One more week of charleston, and Level II gets a taste of advanced technique.

W elcome to all our new dancers ... dance is a fantastic way to meet new people, exercise and have fun and we are glad to be joining you on your dance journey. In this section of the Swing Patrol Website here you will find news and information particular to Newtown and diary notes of what we taught in class, so you could print out these pages and keep a diary of everything that you've learnt. Also when ever possible we will maintain a weekly video diary of what we taught that week. So if you like what you see then come along to Newtown. The notes and video diary get updated weekly so keep checking every week.

*** The Next Swing Pit is with a LIVE BAND, click on Swing Pit link to find out more ***

COMING UP: Learn to Lindy Hop

A new 8-Beat basics course is starting at Newtown soon. In our Level 1 class we will be teaching the basics of 8-Beat step also known as "The Lindy Hop". Check out: The Face Book Event Dates: Monday 2nd August at 6:30pm Monday 9th August at 6:30pm Monday 16th August at 6:30pm Monday 23th August at 6:30pm Details: No experience or partner required, just rock up.

Level 1

L1 Class Summary

Charleston Course 2 With this course we will continue teaching you how to dance the Charleston a fun dance that is great to do to faster music and to add to your lindy The Footwork [1-2] Tap behind, [3-4] step forward [5-6] Kick forward, [7-8] step behind Tip: keep a small pulse in your body while your doing the steps. Swing Kick We spent some time on PULSE so the leads could do the 'Big KICK' on count [5] followed by the slide back. Foot: Charleston footwork Tip: Drag the outside foot to make the slide look longer Follow Turn on 7 A cool step where the follow turns and the leader does not. Foot: Charleston footwork Tip: Get your hand on the hip early Tip: Leads use kick-tap-kick footwork Hand 2 Hand A turning step where the dancers turn side to side. Foot: Kick step footwork Tip: Pivot upper body with lower Back to Closed Using the turn on five to get back to closed Foot: Kick step footwork Tip: Get your hand on the hip early Tip: Leads use kick-tap-kick footwork Watch all these moves in the video diary below.

Level 2

L2 Class Summary

Basic Frame Matching This week in Level II we decided to introduce the advanced concept of 'FRAME MATCHING' What is it? FM is the principle that your frame is not just your arms but your entire body shape Exercises that we did: The Shape Game To Mirror or Not Theory Break on 6 Leads shorten the distance early with a turned posture to create a leveraged position on count 6, from this position we can move into a variety of moves. Hart Hit on 7 Us the energy created in the away on 6 position to lead a break on 7 Slow Hit on 8 After the setup leads need to establish a two handed connection, adding in an out in connection to slow down the follow. Try: To dance hitting soft and hard combos is a song Slow Hit on 8, twist-twist on 1-2 Adding to the slow hit, we add a follow twist (out 1) twist (In 2) add an outside turn on 3-4, elbow catch on 5 to bring back to closed position Watch all these moves in the video diary below.

Level 3

L3 Class Summary

Advanced Frame Matching ** DIP OF THE WEEK ** Each week we're going to introduce a cool dip, trick, aerial or floral ** Texas Tommy into Skye & Ramona Dip Leading a swingout, texas tommy. lead a circular rock step so follower comes in turning. Catch her Left armpit for Skye drop on count 5, stand up for an elbow catch Steve and Virginie Hits A very stylish manipulation of the followers hips taught to us at Camp Lismore. Tip: You must lead both horizontally as well as vertically. Barrel Roll After the set up bring the follower down the left into a barrel roll finishing in open position. Tip: Leads get off the dance line. Left side roll into charleston Using the leverage position to bring the follow down the left entering into 20s Tip: Follow has to fudge footwork Watch all these moves in the video diary below.

Video Diary

URL Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK6A3KRoIj8

Balboa at the Exchange
Thank you to everyone who requested another Bal Class at the Exchange… the response has been overwhelming! We now booked another 5-week course.

The classes will be level 1 classes and will focus on new moves and technique to ensure the course are progressive for those who came the last course, but not overwhelming for those wanting to try Balboa for the very first time!




Private Lessons with Derek and Trish.

If you want to speed up your learning or put the finishing touch on your dancing then why not consider a private lesson with Derek or Trish (or both). Private lessons cost $60 per teacher or $80 for both (Great for couples learning). For more information drop Derek and/or Trish a email derek@swingpatrol.com or trish@swingpatrol.com

View other diary entries for Newtown (St. Stephens Hall) ...