Ryan and Jenny are two of the world's top Lindy Hop dancers today.
They starred in the Broadway Musical Swing! as well as contributed
most of the choreography. They have appeared at the Tony Awards,
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Rosie O'Donnell Show
and with Wynton Marsalis and The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra.
Ryan is the director, choreographer and founder of the Authentic
Jazz Dance
Company Zoots & Spangles, formed in 1987 and funded
by the
British Arts Council. His extensive list of credits includes
numerous appearances in TV, film and theater,
and tours in several dance
productions in Europe. He danced in Malcolm X and Stomping
at the Savoy. Ryan also choreographed for the movie Swing
Kids and A Man
for All Seasons, a Dudley Moore tribute at Carnegie Hall.
Jenny also has an extensive list of dancing and choreography credits,
including appearances in TV and theater.
She began as a tap dancer at the age of 4 and won the All
England Tap Championships for
3 consecutive years. Stage credits include the London cast
of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Song and Dance as well as other
West End musicals.
Early in their collaboration, Ryan and Jenny formed their own act,
Over The Top which included Lindy Hop, Jazz, Tap and song.
In 1997 they won the Lindy Division of the American Swing
Dance Championships and the U.S. Open.
They can be seem as dancing elves
in The Polar Express, were performers on the huge TV hit Dancing
With The Stars, and Ryan was a featured dancer in the recent
motion picture release Idlewild. With
rave reviews each time they come, don't miss this opportunity to
be awed
and inspired by this incredibly talented couple! To see them
in action, check out these videos:
Lindy Hop Fundamentals
Starting at the beginning. No experience needed,
but also recommended for all levels. Ryan & Jenny have
a distinctive style of basics which will be the foundation
for all of the workshops. (no experience or partner needed)
B
2:00-3:15pm Followers Sold Out
Building on Fundamentals
Going beyond the basics, emphasizing technique and partner
connection. (no partner needed, follows on from A)
C
3:30-4:30pm Followers Sold Out
Leading & Following Spins & Turns
Focus on individual and partner skills for
better spins and turns. (no partner needed, intermediate+ levels, previous experience
required)
D
4:45-5:45pm Followers Sold Out
T'ain't What You Do It's the Way That You Do It!
Styling for leaders and followers. (no partner needed, intermediate+ levels, previous experience
required)
Being a Better Social Dancer
More social Lindy Hop with an
emphasis on lead/follow. (no partner needed, intermediate+ levels, previous
experience required)
F
2:30-3:30pm
'20s Partner Charleston
Before Lindy Hop there was the
Charleston! Learn some original steps which are
still fun to do today. (no partner needed, intermediate+ levels, previous experience
required)
G
3:45-4:45pm
Ryan's Jazz Routine
It will be challenging, it will
be great for working on individual dance skills,
it will focus on rhythm and movement, and it will
be FUN! (non-partner, all levels)
H
5:00-6:15pm
Partner Intensive
For the diehard Lindy Hoppers, this
class is for you! Be inspired and challenged and
prepared to move! This class requires a partner. (partner required, intermediate/advanced to advanced levels, previous experience
required)
Check the full directions for parking information.
Newton, Massachusetts
All Workshops Lower Falls Community Center, 545 Grove Street,
Newton Lower Falls, MA 02462
Exit 22 off Rte. 128/I-95 (one exit south of Mass.
Pike/I-90) onto Grove Street west for about 1/4 mile.
Approximately 1/2 mile from RiversideT stop
on D branch of the Green Line. Click here for full directions and map.
Workshop spaces are limited! This room is smaller than our
previous location at the Cambridge Friends School and there is
a greater
chance that classes will fill. Don't be disappointed! Please pre-register.
Full payment required to hold your spot. Partners not required
except for Workshop H (if you are looking for a partner we
will help match people at the workshops). Same price to watch workshops.
Please note, for these workshops there will be no refunds
after Wednesday, April 9, 2008.
No videotaping permitted. If
pre-registered, please arrive at least 15 minutes before your
first workshop each day to allow time to check-in and warm-up.
If not pre-registered, please arrive 20 minutes early to allow
time to register (space permitting). If you are not able
to pre-register, please still submit an on-line
registration form to help speed your registration on the day.
SHOES & BAGS: Please be sure
to bring clean dry sneakers (smoother soles have less traction and
are better, allowing for easy turning) or soft-soled flat dance
shoes. (Please, no hard soled, or black rubber soled shoes that
leave marks.) Please change shoes on the entrance mat to help prevent
outside wet, salt and grit from getting on the wooden floor. Please
leave all bags and street shoes outside the gymnasium so as to maximize
the dance space.
SNACKS & DRINKS: You may want
to bring snacks for the breaks. Although there are nearby places
to get food, there is nothing close enough if time is short. There
are no vending machines in the building. Juice and bottled water
will be available for purchase.
To get notified about these or future workshops, please ask to
be added to our mailing list.
Class sizes will be limited, please pre-register
to ensure a spot.
The Saturday night Uptown
Swing Dance is held at Brookline
Tai Chi, Brookline, Massachusetts. It is a different location
than the workshops. It is possible to preregister for the dance
(with a discount if doing all the workshops), otherwise you can
pay $15 cash at the door, $10 with student ID.
