Shut off the stresses of the outside world, relax in a beautiful shoreline setting and enjoy immersing yourself in dance camp. Outstanding instructors, incredible bands, a wide range of Lindy Hoppers from near and far. Many class options, inspiring performances, lots of social dancing, karaoke, Beantown’s Got Talent, fun competitions, camp social, camp BBQ, Soul Dance Party, tons of fun. Comfortable housing options, high quality meals, private beaches, excellent facilities. Meet a living legend of Lindy Hop, make new friends, join a music jam, swim in the ocean, play volleyball by the beach. Feel the Lindy Love! In a nutshell, that’s what you get at Beantown!

Beantown runs from June 25 to July 2. Do the week to get the full experience! Most campers stay on campus, which is highly recommended.

The website is in the process of being updated and new information is being added daily.

Beantown Camp website.

Have you been telling yourself that you want to finally take a dance class? Have you been away for awhile and feeling you want to get back out? Now is the perfect time! A new year, a new start. Our first 6 week session of 2015 begins on Sunday, January 11 in Newton Lower Falls and Monday, January 12 in Boston. Classes are relaxed, good exercise and a fun opportunity to meet people.

• Beginner Swing/Intro to Lindy Hop Level 1
  Appropriate for anyone starting out as well as those with some experience who are working on building a solid foundation of dance skills. Includes six count basics, an intro to eight count basics, along with a variety of fun steps to build your repertoire and get you out on the dance floor! Meets in both locations.
• Lindy Hop Level 2
  For more intermediate level Swing dancers, some prior Lindy Hop experience is helpful. Eight and six count basics will be mixed along with a variety of classic Lindy Hop, newer variations, and a focus on partnering, technique and style. Meets in both locations.
• Lindy Hop Fun with Faster Tempos
  Focus will be on getting more comfortable with fast dancing, using drills to speed up individual movement as well as connection and momentum with your partner to enable moving faster with ease. Included will be a variety of moves that are fun to do when the tempos go up. This class will be aimed at intermediate/advanced Lindy Hoppers. Meets on Sundays in Newton.

Singles and couples welcome. No partner necessary. Both locations are conveniently accessible by car or T with free parking available. Missed classes may be made up at the alternate location.

Class details on website.

Another year gone by and here we are in 2015! The past year was full of challenges, amazing high points and the joy that comes with including dance as a way of life. Most of all we are grateful for all the wonderful people we have met, friends we’ve made, and times we’ve shared with our incredible worldwide dance community.

As the year started, we had to deal with a lot of snow, always seeming to fall just in time to disrupt our monthly Uptown Swing dance. We did make up for it at Beantown Camp in June when we had the most beautiful weather ever for our entire week at Endicott College.

All year long we celebrated Frankie Manning’s 100th birthday. The highlight was the celebration in NYC, Frankie 100, bringing together Lindy Hoppers from 47 countries and over 2000 in attendance. It was an absolutely spectacular event, more than we could have imagined. Plus a phenomenal reunion, meeting up with people we had met back in our earliest days and a reminder of so many fabulous experiences we have had over the years. Plus of course immersing in everything Frankie! It was so uplifting, celebrating the life and legacy of a truly exceptional individual.

The first half of the year was largely occupied with preparing for Beantown Camp. Every year brings its challenges, and this one was no exception, especially figuring out how to compensate with the loss of our main dance space and dining hall due to major renovations underway. In addition, we were filled with plans to complete for our own week long tribute to Frankie. One way or another, and with help from some of our wonderful friends, it all worked out to be an absolutely glorious week, embodying all the heart, soul and joy that makes it all worthwhile.

The year closed out with another fantastic Skye-Naomi-Gordon, weekend, somehow seeming even better than ever. We couldn’t have ended our dance year on a higher note, full of friends, fun, inspiration, spirit and sheer bliss!

The new year provides a chance to re-energize and we’re looking forward to the great adventures that 2015 will bring.

On Saturday, February 21, Uptown Swing will be hosting a special Swing & Soul Dance at KI in Brookline. The dance will feature the fabulous Racky Thomas Band and guest DJ Javier Johnson, bringing a great mix of fun get-up-and-dance music.

In addition to Uptown Swing, there will be 2 workshops on Saturday afternoon with Javier to get the Swing & Soul vibe rolling. Workshops will be held at Ruggles Baptist Church on Beacon Street in Boston, not far from the dance location.

• A. 3:15-4:15pm Diggin’ on James Brown
  Not only a great bandleader, but a superb dancer, James Brown is a huge inspiration. His funky songs have interesting rhythms and influences which go beyond the standard Swing/Blues formula. We’ll learn to dance like James and really get down.
• B. 4:30-5:30pm Awesome Sauce
  (noun): The thing which transforms average into awesome. This class will show you how to take simple dance movement ingredients and make them into an awesome partnered dance.

Workshop details and registration.

Join the Facebook workshop event.

Syke Humphries & Naomi Uyama performing at Uptown Swing Dance with Gordon Webster (11/30/2013)

The Skye & Naomi weekend is almost here! There’s a full schedule of activities to keep everyone dancing from Friday evening through Sunday. It will be on awesome overload with the music, classes and plenty of local and visiting dancers. A great way to celebrate so much we have to be thankful for!

Be prepared for a phenomenal weekend of workshops with Skye and Naomi! Classes are scheduled for this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 28-30. There is a wide mix of visiting dancers joining us for this fun weekend and we are looking forward to welcoming returnees and first timers.

Friday, November 28
A. 7:30-8:30pm Rhythm & Timing
B. 8:45-9:45pm  Solo Jazz

Saturday, November 29
C. 1:00-2:00pm  Beautiful Basics
D. 2:15-3:15pm Lindy Hop Vocabulary
E. 3:30-4:30pm  Charleston Foundation

Sunday, November 30
F. 12:45-1:45pm  Styling & Variations SOLD OUT
G. 2:00-3:00pm  Fancy Footwork SOLD OUT
H. 3:15-4:15pm  Lindy Hop Partner Routine, part 1 (partner needed)
I. 4:30-5:30pm  Lindy Hop Partner Routine, part 2 (partner needed)

It will be possible to register at the workshops as space permits. Workshops F and G are sold out.

Workshop Location:
Lower Falls Community Center
545 Grove Street
Newton Lower Falls, MA 02462

Parking Information:
Please park in the inside parking lot only (near the entrance to the Lower Falls Community Center). The front and back parking lots belong to the Senior Center. There is plenty of free on-street parking.

Check the website for details.

Join the Facebook event.