Our most recent Melbourne Newsletter - click to read

1. Latest News

a. Club Maxie's - this Friday

This week we are excited to welcome the celebrated Noni Clarke & Evan Hughes to Club Maxie's. Join the class for an opportunity to get a genuinely fresh perspective on your Balboa.This power couple brings a world of experience as dancers, performers, competitors and teachers - whatever your level, you will certainly find a nugget of knowledge to influence your dancing from these two superstars of swing.

And stick around for social dancing when Noni May Clarke takes to the DJ booth. As musician and dancer extraordinaire, Noni is one of Australia's most sought-after DJs, and we got her! Don't miss this special night at Club Maxie's.

WHEN:  Friday 18 May 2012
WHERE: Prahran Club - 258 High Street, Prahran
WHAT: 7:30 - 8:30pm All levels balboa class "Sweet Lollie Kicks" $15 with Evan & Noni
8:30 - 11pm $6 for social dancing
  * remember social dancing is free if you join in the lesson *
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b. Blues night - this Sunday

Huge congratulations to Ruth on DJing a great set for her first time!! Blues dancing is a fun way to learn the language of lead & follow. It can definitely help your general social dancing & also offer creative moves outside the box…

6:30pm Level 2 "Triple steps to match the music" with Evan & Noni
7:30pm Level 1 "Magic momentum" with Evan & Noni
8:30pm Social dancing with the bro-mance DJs Hutch & Jarrod!!
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c. Intro to Lindy Hop at Brunswick
Starts in Level 2 next week (May 21)

That's right! Starting in Level 2 (7:30pm) next week we'll be learning 8-Beat Lindy Hop. 8 Beat Lindy is the main dance you'll see on the social dance floor and we want you to get involved. We'll be covering this rhythm from scratch so it's perfect for total beginners, or follows who want to learn to lead or leads who want to learn to follow.


2. SP Events

a. The Shiny Stockings Ball Weekend: Remembering a Legend

Saturday May 26 - Sunday May 27
Thornbury Theatre & YDance, Thornbury
Please join us to celebrate the birthday of Frankie Manning and pay tribute to this remarkable man and ambassador of lindy hop.
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Thoughts and memories of Frankie...

One would imagine that in a dance that's been alive as long as Lindy, with the amount of stars it's seen over the years, it would be hard for anyone to stand out as a role model above all else. For Frankie it wasn't hard at all. Frankie taught us to put our partner first, that respect and humility are more important than flash and style, and to get out there and just keep on swingin' "Jim"!
-Shane McCarthy, Perth, WA
 


Frankie's passion for air steps has had a huge influence in my swing dancing. Footage of Frankie and Hellzapoppin introduced me to fast dancing in 2004, and aerials is a particular love of mine, and something I continue to work on and share with the community. A quote I was told that came originally from Frankie also stays with me constantly, which is: 'Swing dancing is not ours to own, it's ours to share". Let's continue to share this dance with as much of the world as possible!
-Cathy Gough, Canberra, ACT
 
I was fortunate enough to be inspired by Frankie Manning early on in my dancing. I happened upon a Pasadena Ballrom Dance Association event in 2006 (which I don't even remember the name of) where Erin Stevens was teaching with the one and only Frankie Manning! Granted, I was so young in my dance life that I didn't fully understand how very cool that was. I had recently been blown away by Hellzapoppin'...and then being told that this was
* the* guy who innovated the air step and rocked that clip so hard sent chills down my spine and into my feet in the form of triple steps then back up out my neck in pecks! Frankie brought the past to life.  I am a life time lover of antiques and tradition, and Frankie was a like antique man. A unique, creative character that you would never trade in for a flat pack copy. The world lost a living legend when Frankie had to go...but he joyfully left a legacy that keeps us all preserving the art and class of yesteryear every time we swing out.
-Lexi Keeton, Melbourne, VIC
 


I met Frankie Manning on 3 occasions. I was also lucky enough to spend 45 minutes with him to film an interview for a project I was working on. Frankie captured the Imagination of those in his presence, he carried himself with an aura of confidence that put you at ease right away. When he spoke of dancing and the swing scene as a whole he spoke with such joy that it became infectious and you couldn’t help but to be pulled into whatever story he was telling. People will always be inspired by Frankie’s dancing but it will always be the man, himself, that will continue to inspire me and my dancing.
-Steve Hartshorne, Melbourne, VIC

Unfortunately I never learned from Frankie but did meet him in the bar at the Herrang dance camp in Sweden. Frankie was indignant on my behalf because he felt I wasnt being served properly by the staff! This generosity, concern for others and gallantry is just so Frankie...and a cheeky sense of humour. I attended his memorial in New York City and the spirit and love of that day has stayed with me. Frankie's life and legacy reminds me to always find the joy in music and dancing, stay humble, relish the opportunity to share the dance with others and swing out at blistering tempos with a hoot and a holler and a devil may care attitude!
-Shaz Callaghan, Melbourne, VIC

b. Swing Live!
Fun Pit & North Melbourne



**Red Hot Rhythmakers LIVE @ Fun Pit**
Warm yourself up for the incredible Shiny Stockings weekend with LIVE music at the Fun Pit. We caught RHRM at Hop Off last week and they are SMOKIN'!

Where: Dance Dynamics, 1/493 Church St Richmond
When: Friday 25 May 2012
Cost: Only $15…for a BIG BAND

**Red Hot Rhythmakers LIVE @ North Melbourne**
The next big North Melbourne event we're all looking forward to is on THURSDAY JUNE 7TH. It'll be another great live music night with one of Melbourne's favourite swing bands, The Red Hot Rhythmakers.

And to make it even hotter, SP's top dance troupe Echoes of Harlem will be laying down a set of performances excite and inspire. Put the date in your diary now!!

Where: Czech House, 497 Queensberry St, North Melbourne
When: Thursday, June 7, 2012
Cost: Only $15…for a BIG BAND and a FLOORSHOW?  Talk about awesomeness!!!




3. What's On

a. The Jumpin' Jitta Bugs

Bumping and grinding at The Clayton RSL on Sunday 3rd June @ 4pm.
Dress to impress, come and dance your socks off.
Pass the word around to help make a great event.


4. Links, Legends, Birthdays, Odds & Ends

a. Legends of the week

All our beginner dancers who came to their very first swing ball last weekend. We hope you loved it and had lots of happy dances.

b. Birthdays of the week

A belated but heartfelt HAPPY BIRTHDAY for 11 May to our wonderful SP St Kilda teacher Kathryn Kelly . Kathryn has one of the most radiant smiles you'll ever see on the dancefloor and some of the best moves too. We hope you had a splendid day.

Happy Birthday this week to Sue Frame 15-May, Andy Taylor 16-May, Kevin St. Laurent 17-May, Emily Fitzgerald 18-May, Ralph Webster 21-May, Stephen Pitt 21-May and Doug Silton 22-May. Wishing you much music, magic and dancing.

c. Links of the week

The Love Vintage Fair is on this weekend at the Royal Exhibition Buildings in Melbourne.

www.lovevintage.com.au

And the Stonnington Jazz Festival is on from 17-27 May - Jelly Tub Rollers, Frankie Wants Out, Vince Jones, Tim Davies Big Band, James Morrison and more...

www.stonningtonjazz.com.au

d. Clips of the week

Performances from Meet the Scene Ball

Brat Pack
Harlem Shout
Echoes of Harlem
All-in troupe routine (facebook)
All-in troupe routine (youtube)

e. Quote of the week

“When you are dancing with your partner, for that two and a half minutes, you are in love with each other. You're corresponding with each other by the moves that you make. It's a love affair, between you and your partner and the music. You feel the music, you feel your partner, she feels you and she feels the music. So there the three of you are together. You've got a triangle, you know. Which one do you love best?”
Frankie Manning

f. Photos of the week

Meet the Scene Ball pics...

Holy troupeness Batman (Photo by Keith Hsuan)


The pink ladies of SP Frankston (Photo by Tom Saunders)

SP teacher Gen & Paul of SP Ringwood (Photo by Paul O'Dwyer)


Thank you to everyone who came along to the Meet the Scene Ball,
The whole SP team