UPCOMING CLASSES
Keep Learning from your Home!
Being stuck at home won't stop us from learning! Join our weekly ZOOM events every Thursday night for lessons from amazing full-time artists. Description below, artist lineup below that.
We're running the Jazz Attack LINDY LEGEND SERIES & Jazz Attack 'GOES TO' SERIES online: The name of the week's FB event will tell you what we're running that week.
LINDY LEGEND SERIES: Jazz Attack is committed to sharing and preserving the voices and stories of the Lindy Hop scene's elders. Come learn from and pose questions to Lindy Hop Champions, World-Touring Entertainers, and more.
JAZZ ATTACK 'GOES TO' SERIES: There are SO MANY great online events going on, so we're boosting our favorites! Keep an eye out for "Jazz Attack Goes To..." events to join your fellow Philly+ buddies in zoom rooms across the interwebs.
Recaps & Recordings: You can find recap videos from some past workshops below. Lindy Legend Series interviews are the only events that are recorded in full. You can find those on our YouTube channel.
To Donate: It's contributions from dancers like you that make this all possible. We invite those who are able to contribute $5-15+, which directly support the night's artists. We accept donations via Venmo: @Phrygian (preferred; last 4 digits are 1650) or PayPal: philadelphialindyexchange@gmail.com
We encourage everyone to join the ZOOM at least 5 minutes early to get everything set up. Once the lesson begins, the JA team will mute your microphone, but encourage folks to groove with cams on! Let's dance!
THE LINEUP
Dec 18: Movie Night!
'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom'
Spotlight Series
Grab your popcorn and join your friends at Jazz Attack 'After Hours' to watch one of the most exciting movies of the year! TeleParty will allow us all to watch and text chat simultaneously.
Tensions and temperatures rise at a Chicago music studio in 1927 when fiery, fearless blues singer Ma Rainey joins her band for a recording session. Featuring Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman (in his final performance), and Glynn Turman
WHAT YOU NEED:
-Netflix account (or a friend's)
-Google Chrome Browser
-TeleParty Chrome Extension: download at https://www.netflixparty.com/
Dec 10: LIVE Interview with Lindy Legend Joya Jaimes
Lindy Legend Series
Born in the Bronx, Joya Jaimes had a passion for dance her entire life. This passion eventually brought her to Smalls Paradise and under the good graces of Mamma Lou Parks. Here she would learn Lindy Hop and start her long and illustrious career. In 1969 she became a world champion with her partner Cornell Wade by winning the Harvest Moon Ball. She continued to travel the world competing, performing, and spreading the joy of dance. Even today she continues to stay active in the dance world through various projects and events, promoting all the good that dance can bring to the world.
Dec 3: "Best of ILHC" with Nick and Kate
Spotlight Series
WOW! What a weekend at the virtual International Lindy Hop Championships 2020! From over 20 hours of programming, Jazz Attack's very own Kate Holden and Nick Cruickshank have selected their top moments from the weekend, featuring some of the best and most inspiring dancers in the world, a couple paper plate awards, and some kids that could kick our solo jazzy butts. Whether you watched the whole weekend or don't even know what ILHC is, we've got the rewind for you!
Nov 19: LIVE Interview with Lindy Legend Barbara Billups
Lindy Legend Series
Barbara Billups is one of the last of the world-famous Lindy hoppers who came out of the Savoy Ballroom. A singer, dancer, and dance instructor, she won third place in the Harvest Moon Ball Championships at Madison Square Garden in 1958, and partnered with Sonny Allen after he won. Barbara toured the world performing with Sonny Allen and the Rockets. She’s described as smooth and sexy with a touch of class.
Sep Oct 15: LIVE Interview with Lindy Legend Sonny Allen
Lindy Legend Series
DANCE LEGEND From the Savoy Ballroom and the Palladium Ballroom era, Sonny Allen is one of the remaining interpreters of the Savoy style of Swing alongside Frankie Manning and Norma Miller. A consummate dancer and performer that exudes smoothness, pizzazz and suave, Sonny is a gracious gentleman who when observed, has the utmost respect for the women that he dances and performs with, and is always willing to share his knowledge of dance.
Sep 24: LIVE Interview with Lindy Legend Sugar Sullivan
Lindy Legend Series
Sugar Sullivan started her career as a performer, choreographer, teacher and professional dancer at the age of nine. Sugar was a member of the Original Jazz Dancers, a distinguished group of Lindy Hoppers and Hoofers from Harlem’s heyday. Sugar has been featured with the Harlem Blues & Jazz Band, Cab Calloway’s Hi-De-Ho Orchestra, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Count Basie Orchestra, and Panama Francis and his Savoy Sultans among others.
Sep 17: Shana Maria Weaver
PRO Series
‘Riffin’ with Count Basie’: this combo dance and lecture-style lesson will explore his use of ostinato and how we can react to it in our dancing.
Sep 10: Carla Crowen
PRO Series
Carla is the founder and creative director of LindyCentral. She relocated from CA to PA in 2015 and has reopened LindyCentral with the hopes of building a strong, welcoming dance community for all ages and levels. She has taught swing dancing as an invited quest instructor all over the world from Australia to China and all over the US and more. She has choreographed on the hit t.v. series "So You Think You Can Dance." Before raising a family, Carla competed internationally earning title such as World Lindy Hop Champion, US Open Swing Dance Champion, International Lindy Hop Champion and more. Come check out her fun, inspiring classes soon.
Sep 3: Nicole Chausse
Spotlight Series: Ryan Francois’ “Jitterbug Stroll!”
Nicole Chausse started swing dancing at the University of Virginia, and was a past president of the Swing Club at UVA. She lives in the Virginia/DC area and pre-Covid, enjoyed making trips up to Mobtown Ballroom in Baltimore. She loves to show off her dogs, Sam and Peach, and quarantine has made it super easy to let them in during lessons!
Aug 27: LIVE Interview with Lindy Legend Crystal Johnson
Lindy Legend Series
Born in 1948 in Harlem, New York City, Crystal Johnson started dancing when she was just 8 years old. At 15 she joined the famous Mamma Lu Parkets and started her long career as a professional Lindy Hopper. During her decades of dancing she has traveled the world performing, competing, and teaching all things Lindy Hop. In 1972 she won first place in the famous Harvest Moon Ball's Lindy Hop division. Nowadays, she continues to stay busy spreading her love of this dance by teaching anyone looking to learn, from beginners to world-class instructors.
Join us for her first live interview as we discuss the evolution of the scene from the 60's to now, challenges and stories from traveling the US and the world as a performing artist, and thoughts on what lies at the heart of Lindy Hop.
Aug 20: LaTasha Barnes
PRO Series: Variations within the Shim Sham
LaTasha “Tasha” Barnes is an internationally acclaimed and awarded dancer, educator, coach and ambassador of culture from Richmond, VA. Globally celebrated for her musicality, athleticism, and joyful presence throughout the cultural traditions she bears, which include: House, Hip-Hop, Waacking, Vernacular Jazz, and Lindy Hop. Her expansive artistic, competitive and performative skills have made her a frequent collaborator to and many international Urban Arts and Jazz/ Lindy Hop festivals & companies. Tasha’s forever purpose is to inspire fellow artists and art enthusiasts to cultivate an authentic sense of self in their creative expressions and daily lives.
Aug 13: Samantha Pincus
Spotlight Series: Getting Creative through Jump Charleston!
Hailing from the Armpit of America, Samantha Pincus was born at a young age. She started dancing in a vain attempt to not fall upstairs. Some may describe her as bald, unreliable and aggressive. But they would be wrong. Sam brought us a wonderful lesson jam packed with a fun and challenging jump charleston variations!
Aug 6: Dee Daniels Locke
PRO SERIES: Footwork & Variations
Dee started Swing Dancing at the age of four with her Dad in the basement, wearing her Mom’s heels and her favorite plaid skirt. Dee loves feeling free on the dance floor. She advocates for self-expression and individual creativity as the spirit of solo jazz and Lindy Hop. She loves Lindy Hop's particular way of encouraging collaboration between music and partner, priding herself on making each dance unique to the musical experience and partner. Dee has taught, performed, and choreographed nationally and internationally, specializeing in vintage jazz and Lindy Hop.
July 30: George Sullivan ILHC Legacy Interview Watch Party
Hosted by Nick Cruickshank & Anthony Risolio
In this 2006 interview conducted by Peter Strom and Skye Humphries, hear Mr. Sullivan discuss rhythm's role in swing music and dance, the uniqueness of the lindy hop, the elite "Savoy 400" club, his motivation to learn to dance, and his decision not to go into show business.
July 23: Mike McDermott & Amanda Salay
Spotlight Series: Easy, Med, and Hard Solo Routine
Mike & Amanda taught us 3 variations of the same solo routine that progressed from easy to medium to hard!
July 16: Mike McDermott & Amanda Salay
Introducing the Spotlight Series!
Mike & Amanda prepared a rundown of their favorite solo drills for partner dancers. They showed us how to use household objects to practice our partner dancing.
July 9: Tyedric Hill
Tye brought the HEAT with an incredible Vernacular Jazz routine. To see even more of his awesome stuff check out his instagram channel @Tyedric_Hill
July 2: Danny Jonokuchi
Details To Be Announced
Danny Jonokuchi is an incredible trumpeter and bandleader in NYC. Check out his awesome band, The Revisionists! Danny took us through his process when creating a new swing tune and playing it for dancers. Check out a snippet of one of one of his fun projects in collaboration with maaany dancers below!
June 18 & 25: Erin Morris
Erin Morris brought us two awesome weeks of jazzy goodness, first with a sequence chock full of new twists on old rhythms, and then had us eat our veggies, get back to basics, and create something fresh.
June 4 & 11: Adam Brozowski
Weeks 1 & 2 of our LGBT+ influence in Lindy Hop & Jazz series
Week 1 (LECTURE): LGBTQAI+ History In Jazz and Swing: Adam Brozowski (He/Him) will share his research into the hidden queer roots and influence of Jazz and Swing. Along the way he will also speak about how Queer identity has shaped the Lindy Hop community in the past as well as modern day. We will look at influential artist, musicians, songs and stories of strong queer voices that have shaped the dances and music we love.
Week 2 (LESSON): Norma's favorite steps, re-imagined! Adam put together a really fun sequence for us that was chock full of great rhythms and movements. Sorry folks, we don't have a recap video for this one. You just had to be there!
May 28: Laura Glaess**
Week 5 of our Dancer/Bandleader focus series
San Antonio's finest, Laura Glaess is pulling double duty with a killer solo jazz lesson followed by a set of songs that's sure to get you movin'! In this class Laura shared some of her fivorite tips for transitions and shifting the emphasis of your solo jazz movements. Check out the recap below!
May 21: Christian Frommelt & Chelsea Reed (DJ)
Week 4 of our Dancer/Bandleader focus series
The incredible Christian Frommelt of St. Louis will take us through a solo movement journey, followed by Chelsea Reed's virtual DJ debut! Chelsea has specially curated a "Walking Tour Through Philly" set, featuring artists that have played right here in Philly with historical notes about the theatres that have been home to jazz right here in the city of brotherly love.
May 14: Naomi Uyama**
**DOUBLE TROUBLE: Lesson - Solo Jazz Routine, DJ Set - Naomi & Her Handsome Devils Deep Dive
Song: Little Girl Blues by Naomi & her Handsome Devils
May 7: Gaby Cook & the Boilermaker Jazz Band
Two-Part Solo Jazz Routine for your AABA or ABAB Enjoyment
Live Set from the Boilermaker Jazz Band
Learn a phrase of solo jazz choreography with Gaby! This is a combo created for the Virtual Jazz Attack Pro Series that includes a recap and brief breakdown of the movements. Music: "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree" by Coleman Hawkins
April 30: Jon Tigert**
**DOUBLE TROUBLE: Lesson - Step Touch as the Foundation of Everything
DJ Set - Vintage Concert Videos that I Can't Play at a Social Dance
No recap video -- you just had to be there!
April 23: Ramona Staffeld
Bebop Solo Jazz Routine
Song: Au Privave by Hank Mobley (written by Charlie Parker)
April 16: Caleb Teicher
Variations on a Short Sequence
Song: Satin Doll by Duke Ellington
April 9: Carla Crowen
Drills for More Thrills
Creating habits, intentions and goals, initial steps, and creative spaces
Songs: Opus one (Gene Krupa), Georgia Camp Meeting (Paul Cosentino)
April 2: Evita Arce
"The Lenox" Routine by Syncopated City Dance Company
Song: The Lenox by Glenn Crytzer's Savoy Seven
March 26: Lily Kind
Charleston Combination and Breakdown
We don't have a recap from this one. You just had to be there! BUT you should check out Lily's weekly solo jazz classes with Urban Movement Arts