Swing Feat Debut on May 13

The Dalhousie Swing Dance Society is proud to have a social dance featuring Swing Feat East Coast Swing Band. It consists of is a 12 piece band, with music of the 30s and 40s, catering specifically to dancers!

Creation of Swing Feat East Coast Big Band arose out of the desire to form an alignment between the fine musical talents of east coast jazz musicians and the exuberant and energetic swing dancers in the area. Key to Swing Feat’s goals is to perform the wonderful repertoire of the 30’s and 40’s the way the music was composed to be played – essentially, FOR DANCERS!

Recognizing that live jazz and dance have an important symbiotic relationship in sustaining each other, Halifax bandleader, Krisanne Crowell, has long awaited for the opportunity to bring the best musicians and music to an enthusiastic and active audience – namely, the Dal Swing Dance Society.

While Krisanne plays piano and sings classic gems with the group, she has assembled an all-star cast of jazz musicians ready to set the stage for ecstatic swing dance events:
Danny Martin (Salsa Piquant) brings his unmistakable lead trombone sound to the band. Joining him in the trombone section is Eric Landry, (The Mellowtones)

Wayne Baker (Sounds of Motown) leads the trumpet section as one of the most experienced big band players in town. High note ace trumpeter is Rick Waychesko, (Tower of Power, Blood Sweat and Tears), with Ryan Cameron completing the section.

Omar Bergsson brings his beautiful alto sound to lead the saxphones, with Alexis Schurman on 2nd alto. Tenor sax sensation, Martin Davidson and in demand baritone player, Dawn Hatfield fill the sax section

Crucially, providing the back beat for Swing Feat’s 12-piece band is veteran drummer, John Alphonse, popularized as King of Swing in Halifax during the extended era of the John Alphonse Big Band. Casey Jones hones his upright bass chops to lay down the rhythm.

With this illustrious group of musicians playing great music to an eager swing dance crowd, Swing Feat is sure to create a sensation at any dance event.

Swing Feat will be playing at the First Baptist Church on May 13 from 7 pm until 10:30 pm. Swing Feat is comprised of 13 local musicians and including 3 singers.

Early bird Tickets will be $15 for students and $20 for community members. At the door tickets will be $20 for students and $25 for community members. A link to pre-purchase tickets is available through Paypal here. Here's a link to the facebook event.

Blues Lessons Summer 2016

Appreciating the blues: Blues dance classes that will help all-levels of blues dancers run 8 weeks this summer, from 26 May to 14 July: Thursday nights from 6:30 to 8:30 at 1313 Hollis Street. We will work on reinforcing basic techniques, reviewing vintage blues genres as we also introduce new concepts, techniques, and moves to interest and challenge dancers at all levels. Learn more about blues music as you work on improving your own blues dancing. Join Jill and Ömercan on Thursday nights 6:30 to 8:30 at (with some social dance time included). The prices for the set of all 8 classes will be $25 for students and $35 for community members, and can can registered the full set online through Paypal here. Also, feel free to drop-in to the classes which individually are priced at $5 for students and $7 for community members.

Whether you’re a beginner trying to figure out what blues dancing is about, or you’ve been dancing for a while but recognize that you could improve your technique, Summertime Blues is an all-levels class with something for you. We’ll begin with exercises to develop technique in the first half of the class, have an interlude of social dancing, and then expand your repertoire with a move that draws on the techniques we’ve developed. Each class is named after a blues song that reveals the musical theme for the week.
 
26 May – “24-hour blues” [Celebrating Canadian blues artists] Refreshing the basic blues pulse, posture, connection, and aesthetic.
2 June – “Blues we like” [Celebrating BB King] Getting cosy and connected with close embrace.
9 June – “Walking blues” [Celebrating Big Mama Thornton] Slow dragging around the dance floor.
16 June – “Blues my naughty sweetie gives me” [Celebrating jazz blues] Ballroomin’ blues.  
23 June – “Feelin’ good” [Celebrating Junior’s blues] Dancing to fast and funky blues.
30 June – “Somebody was watching” [Celebrating gospel blues] Call and response patterns.
7 July – “Rock me” [Celebrating Muddy Waters]  - Vintage blues dances that engage the hips.
14 July – “Crossroads” [Celebrating Delta blues] – Tuning into the music.

 

 

Balboa Workshop at Fort Massey United Church!

We now have our second Balboa mini workshop with Jill Grant and Russell Fulgencio!
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In the 1920s on the crowded dancefloors of the Balboa peninsula in California, dancers developed the dance style now known as Balboa: a close embrace swing dance form suited to very fast music. The lessons will focus on connections, footwork, and fun as we work through elements of the pure-Bal and Bal-swing styles.
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Class: 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Social: 8:30 and on
Price: $15 (paid in class)
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Winter Lindy Hop Lessons

From your gracious Head Instructor comes the syllabus for this Winter's Lindy Hop Lessons!

Thanks Chris Radcliffe!

Beginner

- Basic Closed Position

- 6 and 8 count Footwork

- Tuck Turn

- Side Pass (with turn / into closed)

- "The Spare Tire"

- Charleston Basic Step, Entrances and Exits

- Charleston Variations

- Lindy Cirlces, Send Outs, and Bring Ins

- Sit Dip

- Cross Hand Position and Moves

- Swing Outs

- Musicality Exercises

- Floorcraft Exercises

- Steals and Jam Circle Exercises

 

 

Beginner Plus

- Basic 6 and 8 count

- Free Spin from Open

- He-Goes-She-Goes Side Pass

- Swing Outs...lots of swing outs

- Swing Out Variations

- Swivels and other step variations

- Charleston

- Corridor Kicks

- Opposite Corridor Kicks

- 20's Style Charleston

- Sugar Pushes

- Promenades

- Cross Hand Position + Moves

- Musicality Principles and Exercises

- Stealing and Jam Circle Exercises

July Announcements

Doin' the Jive: Lesson Tonight!

As the lessons page says, you can finally learn that crazy routine that's got everybody tapping their feet if they didn't already know the routine!

Those who've paid for beginner lessons get in for free, drop-ins are $10

Come on out and learn it tonight! 9PM at 1300 Oxford Street, First Baptist Church

TD Halifax Jazz Festival

This week, we've got one of the coolest live music events to hit Halifax this summer!

What's cooler is that we've been picked to champion these events!

Be sure to attend every day you can!

If there is one event you can't miss, we highly suggest you go to the Gordon Webster concert happening on Sunday!

Hey what's this random button? It's got nothing to do with us but hey this looks pretty cool.

The full event schedule can be found here: http://www.halifaxjazzfestival.ca/schedule

West Coast Swing Lessons

By popular demand, James brings to Halifax a style of swing that is fresh to the Halifax Swing Dance teaching curriculum.

Tuesdays, 7:00PM-9:00PM
1313 Hollis Street

$5 per drop-in
$25 for whole term

Registration - 6:30 pm
Lesson - 7:00-8:30 pm
Social - 8:30-9:00 pm


Instructors: Bonita Squires & James Pierre

More details on the lessons page.

Billets for Fall

We are still looking for billeters for the Fall Workship and The Halifax Lindy Explosion this weekend!

If you wish to billet, you can do so through this page.

Swing Factory

Ever wanted to enjoy/learn Swing Dancing with all your favourite people so much? All the time?

Seems like you've got a case of the Swing Factory jitters.

Grab your groove (and interested friends, and let's all do the thing!

The Swing Factories have been growing in size steadily, this one's gotta be the most fun yet!

July 17, 2015

At 1313 Hollis Street

Introductory Lesson at 8:00 PM
Social Dancing at 9:00 PM
Late Night Blues at 11:00 PM

Cover is $5, but free if you volunteer!

Volunteer here: http://www.dalswing.ca/volunteer/

Donations

As you know, we currently looked into renting out flooring so that we had nice floors for waterfront dancing. This of course, requires a lot of effort on many fronts. We can only ask that you help us help you have comfier dance spaces.

You can donate in person at waterfront dancing or find any of the executives and give it to them.
As well, we have a donate button on the homepage now.

Event: Canada Day Waterfront Dancing

Start your Canada Day right and come represent Dalswing to show Dartmouth what Swing Dancing is all about! Free Pancake Breakfast!

Alderney Landing (Right outside the Dartmouth Ferry Terminal)

July 1st, 8:45AM - 9:45AM

Wear your red and white!

Save the Date: Gordon Webster at the TD Halifax Jazz Festival!

We are proud to announce that DalSwing will champion the Gordon Webster Sextet with Brianna Thomas and Alex Pangman at the TD Halifax Jazz Festival!

So save the date, come on down, and represent your society!

Time: July 12, 8:30PM 
Venue: Main stage, on Lower Water Street at Salter Street.

http://halifaxjazzfestival.ca/gordon-webster-sextet-brianna-thomas-alex-pangman

Event: Swing Dance with the Mahone Bay Legion Swing Band

"Swing into Summer with the Mahone Bay Legion Swing Band

Location: Mahone Bay Legion Hall 21 Pond Street

Date: June 13 2015, 8:00-10:30

Come out and listen to some great music, get your groove on, and enjoy an evening out! We feature classic swing music like In The Mood, Little Brown Jug, Rock Around the Clock, and favourites like Eye of the Tiger and Mustang Sally. 

$10.00 Cover Charge at the door and a cash bar available. 

This is our annual Fundraiser, and our biggest source of income for the year. It supports the band to keep our rehearsal space, music and conductor all up to date. During the summer we regularly play free concerts from the bandshell every Thursday. Please come support us (and wave at me as you dance by).

M.B.L.S.B. Website - http://mahonebayswingband.weebly.com/"

Source: https://kyle-wyenberg.squarespace.com/conf...

Event: ECBS Benefit for Eileen Joyce

"Just to give you a little more info - The Blues Society is hosting this fundraiser for one of our co-founders, Eileen Joyce, who has been a force in the music industry within NS - East Coast Blues Society, Blues East, NS Mass Choir, Ladies in Blues, and many other charitable contributions. We are hosting his event as she now has a medical condition which requires her to relocate to Toronto in the near future in order to be placed on a "lung transplant list".  She has supported and spearheaded fundraising events in our community while also promoting our Atlantic Blues musicians wherever she has gone.  She has given readily and freely of herself and we would like to give back in appreciation of her hard work and efforts."

Event: Shirley Jackson & Jef Wirchenko @ the Rhubarb Restaurant

Shirley Jackson and Jef Wirchenko are performing an intimate evening of original songs along with some favourite requests at the Rhubarb Restaurant.

Friday, 5th June in Indian Harbour. 8650 Peggy's Cove Road.

Hope you all join us for some fine dining and friendly service at the Rhubarb Restaurant!


What's Happening in June!

You wanted lots of dancing this June? We give you just that!

Swing Factory

Friday. June 19th. Be there. What more can we say? This is the event to go to if you want to see the whole community in one place, all having a great time!

Psst, there's a way you can get in for FREE!

Beginner Lessons & Socials

Registrations are now closed. Tuesday Socials are discontinued. :(

Alright, enough with the bad news (we won't miss the Argyle's sketchy basement flooring anyway), here's the good:
Beginner lessons are full steam ahead and here's the deal, the community social dancing will now be taking place after the beginner lessons.
[The Wednesday night socials are rapidly gaining popularity so make sure you join in on this if you need to get a weekly fix!]

Waterfront Dancing

Aching for more social dance opportunities? Are your legs a glutton for punishment? We appreciate your audacity and raise you this: Thursday evening waterfront socials! And who knows, if the stars align, we might all just go out for dinner.  

Blues at The Nook

The Nook's a great place to get together and mellow down for the coming Monday. Short lesson, and then a social until 11PM! Support the Nook and buy a nice toasty mocha, or a cold brew, too!

Blues Lessons

Here at Dalswing, Monday blues has a different meaning! Starting June 15th, at 1313 Hollis, there'll be weekly blues lessons. Online registrations are now open, so don't delay!

Jazz Routines

You know the feeling: a song comes on, there's commotion, everyone's on their feet but no one's pairing up. Suddenly everyone's dancing in synchronicity. Oh poop, a jazz routine you wish you knew. Stop wishing, start learning! Our first lesson is going to be the shim sham on June 10th! Look at the Lessons page for more details.

Here's a bird's-eye view of your week in June.

Sunday blues at the Nook
Monday blues at 1313 Hollis
Wednesday beginner lesson and social at First Baptist Church
Thursday waterfront dancing
Friday Monthly Swing Factory at 1313

Dancing five days a week? It's too good to be true!

But wait, there's more?!?!

Community Events

(From our interim secretary, the one and only Liz Pienkos)

  • Kitty and the Katz - June 5 (that's this Friday!), 8:30 pm at the Company House. Great swing band at a great venue! Tell them you're from Dal Swing and get $5 off the ticket price.
  • Swing Dance with the Mahone Bay Swing Band - June 13, 8:00-10:30 pm. Mahone Bay Legion Hall, 21 Pond Street. $10 cover. "Come out and listen to some great music, get your groove on, and enjoy an evening out!" 
  • Halifax Jazz Festival - July 8-12. Keep your eyes open for announcements about bands we love to dance to!

This is only the beginning of a swingtastic summer, we promise it only gets better from here!

DalSwing out!

Registration for Beginner Lessons Closed

If you missed us, don't worry, you don't have to wait until the fall to join in on the Dalswing experience. We have Swing Factories going on at the third Friday of every month. Join the Facebook group for more details on upcoming opportunities and events.

Pssst. Don't forget about Blues Lessons, too. June 15, save the date.

Event: Blues @ The Nook

Beginner Blues lesson on Sunday, May 31 at 8:00-8:30PM taught by James and Laura.

The rest of the night is a social dance, come on out!

Tuesday Night Socials at the Argyle Discontinued

As the title suggests, socials will no longer be going on at the Argyle on Tuesday nights. The bulk of social dancing going on this summer will now be on Wednesday nights after the beginner lesson, at First Baptist Church on Oxford, and Thursday evenings at the Waterfront.

See you real soon!