In this issue
Upcoming Dances NEW DANCE!!! Friday's at Saute ( 2303 Richmond Avenue)! Every Friday $6 or free with your dinner receipt!! Join us 10pm—2am for dancing, great music by talented DJs, delicious food, fair trade teas, and distinctive wines
Second Cup Swing hosts their monthly dance at Taft Street Coffee (2115 Taft) Saturday, December 13th at 8:30pm till Midnight. Only $4! Demitasse Dance every Saturday (except for Taft dance) 9PM @ Té House of Tea (1927 Fairview) FREE!!!
Music Corner Check out the Cab Calloway music corner provided by HSDS DJ Kristina Arscott!
More Dance Info
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HSDS Happenings 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. December's elective is Fast Lindy. You've seen dancers getting around the floor to fast songs but you don't see them huffin' or puffin'. Learn the secrets from Quang this month! Don't miss out at 7:30pm on Sundays.
Lindyfest Registration is open! Lindyfest registration is officially open for business!!! Check out the website lindyfest.hsds.org to catch up on all the awesome things we've got planned for you this year. Dates for 2009 are March 12-15th, 2009.
Lindyfest is an amazing lindy hop weekend workshop jammed packed with classes for all dance levels, soul sessions with living legends, hot performances and four endless nights of dancing. Lindyfest brings in hundreds of dancers from all across the globe to learn lindy hop from the masters and experience the excitement of Lindy Hop, all here in Houston.
Registration price breaks:
$139 early registration until January 6th, 2009
$149 January 7th-February 6th, 2009
$159 February 7th-March 11th, 2009
$170 at the door March 12th-15th, 2009
$109 International rate / Junior rate-18 and under (ID required) Member Profile This month's profile features Mickey Pumphrey. Affectionately known as Mr. Ballroom, you can catch Mickey at almost all the dance events around town.
HSDS: What got you interested in dancing?
MP: A very good friend from high school whom many of you know as Ben "The Shimmy King" Goins dragged me into dancing as he did with many things back in those days.
HSDS: What kinds of dancing do you do?
MP: I performed and competed in Ballroom during college going on to dance and teach it professionally for awhile. As far as social dancing goes, I mainly do Swing/Fusion.
HSDS: What brought you to Lindy Hop?
MP: I enjoy the sense of community in the Swing scene, people tend to be very friendly.
HSDS: How different is Lindy in comparison to Ballroom dancing?
MP: The main difference is with Ballroom you move about, sweeping around the dance floor like you see in those old movies, whereas with Lindy it is more danced in place.
HSDS: Of all the dances you know and have mastered, what's your favorite type of partner dance?
MP: I don't have a favorite, but my personal style is a fusion drawing mainly from West Coast Swing, Smooth Ballroom, and Blues.
HSDS: Does music have anything to do w/ the dancing?
MP: The right song can definitely make the dance. I feel that musicality, including the rhythm, melody, and mood, is essential to the dancing experience. I enjoy dancing Swing to a wide variety of music.
HSDS: Other than dance, what else do you like to do for fun?
MP: I enjoy working on my artwork, going to museums/galleries, watching films, playing lawn games, and sailing.
HSDS: Any additional comments you'd like to add?
MP: I just want to encourage all the beginning dancers out there to keep it up and most importantly have fun. With time and practice you will accomplish your goals for learning how to dance whatever they may be. Oh and feel free to come ask me to dance, I'm more than happy to.
Swing Out of Town In Texas:
Lone Star Championships Austin, TX
Janurary 23-25th, 2009
This is Texas's newest event started by our own Tena Morales along with Don and Scott from Dallas and Austin. This event is for everyone whether you are a beginner or advanced, a seasoned competitor or just starting out, or you just want to dance. At $79 this will be a great chance to dance and make friends with people from all over the country and see some great competitions. If you have not competed and are interested this is a great place to get your start.
Lindy In Old San Antonio
San Antonio
Febraury 13 - 15th, 2009
San Antonio is a growing scene and this is their second annual workshop. This one will have Sylvia Sykes, Nick Williams, Bill Borgida, Lenore Saltz, Matt Jones, Laura Malloy teaching the workshops. This is lining up to be a great event and at $65 (before Jan 19th for HSDS members) this is a good deal.
Hollywood Hotshots
Fort Worth
February 21-22nd
A great workshop with Lindy, Charlston, Balboa, and Aerials. If you are in the Hepcats or interested in performing this is for you.
Out of Texas:
Swing and Soul
Atlanta, GA
December 12-14th 2008 Come party with Steven, Tena, Manu and Peter. 2nd Annual Party promises to be spectacular!
Frankie's 95th Birthday Festival!
New York City
May 21st -May 26th, 2009
As you may know, lindy hop legend Frankie Manning will be turning 95 years old next May! To celebrate we are organizing the biggest and most spectacular birthday for him yet!
From May 21st -May 26th, 2009 (Memorial Day Weekend) lindy hoppers, jazz musicians, tap dancers, friends and supporters from all over the world will descend upon New York City for six days of dancing, live music, workshops, discussions, tours, competitions, performances, and much more. This will undoubtedly be the largest and most significant Lindy gathering of our time and an event you will not want to miss!
More details will be announced over the coming weeks and months at Frankie's 95th Birthday Festival but in the meantime, mark your calendars, start spreading the word, and stay tuned!
DANCE RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL
New Orleans
December 31-Jan 4th, 2009
What a great place to celebrate New Years. You will enjoy an action-packed weekend of FOUR NIGHTS OF DANCING featuring local live music and professional performances. In addition, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, you will be able to attend optional WORKSHOPS taught by world-class teachers.
Houston Hepcats You can catch the performance team out around town.
The Hepcats will be performing at Lights in The Heights this year on December 13th.
This is a free event, come on out and support the team and enjoy some fabulous Christmas spirit! 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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