Feb 1, 2016

The Shim Sham and The Ambassador of Swing

shimsham3

If you’ve been to a Swingin’ Wednesday you’ve seen the Shim Sham. Every week, without fail, one of our DJs for the evening will play one of several iconic songs and dancers will flock to the floor to participate in the line dance anthem of the swing community – the Shim Sham. Here’s a group of swing dancers in Germany doing the Shim Sham at Rock That Swing Festival (RTSF) 2015:

So swing dancers all over the world know it, but where did it start?

The Shim Sham began in the 1920s as a tap dance, and by the 1930s it was starting to catch on – even some dancers at the Savoy Ballroom (more on that location in a future post!) would jump up and dance the Shim Sham in the corner while others danced on. The version of the Shim Sham danced today, though, we owe to Frankie Manning. Here’s a video of Frankie himself hamming up the Shim Sham with Chazz Young, whom you’ll recognize from the previous video:

But who IS Frankie Manning? Only the most celebrated Lindy Hopper in history. Frankie danced at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem in the 1930s, where he and his partner Frieda Washington danced the first aerial during a swing dance competition in 1935. Frankie was also a member of Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers, a group of professional, performing Savoy Ballroom dancers, whom you might actually have seen in this video, which tends to pop up from time to time on social media:

(Please remember that aerials, tricks, and dips are for competitions and performances, not the social dance floor!)

Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers disbanded at the onset of WWII when Frankie and many of the other male dancers joined the military. When he was released from the Army in 1946, Frankie continued to dance and perform until entertainers such as himself were pushed out with the arrival of rock ‘n’ roll in the 1950s.

In 1989, though, swing dancing was revived and with it, Frankie’s career as an instructor and performer. During this time Frankie choreographed all over the world for dance companies, movies, and even won a Tony Award for his choreography on Broadway – it’s no wonder that it was during this era that he brought us the version of the Shim Sham we know and love.

Frankie left us in 2009, but his legacy lives on in many, many ways, one of which is a group of people smiling and dancing out his choreography every Wednesday in Columbus, Ohio, USA. If you’d like to be a part of this awesome dance each week, you’re always welcome to jump on the dance floor and follow along! If you’d like a solid lesson on the Shim Sham – check out this YouTube playlist where professional lindy hoppers Patrick and Natasha break the Shim Sham down into 7 manageable steps that you can pause, repeat, and go over at your own speed!

See you on the dance floor!



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Jan 25, 2016

SwingColumbus

In case you missed it late last week, registration for our spring event, Cbus 11: Columbus Lindy & Blues Exchange, went live! This is going to be an amazing year featuring live bands Naomi & her Handsome Devils, Gnarly Parkers, Blues Hammer band, and more. We're already in the third tier for passes, don't miss out! http://ift.tt/1K6x8Ac
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Jan 21, 2016

Swingology School: February 2016 Lindy Basics

 

neil binaebi swingology

These 4-week lesson series are held on WEDNESDAYS February 6 – 27, 2016.

Even better, the pricing will include admission to Swingin’ Wednesdays at NYOH’s and include the basic swing lesson from 7:30-8:00pm! This means you will be able to practice your dance moves with expert and beginner swing dancers all night!

You must attend the first class to join the entire series.

  • Lindy Basics Lesson Series: 6:30 – 7:20 PM
    Lindy Hop is the vintage swing dance of the 1940’s, and now is your chance to learn it from scratch. Hew Francis Keller and Rachel Keller will start with the fundamentals and teach you everything you need to know to start lindy hopping! No experience necessary and no partner necessary!

Where: Nyoh’s Buckeye Bar & Grill – 2871 Olentangy River Rd Columbus, OH 43202
Free parking in the shopping center lot.

Class Option General Public Students
First Class Only $15 $15
Lindy Basics Series (includes dance/live bands) $45 $40


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Jan 15, 2016

SwingColumbus 2016 Membership Drive

Our 2016 Membership Drive has begun! Memberships run for the calendar year and include great perks like discounts at lessons and events, eligibility to run for a position on the board, and more! This year's membership swag is a SwingColumbus T-shirt (available thru 3/31/16).
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Jan 12, 2016

Price Change for Swingin’ Wednesdays begins Feb 3

2016priceChange

For 5 great years SwingColumbus has been bringing you a free beginner lesson and 3 hours of amazing dancing every Wednesday night at Nyoh’s Buckeye Bar and Grill, all for just $3!

5 years is a long time, though, and we’re finally having to raise our prices (although you can still get practically the same $3 price you’re used to if you use our nifty new punch card system!)

Here’s everything you need to know:

  1. Starting on Wednesday, February 3, 2016 the cash-at-the-door price will be $5 for a regular DJ’d dance and $10 for live band nights.
  2. Punch cards will be for sale on January 6th, January 13th, and February 3rd*. One punch card will get you entry to 6 DJ’s nights at Swingin’ Wednesdays  for just $20!
    • For dancers this means you get the same great lesson and dance for essentially the same price we’ve been able to offer you for the last 5 years.
    • For volunteers this means less cash for you to manage on a weekly basis.

Even if you choose to pay $5 weekly instead of getting a punch card, Swingin’ Wednesdays remains the cheapest weekly dance in town, and the only place where you get to see 100 of your friends every Wednesday!

*Punch cards will be available for purchase at the door at Nyoh’s the first 2 Wednesdays in January, and the first Wednesday of every month from February 2016 on.



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Apr 5, 2012

SwingColumbus Newsletter - Workshops and News

In this newsletter (also posted here):
  • National swing band stops in Columbus April 18
  • Guest instructors Mike 'the girl' Legett and Dan Rosenthal March 29, April 5
  • Dancers Welcomed at Ed Polcer Concert March 25th (pics)
  • April Monthly Dance to have 1960s theme, feature The Madison line dance
  • CBUS Lindy Exchange - Registration is open!
See you on the dance floor,

~ SwingColumbus



Calendar at a Glance:

Lesson Series Starting Thursday, May 3rd  (4 weeks, 1st week mandatory)
             Note:  No lesson series in April.  Check out our workshops below!

Dances with Beginner Lessons
         **SPECIAL EVENT APRIL 18th!  $8 cover (includes lesson) for SOLOMON DOUGLAS!

Workshops

Jun 28, 2011

Friday, July 8 Cocktails at The Commons with The Randys


Join us downtown at Columbus' newest park, Columbus Commons!  We've got beer, hot dogs, a free swing dance lesson, and one of our favorite bands on the planet.  Not bad for a Friday night.
This is a very family friendly event - lots of space for the kiddies to play, the carousel will be running, and Burgers, Dogs, and Fries will be open and selling...well, burgers, dogs, and fries.  And milkshakes!
This week we'll be enjoying Goose Island's 312 Urban Wheat Ale for the free tasting, and other drinks will also be for sale.
The festivities take place in the cafe/carousel area at the south end of the park along Rich Street.
5:00pm ~ DJ & Beer Tasting
5:30pm - 6:00pm ~ Free Beginner Swing Lesson
6:00pm - 9:00pm ~ The Randys
"The Randys play songs you didn't even know you liked with such conviction that you have no choice but to smile along."
-- Columbus Dispatch

Surface is fine gravel, so closed toe flat shoes are recommended!
Parking available across the street at 55 E Rich or at meters in the area. Ample bike racks available and lots of COTA bus routes pass the park too!

SwingColumbus Event Page



Facebook Event


Columbus Commons Website:
http://www.columbuscommons.org/

The Randys Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Randys-Fandys/32961287021

The Randys Website:
http://therandys.com/


July is Month of the Newbie!

To help entice everyone to try swing dancing, we have an annual tradition of making July Month of the Newbie with lots of affordable opportunities to take a lesson and practice your skills.  Whether you're a complete newbie, or you've got some experience and want to expand into Charleston or Lindy Hop, this is a great month to go dancing!


Here's the schedule of upcoming awesome:



(and save the date for August 13, when we have Baby Soda from NYC playing LIVE for your dancing enjoyment!!)

Check the links for more info, but just to break it down:

Crash Course Thursdays
These are all completely from scratch, no prior experience needed, no partner needed, just strap on some comfortable shoes and we'll boogie!   Thursdays 7:30-9:30pm at Flex Fitness, $15 each ($5 off for members)
Lindy Hop, 6-count Swing, Partner Charleston, and The Shim Sham will all be taught.

Hot tip - Become a member and save!  It's only $25 per year to become a member of SwingColumbus, and you get discounts on workshops, classes, and the monthly dance.  You also get to vote on our board and are eligible for occasional special offers.  Say you wanted to take all 5 crash courses - you'll save $25 and the membership is already paid for.  Do it..... 

Swingin' Wednesdays
Every week at Nyoh's Buckeye Bar.  A 30 minute lesson is taught at 7:30pm and then we dance to DJs 8pm-11pm.  They have AWESOME happy hour specials for us and the food is great.  Only $3 cover!


Cocktails at the Commons - July 8th
We've got a free beer tasting, we've got a free 30 min beginner swing dance lesson, and we've got one of our favorite bands in the universe playing in Columbus' brand new lovely downtown park.  It's all free.  And if you chicken out and just sit and eat a hot dog and watch the rest of us dance, no one will be the wiser.


The SwingColumbus monthly dance is FREE in July! 
In celebration of Month of the Newbie we invite you to join us for a 1 hour lesson and 3 hours of DJs for FREE.  Our monthly dance has been going for about 8 years now and is a welcoming, low pressure environment to practice your moves and play around inventing new ones!

Mar 25, 2011

JAM with JAG in April

In honor of April being Jazz Appreciation Month, here are some upcoming events from Columbus' Jazz Arts Group!

SwingColumbus is proud to be a Jazz Academy Community Partner, which means if you're a member of SwingColumbus, you can enjoy discounts to these fantastic workshops and classes.  Check the links for pricing and ticket or registration information. 


The Jazz Academy's COOL SCHOOL: "Cool Jazz on the West Coast" led by Vaughn Wiester
March 27, 2011, 2 PM
Jazz Academy at the Lincoln Theatre (Columbus, OH)

Vaughn Wiester
Cool jazz caught fire on the West Coast, particularly in Los Angeles during 1952 and 1953. Characterized by tight arrangements, restrained sounds and thoughtful solos, the cool jazz era (1948 – 1960) produced great artists and recordings and influenced many styles of music to come. Join Vaughn Wiester to listen to and learn about great musicians such as Gerry Mulligan and Chet Baker; groups like the Modern Jazz and the Dave Brubeck Quartet; and, explore the historical context of this influential musical movement.


Jazz Academy's COOL SCHOOL: Birth of the Cool Tour
April 1-30, 2011
Columbus Museum of Art (Columbus, OH)

In honor of Jazz Appreciation Month and in partnership with the Jazz Arts Group, the Columbus Museum of Art invites you to take a special Guide-By-Cell tour inspired by the Birth of the Cool. Discover the works of artist Man Ray, Rosemare Bearden, Stephen Longstreet and more. Come be moved by music and art.

The Columbus Museum of Art is open Tuesday-Sunday 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM and Thursdays from 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $5 for students ages 6 to 17 and free for children. For more information visit columbusmuseum.org.


Jazz Academy's COOL SCHOOL: "Jazz and Poetry" workshop led by William Evans
April 2 & 16, 2011, 4 PM
Thurber House & Columbus Museum of Art (Columbus, OH)

William Evans
Explore the relationship of jazz and poetry, its rhythmic and lyrical styles and its historical context, particularly in relationship to the cool jazz period of post-war United States. On Saturday, April 2, join William Evans at the Thurber House and begin writing your own poetry/spoken word. Learn poetry mechanics and basics; create, improvise and explore poetry and music in this unique workshop opportunity. The class will join together again on Saturday, April 16, in the galleries of the Columbus Museum of Art to perform their new written works with a live jazz trio amongst period artwork. Don’t miss this opportunity to express your creativity and spend time with others in this unique workshop format.

Jazz Arts Group's Inside Track series - Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
April 3, 2011, 7:30 PM
Capitol Theatre - Riffe Center (Columbus, OH)

Jazz Arts Group's Inside Track series makes a surprise stop at the Capitol Theatre - Riffe Center on Sunday, April 3 to welcome back 24-year-old New Orleans singer / songwriter / multi-instrumentalist and all-around musical powerhouse Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews & Orleans Avenue, with special guest Stretch Lefty. Rare indeed is the artist with the virtuosity to draw the unqualified respect of some of the most iconic legends in jazz and the ability to deliver a high-energy funk rock show capable of mesmerizing international rock stars. Surrounding Andrews is his band, Orleans Avenue - Mike Ballard on bass, Pete Murano on guitar, Joey Peebles on drums, Dwayne Williams on percussion and Dan Oestreicher on baritone sax – delivering an explosive, homegrown combination of funk, rock, R&B, jazz and hip-hop they call "Supafunkrock."

Jazz Arts Group's PBJ & Jazz series - Joe Hunter
April 9, 11:00 AM
Lincoln Theatre ballroom (Columbus, OH)

In celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month, the Jazz Arts Group of Columbus (JAG) welcomes the piano stylings of Joe Hunter to the Lincoln Theatre ballroom on April 9 for the season finale of PBJ & Jazz presented by Bob Evans Farms. PBJ & Jazz concerts are 1-hour long interactive concerts designed to introduce jazz and American music to young children and their families. Featuring some of Columbus’ finest musicians and ensembles, PBJ & Jazz concerts are hosted by former Columbus Music Hall owner and retired music educator Rebecca Ogden and are a great introduction to live music for the youngest audience member.

Columbus Jazz Orchestra's "A Night at the Apollo" featuring Marva Hicks
April 13-17, 2011
Southern Theatre (Columbus, OH)

Beg, scream and shout as the CJO pays tribute to the soul of American culture, the Apollo Theater!

The world famous Apollo Theater is so much more than a historic landmark – it is a source of pride and a symbol of brilliance of American artistic accomplishment. With its rich history and continued significance, the Apollo Theater, considered the bastion of African-American culture and achievement, is one of the most fascinating chronicles in American history. We’ll celebrate music greats like Dinah Washington, Gladys Knight, James Brown, Otis Redding, Same Cooke and many others whose careers were launched by this legendary finishing school!


Jazz Academy's COOL SCHOOL: "Birth of the Cool" workshop led by Mark Flugge
April 16, 2011, 2 PM
Jazz Academy at the Lincoln Theatre (Columbus, OH)

Birth of the Cool is the name of a compilation album by American jazz musician Miles Davis, but has come to signify a movement in American music. Cool jazz, which became prominent during the Second World War, stands an important reaction to bebop, (characterized by fast tempos and instrumental virtuosity) in that the music was intricately arranged with a composed sound along with improvised sections. Join Mark Flugge to learn about this important era in American music history – from the arrangements and instrumentation to the historical context and the artists associated with the movement.



Jazz Arts Group's Inside Track series - "Birth of the Cool"
April 29-30, 2011, 8 PM
Lincoln Theatre (Columbus, OH)

As jazz's bebop movement flourished during the late 1940s with its fast-paced rhythms from virtuosos like trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie and saxophonist Charlie Parker, trumpeter Miles Davis headed off in a new direction. Taking cues from the innovations learned in Parker's group, Davis, along with his nonet, recorded 12 songs in a two-year span that, when released together on one album, became known as Birth of the Cool.

JAG's interpretation of Birth of the Cool will be a recreation of the iconic 1949-50 Miles Davis recording sessions and a retrospective of mid-century art, design, and music. This is a multimedia event in collaboration with and narration by Denny Griffith, president of the Columbus College of Art & Design (CCAD), and will feature visual elements, including period furniture, on stage. The performance will include local musician Mark Flugge as musical director and will feature the great Jim Powell on trumpet.

Mar 2, 2011

New Lesson Series Format!

Last October we brought in two awesome Lindy Hop instructors who are part of a dance studio called Studio 88 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.  Patrick Szmidt and Natasha Ouimet are really passionate about their teaching methods and after some great long conversations with them about lesson planning and curriculum development we were inspired to take a long look at our own lessons. 
Photo by David Heasley

Our goals are:
  • To make the intermediate classes begin from a higher level
  • To clearly differentiate one series from another
  • To create better swing dancers through strategic skill building
New Swingology Lessons Structure
We now have a beginner level with 3 courses that can be taken in any order, followed by an intermediate level of 4 courses that can also be taken in any order.  Balboa was taken out of our core offerings and basic Charleston was integrated into some of the Lindy Hop classes. 

Beginner Level - Swing 1
No experience required.  All classes begin from scratch and include the basics of frame and connection, a few moves, and some social dance ettiquette.  The two Lindy Hop classes will include different moves to develop your skills for level 2. If you have never taken dance lessons before, we recommend starting with 6-Count Swing before trying Lindy.

Swing 1a Swing 1b Swing 1c
Beginner 6-Count Beginner Lindy Hop Beginner Lindy Hop

Note:  Beginner 6-Count Swing (aka East Coast Swing or Jitterbug) is also taught before each of our Swingin' Tuesdays, as well as before the monthly Saturday dance at the YWCA, so there are lots of chances to learn and practice! 

Photo by David Heasley
Moving up to level 2 isn't just about completing all the level 1 classes - you should feel comfortable with the basics before you move up to level 2, so that we don't need to re-teach the basic steps.  If you're not sure if you're ready to move up, just ask one of our instructors to dance and they can give you feedback.

Intermediate Level - Swing 2
These classes will begin assuming you are comfortable doing the basics of Lindy Hop:  swingout, sendout (swingout from closed position), and Lindy circle.  Rather than starting from scratch, we'll review the basics at a higher level, adding more frame, connection, and momentum concepts to what you already know.  These 4 classes are NOT sequential - take them in any order and feel free to repeat as many times as you want!

All classes will include frame/connection exercises, plenty of moves, mixing of 6 and 8 count patterns, and you'll learn more about Lindy Hop culture and history.  Shown here are just a few examples of moves you'll study in these classes:

Swing 2a Swing 2b Swing 2c Swing 2d
Play it Cool I Will Survive! Let's Get Tricky Connection is Everything
- Slower Tempos
- Switches
- Texas Tommy
- Musicality
- Faster Tempos
- Side by Side Charleston
- Transitions
- Swingout Variations
- Swivels!
- Musicality
- Tandem Charleston
- Moves that challenge your connection
- Sugar Push


In addition to stepping up our lesson series, we are committing to offer more frequent crash courses and mini-workshops so that we can bring you more opportunities to learn 6-Count and Lindy Hop.  We'll also offer workshops covering Balboa, Blues, and Charleston to expand your swing vocabulary.
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