Pure Joy…. You can’t help but smile when you dance, it’s impossible…

So hey there Swing Cats and Kittens, there’s a lot of dancing coming up so I thought I’d share in a newsletter for those who don’t do social media so you can keep up with the Lindy Hop news for the Gold Coast and Banaglow/Byron Bay dance regions and everywhere in between.

First up:

1. SOI Events, Workshops & Classes coming up;
2. SLX – Sydney Lindy Exchange – A Roadtrip
3. Give us a Google Review
4. Some old Skool Neo Swing from the 90’s we love..

 Events & Classes:

Tuesday Nights – June is for Jazz then July is for Swing-A-Billy Rock

Tuesday Specialty Class for June is Jazz with Miss Amanda DB.. Our favourite Cabaret Choreographer and all round talented Chick is BACK!! Amanda will start us off with the Jazz Basics and to make it a fun fare.  Each week, Amanda will transition us through the iconic moves of the Jazz era which will obviously help us all enormously with our Swing dancing and solo improvisations…  With two weeks left be sure to make it to at least one class.  Every Class different and always fun.

Starting July we will be introducing a regular Swing A Billy Rock Tuesday Night Class at 7pm –

Chrissy & Ray have been dancing in the Rockabilly, Rock n Roll and Swing Dance scene together for the past 23 years. They can be at a Rockabilly Festival one day and a Lindy Exchange the next, loving all styles of nostalgia dance Chrissy & Ray have a uniqueness to their style of dance.

After many requests, they are happy to announce they will be commencing teaching Swing A Billy Rock – A fusion of Rockabilly & Rock n Roll on a Tuesday Night at Mermaid Beach Bowls Club. 7pm – 9pm and includes social dancing time.

Their main Lindy Hop Night will remain unchanged on Thursday night.

Swing A Billy Rock is Chrissy & Ray’s blended style of this dance. They believe Rockabilly is as much about the attitude, fashion, culture and music as it is about the footwork/dance…so they will be teaching you their style of moves starting at the beginning and working their way through to have you scratching circles on the ole dance floor in no time.

Tuesday nights from 7pm to 8pm then social dancing  $15pp…

Wednesday Nights – Lindy Hop at The Bangalow Bowlo – 7pm Beginners, Transition & Int/Adv finishing at 10pm – includes up to 1 hour social dancing

Thursday Nights -Lindy Hop at Mermaid Beach Bowls Club – 7pm Beginners , Transition & Int/Adv finishing at 10pm – includes up to 1 hour social dancing

 

Socials/Events:

This Friday Night 22nd of June is SWING SHACK with Empire Swing Brisbane – This week they have a Band Yas Queen  – Cost is $20pp at the door.  Ray and I will be there…
Swing Shack – Brisbane’s Swing Dance Party – VENUE:   Queensland Russian Community Club- 19 Lotus Street, Woolloongabba.

Brisbane’s longest running continuous Swing Dance social event since at least 2005. At Swing Shack you’ll see people of all ages have been practicing their Swing Dancing including styles like Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, Charleston, Blues, Balboa and from time to time you will also see solo routines like the Shim Sham, Big Apple or even the Trankee Doo.

This very welcoming social event kicks off with a “Taster Class” that will anybody dancing even if you have two left feet. Our goal is to have you smiling and having a good time while you learn this fun thing called “Swing Dancing!”

• Doors open at 7 pm – $20pp

This Sunday – 24th June 12.30pm – 5pm – FREE – Sunday Sounds Retro at the Marine Village Sanctuary Cove

You’re invited to join us at Sanctuary Cove on Sunday, June 24 from 12:30pm to 5pm as the soulful tunes of Sunday Sounds Retro fill The Village Green.

Boasting a jam-packed line-up of free, live music, brilliant family-friendly entertainment and a relaxed alfresco atmosphere, Sunday Sounds Retro will take you back in time with two top performers secured to provide live music at the anticipated event.

The entertaining Miss Mandy Swings will kick off proceedings as she returns once again to this years’ event performing her ever-popular fusion of jazz and cabaret.

Accompanied by a live six-piece swing band and a collection of fabulous costumes inspired by the 1940s, Miss Mandy promises to dazzle with tributes to icons such as Bette Midler, Judy Garland, Liza Minelli and Ella Fitzgerald.

After Miss Mandy, the headlining act Sebastiaan and the Retrospect’s will take the stage performing their eclectic mix of swing, jazz, rock and roll and ballads from crowd favourites Frank, Dean and Roy and Elvis mixed with some Nat King Cole.

With a host of flavoursome food options available in The Marine Village, be sure to pre-order your takeaway dishes, so you can enjoy the ultimate picnic on The Village Green.

As a family-friendly event, Sunday Sounds Retro will accommodate for all members of the family with entertaining roving retro characters including Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Chaplin and others.

There will also be plenty of children’s activities set up to keep little ones happy as the soulful afternoon progresses into the evening.

For more information visit www.sanctuarycove.com.au.

 

Our regular Swing On In Monthly socials are:

Join us for our Monthly Swing Dance Social with the Swing On In Crew.
EVERYONE WELCOME…
Ready to burn some holes into those soles with your swivels, swingouts and style?
Join us for our monthly social dance on the best little dance floors in Qld & NSW.
Great friends, community spirit, AWESOME music and great dancing.
Swing-A-Billy Ray and guest DJ’s and Bands will keep your toes tappin and dancin all night.

1ST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH IS NERANG  – Nerang Community Hall – 34 Price Street, Nerang – 8pm til late BYO your refreshments and $10 at the door for dancers..  FREE for new non dancing guests that just want to see what its all about! (Time to bring your friends!!) 

3RD FRIDAY OF THE MONTH IS BANGALOW – The Bowlo Bangalow – 7.30pm til Late – FREE – Swing Band & DJ’s

SUNDAY 22ND JULY – Its A Jazz Age Lawn Party and you are all Invited: 

10am to 3pm – Old Government House, 2 George St, Brisbane – FREE

The Jazz Age Lawn Picnic held previously as part of the Miss Fisher Exhibition was such a hit we are doing it again!
I will have my Pop Up Salon open for free vintage hair styling for all.. Maybe you might like to discuss your wedding hair option or maybe the kids just want to play fancy for a day.. No appointment needed, just roll up…

DJ Swing A Billy Ray will be spinning tunes from the 20’s through to the 70’s so lets get the party started…   There will be swing dancers there and places to dance and I believe Empire Swing may be running a class and demo…

BEST Dressed, Best Setting, Best Dance Moves.. Your going to get it all!

http://www.ogh.qut.edu.au/whats-on/2018/wedding-garden-party.php

 

SUNDAY 23RD OF SEPTEMBER – SWING IN THE FLOWERS –  1PM TO 6PM – FREE

“Swing Dancers, Family and Friends are invited to join us for Swing In The Flowers Picnic Swing Dance”

After the huge Success of our first Swing in The Flowers hosted by Ian Cook and Prime Flowers and Swing On In, we are doing it again!. It was one of those magical days that just linger in your hearts and minds and it was too special not to do again. This time though, we are adding some extra fun elements for all including:

Interacting Flower Arrangement Competition hosted by noe other than our World Champion Florist Judith Little.. She has some fun ideas in mind … stay tuned for that one..

Tractor Rides
Waterfall Visit
Picking Blueberries for your own afternoon tea
Flower Farm Walking Tour
Communal afternoon tea
Tea Dance at the Meerschaum Vale Hall.

This day includes a visit to Ian’s Flower and Blueberry Farms on the Alstonville Plateau, Afternoon Tea and Dancing at a little Community hall at Meerschaum Vale. It is a nice little hall, 110 years old and has seen many community dances in that time. It has a large kitchen, with ovens, hotplates, fridges and freezers and an outside veranda.

It is on Wardell Road the same as the flower Farm and is 5.5 km away or about 6 minutes drive.

BBQ if you want to stick around and dance some more.. details below:

PRIME FLOWERS has been in operation for 21 Years and is now one of the largest flower growers and employers based in the rich farmland of the Alstonville Plateau.

1.00pm: Meet at Prime Flowers, 368 Wardell Road, Alstonville. Guided Tour of the flower processing facilities and flower farm, Flower Arrangement Competition, Tractor Rides, Walking Tour to Water Falls etc…. (Directions Below)

2.30pm: Trip to the Blueberry Farm where you get to pick your own blueberries for your afternoon tea. Please bring a small plate to share as well.

3.00pm: Afternoon Tea at the Community hall at Meerschaum Valel featuring the Blueberries you handpicked smothered in double cream. Tea, Coffee, Water Refreshments supplied. (BYO Alcohol)

3.30pm: Dancing on the beautiful timber floors of the very old Hall. (Picture below)

6.00pm – BBQ Dinner – BYO

What to bring: Shoes for walking around the farm, Dancing Shoes, BYO drinks and BBQ food. – We will have utensils, condiments, serviettes etc on hand for those wanting to use BBQ.

I thought to keep the food simple, blueberries and cream for afternoon tea and BLT’s for dinner and charge $5 a head for food in addition to the $10 charity donation.

Cost: $5 for food and $10 pp for charity… children free and all money goes to The Ovarian Cancer of Australia charity. Payment on the day at the door.

RSVP:
Just let us know by saying “going” on this event page so we can guage numbers for catering purposes.

Direction to flower farm to meet:
Directions:

Turn off Pacific Hwy onto Bruxner Highway

Take Alstonville Turnoff

Take first exit at roundabout into Daley Street

Turn left onto Wardell Rd

Travel 4 klm.

Entrance in photinia hedge on right.

Hop eto see you al there. Call Ray for any further info: 0408306560

https://www.facebook.com/SwingOnIn/videos/951422134999838/

Workshops:

Want to be part of our Swing On In Performance Troupe?

Swing On In has been blessed with many and varied opportunities to perform around SE Qld including being one of the star attractions for the Commonwealth Games recently. We are getting regular enquiry to offer Social Dance troupe performances, Pop Up Swing Flashmobs and Corporate entertainment. We need to grow our performance base.

Although we focus mainly on Social Dancing POP Up performances (No routine required) we also have ample enquiry and opportunity for Choreographed routine performances.

This 3 hour intensive workshop will be to get you on your way to entry performance level. We will teach you a choreographed routine adding the styling and flare required to shine whilst performing.

You will then have your video to practice at home and we will run through each week either before or in the break at class.

There is no obligation to perform in the future. Opportunities for paid and non paid performances will be offered to everyone and if you are free you can put your hands up or if not then you can grab another opportunity next time…

To do this workshop you must:

* At least know and be comfortable doing 6 & 8 beat rhythms including Swing Outs and Circles.

* If would be terrific if you could find your own partner to dance with as you will need to train with a buddy in between.

* There will be small jumps, lifts and drops that will be added into the routine at some point going forward.

* A Troupe Group Page will be created also going forward once the committed team members are identified…

Following the workshop there will be a social dance and time to have a bite to eat and drink together.

ALL WELCOME…

SLX – Sydney Lindy Exchange – A Roadtrip with SWING ON IN

Mark your Diaries, Book your Holidays Now! Join us at SLX 14-16 September 2018

* Sydneys Longest Running and Most Popular Swing Dance Festival
* 3 Swing Filled Days in beautiful Sydney
* Amazing Bands
* Fabulous DJ’s
* Awesome International Teachers Soochan Lee and Young Kang
* Late Night Themed Parties
* Australian Swing Dance Championships
* Fun Welcoming and Inclusive Environment

The venues are:
Friday Night comp – Balmain Town Hall
Friday Night Late Night – Latin Dance Australia Broadway Glebe
Saturday/Sunday Workshops – Balmain Town Hall
Saturday Night – Petersham Town Hall
Saturday Late Night – Latin Dance Australia
Sunday Night – The Standard Bowl, Taylor Square Darlinghurst

ALL Swing Out Pass (All social events) Full Social Event Pass $125

ALL Hellzapoppin’ Pass -All social & classes Hellzapoppin’ Pass (everything) $290

 

Give us you Google or Facebook Review:

Hey there, Swing On In is growing by your fabulous word of mouth… Google Review and Facebook Reviews are our most affordable way of marketing but we need you.  Apparently 1 of you a week would be optimal..  If you feel like it, love us and get a chance here are a couple of ways to tell the world and share us:

Google Review:
If you are on an android phone its easier as you are already signed into your Google but iPhone works well enough too you may need to sign in thats all…   so just go to our website : www.swingonin.com.au and at the very bottom of the page you will see this:  Just click on Review Mermaid Beach and it will take you to Google Review for us.  Alternatively you can enter this into your URL and it takes you straight to our Google Maps Review: Swing On In, 9 Markeri St, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218

Facebook Review:  Click HERE and review away…

 

Thanks ever so much…

 

What is Neo Swing? Here’s some of our history….

You have heard Ray Neo Swing tunes more than once on our social dancefloor and being the old skool kids that we are here at Swing On In, we are probably about the only place left that that play it regularly.  You see, it may not be the flavor of the more traditionalist of Lindy Hoppers today BUT we were there when the Swing Revival went nuts and if it wasn’t for these Neo Swing Bands.   I’m pretty sure the revival would not have been as big nor would it have attracted the youth masses like it did.  It really was,  (at it’s height) a Swingmania similar to that of beatlemania or any other youthquake uprising.

Don’t get me wrong, we LOVE authentic, traditional and original music and its roots but we also love the originals or the Neo Swing Movements as well..  Today though, virtually anything goes with new and modern artist putting their own spin on the classics, but today I just wanted to give you a little bit on the ole Neo Swing vibe.

Neo Swing, although having strong influences and roots from traditional big band or jump Blues music, really did bring with it a whole new sound and did err on the side of some harder rock, rockabilly and Jump Blues influences and sounds.  This was great for our fledgling scene back in the late 90’s where there were a whole lot of Ska, Rockabilly, Punk and Skater Youth Culture kids drawn to and wanting to dance Lindy Hop to these tunes…They kick started our first dance school “Katz Korner”.

The Revival:

The swing revival, also called retro swing and neo-swing, was a renewed interest in swing music, beginning in the 1990s. The music was rooted in the big bands of the swing era of the 1930 and ’40s, but it was also influenced by rockabilly, boogie-woogie piano, the jump blues of Louis Prima, and the theatrics of Cab Calloway.

In 1989, three swing revival bands formed: Royal Crown Revue, the George Gee Orchestra, and Lavay Smith‘s Red Hot Skillet Lickers. After two years of performing in their home of Los Angeles, Royal Crown Revue toured the U.S. and attracted attention. They were followed by the formation of more swing bands: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Cherry Poppin’ Daddies, and the Erik Ekstrand Ensemble. When the Derby nightclub opened in 1993, it offered free dance lessons and hosted many retro swing bands.

The Derby was the first club in Los Angeles where there was dancing and swing music every night.   It followed the lead of Club Deluxe, which opened in San Francisco in 1989.

Retro swing appeared in pop culture when the movie Swing Kids (1993) was released. One year later, Royal Crown Revue performed in The Mask. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy performed in Swingers (1996), with scenes filmed at The Derby and other clubs in Los Angeles, and at the Super Bowl halftime show in 1999.

Brian Setzer helped revive rockabilly during the 1980s as the leader of the Stray Cats. In 1990s he helped revive swing by drawing large audiences as the leader of The Brian Setzer Orchestra, a big band that was formed in 1992 and influenced by rock, rockabilly, and the jump blues of Louis Prima. The band had a hit with “Jump, Jive an’ Wail“, which was a hit for Prima in the 1950s.  Setzer’s version won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. His album The Dirty Boogie was nominated for Best Pop Album. Hot by the Squirrel Nut Zippers was certified platinum by the RIAA for selling one millions albums.    In 1998 three retro swing bands were in the Top 50 at Billboard magazine: Cherry Poppin’ Daddies, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and the Brian Setzer Orchestra.

Fun Fact 1:  Ray and I attended the Derby in LA in the late 90’s and we saw Indigo Swing Live, got to dance in the BACK room and realized then that the Shim Sham was the favored dance worldwide and doing it right there at that place on that night with 500 other dancers from around the world was the best feeling in the world and it was cemented into our Swing Lives forever.

Fun Fact 2:  Our good Friends Bobby & Carma were part of the Brian Setzers Personal Team, and as such, Brian knew all about some crazy Swing Dancers from the Gold Coast called Chrissy & Ray and Katz Korner (Our first dance school).  He sent over CD’s & Promo stuff quite regularly and at one of our social nights at the Oasis, we had a live telephone hook up with Brian which was a real treat for the dancers there that night.  Pretty Cool.

Fun Fact 3:  Ray and I have seen and danced live to most of the above Neo Swing Bands listed..

The You tube Video of Jump Jive and Wail is below for you to check it out…  (Yes they used mini trampolines to achieve those heights in their aerials.)

A bit more of the commercialisation of Lindy Hop which really threw swing dance into popularity….  you wouldn’t guess it but:

The Day Khakis Changed Swing Dancing Forever ..  

It was over 20 years ago, and Gap took a calculated risk that went viral in a semi-connected world. You didn’t need to describe it any further.  Khakis became synonymous with Swing dancing, and that’s how a 30 second television commercial changed dancing forever.  This hit commercial aired in 1998, but it’s true origin dated back to August, 1996 (This is when Ray and I met!).    

https://vimeo.com/116021044

 

To close.. I recommend you all watch the following movies for a a feel of the resurgence of Swing in the late 80’s and 90’s:

SWING KIDS

SWINGERS

 

 

Til next time,

Catch on the Flipside…

 

Chrissy & Ray
Swing On In

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