Happy New Year Everyone!
We hope your holidays were joyous! UMSwing is swingin' into 2019 with a jam packed schedule full of music, dancing, and learning. Keep reading for the low down on the best classes, workshops, and live music events in town.
Tabling! If you feel like dancing and you want to help us out, come down to University Centre during the week of January 14-18 to dance at our table and promote UMSwing. Stay tuned for exact dates and times.
Winter Open House - January 23, 7:00 pm, Multi Purpose Room University Center
Come and dance during the biggest swing dance party in Winnipeg! We'll have games, prizes, free lessons, and this year we are featuring a special performance by current students and UMSwing alumni. Bring friends, colleagues, family, and strangers off the street! Or come alone and dance the night away.
We are looking for volunteers to help us with set up, tear down, and welcoming people at the door. Please reach out to us (facebook, email, in person, etc) if you would like to volunteer!
Classes start on January 28 and will run on Monday and Wednesday evenings. We're offering Lindy Hop and then Blues on Mondays, and Balboa and then Jive on Wednesdays. Click on our Lessons page above, or keep reading for class times and descriptions. Class locations TBD
Lindy Hop - Mondays 6:00 - 7:30 with Nathan Lee
Lindy Hop is the main swing dance style, evolving from dances of the 1920's and 1930's it was at its most popular during the big band era, originating in Harlem, New York. This energetic, expressive dance is danced as a improvised partnership making it extremely fun and constantly surprising to dance - in the best way possible!
Blues - Mondays 7:30 - 9:00 with Emily Hajer
Often danced within the same scenes as swing, Blues is not a swing dance style. Rather, the term "Blues" encompasses a family of dances stemming from African rhythms and movements, and the days of slavery. It flourished in small juke joints and house partiesgiving it the intimate characteristics which we see today. In Blues dancing the emphasis is mostly on your connection with the music and your partner, and improvisation.
Balboa - Wednesdays 6:00 - 7:30 with Bailey and Lyndon Olfert
Balboa is commonly a fast paced dance although it can be danced to a variety of speeds. The dance is characterized by a chest-to-chest connection between the partners and a quick, 8 count basic step. It features small steps and quick movements which are perfect for dancing to fast music without breaking a sweat. Stay cool and elegant while dancing Balboa! This class is for intermediate dancers who have taken at least one 8 week course before. If you're not sure whether this is right for you, get in touch with us and we can figure it out together.
Jive - Wednesdays 7:30 - 9:00 with Marco Tomasello
Jive is a lively dance, easy to learn and fun to do! The quick footwork is composed of simple steps and can be danced to both fast and slow tempos. In swing this dance is typically danced to rock and roll music from the 40's and the 50's. This class will be packed with moves that build on each other, to get the most out of your easy footwork!
Don't forget to come to the Open House for exclusive discounts on classes. We'll see you on January 23 at 7 pm!
