Swingmonkey

In the 1980s Larry and his wife, Sandra Cameron, hired Al Minns and then Frankie Manning to teach Lindy Hop at their Dance Center in Manhattan. This was the first time ever that a dance studio had hired original dancers (Whitey's Lindy Hoppers) from the Savoy Ballroom to teach lindy hop. It made for an interesting journey...and we have many questions to ask Larry about that journey and about his experience with Al Minns and Frankie Manning in those early years, when--as Frankie always says, "The only count I knew was Count Basie."

Lesson: 8:30pm (Jason Fenton)
Dancing: 9:00pm - 11pm
Cost: $8 (half hour lesson and $5 voucher for drinks or food before 9:00pm)

Varied Swing Lesson + Dancing (Live Band)
7:30pm - 8:30pm: Lesson

* Style: Varies: Usually East Coast, Lindy Hop, or West Coast
* Lesson: 7:30 - 8:30pm

8:30pm - 11:30pm: Dance

* Host: Capital Swing/Dance Flurry
* Cost:$15 General, $12 DFO Members
$10 Students, limited income, retirees 65 and over

YOU have an opportunity to help bring a swing dance program to two high schools in Poughkeepsie--one inner city school and one suburban school.

Hudson Valley Community Dance has submitted a Pepsi Grant proposal and we're gearing up to be among the top ten selected.

Winning the grant is a collective effort because it's based purely on popular vote.

The rules are simple: the proposals that receive the top 10 votes win.

Votes can be cast by the same person every day during the month.

What started in California as a good idea, spread across the country and eventually as far away as Scotland and Singapore to become an international campaign organized by swing dancers to raise money for Haiti. When Linda Freeman, who runs Got2Lindy Dance Studios in the Hudson Valley with her husband, Chester, found out about the effort, she jumped on board immediately.

"It was a chance to do what we love to do, and enable the community here to give to an important cause," she explained.

THE SWING SHIFT RADIO SHOW with Linda and Chester Freeman airs on the 1st and 3rd Monday mornings from 10-11am on WHVW 950AM. The show--run by the husband and wife team of lindy hop dance instructors in the Hudson Valley--is dedicated to classic swing music and chat. If you miss the live show, you can listen to the show via the archives posted on www.got2lindy.com. You can also call in to the show and make requests.

Upcoming special shows and guests include:

Laura's workshop and the BIG APPLE LINDY HOPPERS were so popular when we brought them to the Hudson Valley in December that we've brought them back for more!

This time both the workshop and the dance will be held in the spacious 2000 square foot Reformed Church in Port Ewen so there will be plenty of room for everyone--including all of the BALH troupe members who will be participating in the workshop rotation--enhancing your learning experience!

The Capital District Chapter of USA Dance will host the Swing Docs at their January 17th dance. Dancing is from 7 - 10 PM. Admission is $9 for USA Dance members and $12 for nonmembers. The Ballroom on Sunset is new and features a 60 x 60 floating floor.

The dance will be at the Ballroom on Sunset which is just off Exit 6 of the Northway in Latham, NY. From Exit 6 take Route 2 East. Sunset Drive will be on your left at short distance from Exit 6. You'll go through 2 or 4 traffic lights depending on which way you exited.

IT'S A WORKSHOP!
IT'S A DANCE!
IT'S A PERFORMANCE!
IT'S A WEEKEND EXTRAVANZA!

It's Laura Jeffers and the Big Apple Lindy Hoppers. BALH is a NYC-Based performance troupe started by Frankie Manning and directed since 2001 by Laura Jeffers.

In a unique workshop environment, Laura will teach the workshop while BAHL members are in the rotation learning alongside you. This will give you the opportunity to be in rotation with experienced dancers AND learn from one of the best people for musicality and technique.

It's a workshop!
It's a dance!
It's a performance!
It's a weekend extravaganza!

It's Laura Jeffers and the Big Apple Lindy Hoppers in the Hudson Valley!

BALH is a NYC-Based performance troupe started by Frankie Manning and directed, sicne 2001, by Laura Jeffers, and assisted by Chester Freeman.

In a unique workshop environment, Laura will teach the workshop while BAHL members are learning alongside you as your classmates. This gives you the advantage of dancing with experienced dancers in the rotation AND learning from one of the best people around for technique and musicality.