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Videos: What's on this January
If you fancy dancing with us this January you can take a peek at all the routines we will be teaching next term. Charleston to 'Minor Swing' or dance to 'All I Do is Dream of you' in our Singin’ in the Rain musicals course. Learn our 'Uptown Funk 'Street Jazz routine or 'Wham Re-Bop Boom Bam' Intermediate Charleston course.
If you fancy dancing with us this January you can take a peek at all the routines we will be teaching next term. Charleston to 'Minor Swing' or dance to 'All I Do is Dream of you' in our Singin’ in the Rain musicals course. Learn our 'Uptown Funk 'Street Jazz routine or 'Wham Re-Bop Boom Bam' Intermediate Charleston course.
CHARLESTON COURSE - MINOR SWING
we are happy to confirm this is a brand new routine and choreography to the Jazz classic ‘Minor Swing‘.
BRIGHTON & HOVE LEWES WORTHING PORTSMOUTH ONLINE
Course Dates:
Brighton: Charleston Course. Monday 9 Jan-6 Feb, 7.30 - 8.30pm, The Dance Space
Hove: Charleston Course. Tuesday 3 Jan-7 Feb, 6-7pm, Open Space Studio
Hove: Charleston Course. Thursday 5 Jan-9 Feb, 10.30 - 11.30am, Open Space Studio
Lewes: Charleston Course. Tuesday 3 Jan-7Feb, 6.30-7.30pm, The Body Workshop
Portsmouth: Charleston Course, Tuesday 3 Jan-7Feb, 7.30-8.30pm, CourtX
Worthing: Charleston Course. Wednesday 4 Jan- 8Feb , 7-8pm
Online: 6 week Charleston Course. Open Level via Zoom. Monday 9 Jan-6 Feb, 6pm BST
Online: 6 Week Musicals Course via Zoom. Monday 9 Jan-6 Feb, 7pm BST
Hove: Musicals Course. Tuesday ,3 Jan-7 Feb, Open Space Studios
Portsmouth: Musicals Course, Wednesday3 Jan-7 Feb, 6.30-7.30pm, CourtX
INTERMEDIATE CHARLESTON - wham re-bop boom bam
On our next Intermediate Charleston course we'll be teaching a solo jazz classic - Wham Re-Bop Boom Ba, - fun and a real joy to dance.
Hove: Intermediate Charleston. Thursday 5 Jan-9 Feb, 7-8pm, Open Space Studios
BOOK NOW
STREET JAZZ
Hove: Street Jazz. Thursday 10 Nov- 17 Dec, 6-7pm, Open Space Studios. Our Routine track is set to UpTown Funk
BOOK NOW
Hove: Street Jazz Course. Thursday 5 Jan-9 Feb, 6-7pm
Strictly Review: Molly Rainford & Carlos Gu
On Saturday, CBBC Star Molly Rainford and professional partner Carlos Gu opened Strictly Come Dancing with an awe-inspiring Charleston number to, “Hot Honey Rag,” from Chicago. Do you agree this should have been in the bottom two despite their high score of 38?
Last Friday, Musical’s week blessed our TV screens, and we were treated to a jam-packed evening featuring some of the nations favourite Musicals. From an iconic Sally Bowles, Cabaret-esque inspired Couple’s Choice to a Samba to ‘They Live In You,’ from the Lion Kind- they had it all.
On Saturday, CBBC Star Molly Rainford and professional partner Carlos Gu opened the show with an awe-inspiring Charleston number to, “Hot Honey Rag,” from Chicago.
Watch their Full Routine Here:
However, despite the couple swivelling their way towards the top end of the leader board with their highest score yet, there has been an uproar across the Strictly fandom over their scores from judges Craig Revel Horwood and Anton Du Beke. Even though the other two judges whipped out their 10 paddles, Craig and Anton decided not to put theirs to good use.
Do you think the couple deserved the 10s or are you more in agreement with Craig and Anton? Let’s take a closer look as to why many felt they deserved top marks.
The routine opens with Molly Rainford and professional dancer Lauren Oakley playing the roles of Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly- therefore perfectly encapsulating the scene in which this routine was inspired by. After a few moments of applying makeup, the pair run out from behind a mock-up stage curtain and swivel out towards the centre of the Ballroom. Carlos, then, strides out across the floor to greet Molly, where they then break into a sequence of Basic 1920s Charleston Swivels, Helicopters, Tick Tocks, and then dive straight into their first trick move.
Immediately following this, they then go into a section in hold where Bunny Hops, Truckin’, and a Side-to-Side Charleston are completed with apparent ease. The pair then come together for a nerve-wracking lift and leaving the audience whooping with delight with one critic commenting on how, “Molly has seriously improved technically since week one.”
Later on in the routine, further Basic Charlestons are danced in hold and used to pivot and change direction- a difficult move to master (especially with only having four days’ worth of training).
Furthermore, just when the audience thought there could not be room for anymore Charleston content, the couple complete a sequence of 30s Charlestons, Check your Nails, Flapper Walks, Spank the Babies, and Squat Charlestons at immense speed.
The pair then sprint towards the back of the Ballroom and have just enough time to complete a brief sequence of Hand-ography (Jazz Hands which were perfectly in time with the music), and a quick Cartwheel before Carlos spins Molly into their final position- igniting a cacophony of noise of the audience.
The choreographer behind this amazing dance was Jenny Thomas and her assistant Sean Moon. The routine that they created for Molly and Carlos really captured the authenticity of the Charleston and took the audience on a journey through the bright lights of Jazzy Chicago. The choreography included a great mixture of classic Charleston steps and trick moves; overall producing a brilliant, original Charleston routine of which was extremely fun to watch. I would also highly recommend checking out Jenny’s Instagram to find out more about the making of this routine.
For me, I thoroughly enjoyed watching this routine and, like many others, was shocked by the fact that they were in the bottom two yet again. Molly’s energy and characterisation could not be faulted as she kept it up and gave 100% right through the very end. I thought each move was well-executed which made for a clean, stylish, and synchronised piece. It is clear that I was not alone in thinking this as one critic felt, “It [was] undermarked and underappreciated” and another thought it was, “Hard to tell the difference between [Molly] and the other professionals.”
Due to this, the response from the judges was overall very positive and full of high complimentary praise. Head Judge Shirley exclaimed how, “[She] was not expecting that” as it was, “Absolute perfection!” Motsi was also in agreement as she ecstatically stated that, “[Molly] was a shining star.” Craig, however, could not resist in giving a little criticism as he felt her, “Elbow was a little low for, [his liking],” but even he felt it was a “Transformation,” as “This was the first time [he’s] seen [Molly] with full power and energy.”
Even though the couple ended the evening in the bottom two and in the dance off with their high score of 38, they managed to swivel their way through and keep their place in the competition, therefore securing their place in the Semi-Finals.
Scores:
Craig Revel Horwood – 9
Motsi Mabuse – 10
Shirley Ballas – 10
Anton Du Beke – 9
MyCharleston – 10
By: Eleanor O’Donnell
Strictly Review: Will Mellor and Nancy Xu
With only a week to go until the Quarter Finals of the competition, last Saturday we were treated to a leader board topping routine from actor Will Mellor and professional partner Nancy Xu, who opened the show with a Charleston, set to the unconventional tune, “Hush,” by Kula Shaker.
With only a week to go until the Quarter Finals of the competition, last Saturday we were treated to a leader board topping routine from actor Will Mellor and professional partner Nancy Xu, who opened the show with a Charleston, set to the unconventional tune, “Hush,” by Kula Shaker
It appears that Will and Nancy’s Charleston has caused controversy amongst the Strictly fandom with mixed opinions being shared about the dance. Even though some were in agreement with the higher scoring from the judges and believed it was a “Sauvé, stylish take on the Charleston,” many, “Weren’t keen,” on this new approach to this centenarian dance.
Do you think the couple deserved their score or are you more in agreement with the harsh criticism? Let’s take a closer look…
The routine begins with both Will and Nancy setting the scene wearing headphones and rocking out to the tune. After a few bars of music, the pair strut out of their boxes towards the centre of the dance floor, where they launch straight into a Paddle Turn and Basic Charleston Swivels, shortly followed by a sequence of 30s and multiple Kick Charlestons. They then come together for a brief section in hold where they complete a series of Happy Feet, and Will using Nancy’s leg as an air guitar- igniting a multitude of whoops and cheers from the audience.
Later on in the routine, further 1920s Basic Charlestons are completed in hold, followed by Cake Walks and a lift. At 0:50, a sequence of Hitchhikes, Slow Motion Running (with exceptional facial expressions), and Side-to-Side Charlestons are danced with immense intensity- further establishing the Charleston-esque qualities of the dance.
Just when the audience thought there couldn’t possibly be room for anymore Charleston content, the pair complete a sequence of Tick Tocks, Cake Walks, a Lindy Hop inspired section, a Pirouette, and a Jump Lift with apparent ease.
They then have just enough time for a further few Robotic Walks, Flicks, Kicks, and Spins before coming together for a James Bond inspired ending where the crowd erupted into a cacophony of applause.
The choreographer behind this techno masterpiece was Jenny Thomas (check out her Instagram here) and her assistant Sean Moon. The routine that the pair created for Will and Nancy was well suited to Will’s dancing abilities and not only allowed him to show-off his newfound dancing abilities, but also perfectly encapsulated what the Charleston is all about- having fun!
Overall, I really enjoyed this routine. Although it was not traditional in the sense of upholding a Jazzy tune, the routine itself was jam-packed full of original and authentic Charleston content which was enjoyable to watch. Due to the amalgamation of the older Charleston style and modern music, I thought a fresh new perspective was shone on this dance, which therefore highlights, an array of possibilities and ways that the Charleston can be danced and enjoyed. Further reinforcing this dance as timeless. It is clear that I am not alone in thinking this as one critic claimed they were, “Jumping off [their] sofa at this innovative and unique performance.”
As a result, the Judges were also unanimous with their admiration and complimentary opinions. Head Judge Shirley gave the pair a standing ovation and stated, “Every single thing worked for [Will],” as he, “Nailed it.” This alongside Anton’s comment that, “This was [his] best performance of the series,” left the couple beaming with pride. Even Craig could not stop himself agreeing when Motsi stated that, “This [performance] has set the standard high for the rest of the night.”
Due to these highly praising comments, Will and Nancy Flapper Walked their way to success and topped the leader board for the first time since Week 1 with their score of 38; therefore, securing their spot in next week’s Musical Special.
Scores:
Craig Revel Horwood – 9
Motsi Mabuse – 10
Shirley Ballas – 10
Anton Du Beke – 9
MyCharleston – 9
By: Eleanor O’Donnell
Strictly The Best
To commemorate Strictly Come Dancing waltzing its way back onto our screens for its 20th series, research has been done to determine the best of the best – the UK’s favourite dance style, the most popular theme week and the most viewed Strictly performance - and you may be surprised by the results!
An average of 10.9 million viewers tune in each Saturday to Strictly Come Dancing. Over the course of the series, loyal Strictly fans will spend around 1,970 minutes watching it. This is equal to nearly 33 hours sat in the comfort of their living room, watching the professionals and celebrities dance their way round the studio dancefloor each Saturday and Sunday.
To commemorate Strictly Come Dancing waltzing its way back onto our screens for its 20th series, Fenetic Wellbeing have looked back over the years to determine the best of the best – the UK’s favourite dance style, the most popular theme week and the most viewed Strictly performance.
The UK’s Favourite Dance STYLE
There’s no denying that sitting and watching the Strictly contestants Quickstep, Cha-Cha and Waltz around the dancefloor gets you in the mood for dancing. No matter what age or ability we all begin to wonder whether we’ve still got what it takes to make some moves on the dancefloor. But what dance is it that makes you want to get up and boogie too?
Fenetic Wellbeing have looked into the google search volume for each genre of dance that is performed on Strictly to determine the UK’s favourite style of dance. Here are the results per Google Search Volume:
Salsa - 20,000
Tango - 19,000
Charleston - 15,000
Samba - 10,000
Rumba - 7,800
Jive - 4,300,
Rock ‘n’ Roll - 4,200
Waltz - 3,400
Foxtrot - 3,100
Paso Doble - 2,600
The Salsa takes the top of the leader board – the sexy and high energy Latin American dance is a combination of a variety of Cuban and American dances. Following closely behind, the Tango is a very sensual dance and is known for it’s dramatic, vibrant and sharp movements. In contrast, the Charleston is a really fun and upbeat dance. Sophie Ellis-Bextor & Brendan Charleston to 'Rock It For Me' has had over 6 million views.
The Best Strictly Performance of all time!
Although all of the performances on Strictly are spectacular (well, nearly all of them!), we have looked at the number of YouTube views each performance has got and whittled it down to the top 10 performances over the last 5 series.
Danny Mac and his partner Oti Mabuse have taken the lead with over 6 million views! Their Samba to ‘Magalenha’ by Sergio Mendes made Strictly history as he became the first contestant to EVER score a perfect 40 for the dance! The Samba is usually considered one of the hardest dances for the celebrities to learn as it’s so fast-paced and technical, however Danny Mac defied the odds with his outstanding performance.
Professional dancer, Giovanni Pernice, features in the top 10 performances an impressive 3 times, not only for his performances with Faye Tozer but also for his moving performance with Rose Ayling-Ellis in the final. During Giovanni and Rose’s couples choice dance to ‘Symphony’, the music paused and there was around 10 seconds of complete silence while the pair kept dancing in perfect time to one another. Their breath-taking performance not only won a BAFTA for ‘Virgin Media’s Must-See Moment’, but also made headway in increasing awareness and understanding of deafness.
Dancers VS YouTube Views
Danny Mac & Oti Mabuse - 6,126,237
Joe Sugg & Diane Buswell - 3,056,825
Karim Zeroual & Amy Dowden - 2,880,539
Aston Merrygold & Janette Manrara - 2,857,287
Faye Tozer and Giovanni Pernice - 2,694,947
Kelvin Fletcher & Oti Mabuse - 2,683,035
Joe Sugg & Dianne Buswell - 2,457,527
Rose Ayling-Ellis & Giovanni Pernice - 2,376,848
Faye Tozer & Giovanni Pernice - 2,251,693
Alex Scott & Neil Jones - 2,228,491
The UK’s Favourite Themed Week
We know just how much viewers love the Strictly themed weeks, but which one is the UK’s favourite? Looking at viewing figures over the last 5 series1, we have calculated which themed week has the highest average viewing figures. As the dancers have been unable to travel to Blackpool to perform at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom, this week was excluded from the data. Having said this, viewing figures for Strictly’s week at Blackpool usually increase by around 6%.
Theme Week vs Average viewing figures
Final - 11,696,840
Musicals - 11,121,258
Halloween - 10,602,723
Semi-final - 10,985,994
Movie - 10,965,445
Launch - 10,965,445
There’s no surprise that the final achieves the highest viewing figures on Strictly, with the couples’ show dances, special guest performances, a final performance from the Strictly Class of 2021 and of course ... the crowning of the winners and the lifting of the glitter ball!
This year there is a special themed week to celebrate BBC’s 100 years of broadcasting where the BBC have said that dancers will dance to ‘’a theme tune from an iconic BBC programme or in tribute to one of the BBC’s most loved services’’.
Credits
1 https://www.barb.co.uk/viewing-data/most-viewed-programmes/ - NB. This data doesn’t include 2020 as the series only ran for 10 weeks due to COVID.
Strictly Review: Ellie Taylor & Johannes Radebe
With Blackpool only a week away, the competition standards are beginning to skyrocket as everyone wants a chance to dance in the famous Ballroom. Last Saturday, Comedian Ellie Taylor and professional partner Johannes Radebe opened the show by dancing a Charleston set to the tune, “Friendship,” by Elaine Paige and Bernard Cribbins.
With Blackpool only a week away, the competition standards are beginning to skyrocket as everyone wants a chance to dance in the famous Ballroom. Last Saturday, Comedian Ellie Taylor and professional partner Johannes Radebe opened the show by dancing a Charleston set to the tune, “Friendship,” by Elaine Paige and Bernard Cribbins.
It appears that Ellie and Johannes’ Charleston has caused controversy amongst the Strictly fandom, with mixed opinions being shared about the dance. Even though many were in agreement with the scores from the judges, some also thought it was overmarked and one critic even stated that the routine, “Was too simplistic for week 8.”
Do you think the couple deserved the score or are you more in agreement with the critics? Let’s take a closer look…
The routine opens with barely any time for setting the scene as both Ellie and Johannes launch themselves into high energy Charleston choreography. After a few bars of music, where pair complete a brief section of ‘Hat-Ography,’ they then go into a series of Charleston Swivels and Cake Walks; shortly followed by a quick Lindy-inspired section.
Immediately after, a further sequence of Basic 1920s Charleston Swivels, Truckin’, and 30s Charleston are completed. At 0:48, the couple come together for some, ‘Shirt-Ography’- this, alongside Ellie’s fantastic facial expressions, really establish the comedic tone of the dance and highlights how much fun they are both having.
At 0:57, more Charleston content is provided as they launch into a series of Side-to-Side Charlestons, a brief moment of skipping, followed by a lift. A sequence of Chicken Arms (with added sound effects) is also completed and adds a sense of hilarity to the already comedic dance.
They then come together for a brief section in hold consisting of Basic 1920s Charleston Swivels, Squat Charlestons, and Kicks. They then have just enough time for one more 30s Charleston and a quick spin before ending the routine with further duck imitations and collapsing on the floor for their final pose.
Overall, I respectfully disagree with the critics as I thought this was a jampacked whirlwind of a routine. I thought Ellie really came into her own during this dance as her personality shone throughout. Although the choice of tune is not a traditional 1920s jazzy number, I thought it was well suited as it clearly reflects how much of an established partnership, as well as friendship, Ellie and Johannes have. Adding to this idea further, one critic said that “[They] loved the partnership [and thought] Ellie was on top form in terms of dancing.” However another disagreed and, “Didn’t understand the song and [they felt] the routine was too stop-start.”
Due to this, the comments from the judges were overall very positive as Head Judge Shirley gave Ellie a standing ovation whilst stating how there was, “A lovely swivel, lovely connection and [Ellie was] definitely, definitely on a roll.” Adding to this praise, Anton felt there was, “A huge improvement from last week.” However, the comments were not absent of slight criticism as Craig, “[Felt] it could have been sharper,” but even he could not keep a smile from his face for long as he went to say, “There were some really difficult rhythm patterns that [the pair] coped with so well.”
Scores:
Craig Revel Horwood – 7
Motsi Mabuse – 8
Shirley Ballas – 8
Anton Du Beke – 8
MyCharleston – 8
Thankfully, it appears the curse of the Charleston has now been broken as Ellie and Johannes avoided the dreaded dance off and have successfully swivelled their way into next week- therefore securing their place to dance in Blackpool Tower Ballroom.
If you’re now feeling inspired to channel your own inner 1920s Flapper, why not check out our Charleston adult dance classes
Or head over to MyCharleston’s ‘Move of the Week’ and get those feet swivelling to transport you back to the 1920s…
Charleston Move of the Week - YouTube
By: Eleanor O’Donnell
Strictly Review: Ellie Simmonds & Nikita Kuzmin
We are now halfway through the Strictly Come Dancing competition for 2022 and last Saturday, Para-Olympic Swimmer Ellie Simmonds and Professional partner Nikita Kuzmin took to the stage dancing the Charleston to the jazzy tune, “Too Darn Hot” from the Musical by Kiss Me Kate.
We are now halfway through the Strictly Come Dancing competition for 2022 and last Saturday, Para-Olympic Swimmer Ellie Simmonds and Professional partner Nikita Kuzmin took to the stage dancing the Charleston to the jazzy tune, “Too Darn Hot” from the musical Kiss Me Kate.
Watch their full routine here:
However, despite the couple scoring a highly respectable score of 33, Ellie and Nikita were the sixth couple to leave the competition. This, in turn, caused an uproar across the Strictly Fandom with many believing, “The wrong couple went home.”
Do you think the couple deserved to remain in the competition, or were you in agreement with the overall decision? Let’s take a closer look as to many felt this way…
With both Ellie and Nikita dressed in their finery, the routine opens with Ellie flamboyantly wafting a feathered fan; therefore, perfectly encapsulating the vibe of a 1920s Cabaret act.
After a few moments of momentary wafting, Ellie breaks into a solo piece consisting of basic 1920s Charleston Swivels; she then sassily saunters across the stage to meet Nikita where further kicks and flicks are performed.
At 0:22, we see the first of many lifts which is shortly followed by a brief section in hold, further Charleston Swivels, a Kick Charleston, and another lift-which was highly appreciated by the audience as one member commented on how, “[Her] agility in those lifts is just amazing!”
At 0:49, the pair go on to complete a series of Kicks, Silly Runs, and Bunny Hops in perfect synchronisation which further establishes the idea that Ellie really has put her heart and soul into this dance.
Nearing the end of the routine, Nikita throws Ellie upside-down as the pair complete a series of complex lifts before they return to Truckin’, repeated Jumps, and Swivels- also perfectly in time with the music.
The pair then have just enough time for a few more Kicks, Flicks, and Jumps before Nikita flips Ellie into their final pose- which results in a cacophony of noise from the audience.
Overall, I though this routine was well thought out and well executed by both. The choreography, although appearing basic, contained a sufficient number of Flips, Tricks, and Lifts to keep the audience entertained. However, there wasn’t quite enough Charleston content for me as I kept waiting for moves such as, ‘Check your Nails,’ ‘Apple Jacks,’ and ‘Side-to-Sides’ to really make it scream ‘Charleston!’ I also thought that Ellie’s basic Charleston step could do with a little more Swivel Action and I was surprised that this was not picked up on- especially by Craig. It appears I was not alone in thinking this, as one Critic also thought that “There [wasn’t] enough energy or exaggeration and the technicality of each move [lacked] finesse.” However, it also has to be said that many others really enjoyed this routine and, “Loved her musicality and performance.”
As a result, the Judges comments were mostly full of complimentary praise for the couple as Head Judge Shirley, “Loved it” and felt it was, “Heartfelt and had the wow-factor that every good Charleston should.” Motsi was also ecstatic in her response as she stated that, “[Ellie has] raised the level […] and really put [her] heart onto the dance floor.” Although Craig was slightly critical of Ellie’s footwork, overall, he also thought it was, “Incredible.”
However, despite Ellie and Nikita receiving their highest score of the series so far, it was not enough to save them as they found themselves defeated in the Dance-Off against Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu. In her final speech, Ellie mentioned how she would now be, “Dancing forever” which reinforces the inclusive nature of dance and how much of an everlasting, positive impact it can have on someone’s life.
Scores:
Craig Revel Horwood – 7
Motsi Mabuse – 9
Shirley Ballas – 8
Anton Du Beke – 9
MyCharleston – 7
If you’re now feeling inspired to channel your own inner 1920s Flapper, why not check out our Charleston adult dance classes
Or head over to MyCharleston’s ‘Move of the Week’ and get those feet swivelling to transport you back to the 1920s…
Why choose a Charleston dance class for your hen party?
Find out about our Charleston dance classes for hen parties based in Brighton. Upbeat, fun and easy, the Charleston is perfect to learn with a large group.
MyCharleston has been running Charleston dance classes for hen and stag parties in Brighton & Hove and across the UK for the last 6 years. It’s a great dance to learn as a group and we will get you swivelling and sliding in no time.
The brilliance of the Charleston, aside from it being upbeat and incredibly fun, is that anyone can be taught it - no dance experience required! But yet it is still appealing for the seasoned dancer because it looks great once learnt. Another lovely aspect of it is although you may have seen them Charlestoning on Stricly Come Dancing, we actually teach it solo so no partner is required.
You may be asking yourself how can it be easy to learn yet look so good? The answer is in the footwork and arm movements. The Charleston is a basic footstep which once accomplished then allows you to concentrate on stylish arm movements, flair and expression - transporting you back to the 1920s before you know it.
On our hen party dance class we will teach your group an array of Charleston steps and then put them altogether and teach you an energetic dance routine. We also intersperse the teaching with some games to get you all really moving and gives you the chance to get to know your fellow hens better. We’ll then film your final routine which we’ll edit and email to you as a keepsake.
We can take care of providing the venue as we’re in direct contact with many of the stylish dance studios in the centre of Brighton. Let us also know if you would like traditonal jazz music or something more contemporary or maybe a mix of both.
Ready to give the Charleston ago? For availability, questions and costs phone 07521 645445 or fill in the contact form below.
“Our hen party with MyCharleston was brilliant! We all laughed so much our cheeks hurt and the end result was amazing! A brilliant thing to do for a group who don’t all know each other as we were all best friends afterwards!” Lucia
“The dance class was utterly fantastic. There were 27 of us, all different ages and abilities and the class was so perfectly tailored for all. So much fun, and so many giggles, we even managed to pull together a routine by the end which will definitely be coming out on the dance floor at the wedding.” Cat
Autumn Term Dance Routines
The Walkin' Blues Dance Routine uses classic jazz moves from the 20’s and 30’s to create a fantastic routine which our Charleston dance groups learnt on a six week course with MyCharleston. Below our all the groups who learnt this routine from Sept- Oct 2022.
We’ve been busy editing away all the routines from our Autumn term classes which are now live on our website . These routines has been taught to a 12 different groups across the UK, Holland, Italy plus our students across the globe on Zoom. You can view the Charleston Musicals & Street groups below.
BAD GUYS - MUSICALS ROUTINE
SINGLE LADIES - STREET JAZZ ROUTINE
SMOOTH SAILING - SOLO JAZZ ROUTINE
Full routine coming soon…
CHARLESTON - WALKIN’ BLUES ROUTINE
The Walkin' Blues Dance Routine uses classic jazz moves from the 20’s and 30’s to create a fantastic routine which our Charleston dance groups learnt on a six week course with MyCharleston. Below our all the groups who learnt this routine from Sept- Oct 2022.
BRIGHTON GROUP
HOVE - TUESDAY EVENING GROUP
HOVE - THURSDAY MORNING GROUP
PORTSMOUTH GROUP
ONLINE GROUP VIA ZOOM
WORTHING GROUP
ALKMAAR - HOLLAND
DARLINGTON GROUP
Strictly Review: James Bye and Amy Dowden
Strictly Come Dancing aired their annual spook-tacular Halloween Special, and it was Eastender’s Actor James Bye and Professional partner Amy Dowden’s turn to take on the Charleston. Dancing to, “Bumble Bee” by LaVern Baker, their routine caused a stir amongst the Strictly fandom. Do you think the couple deserved to remain in the competition or are you more in agreement with Critics?
Last Saturday, Strictly Come Dancing aired their annual spook-tacular Halloween Special, and it was Eastender’s Actor James Bye and Professional partner Amy Dowden’s turn to take on the Charleston. Dancing to, “Bumble Bee” by LaVern Baker, their routine caused a stir amongst the Strictly fandom, with many left feeling, ‘pleased with the outcome’ whilst others were disappointed to see them leave the show.
Do you think the couple deserved to remain in the competition or are you more in agreement with Critics? Let’s take a closer look as to why many felt this was the right decision.
The routine opens with James setting the scene, dressed as a beekeeper, and tending to multiple beehives, whilst Amy (suspended in mid-air, dressed as a bumblebee) gracefully floats down onto the dance floor.
After a few bars of music with James running laps in between the beehives, the pair then break into a series of basic 1920s Charleston steps, which are then shortly followed by a couple of Scarecrows. During the previous week on It Takes Two, James mentions the lifts due to take place in their routine have, “Never been done before,” and at 0:38, we see the first of these.
Later on in the routine, the couple complete a series of Grapevine Steps, Charlie Chaplins’, Kicks, and further Scarecrow variations before coming together for a short section in hold.
At 1:09, the audience are greeted with another complex sequence of lifts which left one critic stating, “[They] felt scared for Amy, as James [threw her] about the Ballroom.”
Nearing the end of the routine, further 1920s Swivel Steps are completed alongside a sequence back in hold. The pair then have just enough time for one final spin before James lifts Amy upside-down and into their final position.
Overall, I did not know what to think of this dance in its entirety. Whilst the choreography was good and well-suited to James’ dancing abilities, I felt it lacked the energy and excitement that makes an iconic Charleston. Although he upheld good musicality and partnership with Amy throughout, technically, it wasn’t his best as multiple mistakes were made both on Saturday night and in the Dance-Off. As a result, many audience members were left feeling, “deflated” and, “Expected more from a Halloween-themed Charleston.” One even went as far to say it was the “Epitome of meh.” Despite this, there were some positive words of encouragement with one stating that, “James’ personality really [shone through] as he took on the role of his character.”
As a result, it appears the Judges were also feeling mixed opinions about their Charleston. On one hand, Head Judge Shirley was full of excitement as she exclaimed, “[She] felt like a kid in a Halloween shop […], the technique, and flow are all getting better!” and Craig felt, “The Charleston steps that [James] did were very very good.” Whereas Anton on the other hand, felt it was a “Little bit throwaway.”
Despite the positive comments, James and Amy found themselves in the bottom two facing Fleur East and Vito Coppola in the dreaded Dance-Off and unfortunately missed out on their spot in Week 7, making them the fifth couple to leave the competition.
Scores:
Craig Revel Horwood – 6
Motsi Mabuse – 7
Shirley Ballas – 7
Anton Du Beke – 7
MyCharleston – 6
By: Eleanor O’Donnell
Free Online Taster Via YouTube
Join us for a free online Charleston session via our YouTube channel where we’ll be teaching you some of the basic steps from the 1920s as well as a short Charleston routine.
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