News: Swing and Blues Sundays is back!

By Steve | Published: September 2, 2010

Some good news for those of you that like to get a nice mix of swing and blues dancing every week – Swing and Blues Sundays at The Imperial Pub is back to its regular schedule as of this Sunday, Sept 5th!  From now on the free, DJ dance will start at 9 pm and go until everyone stops dancing each and every Sunday night.

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A 1930’s Nightclub Map of Harlem

By Steve | Published: August 30, 2010

I just found this interesting article on Boing Boing about a wonderful map of night clubs in Harlem, NY circa 1932.  It was drawn by cartoonist Elmer Simms Campbell and it highlights not only the nightclubs of the time but the key musicians.  Of particular interest to us dancers of course are the lively illustrations of dancers at just about all of the clubs.

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Dance Out of Town – “The Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown” – New Orleans, LA, Sept. 30 to Oct. 4, 2010

By Steve | Published: August 17, 2010

If you’re looking to travel to a fun lindy hop event this year then look no further than The Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown!  Now in its 9th year – and its second year in New Orleans – ULHS is generally regarded as one of the best lindy hop events in the world!  Last year a large group of dancers from Toronto made the trek to Louisiana for ULHS and had a fantastic time dancing, competing and enjoying the rich New Orleans culture.  No city does jazz like New Orleans!

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The Toronto Lindy Exchange is back!!

By Steve | Published: August 13, 2010
October 8, 2010toOctober 11, 2010

The Toronto Lindy Hop Exchange is back and better than ever!  This year the “TOE Jam” will run from October 8 to 11, 2010 and will mark the 10 year anniversary of the first ever lindy hop exchange in Toronto.

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Lindy Hop Mini Workshop w/ Randy and Kathleen this Saturday

By Steve | Published: June 10, 2010
June 12, 2010
12:30 pmto3:00 pm

Join Randy Panté (www.hamfats.ca) and Kathleen Molto for a mini-workshop crash course on lindy hop. Read More »

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Dance Out of Town: “Swing Into Summer” in Waterloo, June 12, 2010

By Steve | Published: June 3, 2010

This year the Kitchener Waterloo Swing Dance Society is kicking off the summer with a full-day “Swing Into Summer” lindy hop workshop featuring the amazing Caitlin Wellman from Toronto.  There will be classes for all levels of dancers; intermediate and experienced dancers will find themselves pushed to improve their form and style on the dance floor, but anyone who is comfortable with 8-count lindy hop basics (swingout, circle, etc) are also welcome and will have plenty of chances to learn and improve.

For full details about the workshop, evening dance and registration information please visit the Swing Into Summer Workshop website.  Note that online registration closes on June 4th.  You can still register at the door but the prices will go up so register online if you can!

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Dance Out of Town: “Stompology” – Rochester, NY, June 4 to 6, 2010

By Steve | Published: June 2, 2010

If you’re looking for a fun roadtrip and want to try dancing in another city there’s a wonderful event this coming weekend in Rochester, New York.  The event is called “Stompology” and it is primarily focused on authentic solo jazz dancing and movement.  From the Stompology website:

“Stompology, currently in its fifth year, is the original dance weekend devoted entirely to “Authentic Jazz”, Charleston, and solo movement. Stompology takes place in beautiful Rochester, NY, from June 4 to 6, 2010, and features instruction by acclaimed teachers Sharon Davis, Mike Faltesek, Bethany Powell, and Juan Villafane, and music by Rochester jazz star Rod Blumenau and New York City jazz band Baby Soda.”

There are already some people from Toronto signed up and heading down for the weekend.  Leave a comment if you’d like to get in touch with any of them.

If you’d like more information about the event all the details are on the official Stompology website.

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Frankie Tribute Night – Performance Videos

By Steve | Published: May 31, 2010

As mentioned in a previous post, this past weekend was the annual Frankie Manning Tribute & Fundraiser with all proceeds going to the Frankie Manning Fund.  As part of this special evening there were several performances on the first band break.  Krister captured video of each and all are posted below.  Thank you Krister!

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Frankie Manning Tribute Night Recap

By Steve | Published: May 31, 2010

Frankie ManningThis past Saturday night (May 29th, 2010) the entire Toronto Lindy Hop community came together at Dovercourt House to once again honour the memory of Frankie Manning, one of the founding fathers of the dance we all love so much.  Frankie passed away in April 2009 one month before his 95th birthday.  This is the second year in a row that Toronto has hosted this memorial night and like last year the evening was a smashing success!  There were dance performances, a video tribute to Frankie, a bake sale, silent auctions, a raffle, taxi dancers and much, much more.  All told the entire community raised $3800 for The Frankie Manning Fund, a charitable organization dedicated “to preserve and promote the rich cultural, choreographic and artistic legacy of Frankie Manning and to encourage the world-wide proliferation and promotion of the music and the dance Frankie loved so much (Swing Music and the Lindy Hop)”.
Thanks to everyone that came out and offered your generous support as well as the organizers and volunteers that made the night possible in the first place!  Obviously this night would not have been the success that it was without each and every one of you!

Stayed tuned for photos and videos from evening’s festivities.

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Frankie Manning Tribute 2010

By Steve | Published: May 6, 2010
May 29, 2010 7:00 pmtoMay 30, 2010 1:00 am

Frankie Manning and Ann Johnson (1941)

On May 29th, 2010 the Toronto Lindy Hop community will gather for a special tribute to Frankie Manning, the father of Lindy Hop and the man who inspired so many thousands of swing dancers around the world.

Last April, Frankie Manning passed away shortly before his 95th birthday. This May would have marked Frankie’s 96th birthday and is the perfect opportunity for us to unite as a community and commemorate this remarkable man.

Proceeds from the evening will raise money for The Frankie Manning Lindy Hop Legacy Fund. The mission of “The Frankie Fund” is to preserve and promote the rich cultural, choreographic and artistic legacy of Frankie Manning and to encourage the world-wide proliferation and promotion of the music and the dance Frankie loved so much (Swing Music and the Lindy Hop).

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