WESwing & Blues

Looking for something to do on New Year’s Eve?

Jan Marie — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 18:11:03 +0000

Well, look no further!

1st Saturday Swing Dance

Jan Marie — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 19:11:36 +0000

You know the drill. The 1st Saturday of the month is upon us! Come down to Vinnie’s and dance to wonderful swing music all night long.

Swing Dance w. DJ Chris Oksanen
7:30-8:30pm FREE beginner lesson
8:30-11:30pm Dancing
$8 General, $5 students/seniors w. valid ID
@ Vinnie’s Jump & Jive
424 Main St. in Middletown

Blues Lessons Moved to Fridays

Jan Marie — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 19:08:27 +0000

For anyone who wants to blues, the time to do so will now be 2-4pm every Friday. Since Floorboard is always on a Friday, and there’s never a beginner lesson, we’d like to offer a way to brush up on blues basics before the dances. Drop-in anytime and learn something new.

Fridays *new!*
3-4pm
Fayerweather Dance Room
47 Wyllys Ave. in Middletown

Floorboard Blues THIS FRIDAY!

Jan Marie — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 19:05:01 +0000

FLOORBOARD BLUES, our irregular but completely cool blues dance is back and better than ever! We like to maintain a light, mellow, house party vibe, so any munchie contributions or Christmas lights are much appreciated…

Being volunteer-run, we are also looking for DJs. Please e-mail Jan Marie at weswingandblues@gmail.com if you would like a slot.

10pm-1am
$5 suggested donation
@ Vinnie’s Jump & Jive
424 Main St. in Middletown

October Yale Practicum Playlist

Jan Marie — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 21:38:54 +0000

What Am I To You – Norah Jones

Weary Blues – Madeleine Peyroux

Sunday – Molly Johnson

Spit of Love – Bonnie Raitt

My Life – Dido

Monkey Woman – Otis Spann

Let Me Down Easy – Bettye Lavette

It Ain’t The Meat – Maria Muldaur

Into The Mystic (cover, w. Markéta Irglová) – Glen Hansard

Il Tempo Di Morire – Lucio Battisti

I Never – Rilo Kiley

I Just Want to Make Love to You – Etta James

Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe – Ella Fitzgerald

Gun Street Girl – Tom Waits

Get Back Temptation – Ollabelle

Frontin’ – Jamie Cullum

Even While You’re Sleeping – The Acorn

Dirt In The Ground – Tom Waits

Day And Night – Nina Simone

Cross My Heart Blues – Willie Pooch

Bye Bye Blackbird – Joe Cocker

Before The Money Came (The Battle Of Bettye LaVette) – Bettye LaVette

Bring Your Parents to Swing Day!

Jan Marie — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 03:17:45 +0000

You were going to come anyway (right?)–so why not bring mom or dad along for the ride. Dad can stop doing the white man’s overbite, and mom can cease the twist n’ shout, all in one glorious afternoon.

First hour (1-2pm) is a lesson
Second hour (2-3pm) is a practice
Feel free to come with or without ‘rents to either or both

PLEASE TRY TO HAVE YOURSELVES (AND YOUR PARENTS) THERE ON TIME. I will be (for the first time.. ever?) starting promptly at 1, so be there or be.. completely lost about what we’re doing. :-P

As always, we start from the ground up every week, so if you have no experience, you’re all the more welcome. (That probably means you, Mom and Dad–we still love you!)

Lesson plan completely TBA, but if you have something you’d really like me to show the folks, now is the time to write on the event wall and let it be known.

Facebook Event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=159490340748213&ref=ts

Floorboard Blues

Jan Marie — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 20:25:54 +0000

Low-lights, chill vibes, close encounters, and everything from janky guitar to smooth piano blues music: this is how WESwing & Blues likes to party.

Come dance with us. If you don’t know how to dance, we’ll teach you, or help you make it up as the night goes on.

This is a fundraiser to help us bring FLY MACHINE to play live on Halloween. So we’re asking for a $5 donation. But if you don’t have $5, come anyway. We like bodies.

Oh, and prepare to be cuddled. Hardcore.

Friday, September 24th
10pm-1am
Vinnie’s Jump & Jive
424 Main St., Middletown
$5 donation-only

New Day! New Time!

Jan Marie — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 23:35:10 +0000

Because there was so much conflict when we moved lessons to Sundays, and then again on Thursdays, we’ve decided to move lessons back to SATURDAYS! Yay!

Lessons will not begin until the third weekend of school, i.e. the weekend of the 18th, i.e. the weekend of Yom Kippur. (Sorry, Jewish swing dancers!)

The Underscore Orkestra @ The Buttonwood Tree

Jan Marie — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 12:56:26 +0000

Gypsy Jazz? Swing? Conveniently located right down the street? Only $8 for students? Need I say more?

…I didn’t think so.

http://www.buttonwood.org/archives/2010/08/05/the-underscore-orkestra/

SEE YOU TOMORROW!!!

Tango-Infused Blues Workshops

Jan Marie — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:25:59 +0000

Are you a blues dancer looking for a little something extra to integrate in your dancing? Have you tried tango, and want to learn another way of connecting with your partner? Do you like easygoing, talented instructors? How about incredibly moving music?

If you enjoy any or all of these things, you should come learn to infuse your blues with tango stylings, as taught by two of Boston’s best instructors.

Tango-Infused Blues Workshops
w. Shawn Hershey and Amanda Gruhl
Sunday, February 7th
1pm-4:30pm
VENUE CHANGE: Fayerweather Beckham Hall
Pricing: See below

Blues Basics (1:00-2:00):
Shawn and Amanda will teach you the basics of blues connection and frame to allow you to move well with your partner.

Stealing from Tango (2:15-3:15):
So what’s the deal with all those dancers trying to put tango in blues dancing? Tango has an immensely rich vocabulary, excellent for closed position dancing. Learn how to lead and follow flashy tango-inspired moves and techniques, then how to integrate them beautifully with your blues dancing and how to adapt them to the music so you never lose the feel of the Blues.

Lifts, Jumps, and Dips (3:30-4:30):
We’ll teach you some flashy moves great for performance, competition, and impressing your mom. We’ll teach you the basics of weight sharing, a few of our favorite moves, and our newest cool stuff!

Workshops are INCREDIBLY CHEAP, because I’m feeling generous:

General: $10/workshop ($30 total)
Students: $5/workshop ($15 total)
NEW DANCERS GET IN FOR FREE!

Please send any questions, comments, or concerns to weswingandblues(at)gmail.com