Hop to the Beat

Friday, November 24, 2023


All day

Before 1am

1am

2am

3am

4am

5am

6am

7am

8am

9am

10am

11am

12pm

1pm

2pm

3pm

4pm

5pm

6pm

7pm

8pm

9pm

10pm

11pm

Lindy Hop Workshop

Anthony Chen & Irina Amzashvili

Lindy Hop Workshop Weekend
Uptown Swing Dance with Gordon Webster

Friday, November 24, 2023 - 7:30pm to Sunday, November 26, 2023 - 5:30pm

For 13 years HTTB has hosted a wonderful weekend with Skye Humphries, Naomi Uyama, plus Gordon Webster at Uptown Swing Dance on Saturday night. This year due to family issues, both Skye and Naomi will not be available. They are each parents now, and have additional obligations, however, they do hope to be back for 2024. All is not lost, as we do have some good news! Anthony Chen and Irina Amzashvili will be joining us, and we couldn’t be more excited. You may have had classes with them at Beantown Camp or other events they’ve taught at. If so, you already know what fantastic teachers they are. In addition, Gordon Webster will be back at Uptown Swing.

This event has always been a highlight of the year, and with Anthony, Irina and Gordon on board, it will be for this one as well. You won’t want to miss it!

Anthony Chen Anthony’s first ingress into the performing arts was at age 8 when his parents convinced him to learn and perform Chinese lion dances. He then stumbled upon breakdancing during a national speech and debate tournament in middle school, and at the age of 16, he had his first foray into swing dancing alongside other young interns from a research laboratory. Since then, he has trained in other dance styles ranging from hip-hop to West Coast Swing, but most of all he enjoys using this background to expand upon his technique and creativity in Lindy Hop. On the social dance floor he is known to be playful, musical, creative, and clear. He holds first place titles from events such as Lindyfest and Lone Star Championships, Montréal Swing Riot, Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown, Lindy Focus, and International Lindy Hop Championships. Combined with his professional background in education, his love of both leading and following have been instrumental to making the classes that he teaches both clear and intuitive. He is an active scene builder in his community and founded the non-profit Salt City Swing, where he teaches locally.

Irina Amzashvili Irina has had a lifelong passion for all forms of dancing. In 2009, at the age of 15, she stumbled upon Swing dancing and it took only one night of social dancing for her to fall head over heels in love with it. Though Lindy Hop was her gateway into the world of Swing, Irina’s passion quickly expanded to include Balboa, Collegiate Shag, and solo jazz. She owes her rapid progression in part to spending her formative years of dancing in Southern California, home to some of the best Swing dancers, teachers, and music in the world.

Irina has since received numerous accolades from events such as Camp Hollywood, The International Lindy Hop Championships, and Lindy Focus and has taught these dances all across the U.S., Asia, Europe, and Australia. Additionally, she is honored to have been inducted into the Camp Hollywood Hall of Fame in 2019 and the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame in 2022.

Irina’s teaching style can best be described as patient and encouraging. Her goal is to guide her students through building solid foundations while inspiring individuality in personal movement, as well as helping build confidence through dance.

Join Facebook event.

Newton, MA Friday, November 24, 2023	Newton, MA Saturday, November 25, 2023	Newton, MA Sunday, November 26, 2023
Friday classes are aimed at experienced Lindy Hoppers with solid skills and previous knowledge. 7:30–8:30pm Tucking Tuck Turns There are about a gajillion ways to do this fundamental move. We’ll dive into a few of our favorites, and give you tools to create more. No partner needed, intermediate+ to advanced. 8:45–9:45pm Solo Routine Intentional solo movement is crucial for freedom in partnered dancing. Come learn a fun solo jazz routine and build some vocabulary! Non-partner, intermediate+ to advanced. 9:00–11-45pm Boston Swing Central Dance The Crosby Whistle Stop, 24 Roland Street, Charlestown, MA (8:00–9:00pm Swing Lesson) Band TBA Boston Swing Central Dance information	Saturday classes are aimed at an intermediate level. Okay if you are newer to Lindy Hop and already know some basics, such as swingout and lindy circle. 1:00–2:00pm Swingout Technique Let’s start the day with some solid foundations! Join us to work on the flow, efficiency, and style of your swingout. No partner needed, intermediate. 2:15–3:15pm Rotation & Flow Here we’ll explore flow and continuity of movements to make your dancing more dynamic and balanced! No partner needed, intermediate. 3:30–4:30pm Creativity & Musicality Let’s play! Find inspiration from the music and your partnership to add more depth to your dances. No partner needed, intermediate. 8:15pm–12-00am Uptown Swing Dance Social Hall, Congregation Kehillath Israel, 384 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA Swing Lesson 8:15–9:00pm Gordon Webster Band featuring the vocals of TBA plus Dance Exhibition with Anthony & Irina Uptown Swing Dance information	Sunday classes are aimed at experienced Lindy Hoppers with solid skills and previous knowledge, and will be the most challenging of the weekend. 12:45–1:45pm Chill Charleston In this class we’ll work on some fun and flowy Charleston transitions! No partner needed, intermediate+ to advanced. 2:00–3:00pm Slow Lindy Learn to milk it when the music slows down. No partner needed, intermediate+ to advanced. 3:15–4:15pm Macro-Musicality Deliver the music with your dancing. We’ll break down how to break it down. No partner needed, intermediate+ to advanced. 4:30–5:30pm Lindy Hop Routine For this last class of the weekend, bring a partner and challenge yourself to a short, sweet and snappy routine! Partner needed, intermediate+ to advanced.
Lower Falls Community Center 545 Grove Street, Newton Lower Falls, MA 02462 Please bring a change of clean shoes, either sneakers or soft-soled flat dance shoes. Get directions
Register Here

The weekend includes three days of workshops on Friday, November 24 to Sunday, November 26, 2023 at Lower Falls Community Center, Newton, MA, plus a dance with the Gordon Webster Band at Uptown Swing on Saturday night at the Social Hall, Congregation Kehillath Israel, Brookline, MA. The dance includes a performance with Anthony and Irena. The workshop registration discount deadlines are Monday, November 6 for the Early Bird Full Package Discount and Monday, November 20 for the A La Carte Discount rate. Full payment after November 20. Please register early to secure a spot!

Cost per person Discounts are for the same person taking multiple workshops.
Number of Workshops	Early Bird Full Package Discount Payment by November 6, 2023	Discount Payment by November 20, 2023	Full Payment after November 20, 2023
Any single workshop	-	$18	$22
Any 2 workshops	-	$36	$44
Any 3 workshops	-	$54	$66
Any 4 workshops	-	$69	$83
Any 5 workshops	-	$84	$100
Any 6 workshops	-	$99	$117
Any 7 workshops	-	$114	$134
Any 8 workshops	-	$129	$151
All 9 workshops	-	$144	$168
All 9 workshops & Uptown Swing Dance	$149	$170	$198
Uptown Swing Dance Discounts apply if also attending the workshops.	-	+$30 (+$26 with student ID)	+$34 (+$30 with student ID)
Monthly Installment Plan Available
Register Here

Registration: Full payment is required to hold your spot. Partners not needed except for the Lindy Hop Partnered Routine class. (If you are looking for a partner, we will help match people at the workshops.) Same price to watch workshops. If pre-registered, please arrive at least 10 minutes before your first workshop each day to allow time to check-in and warm-up. If not pre-registered, please arrive 15 minutes early to allow time to register. If you are not able to pre-register, submit an on-line registration form to help speed your registration on the day.

Refund Policy: There will be no refunds, however, transfers to another person will be accepted.

Shoes & Bags: Bring comfortable shoes such as clean dry sneakers or soft-soled flat dance shoes. Smoother soles have less traction and are better for easy turning and movement. (Hard soled shoes will scratch the floor finish.) Please change shoes on the entrance mat to help prevent outside wet, salt and grit from getting on the wood floor. Bags and street shoes should be left outside the gym so as to maximize the dance space.

Snacks & Drinks: You may want to bring snacks for the breaks. There are no vending machines in the building. There are nearby places to get food, however, there is nothing close enough to the workshop location if time is short.

Venues: Please note that the workshops and dance are located at different venues! Both locations are accessible on the Green Line of the MBTA subway. The Coolidge Corner stop on the C Branch is a short walk north on Harvard Street to the dance venue. The last stop, Riverside, on the D Branch, is about a 1/2 mile walk west on Grove Street to the workshop venue. The C and D Branches each branch outbound from the Kenmore Square stop. While they don’t intersect in Cleveland Circle, it is a very short walk from one branch to the other using the Cleveland Circle stop on the C Branch and Reservoir stop on the D Branch. Check the MBTA for additional info. MBTA train and bus schedules and maps: www.mbta.com