~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jumptown Swing Newsletter - 29 April 2008 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Happy Dance Week! Tuesday 29 April is International Dance Day so make sure you celebrate the joy of dance with a jig! The Thredbo Jazz Festival is upon us! This weekend is set to be a highlight of the 2008 swing calendar. Check out the program online and think about joining an excited group of Canberra and Sydney dancers as we head south for a few days of great music and dancing. It's also week 1 of the Swing/Lindy Hop classes - congrats to all who made it through to the end of the beginners cycle. Now that you've got the basics, your swing dancing career is set to take off! In other news, we have a Special Beginner Social this Thursday at McGregor Hall - come along and try out your new moves in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. A special mention goes out to Dean and Brock who won the Jack n Jill Finals at the Fall Ball. NEWSFLASH - Capital Swing postponed to Sunday 11 May (details below) =========================================================== CONTENTS ~~~~~~~~ THE SPOTLIGHT 1. Thredbo Jazz Festival - hot music to keep out the cold CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS 2. Swing/Lindy Hop - Tuesdays and Wednesdays 3. ANU Swing/Lindy Hop - Mondays 4. Balboa - Mondays LOCAL EVENTS 5. Special Beginner Social - Thursday 1 May 6. Shuffle Shack - Monday 5 May 7. Capital Swing - Sunday 11 May (postponed from 4 May) 8. Swingin' the Blues @ Tilleys - Saturday 17 May 9. Jumptown at Belconnen Markets for Dance Week - Saturday 10 May 10. GDS Nationals now including a Lindy Hop Division - Saturday 19th July INTERSTATE EVENTS 11. Australian Jitterbug Championships (AJC), Melbourne - 19 July BOOTNOTES 12. NLA event - Dancing in the Heart of 1950s Melbourne - 29 April 13. Beginner Swing Dance Music iMix on iTunes Store 14. Jazz, Blues etc. Gig Guide 15. Dates for your diary SIGNING OFF =========================================================== THE SPOTLIGHT ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. Thredbo Jazz Festival - this weekend! Come for the weekend or just the day - Saturday and Sunday at the Thredbo Jazz Festival are just made for dancing. There are about 60 of us going along. We also got a mention in the Canberra Times on the weekend so check it out at: http://www.jumptown.org/PDF/Thredbo_Jazz08_CT_Article.pdf Snow is predicted this weekend so pack your woolies. THE BANDS Headliners including Leroy Jones (US) featured trumpet soloist with Harry Connick Jr, Leroy's wife and skilled trombonist Katja Toivola (Finland/USA) and one of Thredbo’s favourites from the early years, Ian Cooper will perform with Jim Pennell along with 25 more of Australia’s best Jazz bands over the weekend. Another highlight will be a Tribute Concert to Leonard Bernstein featuring Leroy Jones. THE DANCING A feature of the Thredbo Jazz Festival will be THREE Swing Dance gigs designed especially for dancers. There is also a lot more that's danceable over the weekend. A quick squizz at the program reveals that dancers' favourites The Shuffle Club and the Kirawee High Show Band are also on the bill! SATURDAY 2.30–5pm - Anthony Howe’s Swing Wing SATURDAY 8–10.30pm Thredbo All Star Band directed by John Morrison and featuring Jacki Cooper SUNDAY 4.30–7pm - The Ozcats featuring Patricia Amphlett FREE CLASSES Jumptown Swing and Swing Patrol will be running free classes in the Kellar Bar from 11am to 12 noon on both Saturday and Sunday mornings. Come along and brush up and warm up at the same time and support the beginners. NEED A RIDE Ride to Thredbo this weekend If anyone is looking for a lift to Thredbo for the Jazz festival this weekend, but is also happy to share driving, try this for an option! We're looking for someone to drive a small (manual) Laser to Thredbo or Jindabyne this weekend, leaving whenever you need to. We can then offer you a lift back to Canberra, leaving after the last dance on Sunday night (approx 7pm), or first thing Monday morning. If you're interested and happy to help out, please contact Linda on 0405 845 789 or Mark on 0429 162 771. For more details http://www.thredbojazz.net.au/html/thredbo_swing_dance.html JUMPTOWN TICKET DISCOUNTS - Jumptown has arranged a special discounted ticket deal (20% off), so please register your interest by emailing thredbo@ jumptown.org to receive your discount voucher. Tickets can be purchased on arrival at the festival ticket office, but you will need the voucher to claim your discount. Email: liam @ jumptown.org / Phone: 0412 127 168 =========================================================== CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2. Swing/Lindy Hop - Tuesday and Wednesday (Week 1) Hard to believe we are back at Week 1! If you are enjoying your swing experience, remember to let your friends know that they can join in the new beginner's cycle this week. And if you have completed Beginners, remember you can come along for beginners and stay on for the Essentials class at 7.30pm at no extra cost. * TUESDAYS BEGINNER LINDY HOP - 6.30pm Harmonie German Club, Jerrabomberra Ave, Narrabundah * WEDNESDAYS BEGINNER LINDY HOP - 6.30pm White Eagle Polish Club, David St, Turner ADVANCED CLASSES (both venues - no additional cost!) Essentials (completed Beginners) from 7:30-8:30pm Evolve (dancing for 5+ months) from 8:30-9:30pm COST: $12 or $10 concession or 10-class passes at $100/$90 conc Email: classes @ jumptown.org Web: http://www.jumptown.org/classes.html Mobile: Russell - 0404 849 463 or Liam – 0412 127 168 ------------------------------------------------------------ 3. ANU Swing/Lindy Hop - Monday * MONDAYS BEGINNER LINDY HOP - 6:30pm INTERMEDIATE CLASS (no additional cost) - Essentials from 7:30pm COST: $12 or $10 concession, or 10-class pass at $100/$90 conc Venue: McGregor Hall, cnr Barry Drive and Marcus Clarke Sts, Acton (carpark entry from Kingsley St at the ANU Food Co-op). Email: classes @ jumptown.org Web: http://www.jumptown.org/classes.html Mobile: Russell - 0404 849 463 or Liam – 0412 127 168 ------------------------------------------------------------ 4. Balboa - Mondays - Beginners Welcome! * MONDAY 5 May - Beginner Balboa 6:30pm; Intermediate/Advanced 7:30pm Shuffle Shack 8:30-10:00pm For those of you who are interested in joining Balboa classes, come along from 6:30pm, when we will take you through beginner steps and have you shuffling in synch with your partner in no time! VENUE: 1st Canberra Scout Hall, Masson St Turner (near MacLeay St) Cost: $12 or $10 concession, or 10-class pass at $100/$90 conc Email: classes @ jumptown.org Web: http://www.jumptown.org/classes.html Mobile: Russell on 0404 849 463 =========================================================== LOCAL EVENTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. Thursday Socials - Thursday 1 May - Special Beginner Social Yes, it's that fortnightly event where you enjoy great music and dancing with friends. The next one on 1 May is a special BEGINNER SOCIAL DANCE where we welcome everyone to come and share the social dance experience! We play music at just the right pace to enjoy your first steps on the social dance floor. WHEN: Every public service payday Thursday Dates: 1 May, 15 May, 29 May Time: Jumptown DJs from 8.30pm to 10.30pm Venue: McGregor Hall, cnr Barry Drive and Marcus Clarke Sts (carpark entry from Kingsley St or Childers St) Cost: $2 ------------------------------------------------------------ 6. Shuffle Shack - Turner Scout Hall - Monday 5, 19 May Balboa and fast Lindy social dancing every Monday fortnight at Turner Scout Hall! WHEN: Every second Monday evening on off-PS pay weeks Dates: 5 May, 9 May Time: 8:30pm-10:00pm Venue: 1st Canberra Scout Hall, Masson St Turner (near MacLeay St) Cost: $2 ------------------------------------------------------------ 7. Capital Swing - Sunday 11 May (NB Postponed from 4 May) With a large Canberra Contingent enjoying the Thredbo Jazz Festival this weekend, it seemed a good idea to postpone your dose of Sunday swing to next week rather than depriving you of it for a whole month! It's Mother's Day, but with an end-time of 7pm, you'll be sitting down to dinner in good time. Don't forget the free BBQ downstairs from 3pm. Venue: Elevated Nightclub, 4th Floor, UniPub (cnr University Ave and London Cct) Time: 4pm - 7pm Sunday 11 May ------------------------------------------------------------ 8. Swingin' the Blues @ Tilley's Cafe - Saturday, 17th May There is a buzz in the air about this exciting Blues social night at the perfect venue, Tilleys Cafe in Lyneham. We will be bringing in a dance-floor and our DJs will be taking over the awesome Tilleys sound system to spin some of their best Blues, slow swing and groove tracks. If you're not familiar with blues dancing, come early for a free taster class or take advantage of the slower tracks to find your groove with some laid-back Lindy Hop. Tilleys has a great dinner and cake menu, so grab some dinner or a pick-me-up snack to keep you dancing through the night. VENUE: Tilleys Devine Cafe Gallery, 94 Wattle St, Lyneham (at the Lyneham shops) Time: 7:00pm till late (includes a blues taster class at 7:30pm) ------------------------------------------------------------ 9. Jumptown at Belconnen Markets for Dance Week - Saturday 10 May Do you like fresh fruit and dancing? Well do we have a deal for you! As part of Dance Week we have a great opportunity to show the community how much fun swing dancing is. All we need is you to come along for a few social dances and help out with clapping when the performance group are getting it on. So come along and check some of the other dance acts too. When: 11am Saturday 10 May Where: Belconnen Markets - near the kids' play area (Lathlain St, Belconnen) ------------------------------------------------------------ 10. GDS Nationals now including a Lindy Hop Division - Saturday, 19th July GDS Nationals Competition and 8th Birthday Ball weekend Saturday 19th July 2008 GDS Nationals Competition Saturday Night 19th July 2008 GDS 8th Birthday Ball and dinner Over 240 trophies to be won! Quad motor bike from Suzuki Electrical goods from Harvey Norman Wines from Jim Murphy And much more! As Jumptown would like to support GDS in having a Lindy Hop division we are wanting to enter 10 couples in this event for the very first Lindy Hop section. Everyone is welcome to enter. Depending on how many couples we get may depend on if it is split into a beginners (up and comers) and masters (more experienced) division. The event will have two songs, a slow and a fast. Jumptown will subsidise the first 10 couples, So please register your interest to enter with liam@ jumptown.org and we will pass on more details about cost etc. =========================================================== INTERSTATE EVENTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11. Australian Jitterbug Championships (AJC 2008) Put this one in your diaries for a fabulous weekend of dance competition where the best of the best as well as the brave provide great entertainment as they battle it out! When: Saturday 19 July Venue: Malvern Town Hall, Cnr. Glenferrie Road & High Street, Melb. Time: Doors open at 7.30pm. Competition begins at 8pm. Cost: TBC http://syd.swingpatrol.com.au/event-item/108/australian-jitterbug- championships.php =========================================================== BOOTNOTES ~~~~~~~~~ 12. NLA event - Dancing in the Heart of 1950s Melbourne The National Library's Dance Curator Lee Christofis celebrates International Dance Day and launches Dance Week with a look at the thriving dance scene of 1950s Melbourne. When: Tuesday 29 April, 6pm Where: National Library of Australia Theatre, free Bookings: (02) 6262 1271 ------------------------------------------------------------ 13. Beginner Music iMix on iTunes Store (new link) Russell has created an iMix of songs suitable for beginner swing dancers on iTunes. It is named "Jumptown Beginner iMix". You then have the option of either purchasing the whole iMix or individual songs. There is a mixture of tempos suitable to practice your swingouts and Charleston. http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewIMix?id=276538974 ----------------------------------------------------------- 14. Jazz, Blues etc Gig Guide For info about other Jazz, Blues etc bands playing at the Press Club, George Harcourt Inn, Old Canberra Inn and other venues around town, visit http://gigguide.letscreate.com.au/index.php or http://www.canberrabluessociety.com/ Something to add to the gig guide? Send it to newsletter@ jumptown.org ----------------------------------------------------------- 15. Dates for your diary * 2–4 May [THREDBO] - Thredbo Jazz Festival * 27–29 June [HOBART] - Devil City Swing * 19 July [MELBOURNE] - Australian Jitterbug Championships (AJC) * 19 July [CANBERRA] - GDS 8th Birthday Ball * 7–10 August [CANBERRA] - Canberräng! Canberra's Festival of Swing * 2-6 October [SYDNEY] - Sydney Lindy Exchange (SLX) =========================================================== SIGNING OFF ~~~~~~~~~~~ Brrrrr! It's chilly out there! Lucky for us dancers, we always have a sure-fire way to shake off the winter chills. See you on the dancefloor at the socials, Thredbo, UniPub, Tilleys . . . mmm, I'm feeling warmer already! Debra =========================================================== WANT TO ADD SOME SWING-RELATED NEWS TO THE NEWSLETTER Email newsletter @ jumptown.org before 12.00pm each Monday