Our current members range in age from 22 to the more mature age of 60 something. The beauty of this style of dance is that you go as fast and hard, or as cool and laid back as you please and you do it with style! Age is no barrier.
Geographic area is also no barrier as the Society has International connections with Professional Swing Teachers in California, Washington, London, Singapore, Sydney and even locally in Brisbane. These connections will expand as our Brisbane Society becomes better known itself.
Several members of Swing Tuit recently attended a three day Swing Workshop in Sydney hosted by Professional teachers Jonathon Bixby & Sylvia Sykes from California in the U.S. which was excellent and much was learned by all. The Workshop taught several styles including Shim Sham, St. Louis Shag, Balboa and Smooth Lindy. There were people from all over Australia there and even four people from Singapore. It was hard work but an excellent workshop.
This dance form is set to take off in Australia with a small group of Ce Roc People dancing Swing in Sydney, our small group in Brisbane and with interest expressed in Perth, Adelaide and Darwin.
Swing Tuit have access to international newsletters which feature people contacts, where to go and whats on in various parts of the world (Great if you plan to travel!).
We have access to video tapes featuring original black and white footage of Lindy Hop, Jitterbug and several instructional tapes.
We also have a wide variety of Swing, R&B and Jive music by original artists so all you cats can cut a rug.
Currently there are not many venues to dance socially, however, we are working on it and there will be a regular venue for all you swing, jump, jivers every Friday night at The Stones Corner Hotel from April, featuring the Convertibles and great swing. jive, R&B music in the breaks.
Also keep an eye out as Late April/Early May we will have professional teachers Mary Travis and John Wentz (from Washington U.S.) staying with us in little old Brisbane Town (see ad. back page). They will be holding a beginners Swing Workshop on Saturday April 27 with a follow up intermediate Swing Workshop on Saturday May 4 (Venue: Greenslopes Bowls Club) Cost is $50 per person per workshop and partners are not required, however, book early as numbers are limited. They will also be holding small class lessons Mid-Week for $12 per hour, week commencing April 28 and May 5 depending on demand. So if your interested in learning, here's your chance! please register your interest with Kim on 3848 4342 (Hm) or Wayne 3340 2172 (Wk). Keep Saturday night April 27 & May 4 free as there will be a public dance (venue yet to be advised) where you can practice what you've learnt and also watch Mary & John strut their stuff with a performance of the many Swing styles.
And we also have access to local Swing Teachers John & Ailene McCourt who have been dancing Swing for 54 years and actually learnt from the GI's during the War in 1942. They have maintained their style over the years, performed in dance troops, stage shows, choreagraphed stage plays and are well versed in the style, technique and syncopations associated with Swing. John and Ailene conduct group and private lessons for a very reasonable rate and are excellent teachers.
It's all happening in '96 as we are expecting a teacher from London (who is currently based in Sydney) to come up to Brisbane and hold workshops at some stage this year and also a teacher from Singapore who will be here late September, early October. So there's plenty happening and the world is coming to Brisbane!
In this issue we feature our first Swingout Gig Guide which features venues, dates, bands and upcoming events, and, in upcoming issues we will feature whats happening in other parts of the World with this great dance form and also some history on where it came from and some of the Swing artists.
Quotes:
Dancing is an amazing activity. You can go up to a gorgeous woman that you've never met before, spend three minutes touching her anywhere on her body, and she thanks you for it afterwards!!!Source: Mario Robau Jr.
Dancing is a vertical expression of a horizontal desire.Source: Unknown
Swingout March-July 1996
Sun Mar 17 Up the River Jazz Men Story Bridge Bombshelter Sun Mar 17 Cloudburst Brisbane Jazz Club Sat Mar 23 Glen Miller in the Mood Ipswich United Services Bowls Club Sun Mar 24 Brisbane Big Band Brisbane Jazz Club Sat Mar 30 Convertibles (Swing) Stones Corner Hotel Sun Mar 31 Brass Hats Big Band (with Anna Rys) Brisbane Jazz Club Sat Apr 6 Mary Jane Carpenter Combo (R&B) Brisbane Jazz Club Sun Apr 7 Cloudland Dance Band Brisbane Jazz Club Fri Apr 12 Glen Miller in the Mood Caboolture RSL Sat Apr 13 Up the River Jazz Band Brisbane Jazz Club Sun Apr 21 Just Jazz (4 Piece) Bongaree Bowls Club, Bribie Island 2-5pm Sun Apr 21 Cloudburst Brisbane Jazz Club Thu Apr 25 Glen Miller in the Mood Redcliffe RSL Sun Apr 28 Brisbane Big Band Brisbane Jazz Club Sat May 4 Glen Miller Big Band (Excellent!) Amberley Air Show (Morning) May 4 & 5 Jazz Band Ball Riverside Centre, New Farm **Bookings essential** Sat May 11 Swing Fever Big Band Caloundra Civic Centre Sat May 18 Infinity Jazz Trio Caloundra RSL Sun May 19 Jazz Factory (4 Piece) Bongaree Bowls Club, Bribie Island 2-5pm Sat Jun 8 Glen Miller in the Mood Sherwood RSL (June Ball) Sun Jun 16 Jazz Factory (4 Piece) Bongaree Bowls Club, Bribie Island 2-5pm Fri Jul 21 Noosa Jazz Bongaree Bowls Club, Bribie Island 2-5pm
Sunday afternoons each week - Up the River Jazz Band 2.30-6pm at the Story Bridge Bomb Shelter
Friday nights each week - Convertibles with Swing/R&B/Jive in breaks at Stones Corner Hotel from April.
Swing Tuit cannot vouch for some of these bands as we have not seen them, but we can recommend any of the Glen Miller combinations. Please go along to the venues and form your own opinions. These dates/venues were correct at time of print, however, we would recommend that you confirm these dates with the venues so that you do not have a wasted trip! Keep on Swingin'.
To have items listed in this guide please contact us!
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