“Dance, when you’re broken open. Dance, if you’ve torn the bandage off. Dance in the middle of the fighting. Dance in your blood. Dance when you’re perfectly free.”
―
Howdy Swing Kids, its been a hot minute since I last sent a newsletter.. Sorry for my randomness 🙂 This newsletter is jammed back with places to dance and fun info you should know about! Grab a cuppa and read on!
Mullum Swings
Class Discount Cards and Pay ID options
Swing On In happenings…
Regular Socials Around Town
Brisbane Lindy Exchange
Black History – Lindy Hop
Cooly Rocks On Line Ups
Greazefest Lineups
THIS FRIDAY NIGHT -(tomorrow – 17/3/23)
Rhydian got the band back together! Get along and support – Tomorrow night at 7pm NSW time – $20 at the door. Mullumbimby Ex Services Club – 58 Dalley St,
Did you know you can buy a loyalty card up front and save time at the door PLUS you get one class free. Let us know if you want one?
ALSO.. You can now use your PAY ID feature from your phone to automatically pay into our account if you don’t have any cash on you. Not sure how to do it? Just add Ray’s mobile number to your contacts: 0408 306 560 and when you see the pay ID feature on you phone banking your just click Ray’s number and that is linked to his Gold Coast Swing Dancing Bank Account. Bob’s your Uncle!
Gosh we get up to some random fun things.. We were so privileged last week to be asked to perform, dance, activate the floor at the Lismore’s Music from the Heart 1 year on from the floods celebrations. The Swing On In Demo team did such a stella job, the place was pumping, so many local live bands it was insane! Videos will go up on our You tube account soon but you can always fund our immediate joy through our Insta and Facebook socials (click buttons and follow us)
SAVE THE DATE: Hot off the press – details coming soon BUT.. Mullumbimby are doing a 1 year anniversary celebration on Saturday 5 May and Swing On In have been asked to be involved again. Mark the date in your calendar and I will share deets when I know more.
Ray and I have a couple of super fun activities coming up… We are going on the road!! – Don’t worry.. classes won’t be affected 🙂
1st Stop – Charleville! Yes, the crazy fun and talented crew at Everybody Now asked us to go on the road with them and CW Stoneking Band and a crew of amazing artists to put on a show or two in Charleville! Madcap but we are doing this thing!
BIG News! It’s the BIG Base Party! We’re heading outback with Qld Music Trails to warm up the dance floor for the one and only C.W. Stoneking and His Primitive Horn Orchestra!
With our friends at SWING On In we’ll be hosting a hotsy totsy dance mash up, inspired by tunes of the Jazz Age with a contemporary remix of classic pop tracks that everyone loves to dance to!
Polish your dancing shoes, mark it on the calendar and start dreaming of road trips for this super unique music trail to some beautiful parts of Queensland’s outback.
WHEN : APRIL 19- 20
WHERE: CHARLEVILLE, QLD
WHAT : Swingin’ good time cutting rug all night long!
https://qldmusictrails.com/events/the-big-base-party
Next Stop – Rockhampton! – 26-28 May 2023 – SMEG will be packed and not he road to Rocky where Ray has been asked to DJ and I will be doing some styling! Always a fun weekend at Classics By the Coast
Regular Socials Around Town:
Mullum Swings – The 3rd Friday of the Month – Mullum
Swing Patrol Brisbane – Swing Sesh – Sundays bi-Monthly – Brisbane
Corner Pocket Swing – Pocket Socials – 3rd Friday of the Month – Brisbane
Empire Swing – Swing Shack – 2nd Friday of the Month – Brisbane
Gotta Swing – 3rd Saturday of the Month – Swing at the Green – Gold Coast
This Saturday Night 18th March
Melody Graves and the Hokum Redemption – they play everywhere – Brisbane
Well Swung Daddies – Gold Coast
STRUTTERS HOP – GOLD COAST – Saturday 1st April – Sharon and Vince are putting on their first social dance with Peaches and The Alphasonics..
Brisbane swing dancers love dancing to live music and making new friends. We invite you to visit us at the end of May to celebrate World Lindy Hop day, enjoy our fair city and get to know our friendly dancers.
The Brisbane Swing Thing: 26 – 28 May
Various central Brisbane locations – visit our website for details
We acknowledge that the core dances we teach, perform and share come from African American and Black culture, as does the jazz music we love. We acknowledge that we do so without lived experience of this culture and are deeply grateful to be able to experience this amazing art form. We endeavour to continue educating ourselves about the historical, political and social context from which jazz and lindy hop grew, and in which it exists today. Understanding this helps us to honour the roots of the dance and music.
Learn more about the history of the dance you are beginning to love as much as we do here: FRANKING MANNING FOUNDATION
COOLY ROCKS ON – 7- 11 June 2023
The line Up this year is insane. Check it out HERE:
The Moonlight Swing Dance is on THURSDAY 8th June
Join Ray and I as we once again host this major Swing Dance Event on the dance calendar … The Amazing LUCKY SEVEN BAND will again be back to keep the floor Pumping! SWING-A-BILLY RAY will be Dj’ing in between and don’t forget the AFTER PARTY!! Melody Graves and the Hokum Redemption will be our band and the are HOT!!!
Australia’s All-Killer No-Filler Kustom Kulture Weekender!
GreazeFest is the top notch nostaliga event in the Southern Hemisphere, where thousands of rockabilly and hot rod fans roll up for a massive dose of ultra-kool action.
You can be part of this exciting weekend of cool cars, rockabilly bands, djs, fashion parades, pinups, vintage bikes, lowrider cycles, kustom art shows and competitions, pinstripers, markets and heaps more!
REDLAND SHOWGROUNDS, cnr Long and Smith Sts, Cleveland
TICKETS: Coming soon!
BAND ANNOUNCEMENTS: Coming soon!
WOAH!! That was a huge newsletter!! Sorry not sorry! You have lots to ignite your dancing flame!
Lots of Love and catch ya on the flip side!!
Chrissy & Ray xxx
Our Happy Customers
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...
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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...
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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,...
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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...
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So much fun and filled with amazing friendly people!
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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...
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The most friendly and welcoming dance group on the Gold Coast
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Just dropped in to Tuesday night Swing On In class and absolutely loved it! Fantastic teachers, fantastic dancers! See you next week.
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Fantastic ppl fantastic teachers and a whole lotta fun
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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I started going to swing on in 9 months ago and I plan to keep going it's lots of fun
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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
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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.
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This time round we'll be taking our lindy hop to the dance floor replacing the comfortably familiar RnR
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I have always wanted to Swing Dance & Ray was such an awesome teacher. Everyone at the classes are so friendly & welcoming!
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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!
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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...
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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...
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Wonderful, talented teachers and both with a beautiful personality to match!
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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...
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Awesome peeps and great Lindy hop dancing for all ages!!!
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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...
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With out a doubt the best dance group in Australia!!
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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...
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Love going to class each week with Chrissy and Ray. Such fun, great exercise and you get to meet some wonderful people.
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Fabulous dancers, amazing (and most patient) teachers ;-p, incredible people! Wish they were able to get to Perth more often
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Great teachers and great fun. Highly recommended!
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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.
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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.....
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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.
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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
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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...
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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...
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“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,...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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9 Markeri St, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218
Mullum Ex Services Club, 58 Dalley St, Mullumbimby, (NSW)
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