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Beantown Camp News: Only 3 weeks to go

The countdown to Beantown Camp opening day is on! Only 3 weeks to go. If you have not yet registered, now would be a great time to reserve your spot! Beantown will be here before you know it. Yes, there are classes with an excellent roster of some of the world’s best Lindy Hop instructors, and dances with some of the most awesome bands, and campers from all over the U.S. and beyond. That would be enough….but there is so much more! Have you heard of Beantown’s Got Talent? Hilarious. How about the instructors show, Beantown Bounce?

Beantown Camp News 5/26

One month and counting down to Beantown Camp! We are looking forward to welcoming everyone to the beautiful Endicott College campus. The campus is right on the shore, north of Boston, and provides a unique location for a fun week of immersing yourself in dancing. Everything is within an easy walking distance, even the 3 private beaches. Classes are held in a variety of buildings, although the main headquarters is at the student center where most of the evening dances are held and the the dining hall is located.

Next Classes, Dance and Shim Sham!

We would like to thank everyone for joining us at Uptown Swing this past Saturday. Racky Thomas gave us another fun night of dancing. The night was filled with emotion for us, thinking of Frankie Manning and also my Dad. We had a room full of Shim Shammers and raised $200 for the Frankie Manning Fund. I would also like to send out my heartfelt thanks for all the kind words, cards and hugs. It means a lot to both me and Tony. As someone mentioned, we were in the company of our other family:-)

Our next Uptown Swing dance comes early in the month, June 4th with the Mike DiBari Swingtet. This will be our last dance before Beantown Camp and we hope you will join us for another wonderful night!

Summer Class Session

Information and registration for our summer session of Lindy Hop classes is now up on the website. As usual for the summer, we will not be holding Sunday classes. Mondays will be continuing in Boston at Ruggles Church (near Fenway Park). Sundays in Newton will resume in September.

Classes will be starting on Monday, July 11 including Beginner Swing/Intro to Lindy Hop Level 1 and Lindy Hop Level 2.

Class information.

Uptown Swing Dance

Please join us on Saturday, June 4 for our next Uptown Swing Dance at our wonderful venue, Brookline Tai Chi. This month we’ll be having a Beantown Camp warm-up with the always swingin’ Mike DiBari Swingtet! All levels are welcome and no partners are needed. There is a lesson included which precedes the dance, so please bring your friends to give them a taste of what Swing is all about.

BTC is conveniently located on Beacon Street directly across from the Washington Square T stop. Street parking is free after 6:00pm.

Uptown Swing Dance information.

Frankie Manning Tribute at BSC

This Friday we will be teaching the Shim Sham in place of the usual lesson at the Boston Swing Central weekly Friday dance. Come out for a fun night of dancing and another chance to celebrate the amazing life of Frankie Manning. What a great way to kick off the holiday weekend.

Boston Swing Central information.

Happy dancing,
Aurelie & Tony

Uptown Swing, Shim Sham for Frankie

This week for me (Aurelie) is all about my Dad. He passed away on Saturday after over 6 months of either being in the hospital or rehab. I am extremely thankful that I was with him in his last moments along with my Mom, my two sisters and Tony.

Dad grew up in Queens, NY with parents who were first generation Americans and from there he earned multiple degrees including a masters in chemical engineering and a doctorate in nuclear physics. He spent most of his career working at Union Carbide and moved with the company when they relocated from NYC to Danbury, CT. He was a brainiac with an incredible memory and I spent my whole life assuming that he pretty much knew everything.

My Dad has a huge music collection and loved listening to Jazz music. What I will remember always is hearing lots of Frank Sinatra around the house. My Dad was also a big fan of the New York Giants and UCONN Women’s Basketball. In retirement, he loved the opportunity to travel with my Mom and especially enjoyed their visits to Italy and cruising on the QE2.

Mostly the center of my Dad’s life was my Mom and their family of 7 children, 11 grandchildren, sons and daughters in-law and my aunts and uncles. We will all miss him terribly and are sad he didn’t get a chance to get back home with my Mom, even if only for a short time.

I’ll be playing some Sinatra from me to him this weekend at Uptown Swing.

Uptown Swing Dance, Shim Sham for Frankie

Please join us this Saturday, May 21 for our next Uptown Swing Dance at our wonderful venue, Brookline Tai Chi. This month features the Racky Thomas Band for a fun night of dancing, always an Uptown Swing favorite! All levels are welcome and no partners are needed. There is a lesson included which precedes the dance, so please bring your friends to give them a taste of what Swing is all about.

This week, Shim Shams will be done all over the world in honor of Frankie Manning and we’ll be doing one at our dance. In addition, $1 of each admission will be donated to the Frankie Manning Fund and there will be a donation box for anyone wanting to make an additional tax-deductible contribution (by cash or check).

The mission of the Frankie Manning Legacy Fund is to preserve and promote the rich cultural, choreographic and artistic legacy of Frankie Manning and to encourage the world-wide proliferation and promotion of the music and the dance Frankie loved so much (Swing music and Lindy Hop).

BTC is conveniently located on Beacon Street directly across from the Washington Square T stop. Street parking is free after 6:00pm.

Uptown Swing Dance information.

Summer Class Session

For those who like to plan ahead, our summer session of Lindy Hop classes is up on the website. As usual for the summer, we will not be holding Sunday classes. Mondays will be continuing in Boston at Ruggles Church near Fenway Park. Sundays in Newton will resume in September.

Class information.

Happy dancing,
Aurelie & Tony

Beantown Camp News 5/19

Beantown Camp is just over one month away! This is an excellent time to make your plans to pack your bags and enjoy an awesome camp experience. Camp runs from June 23 to June 30 with multiple registration options. If you have always wanted to come to Beantown, this will be a phenomenal year to do so. If you’ve never done the full week, do it in 2011. There is just too much that you won’t want to miss! The website continues to be updated with the latest info. Check out all the details. Happy dancing, Aurelie & Tony

Beantown Camp News 5/12

This has been a busy week for registrations and we’re thrilled with the big mix of Lindy Hoppers attending from around the country and beyond! Join us for our 15th year! Camp runs from June 23 to June 30 with multiple registration options. This year is going to be phenomenal. If you’ve never done the full week, do it in 2011. There’s too much good stuff you don’t want to miss! The website continues to be updated with the latest info.

Upcoming Dances

Lots of great dancing coming up in the Boston area!

Uptown Swing Dance

Our next monthly Uptown Swing Dance will be on Saturday, May 21 at our wonderful venue, Brookline Tai Chi. We’ll be welcoming back the Racky Thomas Band for a fun night of dancing, always an Uptown Swing favorite!

This month our Shim Sham will be a special one because we’ll be doing it for Frankie Manning! It has been over 2 years now since we lost this wonderful man shortly before his 95th birthday. In addition, $1 of each admission will be donated to the Frankie Manning Legacy Fund and there will be a donation box for anyone wanting to make an additional tax-deductible contribution (by cash or check).

The mission of the Frankie Manning Legacy Fund is to preserve and promote the rich cultural, choreographic and artistic legacy of Frankie Manning and to encourage the world-wide proliferation and promotion of the music and the dance Frankie loved so much (Swing music and Lindy Hop).

Uptown Swing Dance information.

Dancing this Weekend

We are in for a fun weekend of dancing!

First on Friday, the always phenomenal Gordon Webster will be at Boston Swing Central. That’s all you need to know. A night dancing to Gordon and his band is a sure hit! For info: BostonSwingCentral.org

Saturday brings the monthly Boston Swing Dance Network dance in Watertown. This is Boston’s largest and longest running Swing dance and is always a good time. This month features Dom V and the Swing Out Big Band. That’s a lot of band! For info: www.BostonSwingDance.com

No choosing this weekend - go to both great events!

Happy dancing,
Aurelie & Tony

New Classes

New Session Lindy Hop/Swing Classes in Newton, 2nd week

Our new 6 week session of Lindy Hop classes on Sundays just started and it is still possible to join in the 2nd week! This is our last session before Beantown Camp and our last Newton classes until September. Summer classes will continue on Mondays at our Boston location, Ruggles Church, near Fenway Park.

Classes for this session include Beginner Swing/Intro to Lindy Hop Level 1 and Lindy Hop Level 2. One or two new leads would add nicely to these classes.

Also this session is a new Partner Charleston class focusing on side-by-side and tandem variations for intermediate to advanced Lindy Hoppers. This class is looking balanced:-)

Beantown Camp Discount Date

The discount for Beantown Camp expires on Monday, May 9! Now is an excellent time to get in your registration before full prices go into effect.

Beantown Camp Discount Date

Discount prices for all registration options are expiring soon! Registration and full payments are due by Monday, May 9. (That means that if you have sent a deposit, balances are due as well by May 9!) Please don’t delay. Here are just some of the things that you do not want to miss:

  • Immersing yourself in a week of classes with an amazing collection of the world’s best Lindy Hop instructors!
  • Dancing to some of the best Swing bands including Campus Five (for two nights), Gordon Webster and Boston Swing Express!
  • Being entertained, awed and inspired watching the instructors perform in Beantown Bounce!
  • Dancing with awesome Lindy Hoppers from all over the U.S. and beyond!
  • Spending time with Norma Miller, living legend and original Lindy Hopper!
  • Saturday Happy Hour!
  • Belting out your favorite tune at late night karaoke!
  • Bonding with classmates while trying to master that new move!
  • Laughing until it hurts at Beantown’s Got Talent!
  • Finding your Soul at a late night dance party!
  • Being fed three fab meals per day with many options to choose from!
  • Rolling out of your bed and down to the beach for some relaxation time!
  • Hanging at the pub with your new and old friends!
  • Finishing your week filled with joy, exhilaration and lots of Lindy Love!

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