Bringing Lindy Hop to New England since 1995!

Hop to the Beat

Lindy Hop originated in the dance halls of Harlem in the late 1920s and evolved with the hot Jazz and jumpin’ Blues music. It’s an exuberant style of Swing, mixing uptempo Charleston with slow groovin’ and everything in between! Influenced by other dance styles and changes in popular music, Lindy Hop thrives today as an incredibly fun, creative partner dance mixing classic with new. Join in the fun and become part of the friendly Lindy Hop community! There are classes for all levels. Beginners are very welcome as well as singles and couples.

Uptown Swing this Saturday

By Hop to the Beat on Thu, 02/16/2012 - 12:41am

The Love DogsCome on out to Uptown Swing this Saturday, February 18 with The Love Dogs for our Tropical Swing Dance Party!
We have a few special plans in the works—be prepared for a very fun night! Everyone is encouraged to get in the spirit and dress for a warm night on a cool beach. You were wondering when you’d get a chance to wear that Hawaiian shirt, so here it is.Cool

Uptown Swing is held at Brookline Tai Chi, which is our wonderful venue conveniently located directly across from the Washington Square T stop on Beacon Street. There’s AC, a fabulous floor for dancing, plus free street parking after 8:00pm. Beginners are very welcome and there is a lesson included at the beginning of the evening to get everyone started. You do not need to have a partner to attend. The music will be excellent for Lindy Hop, Swing, Balboa and even some Blues. Bring your friends and introduce them to the joy of dancing!

  • Beginners welcome, no partner needed
  • Special this month: Tropical Swing Dance Party!
  • Location: Brookline Tai Chi, 1615 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA 02446
  • Band: The Love Dogs
  • Date: Saturday, February 18, 2012
  • Time: 8:15pm-12:00am
  • Swing Lesson: 8:15-9:00pm
  • Admission: $15 ($10 with Student ID)

Uptown Swing Dance information.

Lindy Hop/Swing Classes Start Next Week

By Hop to the Beat on Thu, 02/16/2012 - 12:40am

Swing Dance ClassOur next 6 week session of classes will be starting next Sunday, February 26 in Newton Lower Falls and next Monday, February 27 in Boston (near Fenway Park). Both locations include a class in Beginner Swing/Intro to Lindy Hop Level 1, appropriate for brand new dancers, those with some previous experience and continuing students. If you would like to work on building a solid foundation of dance skills, this will be an ideal class. Six count basics will be covered along with a variety of fun steps to add to your repertoire and get you out on the dance floor!

Lindy Hop Level 2 is also offered in both locations. This class is aimed at more intermediate level Swing dancers and no prior Lindy Hop experience is required. Eight and six count basics will be mixed along with a variety of classic Lindy Hop, newer variations, and a focus on partnering, technique and style.

For both Level 1 and Level 2 classes, there are about 7 or 8 different sessions of each. They do not need to be taken in any particular order and it is okay to join with any session.

Also on Sundays, we’ll be teaching the Lindy Chorus, which is a classic partner routine choreographed by Frankie Manning and known to Lindy Hoppers around the world. We first learned the Lindy Chorus in 1999 when we joined about 120 couples in NYC to perform for Frankie at his 85th birthday celebration. We have had several opportunities to perform it since then, including beside Frankie himself! In his honor, we’ll be teaching it this session. Join us for this fun class! This class is aimed at intermediate to advanced Lindy Hoppers and you do not need to attend with a partner.

If you have any friends interested in getting into dancing, lessons are a great way to get started. Please pass on the info!

Registration is open. Check the website for more information.

Beantown Camp Registration News

By Beantown Camp on Thu, 02/16/2012 - 12:33am

If you want bang for your buck, we’ve got it! Most of the registration information is now up.

We told you about the incredible live music and amazing staff of instructors. Check out the schedule to get an idea of what is planned throughout the week. (Class details and other tweaking are still in the works.)

Beantown CampPart of the fun of attending camp is staying on campus! Although it is not required, it is highly recommended. There are several different dorm styles to choose from as well as choices for singles, doubles and triple/quads. All housing choices include full meals!

For those who will be commuting, it is possible to get on the full meal plan or a lunch only plan. Meal times are a great time to relax, enjoy some great food, and socialize with other campers. Meals are scheduled for everyone to eat together.

New discounts have been added including an additional early bird price break that everyone can take advantage of as well as 2 extra discounts for the first 2 groups of 50 registrations. With the 4th of July falling on our last night, this will be an excellent year to take advantage of the holiday and attend for the Whole Shebang or Week.

Soon we will be announcing the opening day for registration, which is planned within the next 2 weeks. The registration process will be all new and is being finalized now!

Make your plans for starting out the summer at Beantown Camp! We’ll be back on the beautiful Endicott College campus on the shore just north of Boston. Camp runs from June 28 through July 5th.

Check out the website for information.

Beantown Camp 2012 Instructors

By Beantown Camp on Sat, 02/11/2012 - 1:31am

Summer may not be just around the corner, but summer planning is! Join us for our 16th Beantown Camp! Beantown has long been known as an excellent opportunity to learn and grow as a Lindy Hopper. You will be challenged, inspired and awed! How could you not with this incredible group of instructors?

  • Beantown CampEvita Arce
  • Eric Fenn
  • Nina Gilkenson
  • Laura Glaess
  • Skye Humphries
  • Michael Jagger
  • William Mauvais
  • Mike Roberts
  • Peter Strom
  • Sylvia Sykes
  • Maeva Truntzer
  • Naomi Uyama
  • Richard Badu
  • Heather Ballew
  • Daryl Begin
  • Gabriella Cook
  • Kate Hedin
  • Kenny Nelson
  • Daniel Newsome
  • Michael Seguin
  • Jennifer Stout
  • Andrew Thigpen
  • Karen Turman
  • Bobby White

Camp runs from June 28 to July 5 with multiple registration options. This will be a phenomenal year to come to Beantown! If you’ve never done the full week, do it in 2012. There is just too much that you won’t want to miss! The website continues to be updated with the latest info. Registration opens in February, date TBA.

Check out the website for information.

Uptown Swing Dance next Saturday, 2/18

By Hop to the Beat on Sat, 02/11/2012 - 12:46am

The Love DogsOur next monthly Uptown Swing dance is coming up in Brookline on Saturday, February 18 featuring The Love Dogs, always a popular band! This month we are having a special Tropical Swing Dance Party and we hope you will join us! We have some special things planned and are looking forward to a very fun time. Everyone is encouraged to get in the spirit and dress for a warm night on a cool beach. You know you’ve been wanting to break out that Hawaiian shirt:-) Beginners are very welcome and you do not need to have a partner. The music will be great for Lindy Hop, Swing, Balboa and even some Blues. This will be an excellent night to bring your friends and introduce them to the joy of dancing!

Uptown Swing Dance information.

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Testimonials

I’d like to thank you for the great teaching and the unforgettable Beantown Camp. In my top five of best memories, three are related to Lindy Hop. Thanks for being my first Lindy Hop teachers and I hope to see you some time next year during one of my visits to Boston!

Sophie D.
Belgium

I am still so grateful for the lessons we had with you - you and Tony truly gave us the first dance we dreamed up, and that we (and our guests!) won’t soon forget! Thank you again and looking forward to seeing you soon!

Mary L.
Ashland, MA

A year ago, we were a young couple in (desperate) need of dance lessons for our wedding. Lucky for us, we happened on one of the monthly Uptown Swing events in Brookline, discovered Tony & Aurelie, and now we can’t get enough!

Tony & Aurelie are knowledgeable, fun teachers that deliver well-balanced lessons—always adding new moves to the mix, covering (necessary) technique, and giving personal feedback. Lindy is so much fun and we continue to have a blast learning it together (even after the wedding). We have Tony & Aurelie to thank for our new found addiction that will certainly keep us dancing (and laughing) together for years to come.

Derek H.
Brookline, MA

Aurelie & Tony are such wonderful Lindy Hop teachers.  I absolutely love their classes.  Their fantastic dedication in nurturing their students and in providing a terrific strong supportive Lindy and swing community is a total inspiration.  Uptown Swing—their dynamite monthly dance in Brookline, is not to be missed!  Their most incredibly phenomenal premier Beantown Lindy Hop Camp for the worldwide Lindy community is truly absolutely amazing beyond words.

Connie S.
Boston, MA

It is a pleasure being part of the Swing dance community.  Aurelie & Tony you make everyone enjoy dance in a warm inviting happy way.

Shelly T.
Brookline, MA

I think you consistently have the best dance: great dancers, lots of energy and great bands.

Julie N.
Watertown, MA

We want to express to you our deep gratitude for your participation in making New Year’s Eve a hugely successful event. Your performance was wonderful. We continue to hear compliments from the evening’s attendees.

Jeremy A.
Dance Umbrella, MA

Thank you for doing a tremendous job as DJs and dance teachers at our wedding…We were thrilled to see so much energy on the dance floor…It’s impossible to overstate how instrumental you were in catalyzing that energy…thank you for creating a fantastic wedding.

Julie & James

I have heard nothing but wonderful comments from many Festival patrons and our other performers about your performances at the Milford Oyster Festival. I also appreciate that your group helped to work up the audience to participate…Your dance routines were what I have been looking for for a long time and the period attire only made it more appealing.

Walter S.
Milford Oyster Festival, CT

…just want to thank you for being such wonderful teachers, delightful people, and powerful advocates and supporters of the Swing dance community! It has been terrific participating in your classes; I learned so very much and enjoyed myself all the way.

Laura M.
Waltham, MA

When I think of what it means to be a traveling Lindy Hop instructor, it is always Beantown that comes to mind. For me it has been the model against which the rest of my teaching career has been measured. Every year, Beantown is one my very favorite places to teach. The people have the right attitude for learning, the setting is always great for classes, and the week-long camp provides enough time to really help people to change their dancing for the better. And on top of it all, you will rarely find a nicer crowd of people.

Peter Strom
Minneapolis, MN
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