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.

Getting Started Naomi & Peter

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 Blocks Nina & Mike

You need moves. We know you need moves. Building on the concepts and basics taught in Getting Started, 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)

Move to the Music Naomi & Peter

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. They will also discuss how you can also incorporate musicality into your dancing. (Sunday)

Majority Rules Nina & Mike

The instructors will let the class decide what they will teach in this workshop. The choices are: (1) More Lindy moves, (2) 30s Charleston, (3) or some other topic Nina & Mike deem worthy. Our instructors will provide a demo of what will be taught in each before holding a vote. Majority wins. 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.

What You Need Mike & Nina

New footwork is but one part of learning new moves. Equally (if not more) important are frame, connection, listening to your partner, and other concepts which every Lindy Hopper must understand to become a better dancer. (Saturday)

Slow Lindy Nina & Mike

Dancing to slower tempos is more than just slowing down your footwork. Learn creative ways to accentuate basic moves and new moves that fit with the slower pace. Executing these moves will make dancing to the slower tunes that much more fun. (Saturday)

Le Jazz Hot Naomi & Peter

The routine is back! Last year we didn't have one and boy did we hear about it! Jazz routines are great ways to learn a bunch of rhythms and stylings that you can incorporate into your dancing to add some pop! Plus they're just downright FUN! Jazz, Charleston, and whatever else Naomi and Peter can think of will be included. (Saturday)

30's/Lindy Charleston Naomi & Peter

Lindy Charleston is back in vogue (as if it really ever wasn't in)! Naomi and Peter will teach some cool moves to add to your basic repertoire. (Saturday)

Easy Moves That Look Hard Nina & Mike

Ever see someone pull off a really cool move that looks really complicated only to find out when someone breaks it down for you that it's actually pretty simple? The moves that Mike & Nina will go over in this class will have you ooo-ing and ahh-ing and then pulling off the same moves that will have others ooo-ing and ahh-ing. (Sunday)

Fast Lindy Naomi & Peter

Up tempo songs have such great energy and make you want to dance, don't they? This workshop will provide you with the techniques that will allow you and your partner to keep up with those White Heat tempos. If nothing else, this will be a great warm up for the rest of the day. (Sunday)

Frankie’s Favorites All

In honor of the passing earlier this year of that Lindy Hop icon, Frankie Manning, our instructors will talk about the legend and teach us their favorite moves often taught and danced by the man himself. (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.

Rhythm & Style Naomi & Peter

In this class, Naomi and Peter will go over some interesting and snazzy steps to add to your basic that will definitely be noticed by others. They will also incorporate a discussion of how these steps can accentuate your dancing with various points in the music. (Saturday)

30's/Lindy Charleston Nina & Mike

So many cool moves to choose from. Mike and Nina will pick and teach some of the best in this class. (Saturday)