Just for Beginners!
In addition to the intermediate-level classes with Andrew and Karen, we are also offering a 1-day begnniner track which consists of four classes taught by Dan Repsch and Jennifer Sowden!
Class descriptions will be provided below and the detailed schedule will be here soon!
Total Cost for the Beginner's Course is $35 which includes the full day of classes along with admission to the Saturday night dance with the Solomon Douglas Sextet and the Saturday late night dance. Sign Up on the registration page and be sure to select the "Beginner Track."
The Instructors
Dan Repsch
Dan Repsch has spent the last few years dancing, competing, and DJ’ing lindy and blues exchanges and workshops across the country. He was a primary instructor for the Penn State swing club and has taught classes in Lindy, Blues, Charleston,and Balboa along the east coast. In his classes, Dan focuses on creating the most comfortable connection between partners, bringing a better aesthetic into individual dancing, and simple conceptual movement. In the end, he wants his students to understand the concepts behind what makes movements work so they can shape them and make their own individual dance style more free and improvisational.
Jennifer Sowden
Jennifer Sowden, originally from SF now based in NY, has been training in dance for 20 years and teaching for 15 years. Her love for many styles of dance is seen in her choreography, dancing, and as she walks down the street. Jennifer’s dance background includes Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Tap, Hip-Hop, Funk, Gymnastics, Capoeira, Aikido, Lindy-Hop, Balboa, Charleston, Tango, Waltz, Salsa and Blues. Jennifer has been seen teaching and DJ’ing in such scenes as Boston, DC, Philly, Baltimore, San Francisco, Montreal, and NYC where she also organizes local and national events. Find out more at jennifersowden.com.
Classes
There will be four workshops during the day on Saturday, September 3rd from 11:30AM - 5:40PM. Classes will be held at the Glass Building at 313 2nd St SE, Charlottesville, VA 22902.Beginner Track
Registration: 11am
Class 1: 11:30am-12:30pm Title: Well Oiled CogsDescription: Welcome to the 'new' swing out world of the 18th century! It's time to line up your cogs and start your Lindy Machine, where our feet produce triple steps to get places. In no time you'll be chugging along with that vital component of the Swing era: the swing out! We'll give you individual feedback and tools to increase your swing output.
Class 2: 12:40pm-1:40pm Title: This Machine's a ManualDescription: Get ready to shift gears in your Lindy engine. Expert Lindy pilots can smoothly shift gears on the fly, and we want to show you how to do that too! You'll learn how to lead and follow 6 and 8 count moves and switch between them without stalling out. This machine ain't no automatic, but it can feel like it.
Long Lunch: 1:40pm-3:30pm
Class 3: 3:30pm-4:30pm Title: Tuning Up and Listening InDescription: Let's tune up our connection! This is a follow-focused class where follows will sharpen their technique and our leads will learn what follows are listening for. With technique we'll build trust and with trust we'll have a lindy revolution!
Class 4: 4:40-5:40pm Title: Moves and GroovesDescription: It's time to throw it into overdrive with moves and grooves! We'll go over some of the classics, and some of our own inventions as well. If you're looking to show off on the dance floor, then this is the class for you. It's the hottest thing since the end of Prohibition!
Dinner Break: 5:40pm-8:00pm
Saturday Evening Dance with the Solomon Douglas Sextet: 8:00-12:00am
Late-night dance party: 1:00am-4:00am
The Dances
The Solomon Douglas Sextet
Our main Saturday dance runs from 8:00-12:00am at The Oxbridge Ballroom at 314 14th St, Charlottesville, VA 22903. Highlights include the Solomon Douglas Sextet and the Steampunk Costume Contest!
Late-Night
After the main dance lets out, there's more dancing to be had at our Saturday Late-Night dance. 1:00-4:00am at the Five Animal Martial Arts Center at 1837 Seminole Trail, Charlottesville, VA 22901.