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Elena Collins 11/05/2016 Elena Collins 11/05/2016

Video: I Charleston Brighton Speakeasy

We are delighted to share with you this great montage from the I Charleston Brighton Speakeasy by Jimmy Dean. If you have any clips or footage to share with us please send it over to us!https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ew6sA4KV-UY

Elena Collins 11/05/2016 Elena Collins 11/05/2016

I Charleston Brighton Speakeasy raises over £250 for MindOut Charity.

The I Charleston Brighton Speakeasy was a roaring success on the opening weekend of the Brighton Fringe. Participants were swivelling and sliding across the dance floor at the Brighton Spigeltent and after three hours of dancing the crowd delighted onlookers as they burst out the tent to sing and dance around the Old Steine fountain.

The Charleston speakeasy was the brainchild of Creative Directors Elena Collins and Fiona Ring. They wanted to create a dance focused event with an emphasis on participation. Despite a jam packed programme which included dance workshops, performances, live music and dance contests the afternoon flowed seamlessly through each event.

This was a classic speakeasy with a modern twist; DJ Basschimp adding a dash of electro-swing while The Soultastics played twenties jazz classics with their six-piece band. Not only was there a public dance-off and performances from professional Charleston troupe Savoy Kicks, the audience also crowned this year’s Strictly Charleston Champion.

Three local businesses, Pretty Eccentric, Simon Carter and Open Space Studios, braved the dance floor to compete to win votes from the audience to raise money for the charity of their choice. Andrew Wieczorek representing Simon Carter was crowned the 2016 winner and donated all proceeds to the Brighton LGBT charity, MindOut.

Andrew, who is Store Manager of the Brighton branch of Simon Carter, said ‘'I am absolutely thrilled to have been a part of the event and delighted that through the audiences generosity we have managed to raise over £200 for a great cause ’’.

I Charleston Brighton run local dance classes and events. The team will next be taking on the world record attempt for the largest Charleston dance at the Bexhill Roaring 20’s Festival on the 23 July. To find out how to get involved visit www.dancebrightonandhove.com

To watch Andy's Charleston story, click here

Elena Collins 04/05/2016 Elena Collins 04/05/2016

Strictly Charleston: Open Space Studios

Last but by no means least, we are delighted to showcase our final competitor for the Strictly Charleston Competition taking place this weekend at the I Charleston Brighton Speakeasy! Meet Barish from Open Space Studios who will be dancing to raise money for Winston's Wish!

Elena Collins 02/05/2016 Elena Collins 02/05/2016

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.

Elena Collins 24/04/2016 Elena Collins 24/04/2016

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

Elena Collins 08/04/2016 Elena Collins 08/04/2016

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

Elena Collins 20/03/2016 Elena Collins 20/03/2016

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.

Elena Collins 21/02/2016 Elena Collins 21/02/2016

We are Performing At Sports Relief

I Charleston Brighton at Bexhill Roaring 20s

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!

Elena Collins 07/02/2016 Elena Collins 07/02/2016

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!

Elena Collins 21/01/2016 Elena Collins 21/01/2016

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