We are back from Beantown Camp, although not quite caught up on sleep or sorting through the follow up. The entire week was beyond awesome and we’ll have more to say once we’ve got our thoughts together:-)

Summer Class Session

We have one session of classes for the summer continuing in Boston at Ruggles Church near Fenway Park. (Sundays in Newton will resume in September.) The 6 week session starts on Monday, July 11 and includes Beginner Swing/Intro to Lindy Hop Level 1 and Lindy Hop Level 2. Each class is followed by a half hour practice time. Class information. If you are planning to attend any of these classes and have not already done so, it would be helpful if you would submit an on-line registration to speed up check-in. You can pay in advance by credit card through PayPal or at the class by cash or check. Thanks! Class Registration Form.

Summer Dances

Our next monthly Uptown Swing dance is coming up on Saturday, July 16 with two special treats. First, we’ll be welcoming back Baby Soda from NYC! Second, a Balboa performance with Joel Plys (from CA) and Dominique (from Montréal)! The dance is held at our great venue, Brookline Tai Chi. BTC is located on Beacon Street in Brookline, right across from the Washington Square T. It has an excellent wood floor for dancing and AC:-) The atmosphere is fun and friendly and beginners are very welcome. You do not need to come with a partner. On Saturday, August 20 we’ll be welcoming back The Love Dogs, a local favorite and always a fun time! Uptown Swing Dance information. We wish you a wonderful holiday weekend full of fun, friends, food and fireworks!

Only one week to go!!! Beantown Camp opening day is almost here. We are still accepting registrations if you would like to join campers from 33 states and 8 countries.

Beantown Camp News: Only 1 Week To Go

Not sure what it’s about? Check out the schedule for amazing classes, dances and tons of fun:
Beantown Camp Schedule

Track balances are looking pretty good overall, although the Orange track (beginner/intermediate) could use a few leaders and the Blue track (intermediate/advanced) could use some as well.

Who wouldn’t want to spend a week with dancers from near and far, many of the world’s best instructors, 4 nights with 3 awesome bands (a double dose of the Campus Five!), great DJs, a beautiful location on the shore and many fun activities included. If this sounds like the vacation that you want to do, register today!

Beantown runs from June 23-30, back at the beautiful Endicott College campus in Beverly, MA. There are multiple packages and time periods to choose from for attending. You can find all of the details and latest information on the Beantown Camp web site:
www.BeantownCamp.com

Come share the Lindy love…you will be glad you did!

Beantown Open Dance Parties

If you can’t come to Beantown Camp, you can still join in for two dance parties at Endicott College. These dances are open to the public and both are going to be awesome, without a doubt! Discount door admission coupons are available on the camp website. (No pre-registration.)

Beantown Saturday Dance Party, June 25, 2011

• Beantown Camp Shop
• Evening Dance with Jonathan Stout and his Campus Five, featuring Hilary Alexander (Their Boston AND New England debut!)
• Beantown Café & Game Room
• Competitions
• Strictly Lindy
• Jack & Jill Finals
• Not-to-be-missed Performances!
• Cake-Break
• Late Night dancing with Beantown DJs in Callahan
• Late Night Alternate Room in the Chapel hosted by Boston Swing Central

Beantown Wednesday Dance Party, June 29, 2011

• Beantown Camp Shop
• Evening Dance with Boston Swing Express, featuring special guest Toni Lynn Washington (Another debut with this awesome combination!)
• Beantown Café & Game Room
• Class Performances!
• Late Night Ice Cream Party
• Late Night dancing with Beantown DJs

Dance information & discount coupons.

Summer Class Session

Registration is open for our next 6 week session of classes, held on Mondays in the summer. We’ll be at our Boston location at the Ruggles Baptist Church, located on Beacon Street near the Boston-Brookline border. It’s near BU and Fenway Park with lots of choices on public transportation.

Classes will be starting on Monday, July 11 and include Beginner Swing/Intro to Lindy Hop Level 1 and Lindy Hop Level 2. Don’t forget to plan on staying for practice time!

In September we will resume our full selection of Sunday classes at our usual Newton location as well as continuing Mondays at Ruggles.

Class information & registration.

Uptown Swing Dance

We are continuing our monthly Saturday dances during the summer. Mark your calendar for July 16 with the return of Baby Soda from NYC and a local favorite, The Love Dogs, on August 20. Two guaranteed fun nights!

Uptown Swing Dance information.

Looking forward to seeing everyone at Beantown!

Happy dancing,
Aurelie & Tony

Uptown Swing Dance This Saturday

This Saturday, June 4 is our monthly Uptown Swing dance! We are early this month as Beantown Camp will be keeping us occupied throughout June. Join us at our wonderful venue, Brookline Tai Chi, located directly across from the Washington Square T stop on Beacon Street. BTC has AC and one of the best dance floors around.

This month we are welcoming back the Mike DiBari Swingtet who always bring us a fabulous night of dancing! Beginners are very welcome and you do not need to have a partner. The music will be excellent for Lindy Hop, Swing, Balboa and even some Blues. Bring your friends and introduce them to a fun night of dancing!

Where: Brookline Tai Chi, 1615 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA 02446
When: Saturday, June 4, 2011 at 8:15pm-12:00am
Admission: $15 ($10 with Student ID)
Swing Lesson: 8:15-9:00pm
Band: Mike DiBari Swingtet
Beginners welcome, no partner needed

Uptown Swing Dance information.

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.

For the summer, we’ll have classes starting on Monday, July 11 including Beginner Swing/Intro to Lindy Hop Level 1 and Lindy Hop Level 2.

Class information.

Hope to see everyone out at Uptown Swing this Saturday:-)

Happy dancing,
Aurelie & Tony

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

New Session Lindy Hop/Swing Classes in Newton, 2^nd 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:-)