Strictly Charleston: Simon Carter

With less than a week to go until the I Charleston Brighton Speakeasy, it's time to meet our second competitor in the Strictly Charleston Competition. Meet Andy from Simon Carter who is competing to raise money for MindOut.

Strictly Charleston: Pretty Eccentric

Did you know we have three local businesses taking part in the Strictly Charleston Competition at I Charleston Brighton Speakeasy to raise money for charity? Firstly meet Kelly who is representing Pretty Eccentric

Join us at the I Charleston Brighton Speakeasy

Pull on your spats and tassels and learn to Charleston like it’s 1929. The I Charleston girls will guide you through the A-Z of twenties dance moves with workshops, performances and contests. With a twist of jazz and a dash of electro-swing from The Soultastics and DJ Basschimp, this is a classic speakeasy with a modern twist.

A century since it put the jazziest styles into the jazz age, the Charleston moves are back with a hip twist. In fact with an anything-you-can-twist twist. It’s energetic and energising, with music to match.

This speakeasy will take you back to a time when everyone was doing the Charleston. This zany, energetic dance will soon have your legs swiveling and sliding across the dance floor. Once you’ve mastered the moves in our taster workshops, you can take part in the cheeky Charleston dance-off, with a fab prize for the winner.

Once you are all danced-out grab a cocktail from the bar and be entertained by Brighton’s very own Savoy Kicks. These six feisty flappers are greater than The Great Gatsby, brighter than The Bright Young Things and brimming with fun.

You will also get the chance to crown the Strictly Charleston Champion, as three local businesses, Pretty Eccentric, Simon Carter and Open Space Studios, brave the dance floor competing to win your votes and be chosen as this year’s winner.

So get ready to don your pearls and braces and step back in time into the I Charleston Brighton Speakeasy for an afternoon of pulsating jazz and decadent dance.

Click here to book tickers: https://www.brightonfringe.org/box-office/shows/view/i-charleston-brighton-speakeasy

Dancing for Sports Relief

I Charleston Brighton got involved with Sports Relief with the Beginners, Improvers and Baby Charleston groups all performing at Preston Park, Brighton on March 20, 2016. Big thanks to all the groups who gave their time for free to perform for a great cause.

We are Performing At Sports Relief

The I Charleston Brighton students will be performing on the 20 March at Sports Relief. Head down to Preston Park to catch us on stage at 11.20 am!

I Charleston Brighton in Action

Do you want to see what two years worth of classes looks like condensed down to one minute? Well here goes... See if you can spot yourself!

The Story behind I Charleston Brighton

I Charleston Brighton grew out Elena and Fiona's passion to create a viral video about their city back in 2014. The “I Charleston” viral project fired people’s imaginations and passion for dance from New York to Paris and beyond. Having spotted this online craze back in, the two of them decided that Brighton needed to be the next city to join the Charleston World Map, a series of global viral films that showcase the dance talents and the iconic sites of the city.

The ‘‘I Charleston Brighton’’ film is an energetic, colourful spectacle of dance, costume and humour. With music to match, the viral video captures the quirky character of Brighton, its people and frivolity. Standout scenes include a fan dancer, Charleston dancing at the naked bike ride, two pole dancing builders and a scene shot in the sea. The film launched on the 5th September at a private screening attended by the Mayor of Brighton & Hove, Councillor Brian Fitch.

The project was initiated by Elena and Fiona, Co-owners of I Charleston Brighton. It took them took six months to choreograph, film and edit and features over forty locations around the City. They collaborated with a wide range of local dance groups and performers including Streetfunk and Live Love Hoop, as well as running dance courses where people could learn the choreography so they could take part in the film. In total over 80 dancers were involved in the film ranging from 5 to 80 years in age.

Elena explained: ‘’We really wanted to capture the diverse and individual spirit of Brighton so we were delighted that so many dance and performance groups volunteered their time to be a part of the project. Thanks to them, we managed to capture the creative vibe of our city.’’

"I Charleston the World" has become a global phenomenon with more than 70 cities participating across four continents. In England though, only London and Liverpool have completed an “I Charleston” video. Brighton has upped the ante by filming not only the main attractions but also some of Brighton’s best kept secrets.

Since the release of the film, the video went viral and had many features written about it by local and national papers. The film was also chosen by Visit Brighton as they headline campaign for 'Arts in the City'.

Evening Standard

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/charleston-dancers-brighton-are-a-web-smash-video-9746730.html

The Argus

http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/11506379.VIDEO__Charleston_film_has_everyone_in_a_flapper/

Visit Brighton

http://www.visitbrighton.com/groups/things-to-do/i-charleston-brighton-p1103231#overview

The Latest

http://thelatest.co.uk/brighton/2014/09/11/i-charleston-brighton/

BN1 Magazine

http://www.bn1magazine.co.uk/brighton-official-i-charleston-film-out-now/

South East Dance

http://www.southeastdance.org.uk/communities/brightons-charleston-dance-craze-goes-viral.html

Brighton and Hove News

http://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2014/09/19/brighton-charleston-video-proves-a-hit

BBC Things to do

http://www.bbc.co.uk/thingstodo/activity/i-charleston-brighton/occurrence/536326

I Charleston the World

http://www.icharlestontheworld.com/I_Charleston_the_world/Map.html

Brighton Bits

http://brightonbits.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/i-charleston-brighton.html

Vintage Brighton

http://vintagebrighton.com/2014/09/i-charleston-brighton-video/

Civic Brighton and Hove

http://civicbrightonandhove.co.uk/2014/09/brightons-charleston-dance-craze-goes-viral/

Class Listings

Love Brighton

http://www.welovebrighton.com/event/charleston-brighton-2/all/

Whats on Brighton

http://whatson.brighton.co.uk/event/I%20Charleston%20Brighton%20-%20Dance%20Classes/04%20Nov%202014

XYZ Magazine

http://www.xyzmagazine.co.uk/brighton/listings-3/i-charleston-brighton-at-smile2live?instance_id

Smile2live

http://www.smile2live.com/classes/dance/charleston-with-fiona/

Absolute Magazine

http://www.absolutemagazine.co.uk/brighton-fashion-week-warm-up/

Why we launched Baby Charleston

Two months into setting up I Charleston with Elena I was delighted to discover I was pregnant! I danced through the whole pregnancy & many people joked my baby would come out Charleston dancing. 
As a newborn I used to dance to sooth him but now he is one, dancing together is bonding and fun.  So much fun I thought it was time I took the idea of Charleston dancing with your baby to a wider audience, so Elena and I set-up Baby Charleston. 
I must admit I was really nervous about teaching the first taster class, the idea of loads of crying babies while I’m trying to teach a dance was quite intimidating.  However I soon discovered it wasn’t just my baby who shared my love of the Charleston. As the music started and we all got moving we didn’t hear a peak from any of the babies. However the look of some of their sweet faces grinning away as we danced was very distracting but in the best possible way. I’ve now run three sessions and what seemed like a super crazy, only in Brighton idea has proved to be a massive success. So if your not sure what to do next time your babies crying why not try the Charleston?
- Written by Fiona Ring
 

Baby Charleston Starts on 14 Jan

Baby Charleston is the perfect class for you and your baby. Taught by Creative Director Fiona with her baby Lucian, this is a great way to do some gentle exercise with your baby in a sling whilst giving you the chance to socialize with other parents with little ones. Open to babies over 6 weeks. Please arrive early for your session to ensure your your child is secure in their sling.  Next 5 week course: 14 Jan -  11 Feb. Introductory rate: £34+ Transaction fee.

We are very excited that our brand new baby Charleston class starts in just a few more days.

We are Back!

After a few weeks over the Christmas holidays we are now back in the studio this week! We have brand new courses starting on the following dates:

Tuesdays
Beginners 6-7pm: 5th January - 9th February, Open Space Studios
Improvers 7-8pm: 5th January - 9th February, Open Space Studios

Wednesdays
Beginners 6-7pm: 6th January - 10th February, Bird Studios

Thursdays
Beginners 10-11am: 7th January- 11th February, Bird Studios
Baby Charleston 11-12pm: 7th January- 11th February, Bird Studios

We hope to see you there