Each workshop is 2hr long (with short break in between) in order to conduct thorough workshops, allowing the possibility of getting a deeper understanding of the subject.
Some people seem to think that good dancers are born, but all the good dancers I have known are taught or trained.
– Fred Astaire
Stretch 2.0 for Smoother and Softer Dancing
How to get a “Yes, I would love to!”
Goal: What is essential in partner dancing is that the leader asks for a motion in such a way that the follower’s response is invariably “Yes, I would love to do that!”
How? Ali&Katja will teach you how to “ask” and “respond” to achieve this enjoyable experience. As a leader, you will learn how to take your partner’s hand and create the lightest possible connection, how to relax your arm and move from your center to create the most gentle but clear lead. As a follower, you will learn how to hold your frame and move your center, so when your leader asks for a movement you will move on your own power. This way, you will be able to respond to such a gentle lead without having to hesitate and wonder if or where your leader wants you to go.
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Musicality is when the dancers’ movements appear to create the music – and not the other way around.
– Kristy Nilsson
Anticipate the changes, Matching the Energy and Rhythm!
Goal: Hear the changes! Show the changes!
There is something about swing music that allows us to hear and feel when something interesting is just about to happen and we can hit it!
How? You will learn some easy and some complex ways of changing and adapting what you do to match the music. You will learn how to change your movements to become softer when the energy of the music is lower, and how you can explode in your movements when the music goes crazy.
Yes… AND – Creative Communication
Creativity is contagious. Pass it on!
–Albert Einstein
Goal: Give space to your Leader or Follower to improvise
How? We are taking the golden rule of Improv theatre: “Yes… AND”. This rule was adopted in improv theater to ensure a flowing dialogue between two actors without a script. Well, social dancing is no different from improv theater. We just need to learn their golden rule and we too can get a nice flowing dialogue in our dance.
Fingertips
Goal: Let your hand and fingers become a part of the body-leading experience in Lindy Hop.
How? The hand is more than just a link to our partner. In this class you will learn how to let your hand be a part of the stretch. As a leader, by letting your hand be a part of your body movement you’ll communicate early on what you are planning to lead. As a follower, you’ll get more time to plan a styling that does not interfere with the lead.
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You can’t blame me for wanting to dance… My feet won’t stay still when they swing that music.
– Jeff Hamilton
Fast Lindy
Goal: Dance to music of between 200 – 280 beats per minute!
How? You will learn several techniques for high-energy, fast dancing.
To dance fast first you’ll need some small tricks that will help you save your energy.
Once you have these little tricks in you bag, we’ll work on fast swing-outs!
Finally, how you can transition between fast swingouts and movements that saves your breath.
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From Micro Musicality to Big Jumps and Fast Direction Changes
Goal: After the connectivity class, you’ll have the Jedi technique to go for both micro changes and big flashy movements together with your partner.
How? In this class you’ll learn how stretch 2.0 technique really opens up the possibility to be playful and exciting in your dancing.
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Once you pop, You can’t stop!
– Pringles
Goal: Turns and spins are one of the most amazing ways to create excitement in your dancing. Specially when they are danced fast and seemly coming out of nowhere. If you learn about balance in turns you will be able to lead and follow turns at any moment in your dance. You will also be able to do it in a rhythmical and relaxed looking way. If you don’t learn how to keep your balance, you might bump into your partner or even fall down and generally feel very restricted in your dancing.
How? Ali and Katja use couple of concepts that make it easier to stay in balance when you get into turns and spins. In this class we will work on the preparation we want to do right before we get into any turns.
It all starts with your own ability to turn both as a follower and a leader. In this first section we will work on the techniques that can help you stay in balance no-matter what! These are the exercises and techniques that you can use to practice turning on your own.
Once we worked on that, you’ll learn some cool moves that uses hip catches and pop-turns to lead and follow superfly social dancing moves.
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