In this issue
Welcome
It is our pleasure to once again bring you monthly news and updates about HSDS and the local swing scene. Read about upcoming HSDS projects, classes, workshops, and dances. We'll spice it up a bit each month with tips from our teachers, music recommendations, and reviews from the latest big event. Look for special discounts for HSDS events, too. We look forward to giving you the swing dance information you want and hope that you enjoy it!
Upcoming Dances
Third Coast Swing will play at Fame Nightclub (4704 Montrose) on Wednesday nights 9-midnight. This is your rare opportunity to dance to a live swing band in Houston. Don't miss it! This gig is on a trial basis (through July 18th), so come out and support live swing music!! $5 cover.
HSDS's 5th Sunday dance is July 29th, at the Melody Club! Movie and Popcorn night. Come out to watch some of our favorite lindy hop movie clips including Hellzapoppin, A Day at the Races, and more! We'll start the movies at 7pm. Dance will start at 8:00pm. Free!
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Join PotatoChips to post and receive periodic email announcements about swing dance events.
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Go to Houston Swing Out to join discussions regarding dances, etiquette, overcoming shyness, or getting a group together for movie night. It's all there.
Music Corner
Have you ever heard a song in class or during the dance and say to yourself, "Who's that song by?" Now that you've been bitten by the dancing bug, you want some tunes to dance to, right? Here are ten songs to get you started:
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All HSDS classes are Sundays at The Melody Club, unless otherwise posted. Click here to view our weekly class schedule. We offer lessons for beginner to advanced dancers. No partner necessary! Our weekly Sunday dance is 8:30-10:30pm following the lessons.
The July elective is "So you, West Coast, and I, Lindy Hop? Wanna Dance?" Are you having a little difficulty intermingling the two or are you a veteran? Come and join Jason Esparza, Lindy Hopper extraordinaire, and Chansin Bird West Coast extraordinaire in July for the new elective. These two will show you the ins and outs of melding the two forms. Sundays 5:30-6:30 in the back room at the Melody Club.
The August elective will be the Trankee Doo a jazz line dance. You can find this popular dance performed by hundreds of dancers at the same time at a Lindy Hop event. Sundays 5:30-6:30 in the back room.
HepCats Performance
HSDS's newly re-formed performance/outreach group, The Houston HepCats, will perform Friday, July 20th during the first band break (~8pm) at the Houston Museum of Natural Science as part of the Summer's "Mixers & Elixirs" series. The $15 entry fee includes an IMAX movie (in 3D!), live music by Klockwork, and access to the museum exhibits. Hundreds of people attend each Mixer, including dancers from Houston's many scenes. Music selections range from Jazz, through Blues, into Funk. Farmers Insurance is sponsoring the July 20th event for swing dancers. Call Ryan Strohl (713) 320-1326 for free tickets. This event is 21 and up.
 HSDS will be hosting another fantastic pair of Lindy Hoppers in our Workshop Series. Dancing for 8 years, Dan and Tiff have placed in and won numerous national competitions including a 1st place at the prestigious 2005 Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown, and 1st place at Midwest Lindy Fest. Over the last nine years, they have attended over one hundred camps, workshop weekends and events both in Denver and across the country, in swing dance, as as well as other forms of dance. Dan and Tiff have become synonymous with exciting airsteps, lightning fast dancing, and a flair for pleasing the crowd. They have been a major force in developing the Denver lindy hop scene into a nationally recognized group of competitors, performance teams, and social dancers, providing regular instruction as well as inspiration to local dancers. They pride themselves on keeping a personal relationship with their students, providing clear communication, offering one-on-one help, and constantly improving their teaching methods and ideas.
Saturday, September 15th
JCC Auditorium 1:30-5:30pm
$30 members/$35 non-members
Dance at Second Cup Swing (included with workshop ticket)
This workshop is recommended all level of dancers who have taken at least one month of Lindy 1a.
 The book, Frankie Manning Ambassador of Lindy Hop, chronicles the rich life of Frankie Manning as he in his own words describes just what it was like to be present through the (first) birth of Lindy Hop. You'll feel like you're dancing at the Savoy Ballroom to the big bands of Cab Calloway, Jimmy Lunceford, and Duke Ellington, relive the moments of Frankie working with his partner on the first air step in Lindy Hop and the jaw dropping effect it had on everyone the first time it was performed at the Savoy; jump inside the mind of the choreographer of the famous dance scene Hellzapoppin, and realize how the friendly spirit of swing dance competitions at the Savoy Ballroom and Harvest Moon Balls amplified the enthusiasm and creativity of the dance. If your’re a lindy hopper this is a must read! Don’t forget Frankie will be in Houston at Lindyfest in March and will be autographing copies then. Learn the story of this legend now! Read about what dedicated Lindy Hoppers gave to Frankie on his 93rd birthday.
Houston Swing Dance Society is a 501(c)3 non-profit association.
Houston Swing Dance Society is funded in part by grants from the City of Houston through The Houston Arts Alliance.
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