Strictly Review: Catherine Tyldesley and Johannes Radebe

Catherine Tyldesley, actress, with her professional dance partner Johannes Radebe danced their Charleston to Beyonce’s hit single Single Ladies. Both wearing fuchsia pink outfits their performance was set in a nail bar with plenty of energy and sass, but did it deserve 30 points?

Having done some research into the routine, this week’s choreographer was Jenny Thomas who specialises in Charleston & Lindy Hop. Coincidentally, she also choreographed Michelle Visage’s Salsa, so I was excited to see what she had put together for the couple.

The routine starts with Catherine having her nails done by Johannes with some arm movement. They both then take to the floor and bust out Flapper Walks, Charleston and a Lock Turn. From there, they quickly move into Cake Walk style steps and a lift. 

The next section is a bit random, and looks more like a ‘disco dance’ sequence until they break back into the Tick Tock and the Spank the Baby variation at 0:48.

After another Charleston, they dance a few sassy walks. At this point, Johannes is stealing the show with all his energy. He looks like he is about to break out into a fierce Vogueing (I wish he did!). They manage a Scarecrow at 1:08 mixed between disco moves and little Beyonce homage. Towards the end of the routine, we see Heel Flicks before it breaks into a Lindy hop style move with a lift and final pose.

I’m not really sure what to make of this routine. The theme and the Beyonce tribute were very clear. I loved all the attitude Johannes brought to the dance and it was very enjoyable to watch. However, in terms of content, it lacked a lot of Charleston basics and it barely had a single thing in hold. The Charlestons so far this series have very much been duets rather than partner dances and I would like to have seen more partner moves. I also felt they could have made the ‘disco dancing’ sections more stylised and included a few more classic steps.

The response from the judges was quite mixed. Motsi Mabuse was positive, commenting “You kept it up girl! Honestly, I was a bit worried, fast music, fast steps, really really energetic”. 

Meanwhile Craig Revel Horwood commented: “I thought the footwork was quite random and quite messy in places. The swivel was also haphazard.  “When you’re dancing next to Johannes is a nightmare because he is so sharp and on it. You can see the difference, you either need to tone it down or pick it up. 

“I know if you had a second attempt at that dance, it would be amazing,” he concluded. 

Catherine total score was 30.  A six from Craig, and three eights from Motisi, Shirley and Bruno.

Our Score: 6 

7 skills you will learn at our Partner Charleston workshop

On 26th October, Fiona will be teaching our Partner Charleston workshop where you will learn all the key moves that make up this style. Whether you’re coming on your own or with a friend you’ll walk away having learnt the following seven new skills:

1. The fundamentals - During the workshop there will be some key steps that you will master. These will include Charleston in hold with two types of frame, turns and spins for both Leads and Follows and how to travel together. We will teach you Call and Response moves as well as a short routine to bust out next time you hit the dancefloor.

2. How to lead and follow - Partner dancing requires awareness and clear communication; this is essential for the overall success of the dance. We will guide you through some simple techniques for the Lead and Follow including how to be ready for cues both visually and physically. 

3. How to use your frame - Frame is vital when you dance together. It’s how the dancers are connected and move as one. We will work on how to use it to signal to each other and the importance of your arms within your steps.

4. Picking and choosing your next step - If you are the Lead and commit to a turn, a walk or change of direction, you must be clear in your move so the Follow understands your decision. We will teach which steps connect well together and help you remember simple patterns for social dancing.

5. Dancing to various tempos - Finding your groove with the song and dancing to the beat of the track can be tricky when Charlestoning together. We will practice the footwork to different tempos and BPMs so you know what tempos suit your style. 

6. Improving your confidence on the dancefloor - Making an error, misreading a cue or improving your frame are as crucial as the steps themselves. We’ll cover how to make decisive steps so you feel confident in both a social setting and in a choreographed routine.

7. Using your Face - If you watch any duet on Strictly Come Dancing, the couples are always using their faces to communicate their next steps, even if it’s as subtle as just using their eyes. In the workshop, you will learn how to use expressions when moving across the dance floor. The Charleston is a playful dance so being able to pull silly faces at your partner is equally as important to what your feet are doing.

If you want to learn a new skill, master a fun dance or just fancy a different type of exercise you can book onto the workshop for 26th October, 2:30-5:30pm at Open Space Studios here. Best of all if you book as a pair you save 15%. £30 per person or £50 per pair.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Strictly Review: Kelvin Fletcher and Oti Mabuse vs Anneka Rice and Kevin Clifton

Last weekend it was Movie Week on Strictly Come Dancing and we were treated to not one, but two Charlestons. Actor Kelvin Fletcher and his dance partner Oti Mabuse scored an almost perfect score which included two 10s whilst Anneka Rice and Kevin Clifton were voted off the show. Do you agree with the results and the scores? Let’s taken a deeper look at each dance.

First up, was Kelvin and Oti. Before I go into the critique of the routine and the actual choreography I would like to say that Kelvin is obviously a very talented dancer clearly with a dance background. They executed the routine perfectly with leaps of character. Out of all the themes from the night the routine, music and costume came together the best.

My niggle with this dance is that it felt more like a Couple’s Choice routine rather than a Charleston. This is not a criticism on the performers but the choreographer, Matt Flint, who didn’t include that much actual Charleston content.

If we look more closely at the routine, the first 25 seconds is scene setting. At 0:26, there are some Flapper Walks forwards then more scene setting and dancing around the lamp posts but they don’t break into their dance section until 0:54 and the first Charleston doesn’t happen until 1 mins which is quite a long time to wait. After the Charleston they go into a series of lifts followed by Charlestons to the front with jumps at 1:10. The only other classic Charleston moves we see are Bunny Hops at 1:25, a few kicks at 1:30 and at the very end a Hitchhike into a mini Boogie Drop with toe taps into flapper walks and cartwheel.

There are so many great Charleston moves you can use to travel around the stage, to dance in hold and on the spot that there was not enough content in this routine for me. It felt more like a Modern Jazz routine with a dash of Charleston. 

Judges: 9+9+10+10

Our Score: 8

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Moving onto Anneka and Kevin, this routine was far too fast for a novice dancer and she really struggled to execute the moves. The same choreographer, Matt Flint, opened the routine with a weird stick flight then they broke into the Charleston, Butterfly Swivels and Helicopters but she really struggled to keep up with the speed. After some more stick flighting, they break into a lindyhop style Charleston with some side-to-side Charlestons but she very stiff and uncomfortable throughout the whole section. There are some Bunny Hops in hold at 1:22 but Anneka loses steam at the end with the Butterflies next to the orchestra which precedes the final position.

Kevin is one of my favourite Strictly dancers and the critique is not of them but more of the production team behind it who gave her a weak theme, difficult music and a tempo which was too fast for her. Previous Charlestons on Movie Week have included for example Bugsy Malone which is much more in keeping with the style of Charleston so I think she got given the short straw which exposed her lack of dance experience.

Judges scores 2+3++3+3

Our Score: 3

Elena

Strictly Review: Chris Ramsey and Karen Hauer

Strictly Come Dancing is back and each week we will be taking an in-depth look at the Charleston performed on the show. First up is Comedian Chris Ramsey with his professional partner Karen Hauer. 

The storyline is of two neighbours, Chris who is in love with the girl next door Karen and he goes on a mission to impress her. The set is fluorescent houses and the routine music is to Take That’s ‘Out of our Heads’.

The routine begins with Chris jumping over his garden fence to greet Karen with a series of spins, Butterfly Swivels and Charleston kicks. The Charleston break comes in on the chorus with the pair facing forward with a basic Charleston, Lindyhop Charleston and a Tick Tock step.

After the wow moves of the lifts, the pair step into a Kick Charleston variation with a jump at 1:00 which is my favourite part of the choreography followed by Karen spinning on the floor and a nice side to side move together.

Chris follows this with a slightly strange cartwheel and then they repeat the chorus with the Charleston and a kick variation which was too hard for him. The choreographers should have cut this move as it doesn’t really work. The final move to finish the routine is another weird Cartwheel from him and a lift.

The strength in this routine is in Chris's personality, he is a comedian so the style of the cheeky chap suits him. He genuinely looks like he is enjoying himself and really trying to use his face.  He is not a particularly strong dancer but he exeutes most of the steps well. However, the more technical kicks at 1:23 should have been taken out as they expose him. The cartwheel also shows he is a bit wobbly on technique.

Although it was a bit clumsy in some areas there was some brilliant swivel and he is the one who has improved the most from week. There is also a nice storytelling, great set and costume. I was quite dubious about the music but works quite nicely and would appeal to a mass audience.

The next step for Chris to work more on the face and keep the energy up so it doesn’t look like he is lacking behind the pro. Our top tip for Chris is to be more relaxed when he dances so it doesn’t look too stiff in shoulders and his face won’t get frozen into one expression. Overall, very good effort especially as he is brand new to dancing.

Judges Score: 5+7+7+7=26

Our Score: 6 

Course Music - Five Foot Two

You know the tune from class but the version we are using actually has lyrics which we cut out! Here is out mix for those who want to practice.

Also know as ‘Has Anybody Seen My Gal’ the tune was most popular in the 1920s. The origins are uncertain but it is believed to have been written in 1915 making the tune over a hundred years old!

The song was first recorded by The California Ramblers in 1925 and has been covered by many of the greats and was used in the 1974 movie The Great Gatsby. The Firehouse Five were a Dixieland jazz band popular in the 1950s. They have covered many of the classics and their version offers a better recording quality.

To hear the original with the funny ‘Cat Voice’, have a listen below. Worth a listen but hopefully you’ll agree the silly voice would soon become annoying hence us deciding to edit it :)

Save the date - Christmas Speakeasy

Christmas Speakeasy

7:30pm-late, One Church, 14 December - Brighton

What’s happening?

Dapper up to celebrate the return of the Twenties at our Christmas Speakeasy! Swivel across the dance floor with our DJ and enjoy our ‘Performance Show’ where our fantastic students get to be the stars of the night in their end of year performance. Ragtime Rascals, Our fun-time flappers, will also be there to entertain you and help you pick up the steps on the dance floor.

Who’s Performing?

You! This is your chance to take centre stage as all students who take part in the final course of the year can perform their end of year dance. This is a great chance to invite friends and family who can see what you have been up to in the studio and just enjoy dancing in an relaxed and supportive environment. Performing is not compulsory but we do encourage you to dress-up and to give it a go! Book onto the November course here

Our fantastic all female dance troupe of flappers, Ragtime Rascals, are also rustling up a brand new routine to debut at the party! whilst Fiona and Elena will also be putting together a teachers number. Take a peak at their last duet at Brighton Spiegeltent.

What should I wear?

Don your pearls and braces and step into the Christmas Speakeasy for an evening of Hot Jazz, decadent dance and outstanding performances. Think Bright Young Things and Great Gatsby! Embrace your inner Louise Brooks, Josephine Baker and Coco Channel. Tassels, furs and sequins are a must. It’s Christmas, so the more sparkle the better. If you need tips on hair and make-up check out our blog piece on how to get the 1920s look.

Where can I get an outfit from? See below our recommendations

Dresses

Shoes

extra bits

Where is it?

The Christmas Speakeasy will be taking place at One Church, Gloucester Pl, Brighton BN1 4AA

 

Where can I get a ticket?

Tickets are £12 in advance or £15 on the door but tickets are limited so book in advance to avoid missing out.

Can I request a song?

Absolutely! We are creating a Stick on Playlist so if there is a song that you would love to dance to in keeping with the era (No Spice Girls please) then add it to the list below and see look forward to seeing you there!

Charleston Workshop - Strictly Style!

Strictly Fans are going to love our next Charleston workshop, on 28th Sept, which has been inspired by the iconic Sophie Ellies Bexter & Brendon Cole routine ‘Rock it for Me’. Charleston is a favourite among the viewers and this routine has all the hallmarks of a classic routine.

The dance is a duet rather than a partner piece but don’t worry about bringing a partner to the workshops. Twenties Charleston is a solo dance and you will soon be heel flicking and toe tapping like a flapper.

Strictly fans are always telling me how much they would love the opportunity to dance like the stars on the show.  Whether you’ve been dancing Charleston for a while or trying it for the first time this workshop has plenty to offer. We will take you through the basic Charleston step, build up your vocabulary of moves and then teach you the routine. 

The original routine by Sophie Ellis Bexter has many iconic Twenties moves: Flapper Walks, Heel Flicks and Truckin’. There is even the good old Box Step in there which gives you a chance to catch your breath! It is fast moving but the steps are easy to learn and they really capture the classic flapper girl style.  

The workshop takes inspiration from the Bexter routine but we have created our own MyCharleston version of the dance. We will keep the classic Twenties Flapper style but we will not be tackling aerials or lifts in this workshop. Not that we couldn’t!

As big Strictly fans, especially the Charleston dance routines, we have looked at a number of other routines for inspirations. Our top favourites are ‘Bad Guys’, ‘Puttin on the Ritz’ and ‘Five Foot Two’. With so many routines to inspire us, we have picked our favourite moves, dance exercises and choreographic devices to create an afternoon of fun filled dance.

 The tune the routine is set too is called ‘Rock it for Me’ by Palace Caravan. 

It’s an electro-swing tune which feels upbeat but the tempo is actually perfect for Charleston. If you're a big fan of Palace Caravan then check them out at the De La War when they come to Bexhill in Jan 2020.

Join the Charleston workshop on 28th September 2:30-5:30pm

Strictly Come Dancing: The Best & Worst Charlestons 2018

Last Saturday we saw the return of Strictly Come Dancing and we can’t wait to see whose Charlestons will have us swivelling with joy. In the run up to the 2019 show, let’s look back at all the best and worst Charleston routines from 2018.

Joe Sugg and Dianne Busell

First up was Joe Sugg and his dance partner Dianne Busell with their slightly bizarre Charleston which included them thatching roofs whilst dancing to 'Cotton Eye Joe' by Rednex. 

The judges gave him a total of 31 but was this overmarked or rightly deserved? 

He had plenty of energy and good stage presence so he scores highly for his performance skills but in terms of content it didn’t have that many fundamental steps in it. 

If we take a closer look there was only one Charleston in hold which was disappointing for a partner dance and the rest of the Charlestons were all solo. One 30s Charleston and 2 basic 20s Charlestons just before the barrel roll. The knocky knees were weak but the lindyhop section had nice movement. 

After faffing about with some ladders, there was only another basic 20s Charleston step, some helicopters and a couple of flapper walks which stood out as classic steps. Although there should have been more swivel, the lifts were great and they had great chemistry onstage.  

We would like to see more Charleston content and swivel throughout but that’s the choreography team who determine that and if they are looking for mass appeal it seems to have worked judging by the fact it got a million views on YouTube in just 2 days.  

Our score: 6 

Lauren Steadman & AJ Pritchard  

Next to dance the Charleston was Lauren Steadman with her professional partner AJ Pritchard dancing to Postmodern Jukebox ‘New Rules’. For us this one really didn’t work us. We really didn’t understand the storyline for this one. What was the whole thing with the telephone box? It didn’t make sense nor did their acting. Again, there was only one Charleston in hold and then a succession of lifts which are impressive but didn’t showcase the style. 

Half way through the routine, Lauren goes back to the phone and does a little Charleston solo but after her insane one-handed lift she lost a bit of focus and goes wrong in the end which is a shame as the end section had the most interesting footwork. Overall, this was very much a lift routine and lacking basis content. The judges total score was 22.

Our score: 5

Graeme Swann & Oti Mabuse

Let’s start with Oti’s solo at the start whilst they detached Graeme from the wires. She starts with some perfect flapper walks into a high kick Charleston variation into some Charlie Chaplin legs followed by a sort of Shorty George step and then greets Graeme with a basic Charleston, followed by a turning trucking step -  within in first 40 seconds every move has been a classic Charleston step which is refreshing to see.

From there, Oti jumps head first at Graeme and comes straight into a partner Charleston, followed by bunny hops. It’s so nice to see them in hold as last week both couples nearly danced the whole thing as a duet rather than a partner dance.

After a bit of silly faces (which we always like to see) there are some Charleston variations with kicks followed by two huge lifts that Oti lands perfectly. Again, straight after the lifts they go into another nice section in hold and come out of it with a Sailor Step (not sure if Graeme was supposed to let go of her hand here) into Squat Charlestons, Flapper Walks and a Fall Off The Log. If we are being picky this should have more bend in the legs but overall it was packed full of great steps and ended with a another great lift which they hold right to the end. 

This routine was choreographed by the main Charleston choreographer Jenny Thomas as compared to last week and you can really tell as they content is much more rich and dynamic.

As always there could be a bit more swivel but overall Graeme and Oti did a great job especially as he a ‘non-dancer’ compared to say Ashely or Faye plus it was very entertaining.

Score: 7

Seann Walsh and Katya Jones 

For the first 20 seconds, they set the scene by faffing about with cheese until they start dancing. Once they get going, we see a basic 20s in hold, followed by some flapper walks. Katya seems to be counting out loud at this point and there is a tiny stumble at 27 seconds in. Did Seann accidentally pull her over?

They then move into a lindyhop section and break out of it with a helicopter at 42 seconds. The knees are not closed here nor is there any swivel on the supporting leg which are vital for this move.

We then see some impressive lifts from Katya and we jump straight back into another lindyhop section and then into rather weird lift where she climbs up his back. We’ve not see this in any style so we are not really sure what genre that is from. It also breaks the flow of the dance. Maybe they were just looking for unsexy moves to perform in their Where’s Wally outfits? 

 Seann does get a little Charleston solo break, which he mouths his counts and goes wrong. He looks very stiff in this section.

Once they chuck the pizza boxes in the air, it’s back to the oven for some some more faffing followed by a Charleston Around the World and 3 lifts. The final one looks a bit wobbly and the transition into their final position is not very smooth, in fact they don’t hold their end position.

Overall, this routine had some nice elements but it was very unpolished and messy. We see them falling over, mouthing counts and in terms for content compared to last weeks Charleston we barely see them in hold and only see classic 20s Charleston and a helicopter. 

Score: 6

Ashley Roberts and Pasha Kovalev

Ashley and Pasha received a standing ovation from not only the audience but also from Bruno Tonioli and head judge Shirley Ballas after their “swivellious” Trolls-inspired routine. Bruno even exclaimed it was the highlight of the season so far. But what made it so good and stand out against the other Charleston routines we have seen so far?

First of all, the pair are great at setting the scene. Pasha, the troll, puts a spell on Ashley, a Bergen, to get her to fall in love with him. She executes the flapper walks and isolation steps of being under a spell perfectly. (If you are unclear of the reference, the characters are based on the Disney film Trolls).

Once the spell has been cast they break into Helicopters, Rock Steps and Charlestons in perfect sync. We see some other nice classic steps at 0:51 seconds where Ashley performs Camel Walks, Birdie Flaps, Lock Turns and Swivels on one leg which then goes straight into Charleston kicks across the body with two Bunny Hops. This is followed by Charleston in hold and a nice turning section. The whole section is jam packed and they keep going with great content as this is followed by Flapper Walks, a Basic Charleston with a kick and some lifts. 

As soon as they break out of the lifts, they perform two Smack the Babies and some classic Pushes and another seamless lift. Towards the end of the routine, they bring it back to the storyline where Ashley then tries to cast a spell on Pasha this time which leads to them throwing the spell book away and them being happy little trolls in love which each other.

What we love about this routine is the story and the choreography are perfectly put together. Sometimes the storylines are quite loose and don’t make sense but this one was clear and beautifully presented. It was also very fast, full of content and the pair of them were perfectly synchronised. Ashley is also the first celeb who has mastered the art of the swivel.

The only drawback to this routine is the music. The tune is so annoying that it distracts from the routine and If they had used something with a bit more swing, we could have seen some even more complicated steps with the use of cross phasing and syncopation which would have made it stand out even more. However, we are being picky and as this is a family show, I’m sure lots of kids loved the Disney reference and the music.

Our Score: 9 

Charles Venn and Karen Clifton

This routine was 'No Diggity' remixed by Minimatic. For once we did like the music, as this a great tune for an Electro Swing Charleston! The theme however was a bit weird,  two cheeky windows cleaners without much purpose. It wasn’t really clear why they picked that for their theme. 

After a bit of cleaning and getting in to character they broke into a basic Charleston at 26 seconds followed by some flapper walks and a lock turn. After throwing the hankies away we see a Tick Tock which leads to Charleston side to side in hold, a classic Lindy Hop move. This step had a nice variation with a turn which broke into a Truckin’ step at 45 seconds.

The next section wasa series of ‘wow’ moves. A one handed cartwheel and some complicated lifts which then went back into hold, followed by a Fall on the Log variation.

Charles brings a bit of a hip hop style to his Charleston and has a lot of control which worked well with the song. However, he did look quite nervous during this performance which is a shame as he is a great dancer and has been underrated in the show.

The next most dynamic part is at 1:25 mins with the scarecrow sequence, followed by Knocky Knee variations and a series of lifts to finish.

For the most part we did enjoy this routine, however we would have liked more steps in hold. It felt a bit more like a duet rather than 1920s partner dance. On the other hand, we really liked the song choice, we like the hip hop/Charleston fusion that Charles brought to the dance and as a pair we think they have great charisma on stage. If he were dance it again, we would like him to loose some of the tension in the upper body as it was quite stiff.

Our Score: 8

Faye Tozer and Giovanni Pernice

Faye and her partner Giovanni Pernice scored their first perfect 40 for their quirky Charleston set to ’Lonely Goatherd’ from the ‘Sound Of Music’, which saw them transformed into a pair of puppets. The judges gave them top marks and Darcey said it was ‘Stunning to perfection’.

We first see the pair after the curtains open on the puppet stage and they perform a sequence of isolated steps which included the puppets coming to life. There was a mini Tick-Tock on the spot and some flicks which were on the off-beat (which is Charleston perfection and quite rare to see on the show).

At 34 seconds, they break into basic Charleston, and flicks on both the right and left leg whist they untangle themselves from the puppet strings then flapper walks into the centre.

After covering the floor with some skipping (not sure why that move was picked, presume they felt it was in keeping of the theme) they come into a loose hold at 58 secs for a quick series of kicks, turns and lifts.

1:12 mins they come into two Scissor Kicks, a Birdy Flap (made iconic by Charleston Queen Jospehine Baker) followed by basic Charleston and Helicopter. Faye is the first celeb this series to do the helicopter correctly with her knees together. They quickly move into Charlie Chaplin legs and Trench Walks followed by another series of lifts.

At 1.30 they break into a nice turning sequence with the other extra dancers on stage followed by two high kicks from Faye and a series of Wings (which you would usually see in Tap).

The routine ends with another skipping and lift sequence which brings the pair back into the centre of the stage to finish with one more Charleston and a scarecrow pose.

The routine is very intricate and capture lots of Charleston characteristics including flexed feet and flat hands. They are also the only pair this season to clearly dance the off-beat and syncopation which is a key element of this genre. Although they were quite upright, which is a little strange for a Charleston, they were meant to be puppets and they kept in character throughout. It might have been nice to have seen some basic Charleston in hold but as a duet it was perfect.

The music worked really well too (although it was quite annoying!) Also well done to the singer who pulled that one out the bag.

The routine was choreographed by Jenny Thomas who did a fantastic job!

Score:9 1/2 (just because of the song choice).

Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton

In the Strictly Come Dancing 2018 semi-final Stacey Dooley and her professional partner Kevin Clifton performed an authentic 1920s Charleston routine. This is the stand out Charleston for the series for so many reasons.

Let’s start with the music, this is the first tune of the year which is actually a proper Charleston track. The piece of music chosen was ‘Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue’ (one of our favourite jazz standards and our current course song!) originally released in 1925 so the music really complimented the routine in capturing the Hot Jazz vibe.

Moving onto the choreography, the storyline is of an on old couple reminiscing of when they used to go out dancing back in the Roaring 20s and we see a flashback to them in their heyday.

From 21 seconds we see heaps of Charleston content: Flapper Walks, Tick Tock, Swivel Walks, Birdie Flaps, Cake Walks and Charleston Kicks all before their first lift.

After the lift, Stacey performs a series of heel flicks on the off-beat, bunny hops and and two Charlestons. Although we love the sequence, her eyes and faces does drop for just one moment and I feel you can really see her concentrating but it’s just a split second.

After their second lift, they come into hold and do a series of kicks and skips which break into Truckin’ and the Spank the Baby move followed by another set of Charlestons and Pushes.

At 1 mins 8 they break into Kick Charlestons and a series of low kicks, followed by a shimmy and a lift sequence. As soon as they come out of the lifts they perform a set of Suzy Qs and Helicopters (and they have their knees together!).

After their final lift, they run back to the armchairs and we come back to the present day. 

This routine really worked on so many levels as it really captured a 1920's flapper-style Charleston. It has also been the only routine of the whole series to use only classic 1920s steps. Although Faye and Giovanni had a great routine too, the traveling moves where not authentic whilst this routine was jam packed from start to finish.

We also love Stacey and Kevin’s partnership and that he threw so much into the routine (I believe we choreographed this one). He is a great teacher who really brings out the best in Stacey. She was a complete dance novice and her spirit really shines in this number. The pair of them together have great stage presence and bring plenty of entertainment to the show.

If they had a bit more time to work on the routine, we would only say that Stacey needs to keep her eyes up and relax her shoulders a little but natural slightly ungainly style fits this routine. However, She smashes the syncopation which is really hard for a beginners and trained dancers. She is also brilliant at doing the swivel which again is very hard to master as a novice.

Score: 10

So there we have it all of the routines from 2018. Which was your favourite and who do you think will do a great Charleston this year? Let us know in the comments below!

Elena

Everything you need to know about our courses

MyCharleston specialise in teaching 20s Charleston, it is a playful dance full of character and you don’t need a partner. Learning through fun is key and you will be dancing the Charleston by the end of you first class. We run six week courses so you can develop your style, swivel and learn a dance routine. 

Class Structure

Each class starts with a simple warm-up, this is just to get you moving, stretch out and get you in the mood to dance.  Week one is all about learning the basic Charleston, over the coming weeks we will introduce short exercises that will teach you the moves coming up in the routine. Charleston has a wide vocabulary of dance moves each with a name and a character which making them easy to remember. Even when these exercises go a bit wrong, the room is full of laughter and having fun is definitely more important than always getting it right.

The final half of the class is dedicated to learning the routine, this is often people’s favourite part.  If you’ve not learnt choreography before then this will challenge you in a good way. Musicians and dancers have highly developed frontal lobes, this comes from exercising the part of the brain which aids memory recall.

Benefits of Dance

Dance requires concentration and anchors your brain into the ‘here and now’.  A lot of research shows how dancing can maintain and even boast your ability to think as you age. To me the greatest benefit of dance is that it gives you some distance from your worries and improves your mood.

As you get into the routine of coming to a regular class you will develop your skills and discover great music. The fitness benefits of dancing are an added bonus. You get a great cardio workout - Charleston is famous for being fast and furious. Charleston dance incorporates movement on all planes of motion from all directions, this variety of movement means no muscle if left behind as you exercise. In our dance classes you will burn over 400 calories an hour.

Practice and achievement

There are many benefits to dance, by committing to a regular class you are more likely to attend. The key thing about the six week course is there is a progressive learning path therefore you can build up your knowledge week by week. There is a clear outcome because people are committed to learning the routine. For those who want to practice at home, MyCharleston give you a free video of the dance routine when you sign up for a course. 

By week six you will know the choreography and we celebrate this by dressing-up and dancing the full routine (this is sometime followed by a cheeky drink after class.) For those who wish to show their friends and family, we regularly offer opportunities to take part in video and performance projects. 

Dancing is both a personal thing and something to celebrate and share. I often say there is a dance out there for everyone, so if you like to have a little bop around your kitchen, then have a look to see what dance classes there are in your area. Take a risk and you will soon be feeling the benefits of a dance.

Take a look at our latest timetable below:

Join our dance troupe - Now is your chance!

Audition - 7-8pm, 12 Sept - Open Space Studios, Hove

Want to join MyCharleston’s community performance troupe ’Ragtime Rascals’? We have an exciting opportunity for dancers to join our all female dance troupe. We are looking for confident dancers with a background in any of the following: Charleston, Swing, Lindyhop, Solo Jazz, Modern/Contemporary Jazz, Street and Ballet. Above all as a dancer you must love performing, be enthusiastic, supportive within the team and passionate about dance!

What's our goal?

We’ve created a large troupe of dancers to perform ensemble pieces. Over the next year you will get to perform reguarly at local events, MyCharleston shows and compete in Charleston dance contests locally, nationally and eventually internationally! 

Joining the troupe is a passion project which will be fueled by a desire to perform and be part of a large ensemble piece where you can meet like minded people and make new friends.

We are an amateur dance collective, with professional outlook!

The troupe is led by Elena and Fiona along with our Worthing teacher and dance captain Rachel.

What's involved?

You need to commit to rehearsals and practice routines in your own time. This often involves learning choreography from videos.

To be available for performances (which you will be able to commit to on a project-by-project basis)

To contribute towards troupe costs by paying a monthly membership fee of £20 per month.

We expect you to be dancing outside of your rehearsal time. It is a requirement that you attend at least one MyCharleston class per week.

To be a positive and supportive team member, and actively help make the troupe experience a happy one. We are an inclusive and fun group!

When do we rehearse?

Every Thursday 7-8pm at Open Space Studios, Hove. Directly after our intermediate class.

Rehearsals will commence 19 September and be in line with term time.

You are required to attend the intermediate class at 6pm on Thursday. This class provides technique and training. Courses run at 6 week blocks. A course costs £49 (early bird). This entitles you to Intermediate and Musicals courses. You can also attend open level courses.

What do you need?

We will provide costumes when possible. If you have to buy a costume you can sell it back to MyCharleston if you leave the troupe. Dancers will need some basic items of their own: Katz glitter greek sandals, matt dance tights, beige fishnets beige character shoes. a pair of white, red and black ‘safety shorts’, a skin tone bra and a strapless bra. Items will be confirmed when joining the troupe.

What are the perks?

You will get to regularly perform and be part of our of fun dance troupe where you will working as a team with the goal of dancing at some of the best events on the Charleston/Solo Jazz scene. You will have the chance to perform at MyCharleston events, local shows and take part in photoshoots. 

Over the past year, we have performed at Dawn Gracie’s Vintage Weekender, Move It at the Excel, Hilton Brighton Metropole, Brighton Fringe and Firle Vintage Fair.

We also hold regular socials every month!

Sounds like your kind of thing? Register here!

7-8pm, 12th Sept - Open Space Studios, Hove

Want to know more? Here are some examples of things we have previously done

Move it 2019

Brighton Fringe 2019