Hello dancers! I hope you're all ready to get some dancing in! There's a lot on the plate this week. Check out the This Week section below.

A bit of housecleaning before that:
1) while you're out surfing the web, be sure to check out our site, www.wichitaswingdance.com You can find an interactive calendar of events (with flyers), a blog of these emails (because I know you can't read enough), and our newly redone photo gallery (see how good you look?). We've been working hard to improve it, and we're excited to share it with you. Also, we'd love your pictures to include, so send them in!

2) To offset our rising costs we're changing the price structure March 21st. If you're a member (we treasure you very much) then nothing changes for you. If you aren't the price of admission goes up $1 for weekly events to $6, $8 with a band. Plus, Ronnie Choy will be there that night and members get in free! So if you are a member, thank you. If you aren't....maybe you want to think about it, it's a better deal than ever!

3) Sunflower Swing (our 10th Anniversary) is coming together! We're getting close to having the instructors, bands, venues, and entertainment put together. I can tell you there'll be 8 hours of lessons over two days, with classes for all levels. We'll have a live band, DJ's from out of town, and three nights of dancing covering at least 10 hours. It'll be great, and registration will open in person and online in the next few weeks. A la carte the weekend would cost $130, but if you're one of the first to register it'll only cost you members $40 for the whole thing. Be on the lookout for more details coming......

THIS WEEK
Saturday gives you two chances to get out! Old Town Ballroom is hosting their Valentine's Dance featuring dancing of all kinds, food and drink for just $10. It all kicks off at 7:30 PM. Plus the Shadow is holding their Cupid's Cabaret. They're encouraging vintage dress, and there'll be DJ'd music (no guarantee how much swing). So get out to OTB, hit the Shadow for a nightcap, and find someone because...

Sunday is your chance to swingout with your sweetheart at the WSDS Valentine's Party. Ronnie Choy is spinning the tunes, we need you to swing on the floor!

Tuesday is the return of Swing Night at the Shadow! It's your chance to come dance for FREE from 6-9 to DJ'd swing music. All ages are welcome, so come relax and dance after a long Tuesday.

TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES
Just like Sunflower Swing, the sooner you register for these events, the cheaper they are. You owe it to yourself to get to experience dance at a large event, dancing with people from all over the country is truly a treat.

February 26-28th in Denver, CO is the Rocky Mountain Balboa Blowout!
http://www.cmdance.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=40&Itemid=75

March 11-14th in Houston, TX is Lindyfest 14!
http://lindyfest.hsds.org/

April 30-May 2nd in Minneapolis, MN is Midwest Lindyfest!
http://www.midwestlindyfest.com/index.php

June 4-6 in Kansas City, KS is The Rhythm is Jumpin. This will be awesome and nearby! Register soon for the ultra cheap price!
http://www.therhythmisjumpin.com/

BIG EVENTS
Sunday - Valentine's Party! Check out above

March 21st - It's our thank you members night! For our members it's free, for everyone else it's $6. How are we saying thank you? By giving you an evening with our favorite DJ Ronnie Choy of course! Come out for a good time, and if you aren't a member, you should ask about the benefits of being one (this dance is only one of several)

July 16-18 - Sunflower Swing! We're holding our annual dance weekend, featuring 3 nights of dancing, 2 days of classes, and all to celebrate 1 decade of dancing at WSDS!

CLASSES
This month we're upping the ante on your East Coast with Advanced East Coast! Not sure if you belong? If you take the beginner swing I class you're ready to dive right in!
Upstairs:
6:30 - Beginner Swing I
7:15 - Beginner Swing II
Downstairs:
6:30 - Intermediate Lindy Hop
7:15 - Advanced East Coast Swing

March we teach a dance we do every week: Shim Sham! This fun line dance has been done by famous singers, musicians, dancers, and entertainers of all sorts, now it can be done by you!
Upstairs:
6:30 - Beginner Swing I
7:15 - Beginner Swing II
Downstairs:
6:30 - Intermediate Lindy Hop
7:15 - Shim Sham

April we're planning to help you kick your dancing up a notch with Partner Charleston! Great for Lindy Hop or East Coast Swing, don't miss out!
Upstairs:
6:30 - Beginner Swing I
7:15 - Beginner Swing II
Downstairs:
6:30 - Intermediate Lindy Hop
7:15 - Partner Charleston

WORKSHOPS
A little extra warning for an extr big workshop...

April 24th - A big workshop put on by Old Town Ballroom, Lindy Bombers, and The Rhythm is Jumpin' for your dancing enjoyment. Two choices for 4 classes as Oscar Hampton and Evan Borst battle for your studentship. There will be classes for all levels, focusing in Charleston, Lindy Hop technique and moves, plus a little extra. Be on the lookout for more details, there's a special dance that night too!

LIVE BANDS
April 18 - It's a wait that will definitely be worth it, as we bring in Cool Blue! Plus, it'll be a deluxe night with three hours of live music! That means the band starts early so don't be late....

VIDEO CLIP OF THE WEEK
A sneak peek at some of our instructors for Sunflower Swing, this is Kim and David, social dancing in competition last year!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZRfi2eIiM8

EXTRA EVENTS
All of this not enough? Check these opportunities out....

February 23 - Swing Night at the Shadow!

February 27th - Ronnie Choy DJing at the Moose Lodge! That's right, our favorite DJ will be spinning, and you can be there dancing for just $8.

February 28th - SOUL NIGHT! The music upstairs will stay normal, but prepare for a party of funkadelic proportions in the basement as we dance to soul music all night. Dig out that Stax records collection and brush up on your Motown, it's going to be a party.....

There's a lot of goodness coming up, if you can't remember it all, just go to http://www.wichitaswingdance.com/weekly.html to see this and previous emails!

See you Sunday!

Evan Borst
WSDS President