Jammin on the James

Beginner Track Ginter Room

Take this track if (1) you've never danced a step in your life; (2) you're a Lindy Hopper looking to brush up on basics; or (3) you're an experienced dancer, just not in Lindy. In order to provide the optimal learning environment, we are limiting the number of registrants to 10 leads and 10 follows. This will provide more hands-on attention from our instructors. In addition we are only offering 2 workshops per day in an effort not to overload the beginner students and to allow them to absorb a higher percentage of the concepts and movements taught. Registration will be for the entire track only.

Lindy Hop BasicsCasey & Mike

Learn the basics of Lindy Hop including triple steps and the swing out. Also learn about connection, frame, and other essential lead/follow concepts. Our instructors will give you the info you need to develop your basic understanding of this extremely fun dance. (Saturday)

Building on BasicsCarla & Nick

You need moves. We know you need moves. Building on the concepts and basics taught in Lindy Hop Basics, here you will increase your Lindy repertoire with fun moves while at the same time reinforcing important lead and follow concepts. Remember: it's not so much knowing the moves, but leading them correctly and understanding how to follow the lead. (Saturday)

Mixing 6 & 8 Count Rhythms Carla & Nick

Lindy Hop is mixture of 6 and 8 count footwork and rhythms. In this class Carla & Nick will talk about how to easily move between the two rhythms and how they relate to each other within the framework of swing music. After this class it will be much clearer as to how to mix these rhythms effortlessly and seemlessly in your dancing. (Sunday)

Whole Body Dancing Rules Casey & Mike

Do a little peckin', shoulder shruggin', and knee slapping, but whatever you do, don't just dance with your feet! Casey & Mike will provide you with some ideas on how to use your entire body while dancing, helping you make your dancing more energetic, dynamic, and aesthetic. After this class, feel free to stay in the Ginter Room for practice or come up and "audit" the last workshop of the day in the Auditorium which will be taught by all four of our instructors. (Sunday)

Intermediate Track Auditorium

Dancers taking these workshops should know how to execute a swing out, basic Lindy Charleston, and comfortably move between 6- and 8-count moves.

Swing Out Intensive Casey & Mike

Think you know what makes a good swing out? Are you actually executing it on the dance floor? Everyone needs a swing out refresher now and again and now is the time! Casey & Mike will go over what makes a good swing out and help you incorporate these concepts in your never-ending quest to achieve the perfect swing out. (Saturday)

Closed Position Connection Carla & Nick

Closed position is something all intermediate dancers take for granted. Carla & Nick will discuss important aspects of closed position that will make your dancing stronger, more effective, and fun to execute. (Saturday)

Slow Jazz Routine Casey & Mike

This year we're going in a different direction with the routine workshop. Learn some chill solo jazz choreography that will inspire you to work on solo movement to all tempos. Jazz routines are great ways to learn a bunch of new rhythms and stylings that you can incorporate into your dancing to add some pop! (Saturday)

Creating More Flow in the Dance Carla & Nick

Lindy Hop is a flowing, dynamic dance when done correctly. It looks fun and when we do it the right way it feels more fun. Carla & Nick will explain these concepts and discuss how they make Lindy Hop the dance that it is. And they'll tell you how you can incorporate these concepts in your dancing so you can have more fun and look better on the dance floor! (Saturday)

Return of the Tandem Casey & Mike

Learn unique and fun tandem Charleston variations to incorporate into your Lindy Hop. Tandem Charleston should already be a staple in your repertoire, so this class will give you even more variations to work with! (Sunday)

Listening and Dancing to the Music Carla & Nick

Lindy is so much more than just a bunch of moves strung together.  It is first and foremost a street dance that is done completely at the whim of the dancers and ideally to/with the music.  Our instructors will demonstrate how they dance to the music and explain how Swing music is constructed and how their dancing fits with that structure.  They will also discuss how you can also incorporate musicality into your dancing. (Sunday)

Moves From the Vault All

Learn moves from past and from where they may have originated. Our four instructors will pull from their vast knowledge of vintage movie clips, experiences with dancers from the 30s and 40s, and anywhere else their Lindy research has taken them. (Sunday)

Advanced Workshops Gymnasium

Dancers taking these workshops should be comfortable picking up new moves and steps fairly quickly, understand how swing music is structured and the concept of creating your dance to the changes in the music. In addition, dancers in the advanced workshop should incorporate good frame and connection in their everyday dancing.

Some of Our Favorite Things Carla & Nick

In this class, Carla and Nick will teach some of their favorite moves, stylings, and/or jazz steps. Learn some of the things they like to do, and do well. (Saturday)

Old-Time Partner Charleston Casey & Mike

Learn some cool moves that were done in the time before Lindy Hop was a dance and add them to your 20s Charleston repertoire. (Saturday)