Hop to the Beat

Friday, November 29, 2024


All day

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Lindy Hop Workshop

Anthony Chen & Irina Amzashvili

Lindy Hop Workshop Weekend
Uptown Swing Dance with Gordon Webster

Friday, November 29, 2024 - 7:30pm to Sunday, December 1, 2024 - 5:30pm

Anthony Chen and Irina Amzashvili will be joining us again, and we couldn’t be more excited. You may have had classes with them at the workshops last year, at Beantown Camp, or other events they’ve taught at. If so, you may 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 again, 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.

The weekend includes three days of workshops on Friday evening, November 29 to Sunday afternoon, December 1, 2024 at Lower Falls Community Center, Newton, MA, plus Uptown Swing dance with the Gordon Webster Band on Saturday night at the Social Hall, Congregation Kehillath Israel, Brookline, MA. There is an Early Bird Full Package and A La Carte discounts.

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Newton, MA Friday, November 29, 2024	Newton, MA Saturday, November 30, 2024	Newton, MA Sunday, December 1, 2024
Friday classes are aimed at experienced Lindy Hoppers with solid skills and previous knowledge. 7:30–8:30pm A: Chill Charleston In this class we’ll work on some fun and flowy Charleston transitions! No partner needed, intermediate+ to advanced. 8:45–9:45pm B: Solo Jazz 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 Q Ballroom, 26 New Street, Suite 3, Cambridge, MA 02138 (8:00–9:00pm Swing Lesson) Post-Thanksgiving DJ Jam at Q Ballroom! 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 C: That’s Communication (Part 1) This class will help you tune into your partner and refine your connection. We’ll break down the fundamentals and rebuild them to help make your dancing more cohesive and responsive. No partner needed, intermediate. 2:15–3:15pm D: That’s Communication (Part 2) Continuation of Part 1. 3:30–4:30pm E: 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 F: Another Day in LA (Part 1) Let’s bring some LA flavor into your dancing to expand your vocabulary and versatility. We’ll take a deep dive into the connection required to successfully execute the feeling and figures of LA style moves. No partner needed, intermediate+ to advanced. 2:00–3:00pm G: Another Day in LA (Part 2) Continuation of Part 1. 3:15–4:15pm H: Inspiration Station In this class, we’ll share some of our favorite methods for staying inspired in our dancing. We’ll focus on blending technique with improvisation to help you express your unique style while staying connected with your partner. No partner needed, intermediate+ to advanced. 4:30–5:30pm I: 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 29 to Sunday, December 1, 2024 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 11 for the Early Bird Full Package Discount and Monday, November 25 for the A La Carte Discount rate. Full payment after November 25. 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 11, 2024	Discount Payment by November 25, 2024	Full Payment after November 25, 2024
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	$150	$171	$200
Uptown Swing Dance Discounts apply if also attending the workshops.	-	+$31 (+$27 with student ID)	+$36 (+$32 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