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*Beginning Lindy Hop 6:30-7:30 *Partner Charleston 6:30-7:30 Intro to Swing 7:30-8:00 *Students must register by 10/6 to take this class. Next Month's Classes: | | *Beginning Lindy Hop 6:30-7:30 *Blues 6:30-7:30 Intro to Swing 7:30-8:00 *Students must register by 11/3 to take this class. | | This Month at Swingin' Sunday: | | 10/27 - HALLOWEEN PARTY | | Travel Opportunities: | | If you're looking to meet more dancers and skyrocket your skills, there's no better way to do it than by traveling to some regional events! The busy season for travel is winding down, but there is still time to check out these opportunities: All Follow's Eve in Fort Worth, TX November 1-3 Nevermore Jazz Ball in St. Louis, Missouri November 7-10 | The Funny Section: | Me, Watching TV-Swing Dancing:  |
| | | | | | | HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Thank you very much to everyone who joined us on WEDNESDAY for Dancing at the Wright Brothers, on FRIDAY for Dancing in Old Town, and on SUNDAY for our WSDS Halloween Party! It's been a great week for dancing in Wichita, and now as Friday approaches, many of us are making preparations to travel to Dallas for All Follow's Eve. But if you're planning to stay right here in the 'Ta, never fear! With November comes two new classes for you to chose from: Beginning Lindy Hop, and Blues! Which brings me to. . . | | Blues Dancing So what is Blues dancing, anyway? You've heard of Blues music. . . is that what it's all about? Nope! Blues dancing, like Charleston, Balboa, and Shag, is another style of dance that falls under the "Swing" umbrella. UNLIKE those other examples, however, Blues dancing is specially suited for those slooooooow sultry tunes that just can't support our usual rhythms. Etta James, Nina Simone, and Dinah Washington are a few musicians whose musical style is great for Blues dancing, and modern artists like Norah Jones and Alicia Keys can work very well also.
Since we're offering a month-long class in Blues during November, I wanted to introduce you to the style. I encourage you to sign up and give it a try!
Strictly Blues Competition - click for video
| | | | Coming Next Month: Thanksgiving Potluck Mark your calendars now! On Sunday, December 24th, the WSDS will host a Thanksgiving Potluck dinner! Stay tuned for more details in the weeks to follow.
| | | Editor's Note: Dancing on TV Ahhhhh, TV dancing. It's kind of like everything else on TV. . . nothing like real life. I have to credit movies like Grease and American Graffiti with piquing my interest in Swing dancing. After all, with the pretty costumes and the lively energy, who wouldn't want to try something like they see in the movies? But, when I see the dancing in those movies now, they make me cringe! The actors might be able to fool the average non-dancer, but to anyone with a slight exposure to technique and musicality? They just look ridiculous. In spite of that, people love to watch TV dancing. There seems to be a trendy obsession right now with speed-learning dance, a la Dancing with the Stars, and So You Think You Can Dance.* TV audiences enjoy the suspense - will the dancers be able to learn the routine in time? Will they pull it off? Who will win? To those of us who LIVE dancing, it seems kind of silly. But, I actually thank TV dancing for bringing dancers who don't know any better (just like me) to the dance floor. With luck, they develop an attitude for the real thing, and they stay to become dancers. If you know any avid TV-dance friends, please bring them to a Sunday night! Think of it like this: WSDS: Come for the fancy costumes and lively energy, stay for the awesome. Got thoughts? Email me. *I do not put those two shows in the same category. I have immense respect for the SYTYCD dancers, not so much the Dancing with the Stars folks. But, both shows are examples of learn-it-in-a-week daning that America loves to watch. Chelsea Rothschild
| | | | | | | | | Your board of directors is already planning for Sunflower Swing 2014. As we begin to define the details of the event, we want to hear from you! Do you know of a venue that we could use for classes or dances? We're open to any suggestions you might have! Email us and let us know where you'd like to dance this year! We Need YOU: | | The WSDS is looking for volunteers to help us manage Sunday nights! If you've been dancing with us for a while, and would like a chance to give something back to the scene, please email us and let us know! We will really appreciate your help. There might even be a hug in it for you. | | More Swing Dancing in Wichita: | If you want to take your swing dancing to the next level, check out the Lindy Bombers! This local dance club has been meeting every Monday evening for years, working on swing dance vocabulary, technique, and musicality. The Lindy Bombers can also put you in touch with the Shiny Stockings and Five Moes Named Guy, Wichita's solo-jazz troupes. And, if you're REALLY motivated, the Lindy Bombers are also your gateway to Hot Rhythm Revival, Wichita's competitive swing dancing team. There are lots of options out there, come check them out! | Video of the Week: | Max Pitruzzella and Annie Trudeau have been pushing the boundaries of Lindy Hop for years, brining a unique musicality and athleticism to the dance that keeps the audience cheering. Last weekend, they took first place at the European Swing Dance Champoinoships with this routine. | |
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