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Radio Interview: Learn to dance online with MyCharleston
Hear Elena from MyCharleston on the radio today talking about how to get active at home and learn to charleston with their new online courses.
Hear Elena from MyCharleston on the radio today talking about how to get active at home and learn to charleston with our new online courses.
Online courses start this week. For a list of all the levels, click here
3 Online Charleston Courses Now Available
We have 3 new online Charleston courses now available from beginners up to intermediate level. Now anyone can dance with us from the comfort of their home, regardless of their age or level!
We are absolutely thrilled to announce that we have 3 new online courses now available from beginners up to intermediate level. Now anyone can dance with us from the comfort of their home, regardless of their age or level! Our aim is to bring joy into your home, get you active and socialise in our virtual classrooms. By booking a space you are adding something positive to your day and supporting our small business during these difficult times.
Level 1: Learn to Charleston - Online Tutorials
This introductory course teaches you the basic Charleston step then builds your skills with 5 online video lessons: Charleston basics, variations, classic moves and a short fun routine set to the tune “Yes Sir That’s My Baby”. This course does not include live streams.
Book Level 1: Learn to Charleston Course
Available to pre-order now. Course will be live from 1st April. £25
Level 2: 4 Week Charleston Course, Online Tutorials & Live Stream Lessons
Our 4 week Charleston course is ideal for those who have done at least one course with us before or have some dance experience. We will be teaching our favourite Charleston steps and a fun routine inspired by the “Black Bottom”.
Book Level 2: 4 week Charleston Course.
Our online and stream course offers the unique combination of professionally filmed tutorials and streamed live lessons at Tues, 7-28 April 6-7pm or Weds, 8-29 April 7-8pm. If you miss a virtual lesson, you can access a catch-up video too. £36
Level 3: 4 Week Intermediate Charleston & Musicals course, Online Tutorials & Live Stream Lessons
Our 4 week Intermediate Charleston course is perfect for those who have done many Charleston, Musical or Intermediate courses with us or can pick up steps quickly. We will be teaching our Intermediate Charleston routine inspired by the 1950s Musical “Tea for Two”.
Book Level 3: 4 Week Intermediate Charleston Course.
On this four week course, you will have a combination of online tutorials and a live weekly streamed lesson. Stream Slots: Tues, 7-28 April 7-8pm or Weds, 8-29 April 6-7pm. Catch up videos of streamed lessons will also be avaialble. £36. See Elena demo the routine here
If you have any questions about the online courses please do not hesitate to get in touch and HUGE thanks to everyone supporting our small business - we are incredibly grateful!
Elena & Fiona
MyCharleston
Important Update: COVID - 19
20th March: Please read current updates In regards to COVID-19
Please see below current updates In regards to COVID-19
CURRENT COURSE ATTENDEES
We have been looking at the Government guidelines and we have decided that the rest of this term’s classes will be live streamed with Elena and Fiona and the week's lessons are already available in full with online videos on our website.
Full lessons available online
We are in the lucky position that our courses are already all filmed including your warm-ups, groups exercises, travel moves and cool-down. We have created this week’s lesson online for you which you can login into at any point this week so you can practice whenever and whatever time you like. We have also uploaded music to the page too for the exercises. We want to make our courses accessible in these tricky times and bring some joy to you at home. We would love to see how you get on so please post your clips in the FB groups. Your logins have been emailed to you.
Live Streaming
The remaining lessons for this week will be lived streamed through Google Hangouts where you can dance along with Elena or Fiona. All you need is a quiet space away from other noises in the home (i.e. tv, partners making dinner, radio etc) and you can login.
Streaming slots
Each group you will receive your login via email
Tuesday - 6pm Charleston & 7pm Musicals
Wednesday - 6pm Musicals & 7pm Charleston
Thursday - 10:30am Charleston & 6pm Solo Jazz
Charleston in a day - Weekend Workshop: 21 March
Many thanks for booking a place on our weekend workshop, we are sorry to say we will postpone the workshop in response to the Coronavirus and Government guidelines. We know this is a real disappointment for everyone who had booked, we were also looking forward to this event but we want to do our bit to limit the spread.
As soon as we have a clear steer on when services and gatherings can return to normal we will be in touch with potential new dates. We kindly ask if you would be happy to defer so we can transfer your booking to another date which works for you.
At a time which is difficult for everyone we really hope we can still offer you excellent customer service with the personal touch which comes from running a small business. In recognition of the inconvenience we will be sending you a mini online Charleston course free of charge so you can practice at home and be owning those moves by the time we all come together to dance. Once it's up and running we will send you the link.
We have other things which we hope will keep you entertained while this is going on and will be offering out more soon!
Facebook - Dance Warm-Up 9.30 on FB live - stretch, flex, strength and restorative moves with an emphasis on hip flexers
https://www.facebook.com/mycharlestondance/
Youtube - Move of the Week - mini tutorials teaching the essential moves from the Twenties
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzCdYyuMu2fAH_G61JgBKyw/featured?disable_polymer=1
We have been overwhelmed by the kindness and support from so many of our regulars and people who we have recently engaged with.
We wish you all the best during this phase and really hope to be back and dancing with you soon
Future Bookings
We very much hope that we will be able to resume our normal service as soon as possible and we have every intention of running our April courses and summer workshops. However, if the government continues it’s policy on social distancing we kindly ask if you would be happy to defer so we can transfer your booking to another date which works for you.
There are changes on a daily basis and we will endeavour to deliver our classes to you as soon as we can!
With much love,
Elena and Fiona,
Co-Founders
MyCharleston
Charleston with Skye Humphries
To celebrate a hundred years of the Charleston, we are running a series of masterclasses with some of the biggest names in Charleston and Solo Jazz world. The first masterclass was with Skye Humphries. His amazing style and energy made it an inspiring day of dance.
To celebrate a hundred years of the Charleston, we are running a series of masterclasses with some of the biggest names in Charleston and Solo Jazz world. The first masterclass was with Skye Humphries. His amazing style and energy made it an inspiring day of dance.
Skye Humphries is a founding member of some the most influential modern Lindy Hop troupes. He has won titles at all of the major Lindy Hop competitions and as a dancer he is memorizing to watch. As a teacher, Skye’s infectious energy and easy manner puts you at ease, energises you and motivates you to take on new challenges.
Skye has also won titles at all of the major Lindy Hop competitions- including ULHS, ILHC, ALHC and the World Lindy Hop Championships.
This workshop focused on fine tuning style and technique. The students also learnt a Charleston routine which had the joy and energy of this iconic Twenties dance.
To book an upcoming Masterclass, visit: www.mycharlestondance.com/masterclasses
What's on February: Course Previews
There are only 2 weeks left to join our upcoming courses starting in February: Vintage Musicals, Charleston Open Level and Intermediate Jazz & Charleston.
There are only 2 weeks left to join our upcoming courses starting in February: Vintage Musicals, Charleston Open Level and Intermediate Jazz & Charleston.
Charleston Courses
From 24th Feb, we will be a teaching a brand new routine to the classic tune 'Shimmy Like My Sister Kate' in all our locations. Take a peek at our preview!
Book Your Charleston Course
Adult Dance Courses available in Brighton & Hove, Eastbourne, Lewes, Portsmouth, Shoreham and Worthing
Musicals Course - Chicago
In our next musicals course we will be teaching the iconic routine from Chicago- Hot Honey Rag. We will be teaching the orginial choreography from the 2002 movie.
Book Chicago Course.
Available in Brighton & Hove, Eastbourne and Worthing. Book Charleston and Musicals and get 20% off!
Intermediate Solo Jazz & Charleston
Elena will be back in Hove from 27th Feb teaching a Jazz and Charleston routine themed around a Marching Band to the song 'Snake Hips'. This routine focus on characterisation and fast footwork.
Courses start the week of 24th February. If you would like to join just here to book online your adult dance course.
Radio Interview: Welcome back to the 20s!
Elena and Fiona were on the radio today talking about all things 1920s and MyCharleston. Listen to the interview here!
Elena and Fiona were on the radio today talking about all things 1920s and MyCharleston. Listen to the interview here
What's on 2020: Course Previews
Our first term of 2020 is coming up and with that in mind we have put together 3 quick snapshots of what’s coming up on each course.
Our first term of 2020 is coming up and with that in mind we have put together 3 quick snapshots of what’s coming up on each course.
Charleston Course - The Charleston 2020
This is our main Charleston course for beginners and improvers being taught in our locations including: Brighton & Hove, Eastbourne, Lewes, Shoreham Worthing & Portsmouth.
Musicals Course - Bugsy Malone
In our next musicals course we will be teaching the iconic routine from Bugsy Malone - Fat Sam’s Grand Slam in Hove, Eastbourne and Worthing.
Intermediate Jazz & Charleston Routine
In our next Intermediate Jazz course, Elena will be teaching this dynamic routine focused on Jazz Roots steps and rhythmic variations. This course is available in Hove only.
Christmas Speakeasy 2019 - Video Highlights
Well done to all our fantastic performers who joined in for the 'Great Show' at the Xmas Speakeasy! It was brilliant to have students from Eastbourne, Portsmouth, Lewes, Worthing, and Brighton all come to perform. Here are the highlights from the weekend with the 3 class routines.
Well done to all our fantastic performers who joined in for the 'Great Show' at the Xmas Speakeasy! It was brilliant to have students from Eastbourne, Portsmouth, Lewes, Worthing, and Brighton all come to perform. Here are the highlights from the weekend with the 3 class routines.
Yes Sir! That's My Baby! - Charleston Classes
Why Don’t You Do Right - Intermediate Jazz & Charleston
Rich Man’s Frug from Sweet Charity - Musicals Class
Premiere - Fun Charleston Dance Busby Berkeley
MyCharleston's autumn dance course culminated in a film project inspired by Busby Berkeley. Having done a number of big film projects, this year we thought we would change things by using new filming techniques and a stunning church venue in central Brighton to create a dance film inspired by Busby Berkeley,
MyCharleston's autumn dance course culminated in a film project inspired by Busby Berkeley. Having done a number of big film projects, this year we thought we would change things by using new filming techniques and a stunning church venue in central Brighton to create a dance film inspired by Busby Berkeley.
We made a unique plan to create interesting patterns of marches, kaleidescope images with chorus dancers and uniformed costume.
The routine took 6 weeks to teach and involved dancers from across the South Coast including Brighton and Hove, Eastbourne, Worthing and Lewes. We are incredibly grateful to all our wonderful dancers who took part and delighted with the end result.
Choreography - Fiona Ring and Elena Collins
Director and Editor- Fiona Ring
You're Never Too Old to Dance
Dance is traditionally seen as a young person's game but the rise in dance classes for adults means the landscape is changing for those who want to dance as a hobby. MyCharleston run dance classes for adults and we are passionate about giving people a positive experience of dance whatever their age or level. We spoke to two of our Charleston dancers about their views on taking up dance later on in life.
Dance is traditionally seen as a young person's game but the rise in dance classes for adults means the landscape is changing for those who want to dance as a hobby. MyCharleston run dance classes for adults and we are passionate about giving people a positive experience of dance whatever their age or level. We spoke to two of our Charleston dancers about their views on taking up dance later on in life.
Diana took ballet lessons throughout her childhood but gave up when she was eighteen. She decided to go back to dance in her forties, having seen the Charleston on 'Strictly'.
“You're never too old to start dancing and the wonderful thing about the Charleston is that it’s an individual dance. It doesn’t matter if you're a beginner or more advanced because you can work at your own pace. The basics of Charleston are actually very simple; step forward and tap, step back and tap and you're doing the Charleston! You can gradually build on those nice simple elements. I think it’s a dance you don’t have to be afraid of, it’s not a scary type of dance at all”
Patricia comes from a family where music and dance were very much a part of home life. However it wasn’t until she was in her forties that she started dance classes.
”I think dancing at any age is so beneficial. It's wonderful. Coming to class is lovely - we’re all different ages, everybody’s just getting what they want from it and working at their own ability. It’s something that I love doing and something everyone can benefit from. I hate the gym - it’s not for me I did try it and was thoroughly bored. I think dancing at any age is wonderful”
The average age in our dance classes is mid-forties and the age range is from eighteen all the way up to eighty. As teachers, we find age isn’t a barrier to learning dance, if anything the older you are the more relaxed you are about making mistakes and just giving it a go. Young or old, the enjoyment and benefits of dancing are the same for everyone.
Diana said ”I love it, it’s so incredibly good for you it improves your flexibility, your strength, your heart and your brain. For me the biggest benefit of dancing is having fun. To move to music is just so much more fun than going to the gym or running. You almost get the benefit without realising it because you're concentrating on getting the steps and listening to the music and your teachers instructions. In class you suddenly realise you’re really sweating, short of breath and you’ve had all this exercise without it being such a big deal or too serious”.
Dance works on all planes of movement, making it a complete body and mind workout. The coordinated and rhythmic movements help keep the brain young too. Diana says:
“The benefit for the brain is wonderful because remembering the routines is quite a challenge and it’s so satisfying when you do remember it and you get it right and maddening when you do it wrong, so I really enjoy it from that point of view”.
The dance classes we run are friendly, relaxed and the emphasis is always on having fun. There are many people who love dance but have never attended a class. As adults, there are limited opportunities to just let go and move to music. Choosing dance as a hobby is a great way of keeping fit, socialising and learning a new skill.
Patricia recommends to anyone who is thinking of taking up dance
“Just give it a go, if you love dancing and you love music, just try it. People are really welcoming especially if they come to our classes and you’ll just get hooked as I have with Charleston. It's fantastic”
So is there an age when a dancer has to hang up her shoes? I asked Diana how long she expects to keep dancing.
”I hope to be the oldest women Charlestoning in the world! I feel great and of course the more you do the better you feel. It’s lovely to have your new Charleston buddies, there is a really nice mix of ages in the class. So yeah, I’ll just keep dancing as long as the legs will take it”.
To find our a local class with us, click here