Forthcoming Workshops:
Sunday 11 June - Fast Beginners Lindy Hop Workshop
Sunday 2 July - Fast Beginner & Intermediate Swing Out Workshops
Sunday 17 September - Learn to Swing Dance in a Day!
Sunday 1 October - Musicality Workshop with Malcolm Earle-Smith & Simon Selmon
Sunday 8 October - Fast Beginners Lindy Hop & Intermediate Lindy Hop Workshops
Sunday 15 & 22 October - Charleston & Solo Jazz Workshops
Sunday 29 October - Fast Beginners Lindy Hop
A great workshop is best shared with friends!
Next date: Sunday 11 June 10.30am-12.00pm
Fast-Beginners Lindy Hop Intensive Workshop with Simon Selmon
This workshop with Simon will focus on technique and connection plus of course as many fun moves as we can fit in. The aim is to get you dancing as confidently and as quickly as possible.
No partner required and whilst no experience is necessary, the class will move at a faster pace than absolute beginners and is suitable for those with some experience.
Location: Studio 2, CitySport Studio, 124 Goswell Road, London, EC1V 7DP - Google Map
Tubes: Barbican, Old Street
Limited numbers.
Sunday 11th June 10.30am-12pm
Cost £12 + bf (before 4 June) / £15 + bf after.
Sunday 8 October 10.30am-12pm
Cost £15 + bf (before 4 Sept) / £18 + bf after / £20 on the door.
Sunday 29 October 10.30am-12pm
Cost £15 + bf (before 25 Sept) / £18 + bf after / £20 on the door.
Sunday 2 July 10.30am-1.30pm
Beginner & Intermediate Swing Out Workshops with Simon Selmon
Learn the 8-count signature step of the Lindy that made this dance so famous. Starting side by side, you will learn how to go from 'closed to open', the classic 'open to open' and 'open to closed' circle and some classic stylings with Simon.
Location: BGM Studio, 73 Saint John Street, London EC1M 4NJ - Google Map
Limited numbers. Pre-bookings only (no drop-ins).
10.30am-12pm - Fast Beginners
You may be new to the Swing Out or have tried it a few times, this will be a great foundation to learn the basics or improve what you already know.
Early bird price £15 + bf (before 26th June) / £18 + bf after per person
12pm-1.30pm - Intermediates
You should be comfortable with the Swing Out having done it several times before. A good Swing Out can take a year or longer to get comfortable with and this class will include higher level connection, several stylistic variations and the opportunity to become really comfortable adding it to your social dance repertoire.
Early bird price £15 + bf (before 26th June) / £18 + bf after per person
Sunday 17 September 10.30am-1.30pm
Learn to Swing Dance in a Day! with Simon Selmon
Learn the foundations of Lindy Hop, this popular 1940s partner dance. You will learn both the 6 and 8 count Lindy Hop plus some Lindy Charleston. By the end of this session we guarantee you will be able to dance a whole song - and smile at the same time!
This workshop with Simon is for absolute beginners and those who have been dancing 6 months or less. No experience necessary or partner required.
Location: Studio 2, CitySport Studio, 124 Goswell Road, London, EC1V 7DP - Google Maps
Tubes: Barbican, Old Street
Limited numbers.
Cost: Advance £30 + bf / £35 on the day
Sunday 1 October 2023 10.30am-1.30pm
Musicality Workshop with musician Malcolm Earle-Smith & Swing dancer Simon Selmon
Malcolm Earle-Smith, Senior Lecturer in Jazz at Trinity Laban Conservatoire, is joining forces with Swing dancer Simon Selmon to bring you a musicality workshop with a difference!
Topics to be covered:
- A history of how Jazz music and dance developed side-by-side
- What makes music Swing & how it affects the way that you dance
- How to listen and what to listen for
- How to respond to what you hear starting with examples of solo Jazz and mini Lindy Hop choreographies leading to your own improvisation
- Interaction between musicians and dancers and how to improvise in the moment
- Learn about the Melody & Rhythm, Riffs, Pitch & Phrasing
- Call & Response
- Copy & trade dance moves with the musicians & fellow dancers
The aim is to get you, the dancer, closer to the music. As we create some simple riffs using our voices to scat, we will learn about rhythms and how they will help you create specific steps. The workshop will use solo Jazz and social Lindy Hop to explore the musicality.
This class is recommended for intermediate dancers and above (not suitable for beginners).
About your teachers:
Malcolm Earle-Smith - a trombonist and singer in many of London's popular Swing dance bands as well as currently Senior Lecturer in Jazz at Trinity Laban Conservatoire (since 2005)....Read More
Simon Selmon - Simon is an international award winning Swing dance teacher ..... Read More
Location: Studio 2, CitySport Studio, 124 Goswell Road, London, EC1V 7DP - Google Map
Tubes: Barbican, Old Street
Limited numbers. Pre-bookings only (no drop-ins).
Cost: Advanced (Until 31 Aug) £35 + bf / After £40 + bf
Sunday 8th October 12-1.30pm
Intermediate & Advanced Lindy Hop Intensive Workshop with Simon Selmon
Intermediate & Advanced Lindy Hop Intensive Workshop with Simon will focus on a high level connection and body control to enhance your social dance. We will use various moves, some of which may be new to you, as a way to work on our technique but also to explore how we can create multiple variations and stylings around these moves.
This workshop is aimed at experienced dancers who know all the classic moves such as Swing Outs, Lindy Charleston variations, mixing 6 and 8 count etc and are comfortable dancing them but want to fine tune and tidy up how they dance and explore what's possible.
Location: Studio 2, CitySport Studio, 124 Goswell Road, London, EC1V 7DP - Google Map
Tubes: Barbican, Old Street
Limited numbers.
Cost £15 + bf (before 4 September) - £18 + bf after / £20 on the day.
Charleston & Solo Jazz Workshops with Simon Selmon
Sunday 15th & 22nd October
10.30-11.30am:
Charleston - Think of the 20s and you immediately think of Charleston capturing the exuberant spirit of the age. (Not to be confused with the swing era 'Lindy Charleston' steps which are part of swing dance family). Shimmying flappers, swivelling footwork and no inhibitions, whether it's solo or partnered, this dance is about having fun and going wild! No partner required.
11.30am-1.30pm:
Solo Jazz - Sometimes known as Jazz Roots or Authentic Jazz was born out of African American vernacular dance of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Think Suzi Q, Truckin' and Fall off the Log - classic solo jazz will add to your Lindy Hop vocabulary and is also great fun to dance on its own! No partner required!
Location: Studio 2, CitySport Studio, 124 Goswell Road, London, EC1V 7DP - Google Map
Tubes: Barbican, Old Street
Limited numbers.
Cost:
Charleston (10.30am-11.30am): £10 + bf (before 4 Sept) / £12 + bf after / £15 on the day per person per week
Jazz (11.30am-1.30pm): £20 + bf (before 4 Sept) / £22 + bf after / £25 on the day per person per week
FAQs
About your teacher:
Simon is an international award winning teacher who founded SwingdanceUK in 1986 following a trip to NY where he met many original dancers and instantly wanted to share the music & dance that had intoxicated him so much. He believes whilst the dance has changed over the years it is important to educate about its history & social context. To give new dancers the best opportunity to gain the most out of their dancing and to experience the fun & satisfaction of Swing dance. He will take you on a journey back to the heyday of Swing dance. His goal is to share some of that original spirit that he found in the 'old timers', keeping the traditions of the dance alive whilst taking it into the 21 century and he is known for making difficult things easy. Simon has choreographed and performed for stage, film & TV. He has been a UK and US dance champion and a World Lindy Hop Judge. Click here to read more or see Simon in action here
What to wear?
When attending classes, the most important thing is to be comfortable and to wear something you can easily move about in - jeans and t-shirt is absolutely fine.
Shoes?
Comfortable every-day shoes are fine when you are just starting out. Make sure you have something which stays securely on your feet (eg. no flip flops!) and which you can spin easily in (very high heels or trainers with sticky soles are not recommended!).
Disclaimer
Please consult your doctor before beginning any dance or exercise program. Dancing is a physical activity, and as such there is the possibility of physical injury. Please be aware of your surroundings and the suitability of the floor. If you engage in this dance or exercise program, you agree that you do so at your own risk, are voluntarily participating in these activities, and assume all risk of injury to yourself, and agree to release and discharge SwingdanceUK from any and all claims or causes of action, known or unknown, arising out of SwingdanceUK's negligence.
Refund Policy
Bookings cannot be exchanged or money refunded once sold unless the workshop is cancelled by ourselves, in which case a full refund will be processed.
SwingdanceUK proudly awarded…
*Best Swing Tuition Provider 2022* Greater London Enterprise Awards 2022
*Best Swing Dance Studio* Northern Enterprise Awards 2021
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