Swing On In to see whats happening.. This months newsletter…
What’s in this Newsletter:
Classes
Gigs
Farewells
Interesting Reads
Classes:
Welcome to all our new and old swing dance students & friends. What a bumper start to Classes this year and it was so wonderful to have those dance floors full and the rooms filled with laughter!
TUESDAYS – Mermaid Beach Bowls Club
WEDNESDAYS – Bangalow Bowlo
THURSDAYS – Boogie Woogie with Florinne
SOI GIGS COMING UP:
SATURDAY 2 MARCH – HOTA – Dance through the eras – FREE – we need you!
SUNDAY 3 MARCH – Sunday Swing Sesh – Kingscliff
SATURDAY 9TH OF MARCH: – The WWII Blitz Party
FRIDAY 15TH MARCH – Bangalow Dance Party
SATURDAY 2 MARCH 2019 – Dance Through the Eras, Free Swing Dance and Exhibition Opening – we need dancers:
STARSTRUCK: AUSTRALIAN MOVIE PORTRAITS
If you love movies, you’ll love Starstruck!
A chance to Dress up AND dance at the Starstruck Gallery Opening on Saturday 2 March 5pm til 8pm – Dance Floor, Band, fun and tickets to the exhibition plus more..
Pick a Movie & Era below that you love, Dress to the era and come along and DANCE..
Maybe you feel like slipping back to:
1900’s Paris with Moulin Rouge
1910’s Picnic at Hanging Rock
1920’s Caddie
1930’s Lovers and Luggers
1940’s The Overlanders
1950’s – The Dressmaker
1960’s The Sapphires
1970’s The Picture Show Man
1980’s Starstruck or Muriel’s Wedding
1990’s Priscilla Queen of the Desert
These Australian Films plus many more will form part of this fantastic exhibition.
SWING On In and The Lindy Charm Schoolhave been asked to bring the Glamour and the dancers to enjoy, engage and entertain the 400 VIP guests but of course we will be having all the fun won’t we? .
HOTA always look after us and this occassion will be no different, in addition to dance floor and free awesome band, being the stars of the official opening VIP Soiree, we have our own green room and exhibition tickets…
The Band: Western-Dyer Quintet
Swing-jazz-lounge
Melissa is one our finest Jazz singers and puts on a a fabulous swinging show3s taking us on a danceable journey from 1920’s through to 1990’s with heavy influences on the 30’s 40’s 50’s & of course Soultown 60’s.
Casting Books:
Explore the lives of aspiring actors in these unique digitised Cinesound casting books from 1930s Australia.
Exhibition
Explore the exhibition and discover some of the hidden stories of Australian cinema.
Starstruck tells the story of Australian cinema through the faces of our film actors – both famous and forgotten – from the early 20th century through to today.
The project is a major collaboration between National Film and Sound Archive of Australia and The National Portrait Gallery to create a national touring exhibition.
Starstruck explores the striking portraits emerging from 100 years of Australian movies. It features famous Australian actors and iconic films, as well as highlighting the lesser-known early years of our film industry. Many items are available for the public to see for the very first time.
Audiences will be treated to rare film posters, 1930s scrapbooks of aspiring actors, and original costumes from iconic movies such as Picnic at Hanging Rock, My Brilliant Career, and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.
17.00 – VIPs arrive on site
17.30 – Band (Set 1) to commence
– Swing dancers to commence and bring dance floor to life.
18.30 – Band to break (speeches start)
19.00 – Band (Set 2) to commence (20min). Dancers back on the floor.
19.35 – Band (set 3) to recommence (20min) Dancers back on the floor.
20.00 – Event to conclude, Guests to depart
SUNDAY 3 MARCH – Farewell to one of our favourite Gals, Miss Lotte Luxe (Charlotte) – Our next Swinging Sunday Sesh will be at Kingscliff:
11am QLD time or 12 Noon NSW time.
Join us for our March Sunday Swing Sesh at Kingscliff. We’d love of you all to join the SWING On In crew as we bid farewell to one of our most beautiful, funny, colourful and the nicest of Swing Dancers we have ever met who will be moving to Singapore with her love Brett Barfoot but hopefully not for too long!
We will meet adjacent to the Kingscliff Visitor Information Centre and Kingscliff Community Hall – 81 Marine Pde, Kingscliff where Mark will have carved out a nice picnic spot for us close to swimming and hall and shade.
Call or text if you get lost and we will guide you once you are there: 0409727888
BYO: drinks, picnic stuff, swimmers, hat and sunscreen and dance shoes.
This is also a Charity fundraiser for Beauties Feeling Fabulous – BFF so $10 contribution covers the hall hire and balance goes to BFF charity raising money to supper free pamper days for women living with a cancer diagnosis.
SATURDAY 9TH OF MARCH: – The WWII Blitz Party
Our Blitz Party is sold out.. Now I’m off to concoct a suitable Bomber Cocktails, buy enamel mugs and research news reels to play not he projector we don’t have yet!! sheesh! busy but its going to be amazing…
FRIDAY 15TH MARCH – Bangalow Dance Party:
This Month we have the Fabulous Sebastian Scholtens singing for us…
There will be a new kitchen!
Join us for our Monthly Swing On In – Bangalow/Byron Bay swing dance with the SWING On In Crew atThe Bowlo, Bangalow with Sebastiaan Scholtens Swings…
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 dance floor in NSW
Great friends, community spirit, AWESOME music and great dancing.
7PM til late..
FREE …. (Time to bring your friends!!)
Interesting Reads: Dance Like a Tiger, not like a Mouse… A couple of strong followers on the world stage and their advice:
Her swivels are the stuff of legends and his playful crazy-leg style is instantly recognizable. It’s time to get to know Lindy Hop powerhouses Åsa and Daniel Heedman: why they’re so passionate about remaining old school, should dance like a tiger, not like a mouse. By: Annika Munter Editor: Odella Schattin Photo: Imantas Cesliavičius
Since 2004, the Heedman’s love and powers have brightened the Lindy hop scene. Enclosed in an electric ring of their own creation, they bring musicality and personality to the dance. When they teach, they exaggerate their movements and they master the ability to loosen the atmosphere to such an extent that their students dare to take risks.
– We want to create a permissive atmosphere, in which everyone feels free to let go and it doesn’t matter if you make a fool of yourself. Only in that state of mind something completely different can be created, Daniel says. Åsa agrees and adds:
– Lindy hop is jazz in motion. It’s free from boundaries and rules. We do all we can to stay true to its origins, to prevent it from transforming into a ballroom dance. To us, being a good dancer is not about advanced technical skills or how many figures you know. Being a good dancer is feeling the music and being able to express yourself.
Check out Asa and Daniel dancing here:
Become a strong and independent follower – three advice from Åsa Heedman:
Stick your neck out and put yourself at risk. Use your body and capture theextremes in positions. Show your personality and your phraseology. If you want your expression to be strong, you have to stop being cute. Dare to be raw and strong in your expression. Roar like a tiger, don’t be a mouse! “Puttinutt” is not for you.
Don’t ”just” wait to be led. Be an active participant in creating. Try adding your own rhythms and expressions as you follow your lead. Follow without ”just following”, meaning: never try to predict your lead, try to complement the lead instead.
Be your own instrument. Listen less to the melody and pay more attention to the rhythms. If you learn jazz music, you will understand the dance too and you’ll learn to be activated by the rhythm section.
Keep timing. Make sure your feet are under yourself at all times, that helps
Connect your center to your hands. When you move back or forward your lead should feel it trough your hands. ”If you don’t do this it becomes hard to dance together. When you have the weight of your butt in your hand you don’t have to look so closely, you feel what happens before you even look.
Listen to the music, draw inspiration from it and create rhythms.
Don’t try to help the lead to make a move happen. Try not to care so much what he is doing. Just listen! Maybe he’s going to do something that you don’t know. If you have pre-ideas, you’ll miss the magic.
Relax your lead! ”I always listen carefully to my lead, trying to tune in and create trust to start with. I listen to the music and put in stuff I feel like, but only moves that are not going to be in the leads face. I think when I keep this in mind it usually is a better dance.
Combine your urge to move with the information you get from the lead, and with the rhythms of the music – within your body. Then dance.
Let him lead. If you are too eager to move you most likely will fail following.
Check out Alice’s experts following skills here not knowing exactly what Kevin St Laurent is up to! Brilliant.
Swing On In's Chrissy Keepence and Ray are two cool cats. Their vivacious personalities and enthusiasm really motivate students at all levels. From beginner to advanced, they treat each dancer... Read More
Kate McDonald – Bleach Festival Director,
The Swing on In Dancers have been involved in multiple Bleach Festival’s events including the larg-escale production, The Inaugural Annual Dance Affair. They were an absolute hit. We love their... Read More
Madonna Williams – Willams Talent Management,
Working with Ray is a dream come true for organisers booking DJs or looking for entertainment 20’s – 80’s. He’s professional, reliable, fun to work with and delivers a brilliant,... Read More
We have had the greatest time learning our Wedding Dance with you Two,
We have had the greatest time learning to dance with you two. It's such a fun thing to do together, kind of our special time together each week which has... Read More
Tahlia Shontelle,
So much fun and filled with amazing friendly people! Read More
Bruce Atkinson,
I have been dancing for 16 years both modern jive.rock n roll and swing and in my opinion Swing is the most social and energised of them all just one... Read More
Sue Watson,
The most friendly and welcoming dance group on the Gold Coast Read More
Janelle Mason,
Just dropped in to Tuesday night Swing On In class and absolutely loved it! Fantastic teachers, fantastic dancers! See you next week. Read More
Nicola Matt Jones,
Fantastic ppl fantastic teachers and a whole lotta fun Read More
Francesca Esposito,
How lucky are we to have Chrissy & Ray Keepence teach us Swing Dancing right here in Bangalow.... Taught directly by Frankie Manning himself the grandfather of Swing Dancing, this... Read More
Rhydian Lewis,
Ray and Chrissy are both truly gifted in their abilities to teach swing to any age group. There love of this genre is infectious and they keep classes exciting and... Read More
Tina-Louise King,
I can't thank the teachers Ray, Chrissy enough for bringing Swing Dancing into my life. They are wonderful teachers and it has become "my happy place" every week. I've also... Read More
Michael Janda,
Loads of fun, Ray and Chrissie are awesome teachers who always take the time to make sure everyone learns at their own pace. I never would have thought I'd enjoy... Read More
Danielle Read,
Swing dancing has opened my eyes to a whole new love that I didn't know existed! Ray and Chrissy's expert feedback and patient teaching style makes every class rewarding, exciting... Read More
Jack Green,
I started going to swing on in 9 months ago and I plan to keep going it's lots of fun Read More
Danielle Cherrier,
I never learnt to dance before I joined Swing on in. I totally enjoy the experience, great teachers, Ray and Chrissy, great atmosphere, very friendly, lots of fun Read More
David Tranter,
We always have a great time at Swing On In dance classes. There's always lots of great dance moves to learn and heaps of friendly people to dance with. Read More
Roy Bunyan,
This time round we'll be taking our lindy hop to the dance floor replacing the comfortably familiar RnR Read More
Bonnie Rose,
I have always wanted to Swing Dance & Ray was such an awesome teacher. Everyone at the classes are so friendly & welcoming! Read More
Simone DeYong,
Swing On In is awesome! Chrissy and Ray are excellent teachers and superb dancers, no matter what dance level you are at they are very welcoming. Highly recommended! Read More
Krystal Lea Turner,
As soon as I get to Queensland I will be there for sure! Chrissy and Ray are not only incredible people with hearts of hold they are also incredibly talented... Read More
Hannah Tysoe,
Ray & Chrissy are both as amazing dancers and people. They are so passionate about everything they do. I'm absolutely mesmerised every time I watch them dance. They at an... Read More
Suzanne Reid,
Wonderful, talented teachers and both with a beautiful personality to match! Read More
Stuart Manahan,
Started Lindy Hop with Chrissy and Ray many years ago and they gave me the foundation on which to build my Swing dancing. Lindy Hop has taken me all over... Read More
Sharon Buckley,
Awesome peeps and great Lindy hop dancing for all ages!!! Read More
Amos Blacker,
Ray and Chrissy are excellent teachers and make it a fun experience. Lindy Hop is in my opinion a life skill. Improvised social dancing is where it's at for me... Read More
Denny Neave,
With out a doubt the best dance group in Australia!! Read More
Bryan Bates,
Do yourself a favour and learn about this stylish and spirited style of partner dancing with the best teachers I could imagine. I love Chrissy and Ray's energy and humour... Read More
Amanda Jane,
Love going to class each week with Chrissy and Ray. Such fun, great exercise and you get to meet some wonderful people. Read More
Harry Deluxe,
Fabulous dancers, amazing (and most patient) teachers ;-p, incredible people! Wish they were able to get to Perth more often Read More
Pic Sta,
Great teachers and great fun. Highly recommended! Read More
Charlotte Elizabeth Georgia,
Excellent classes, it's amazing what you can learn in one or two lessons, even with two left feet! Very welcoming and warm and as fun as you make it. Read More
Madeleine Mayhem,
Ray & Chrissy are both amazing dancers and absolutely delightful people. They are so passionate about everything they do, and open their hearts to assisting others in so many ways..... Read More
Geoff Lewis,
Expert helpful instruction, loads of fun, beautiful people, great exercise - what's not to love! And thanks for the inspiring clips from the original swing era. Read More
Jonathan Adnitt,
Fantastic........Chrissie and Roy are the Best! Always happy, always patient, a lovely friendly atmosphere and a pleasure to look forward to every week........Betty Read More
Kerry McDonald Baunach,
On Wednesday night at Bangalow Swing on In, I have a great time, smile all night, laugh at Ray's jokes and learn to dance at the same time. Our teachers... Read More
Kelsey Walker,
I was hooked after my first lesson! Amazing people and an amazing atmosphere! Ray and Chrissy are fantastic teachers. Something about swing really invigorates the soul. I guarantee that if... Read More
Tony Wadeson, Liaison Officer for the Kirra SLSC. – 100 Year Beach Celebrations 2016.
“We had the pleasure of working with Ray Keepence last year when he did a gig for our Surf Life Saving Club. Ray acted as a DJ and provided Music,... Read More
QT Gold Coast have been working with Swing-A- Billy Ray Dj Entertainer Services for over 3 years. Ray and his team consistently provide slick, professional entertainment for both our corporate clients... Read More
Mrs Jenny Murtagh, Ashmore,
Ray Keepance has been my go to music man for 15years. He has provided music for all different occasions for us from birthdays, weddings, funerals, yes funerals. He has the... Read More
The Loefflers, (Chicago Band “Chenille”)
While he may go by the name Swing-a- billy Ray, he is no one trick pony. We have known ray for the past 17 years. Ray began working for us... Read More