
$40 per person the day of the dance. This event may sell out and has for the past few years in a row.
$30 adv. tix from AZ Lindy Hop Society (available in person at FatCat on Tues. or Paragon on Thurs.)
All Ages Welcome.

 


5. Fleur De Lindy Exchange in New Orleans
April 9-11, 2010
Join Lindy Hoppers and Swing lovers from around the world in the birthplace of Jazz! Dance parties feature live music and special performances. Additional treats include a dancer-led walking tour, the traditional Bourbon Street blowout, and Big Easy style good times. Plus Once you register you can ask to get hooked up with housing by a local dancer.  It is a great way to experience a city.
Early Bird Ticket Price: $65 until March 15th. ($75 until April 5th; $85 at the door). This includes 3 evenings of social dancing to 5 of our favorite local bands. Friday Evening 9pm-5am, Saturday Evening 9pm-5am, and Sunday Evening 10pm-2am. All social dances are all ages, except Saturday late-night (18+).
http://www.fleurdelindy.com/ 

 


6. ONGOING EVENTS:
For a list of all swing nights visit www.AZLindy.com 

TUESDAYS: 
Swing Dance at Fatcat Ballroom - Phoenix

A really nice dance studio with a HUGE floating wood floor
7:30 pm: Swing Dance Lesson
8:30 pm - 11:00 pm: Dance to DJ or occasional live band 
Fatcat Ballroom - 3131 E. Thunderbird Rd., Phoenix, AZ
$7 includes dance lesson, refreshments and dance
All Ages Welcome 
No alcohol served

THURSDAYS: 
Paragon Dance Center - Tempe
HUGE dance floor, cool a/c, and great sound system
7:00 - 8:00 pm: East Coast Swing lesson
8:00 pm - 10:30 pm: Dance to DJs or Live Band
931 E Elliot Rd., Tempe, AZ 85284
$7. ALL AGES WELCOME
No alcohol served


7. UPCOMING EVENTS / CALENDAR:

Saturday, March 6    11:00 am - 5 pm (JBB play 2-5)
Melrose on 7th Avenue Street Fair with Jump Back Brothers
Hollywood Regency Vintage Clothing
708 W. Montecito, Phoenix, AZ   85013
FREE, ALL AGES

Saturday, March 6    9:00 pm
Bad News Blues Band
Monkey Pants
3223 South Mill Avenue, Tempe, AZ 85282 (NE Corner of Southern and Mill)
FREE; 21 and Over


Sunday, March 7    11:00 am - 5:15 pm
Workshop with World Champion Benjamin Ricard
FatCat Ballroom
3131 E. Thunderbird Rd., Phoenix
$12 per class/$45 for entire workshop, ALL AGES


Thursday, March 11   7:00 pm
Solomon Douglas Swingtet 
7:00 Swing Dance Lesson; 8:00 pm: Dance to live band
Paragon Dance Center
931 E. Elliot. Tempe, AZ  (SE Corner of Rural and Elliot)
$10 in advance, $12 at door; All Ages


Thursday, March 18   12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
Hot Club of Phoenix @ Mesa Arts Center 
One East Main Street, Mesa
FREE, All Ages


Saturday, March 20   4:30 pm
Sun Lakes Big Band at Night in the 40's dance 
5:30 pm: USO Show; 7:30 pm: Big Band
Falcon Field Airport
4800 E. Falcon Drive, Mesa, AZ 85215
$40 at door; All Ages  (get $30 tickets in advance from the AZLS at FatCat on Tues. or Paragon on Thurs.)


Saturday, March 20   9:00 pm
Bad News Blues Band with Long John Hunter 
Rhythm Room
1019 E Indian School Road, Phoenix, AZ   85014
$7; 21 and Over


Tuesday, March 30   7:30 pm
Swing Fever 
7:30 Swing Dance Lesson; 8:30 pm: Dance to live Swing Band
FatCat Ballroom
3131 E. Thunderbird Rd., Phoenix, AZ
$10; All Ages


8. Lindy Exchanges / National & International Events
A lindy exchange is where a host city holds a series of dances and events at a low price and typically offers housing though local hosts. They are a great way to meet lindy hoppers all around the world, see new cities for very little money, and experience different lindy hop scenes. Lindy Hop is a sub-culture phenomenon all around the world and a great way to meet and connect with people everywhere. 
Resources for more dates: www.Swingoutoftown.com OR www.lindyexchange.com 

March 5-7
Orlando Lindy Exchange
Orlando, FL
http://www.orlx.org/ 


March 19-21
Vietnam Lindy Exchange
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
http://www.vietnamlindyexchange.com/ 


March 26-28
Lafayette Lindy Exchange
Lafayette, Indiana (Purdue University)
http://laflx.swingpurdue.org/ 


April 8-11
Balboa Rendezvous
San Diego, CA
http://www.2plyswing.com/ 


April 9-11
Fleur De Lindy Exchange  (come with a group from AZ!)
New Orleans, LA
http://www.fleurdelindy.com/ 


April 16-18
Brit Hop - London Lindy Exchange
London, England
http://londonlindyexchange.com/ 


April 16-18
Great Wall Swing Out
Beijing, China
http://www.greatwallswingout.com/ 


April 23-25
Amsterdam Lindy Workshop
Amsterdam, Netherlands
http://www.amsterdamlindyworkshop.nl/workshop/ 


May 7-9
San Luis Obisbo Exchange (slox)
San Luis Obisbo, CA
http://www.sloswing.com/sloX/ 


May 13-16
Montpellier SwingJammerz Festival (Join Steve Conrad who will be the Master of Ceremonies)
Montpellier, France (French Riviera)
http://www.swingjammerz.com/    Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=14074241693 

May 21-23
Denver Lindy Exchange
Denver, CO
http://www.denverlindyexchange.com/ 


May 27-31
London Swing Festival
London, England
http://www.londonswingfestival.co.uk/ 


9. What's on the Web?
Each month we will offer you some web videos that are making their way around the world.  These are a great cure for office boredom (to watch only on your lunch break, of course).  Sometimes these will have to do with dance but other times, the links will take you to places you may not have been otherwise.  Enjoy.

Hop Swing and a Jump on So You Think You Can Dance (with Benjamin Ricard who will be in PHX 3/7): 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlMK851ovAs 

Drunk History:
http://www.thedailytube.com/video/11288/drunk-history-vol-3-oney-judge 


10. Dance Etiquette: "Leave Entrances Free" 
Some dance floors have limited access space. Dancers and onlookers should avoid blocking these entrances. In particular, avoid stopping to chat immediately after exiting the dance floor. When doing line dances, make sure to share the floor with other dancers. It is best to avoid blocking entrances while dancing.


11. Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey
"If a kid asks where rain comes from, I think a cute thing to tell him is 'God is crying.' And if he asks why God is crying, another cute thing to tell him is 'Probably because of something you did.' "
 

 


AZ Lindy Hop Society Dances:

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


THURSDAYS: 
Paragon Dance Center
931 E Elliot Rd., Tempe, AZ 85284
7 - 8 pm: Swing lesson with Steve and Becky Lee
8:00 pm - 10:00 pm: DJ or Live Band 
$7.  ALL AGES WELCOME
Note: Live band on 3/11 - Solomon Douglas


For more visit the Calendar