Videos: What's on This April

We are delighted to share our four new online courses which are coming up this April. All online 6 week courses include additonal step by step video tutorials of the routines and recordings of the Zoom lessons if you miss a class.

CHARLESTON COURSES: TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHTS

We have a brand new Open Level Charleston course set to the jazz track 'Be My Guest' which is available to join twice a week.

Dates and times are: 20 April - 25 May, 6pm and 21 April – 26 May, 7pm. You can attend either of these two courses (the content is the same) or attend both of them without paying extra – two for the price of one!
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MUSICALS COURSE: AMERICA- WESTWIDE STORY

Our new Musicals routine this term is America from Westside Story. We are in the process of filming this routine but here is a snippet from rehearsals. Next 6 week course starts 20 April - 25 May at 7pm with Fiona.

BOLLYWOOD WITH FIONA - JAI HO ROUTINE

Following the popularity of our Jai Ho party, Fiona has developed this routine into a 6 week course where she has combined classic Bollywood and Street Jazz steps to create this upbeat and joyful dance. Course runs from 22 April - 27 May at 6pm.
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SOLO JAZZ & CHARLESTON - INTERMEDIATE LEVEL

We've been at the studio filming next terms routines and super chuffed to share our intermediate routine 'Wham Be-Bop Boom Bam!' The last time we taught this was back in 2018 so we have given the routine a refresh, ready to bring it back after Easter! This 6 week course starts 22 April - 27 May at 7pm. 

BOOK NOW

See you In the virtual classroom!

Elena and Fiona

Charleston Dancing in the Park

Join us for a fun dance in the park on 25 April at Queens Park, Brighton at 2pm.

A great way to dance and reconnect with our wonderful community. The dance will be £5 with 45 mins of Charleston dance session with Elena and Fiona

We’ll be running the event based on the governments advice on group activities which says “outdoor sport and physical activity events can go ahead in numbers of up to 30 people”.

Here’s a few things to remember:

- Please book your space using the link below so we know who’s coming
- Don’t forget your trusty hand gel
- Remember to keep a safe distance - we’ll have plenty of space in the park!
- Bring a water bottle and some shoes you can dance with on grass
- If you’ve booked and are not feeling well, stay home and stay safe

If you would like to attend please add your name to the list here:
https://forms.gle/5iA3HCG6SL8USNj86

Videos: Friday Night Parties

We first offered Friday Night Parties in Lockdown 2020. A chance to dress up and dance some of those iconic dance routines seen in films and music videos. Have a watch of the videos below and find out what parties we’ve got coming up here.

Thriller

Saturday Night Fever

Pulp Fiction

Grease

Hairspray

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Vogue

Single Ladies

Shake a Tail Feather - Blues Brothers

Mamma Mia - Dancing Queen

Footloose

Dirty Dancing

Fame

Jai Ho

Sister Act

Men in Black

Aladdin

3 flapper girls you must know

In the 1920s flappers girls broke the image of what a traditional woman should be. They cut their hair short, wore make-up and are what many considered the "modern" woman, breaking away from victorian womanhood.  Flappers Josephine Baker, Clara Bow and Louise Brooks are maybe the most famous three from the era but what made them stood out and stand the test of time?

Josephine Baker

JOSEPHINE BAKER
Josephine Baker was born in Missouri in 1906. Originally she was named Freda Josephine McDonald, but after immigrating to France she was known as Josephine Baker.
She is one of the most famous Charleston dancers of the era and her career began as a street dancer, which attracted attention and helped her being recruited as a dancer for the St. Louis Chorus Vaudeville show at the age of 15. Not long after this, she moved to New York City where she performed at the Plantation Club and in the Broadway chorus line of Shuffle Along and The Chocolate Dandies.
After New York, she moved to Paris in France where she stayed until she died. Her Danse Sauvage brought her success overnight, because her skirt was consisting only of a griddle of artificial bananas. It’s one of her most famous pictures and a symbol of the Jazz of the 1920s, and it also gave birth to the term “Art Deco”.
Baker was not only an entertainer but also an activist. During World War Ⅱ, she aided the Red Cross, the French Forces and the French Resistance. And in the United States she refused to perform for segregated audiences and is noted for her involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. In 1975 Josephine Baker died in France.

Louise Brooks

LOUISE BROOKS
Louise Brooks, who was born in 1906, has one of the most iconic flapper looks: Her bobbed hair, The American was a famous dancer, an actress and later in her life an author. She came into the spotlight as Lulu in the film Pandora’s Box.
Her career began at the age of 15, when Brooks dropped out of school to move to New York City to join the Denishawn dance troupe. She performed two seasons with Denishawn, but was dismissed at the end of her second season, because St. Denis, one of the most renowned artists of that time, thought that Brooks was possessed by a superior attitude.
After this, she found work as a Broadway chorus girl and became a Zeigfeld showgirl.
Brooks travelled to England, where she found work at the city’s famed Café de Paris and became the first person to dance the Charleston in London. This helped her get noticed by film star Charlie Chaplin, with whom she had an affair that lasted one summer.
When Brooks was 18 years old, she signed a five-year contract with Paramount, which is still a leading film studio, but in her days, she was never really considered a major star in the film industry. In 1985 Louise Brooks died of a heart attack.

Clara Bow

CLARA BOW
Clara Bow, born Clara Gordon Bow in 1905 was an American actress which became famous through silent films during the 1920s.
At the age of the 16 she participated at the nationwide acting contest, because previous winners got film roles, and Bow wanted to be an actress. She won an evening gown and a silver trophy, but the breakthrough never came after the competition.
In 1921 Bow was introduced to the director Christy Cabanne, who cast her in Beyond the Rainbow and was really impressed by her, but she was cut out in the final print. Bow dropped out of school after this incident and worked a normal job.
But her father encouraged her to keep looking for a film role because it was a huge dream of her. In 1923 she was featured in the silent film Down to the Sea by Elmer Clifton, which helped her getting known as an actress.
One year later Bow got her first lead role in the film Poisoned Paradise.
The appearance in the film It brought her global fame and the name “The It Girl”. Now she is still the personify to the Roaring Twenties and is often described as its leading sex symbol.
In 1965 she died of a heart attack.

Videos: What's on This February

Following a great start to the New Year with over 150 people dancing with us weekly through our online courses, we are thrilled to share our four new routines which are coming up this February.

All online 6 week courses include additonal step by step video tutorials of the routines and recordings of the Zoom lessons if you miss a class.

CHARLESTON COURSES: TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHTS

Back by popular demand we have a new and updated version of our Shake that Thing course, which will be held twice a week.
Dates and times are: 23 Feb - 30 March, 6pm and 24 Feb – 31 March, 7pm. You can attend either of these two courses (the content is the same) or attend both of them without paying extra – two for the price of one!
BOOK NOW

MUSICALS COURSE: MEIN HERR - CABARET

We are excited to share our next Online Musicals course this February will be 'Mein Herr' from Cabaret! This routine has a fun twist as we will be dancing with chairs. Next 6 week course starts 24 Feb, 7pm with Elena
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STREET JAZZ WITH ELENA - HIDEAWAY ROUTINE

This is a piece of music Elena has wanted to use for years and we are so pleased to be teaching this new Street Jazz course to the song 'Hideaway' by Kiesza. This routine is a great mix between lyrical and upbeat moves to get your energy levels up! Course runs from 25 Feb - 1 April at 6pm.
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SOLO JAZZ & CHARLESTON - INTERMEDIATE LEVEL

Fiona has been busy putting together a brand new intermediate routine for those ready to take on a new challenge with their dancing and improve their Charleston knowledge. set to the tune 'Smooth Sailing' by Ella Fitzgerald, this 6 week course starts 25 Feb at 7pm. 

BOOK NOW

See you In the virtual classroom!

Elena and Fiona

New Routine Previews for January 2021

Take a look at our new routines for our Winter term 2021

Charleston - General Level. Available via Zoom.

Musicals - One, Singular Sensation from Chorus Line

Solo Jazz - When you’re Smiling

Street Jazz preview

Strictly Review: Bill Bailey & Oti Mabuse + HRVY & Janette Manrara

The Strictly Come Dancing final is just one week away and this week the remaining couples had to perform two numbers and we were treated to two Charlestons. Which one was your favourite? Bill and Oti’s classic 1920s Charleston or HRVY and Janette’s Musical theatre number? 

Bill and Oti

Bill Bailey and his professional partner Oti Mabuse performed to the ‘Won’t you Come Home Bill Bailey’, a popular traditional Jazz song originally published in 1902. The routine was choreographed by Jenny Thomas.

The routine starts with Bill arriving home and dancing straight into a set of Flapper Walks and a Cartwheel. The first dance break is side by side and the pair perform: Cake walks, Running Charleston, Suzie Qs, Helicopters and some lifts. This leads into a sequence in hold similar to an Around the World Charleston, into Heel Flicks, Pushes, Tick Tocks and another lift.  The second sequence in hold includes Heel Flicks, Bunny Hops breaking into Skating and Birdie Flaps into their final lift.

The judges enjoyed his performance. Craig said: “Don't go home, Bill Bailey. Torso a bit square but you hit all the right positions, loved it.” Shirley liked seeing his comedy shine through the dance but agreed with Craig that he was stiff in the upper body. Motsi mentioned an improvement in his weight placement.

Bill tried very hard to bring lots of character into this role and danced to some quite tricky rhythm sections especially in the Heel Flicks and Bunny Hops sequences.  In terms of choreography, it would have be nice to see a basic 20s Charleston step but there were lots of other classic moves in the routine. Together they are a great pair and deserve to be in the final.

Judges’ scores: 8, 8, 9 – 25

MyCharleston: 8

HRVY and Janette

Meanwhile HRVY and his professional partner Janette Manrara performed an action-packed Charleston which felt like it should have been in Movie Week.  Unlike the previous routine, the choregrapher was Alan Burkitt.

The theme was La La Land and the routine begins with them dancing a basic 20s Charleston around a Coffee Shop. After they set the scene, they run to the centre of the floor perform a basic 20s Charleston in hold, Knocky Knees and Helicopter, Suzie Q, Pushes, Jumps and another 20s Charleston followed by the Drum solo. The Drum Solo section is very challenging to keep in time and HRVY manages it perfectly. The routine is packed full of content as they break into Flapper Walks and Birdie Flaps. After a tiny moment on the bench to catch their breath they finish with a complicated sequence of Kicks, Jumps and Lifts. 

HRVY had fab swivel, stamina and really captured the Musical Theatre style within the routine. They were both a joy to watch and like the previous couple were very entertaining and a great pair to be in the final - also so pleased for Janette to finally be in the final after 8 years, she is incredible!

Shirley said he danced the steps as an artist. Motsi though it was outstanding. Craig: “Fab-u-lous.”

Judges’ scores: 10, 10, 10 – 30

MyCharleston: 9

Strictly Review: JJ Chalmers and Amy Dowden

JJ Chalmers and his professional partner Amy Dowden are the latest couple to leave the show after a Charleston to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang for Musicals week.

The six remaining couples last week attempted new routines based on some of the most popular musicals of all time. However, JJ & Amy only scored 20 points out of 30 from the judges which led to them being bottom of the leaderboard and voted out after the Dance-Off.

Do you agree with the results this week? Were they the right couple to leave?

The routine starts with them in the iconic car from the film. The first dance sequence includes Flapper Walks, Tick Tock and Heel Clicks.  The next sequence is in hold but JJ is quite stiff whilst they both perform a series of Kicks. It’s not until 1:08 that we see our first basic 20s Charleston step followed by some skipping sequences in hold. At 1:31, the choreography includes a sequence similar to the Charleston Stroll followed by 20s Charleston in hold but JJ is on the wrong leg. Towards the end, they repeat the Tick Tock sequence at 1:39 before returning to the car. 

Head judge Shirley Ballas told him: “What a way to open the show with that iconic Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, my heart was just going with the whole thing.” However Craig Revel Horwood said: “I’ve got to say it was too stop and start for my liking. And “Also on the basic Charleston step, which you did many, you need to try and kick the back of your heel up a little bit more as well.”

He also commented: “The characterisation was very good although I thought you could go a little bit more over the top.”

The characterisation is key in bringing the Charleston to life and JJ could have done more with it. He also seemed stiff in the movements which didn’t help bring our the character. The routine could have included more classic steps in it but he may have been limited due to his injuries. 

The choreographer Jenny Thomas put together a great number for someone who has never danced before and it was a great effort for a novice dancer. 

Scores:

Craig: 6 

Shirley: 7

Motisi: 7

MyCharleston - 6. Sadly, there were mistakes and he could have performed with even more gusto but still enjoyable to watch. 

Strictly Review: Clara Amfo & Aljaž Škorjanec

Strictly Come Dancing contestant Clara Amfo looked over the moon on Saturday night after her Charleston performance with dance partner Aljaž Škorjanec when she scored the first 2 10s of the series.

The radio presenter had been finishing middle of the leaderboard prior to this weekend but she scored the highest marks of the night after  performing a classic Charleston routine to the 1920s track ‘Baby Face’ from the musical Thoroughly Modern Millie.

Stand-in judge Anton du Beke commented: "What can I say?! When you rehearse a dance all week you want it, on Saturday night, to go like that. I've had a wonderful night and you've topped it off. Thank you very much indeed...perfect."

Even Strictly’s Charleston connoisseur Craig Revel-Horwood was delighted, telling Clara: "Well I don't want to see it again actually, until the final darling!”

Do you agree that the routine deserved an almost perfect score and what made it so good? 

The routine opens with some scene setting where a couple meet in a shop. After a few bars of music they break into a Messaround, Charleston, Hook Charleston, Heel Flicks, Flapper Walks, Single Leg Flicks with rotating arms, Little Runs and a Lift.  This smoothly moves into a section in hold followed by poses into another set of Charlestons, Trucking and Charlestons variations in hold.

At 1:14min after the Step Crosses and Lock Turn they are back in hold for a walking sequence, Stroll steps, Squat Charlestons, Flicks and a final lift before Aljaž lifts her into the final position.

The choreographer was Jenny Thomas with her assistant Sean Moon and it’s sublime! Her choreography includes all the iconic steps and Clara dances them with great attack. The routine also is dynamic as it includes a great mix of solo steps, partner work and trick moves. As the dance floor is quite big, it would have been nice to see them travel across the space a bit more but overall it was a brilliant classic 1920s routine.

The mise en scène also compliments routine perfectly and by having a 1920s song it allowed the viewer to see how the dance should be performed with the correct tempo.

The only thing that slightly broke the illusion was the ending when Clara poked her dance partner in the eye in the final position, but these things can happen! The step I think they could work on is the Squat Charleston as it usually has more bend in the upper body. It was a tad upright for a Squat but it was a fantastic dance!

Scores:

Crag - 9

Shirley -10

Anton -10

MyCharleston - 9

Strictly Review: Jaime Laing & Karen Hauer

After much anticipation Strictly Come Dancing is finally back for the 2020 series and we’ve just had our first Charleston of the year in Movie Week. TV personality Jaime Laing and his dance partner Karen Hauer performed a Charleston too ‘Zero to Hero’ from Disney’s animated classic Hercules.

Jamie dressed as Hercules/ He-Man and Karen as his muse, they performed a highly entertaining number which had the judges in stitches and gained him high scores, but technically was it that good?

If we pick part the routine the classic Charleston moves include Swivel Walks (0:25) and only one basic 20s Charleston at 0:35. From there the sequence blends into a 30s Charleston followed by kicks (where Jamie is on the wrong leg) followed by heel flicks. Craig said he needed to work on that section, which I agree didn’t look very sharp. 

The second interesting Charleston sequence is the side to side Charleston in hold followed by Bunny Hops at 0:57. These are the only steps performed in hold in the whole routine.

The final section included Suzy Qs, 30s Charleston and helicopters which finished in a lift… where Jamie accidentally drops Karen on the floor!

Technically Jamie is not very strong in this routine and the theme is quite strange for a Charleston but he makes it look very fun, which is one of the main principales of the genre.

The choreographer is Tommy Franzen who also choreographed the Simpsons Street/Commerical routine on the night. I would highly recommend checking out his Instagram to see how he devised the piece and how he envisioned it would look.

Overall, this wasn’t my favourite Charleston number as it was quite messy and I thought there are some great movies they could have picked to really compliment the Charleston. Fingers crossed for a more dyanmic number next week!

Scores:

Craig - 7

Shirley - 8

Motisi - 8

MyCharleston - 6