Ryan and Jenny are two of the world's top Lindy Hop dancers today.
They starred in the Broadway Musical Swing! as well as contributed
most of the choreography. They have appeared at the Tony Awards,
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Rosie O'Donnell Show
and with Wynton Marsalis and The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra.
Ryan is the director, choreographer and founder of the Authentic
Jazz Dance
Company Zoots & Spangles, formed in 1987 and funded
by the
British Arts Council. His extensive list of credits includes
numerous appearances in TV, film and theater,
and tours in several dance
productions in Europe. He danced in Malcolm X and Stomping
at the Savoy. Ryan also choreographed for the movie Swing
Kids and A Man
for All Seasons, a Dudley Moore tribute at Carnegie Hall.
Jenny also has an extensive list of dancing and choreography credits,
including appearances in TV and theater.
She began as a tap dancer at the age of 4 and won the All
England Tap Championships for
3 consecutive years. Stage credits include the London cast
of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Song and Dance as well as other
West End musicals.
Early in their collaboration, Ryan and Jenny formed their own act,
Over The Top which included Lindy Hop, Jazz, Tap and song.
In 1997 they won the Lindy Division of the American Swing
Dance Championships and the U.S. Open.
They can be seem as dancing elves
in The Polar Express, were performers on the huge TV hit Dancing
With The Stars, and Ryan was a featured dancer in the recent
motion picture release Idlewild. With
rave reviews each time they come, don't miss an opportunity to
be awed
and inspired by this incredibly talented couple! To see them
in action, check out these videos:
There will be two days of workshops on Saturday, April 18 to Sunday,
April 19, 2009 at the Lower
Falls Community Center, Newton, MA. There is also a Swing
dance with Shawn Hershey and the Fried Bananas at
the Uptown Swing
Dance on Saturday night at Brookline
Tai Chi, Brookline, MA
including a dance exhibition by Ryan & Jenny.
The workshop early registration discount deadlines are Wednesday, March 18,
2009 for the Early Bird rate and Wednesday, April 8, 2009 for
the Discount rate. Space is limited so please register early to ensure
a spot.
Lindy Hop Fundamentals
Starting at the beginning. No experience
needed, but also recommended for all levels. Ryan & Jenny
have a distinctive style of basics which will be the foundation
for all of the workshops. (no experience or partner needed)
B
2:00-3:00pm
Building on Fundamentals
Going beyond the basics, emphasizing technique
and partner connection. (no partner needed, follows on from A)
C
3:15-4:15pm
Swing Out Variations
Add some spice to your basics with variations
for leads and follows. (no partner needed, intermediate+ levels, previous experience required)
D
4:30-5:30pm
Tranky Doo
Learn this classic Jazz routine choreographed
by an early Lindy Hopper,
Pepsi Bethol. It was first danced in the Savoy Ballroom in the 1940s. (non-partner, all levels)
Being a Better Social
Dancer
More social Lindy Hop with an emphasis on
lead/follow. (no partner needed, intermediate+ levels,
previous experience required)
F
2:15-3:15pm
'20s Partner Charleston
Before Lindy Hop there was the Charleston!
Learn some original steps which are still fun to do today. (no partner needed, intermediate+ levels,
previous experience required)
G
3:30-4:30pm
Dips & Slides
Fun and flashy moves to dress up your dance
repertoire. (no partner needed, intermediate+ levels, previous experience
required)
H
4:45-6:00pm
Partner Intensive
For the diehard Lindy Hoppers, this class
is for you! Be inspired and challenged and prepared to move!
This class requires a partner. (partner required, intermediate/advanced
to advanced levels, previous experience required)
Check the full directions for parking information.
Newton, Massachusetts
All Workshops Lower Falls Community Center, 545 Grove Street,
Newton Lower Falls, MA 02462
Exit 22 off Rte. 128/I-95 (one exit south of Mass.
Pike/I-90) onto Grove Street west for about 1/4 mile.
Approximately 1/2 mile from RiversideT stop
on D branch of the Green Line. Click here for full directions and map.
Full payment required to hold your spot. Partners not required
except for Workshop H (if you are looking for a partner we
will help match people at the workshops). Same price to watch workshops.
Please note, for these workshops there will be no refunds after
Wednesday, April 8, 2009.
No videotaping permitted. If pre-registered, please arrive at least 15 minutes
before your first workshop each day to allow time to check-in and warm-up.
If not pre-registered, please arrive 20 minutes early to allow time to
register (space permitting). If you are not able to pre-register, please still
submit an on-line registration form to help
speed your registration on the day.
SHOES & BAGS: Please be sure
to bring clean dry sneakers (smoother soles have less traction
and are better, allowing for easy turning) or soft-soled flat dance
shoes. (Please, no hard soled, or black rubber soled shoes that
leave marks.) Please change shoes on the entrance mat to help prevent
outside wet, salt and grit from getting on the wooden floor. Please
leave all bags and street shoes outside the gymnasium so as to
maximize the dance space.
SNACKS & DRINKS: You may want
to bring snacks for the breaks. Although there are nearby places
to get food, there is nothing close enough if time is short. There
are no vending machines in the building. Juice and bottled water
will be available for purchase.
To get notified about these or future workshops, please ask to
be added to our mailing list.
Class sizes will be limited, please pre-register
to ensure a spot.
The Saturday night Uptown
Swing Dance is held at Brookline
Tai Chi, Brookline, Massachusetts. It is a different location
than the workshops. It is possible to preregister for the dance
(with a discount if doing all the workshops), otherwise you can
pay $15 cash at the door, $10 with student ID.
