Bit of a blog...
This page was last modified on 04 January 2012
The blog is changing so from now on...
CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST UP-TO-DATE SOCIAL NEWS AND USEFUL LINKS FROM NOTTINGHAM LINDY HOP
!!!NEW!!! Level 1 - Learn to Lindy Hop class starting up in Sneinton
Following the amazing success of the 4 week Intro to Lindy Hop taster sessions, Barry and I have committed to running a Level 1 (beginners) ongoing class, same venue, same time starting back up on Sunday 23rd May 2010. The very popular practice session will also start back up on the same day and will follow the level 1 class as before.
At Sneinton Old School Hall (by Green's Windmill), Windmill Lane, NG2 4QB
Doors open 5.15pm, Class starts at 5.30pm,
Practice Session for all lindy hop dancers from 6.30pm to 8.30pm
See you there!!!
24/4: The last Benny Lee session at the Malt Cross !?!?
Apparently this was the last chance for seeing Benny Lee and The Whistle Stop Five at the Malt Cross as the venue's struggling to support live music - BIG, BIG shame - we dancers had a ball! Really good to see some of the new Sneinton Lindy Hoppers out and confident to strutt their stuff with the rest of us. Fingers crossed MC change their mind or another venue takes this band to their hearts.
INTRODUCTION TO LINDY HOP CLASSES IN SNEINTON
Starting on Sunday 11 April 2010 for 4 weeks for complete beginners
At Sneinton Old School Hall (by Green's Windmill), Windmill Lane, NG2 4QB
Doors open 5.15pm, Class Starts at 5.30pm,
Practice Session for all lindy hop dancers from 6.30pm to 8.30pm
£3 introductory rate per class (£2 for practice session only)
Come and join us!!!
20/3: A crazy crowded dance floor but still good fun with a great band
Benny Lee and The Whistle Stop Five were back at the Malt Cross on Saturday night. Goodness me it was a busy night with a great mix of fun Nottingham folk out for a great night, some ballroom jivers and a large bunch of Nottingham's Lindy Hoppers somehow managing to squeeze our dancing on to the floor. Very good floorcraft practice for our Leads ;-)
They're back on 24th April 2010
7/3: Another great swing night for NSDS.
Nottingham Swing Dance Society host the Henley Farrell's 'Easy Does It' Swing Band back at the Festival Inn Trowell for another swinging night with the amazing vocal talents of Craig and Tashaka Baumber
I'm hooked. Following a fabulous workshop with the amazing Ms Davis,down in London Town I thought I'd have a look at her site and it's teriffic. Lots of pics and clips but the best bit is her blog. Not a diary this one, oh no, but full of articles about great figures and events from Swing history and today with more pics and clips and some great hints and tips for your dancing too. Well worth a look see.
20/2: Benny Lee and The Whistle Stop Five @ The Malt Cross
Probably our best night there so far, and that's saying something; we even had a jam circle going towards the end of the night. They're back on 20 March and I, for one, can't wait!
12-15 Feb: GNSH - What a camp! I'm exhausted :-)
With 11 dancers from Nottingham and 7 or more from Sheffield at the camp this year, we all had a fabulous time. Classes were excellent and I didn't leave the social dance on Sunday night till 5.30am. Goodness my legs ache, but well worth it!
3/2: Dancers taking part in Race for Life 
30/1: Lindy Hop on TV dance shows
Well it wasn't the best executed routine of all time but Ryan and Jenny did choreograph an interesting 'Mad Scientist' Lindy Hop routine for two of the dancers on the BBC's So You Think You Can Dance show this weekend. Suppose it highlights just how tricky the Lindy is to learn and how much technique is needed to really pull it off. Still it was great to see Lindy danced as part of a 'modern' scene rather than always in an historical setting. Could have done with livelier music though in my opinion.
ALSO - Sky 1's show 'Got to Dance' have a group called Eclipse intending to bring "old school Lindy Hop glamour" to their number for the last of the three semi-finals next Sunday 7th Feb at 6pm so might be worth a look see (for those of you who love tap - there was a great lad on there this week you might want to check out if you missed it).
02/01: So You Think You Can Dance - The hit dance show from America finally comes to the UK - Look forward to watching some amazing dancing. (They feature Lindy Hop in the USA and Australia versions - wonder if they will do here?)
16/12: Lindy Hop stars in the Finals of BBC's Strictly Come Dancing! 
11/12: Diary Listing refreshed for December events and into 2010
Good things happening in Nottingham (see diary for more info):
SATURDAY NIGHTS (Oct 09):
Saturday nights in Nottingham are looking up for dancers:
BALBOA WORKSHOP (10 Oct 09):
Another Dan Guest Balboa workshop, another great day. Hosted by the Leicester LindyHop team at Saffron Lane WMC, Leicester. There was a truly international attendance with one lead coming all the way from Lille, France, another couple up from Wales and many others from all round the UK joining local dancers to focus on the wonderful dance that is Balboa. It was a really informative day and great fun and it was so wonderful to dance so many Bal dances in amongst the usual Lindy antics. Many thanks go to Ian and his team in Leics and of course to Dan and Gemma for the great tuition and enthusiasm for the dance.
CAMP NEWS (May 09): FRANKIE95 - An amazing celebration of an inspirational man
For those of us who headed over to New York 2 weeks ago we had some idea that this was going to be a once in a life time event, however nothing can really prepare you for around 1800+ dancers all hitting the dance floor at the same time accompanied by some of the top swing bands around and most dancing through till 4 in the morning (every morning for 5 days!). Everything was so special from the memorial service and parade through the streets of New York leading to an afternoon of dancing in Central Park with probably the worlds largest Shim Sham and Jack and Jill. There were classes (for those whose feet, unlike mine, weren't cut to ribbons and swollen to the size of our heads!), shows and performances (including a live performance of 'hellzapoppin' - A-MA-ZING!!!!), wonderful talks and presentations to attend on the history and future of our much loved dance and of course plently of manhatten just out there to be explored. I'm still buzzing (and I can see my ankle bones again too) - marvellous!
And if you want to see some amazing clips, get yourself off to
YouTube and search for clips under
Frankie95.
SAD NEWS: Frankie Manning has died peacefully in his sleep, aged 94.
Frankie Manning: May 26, 1914 - April 27, 2009
It is with great regret that we inform you that legendary lindy hopper and inspiration to tens of thousands of dancers around the world Mr. Frankie Manning passed away earlier this week. Frankie has inspired literally thousands of people to swing dance and this is an extremely sad week saying good bye to our leader and the man who has inspired us in so many ways. Thanks for everything Frankie and we promise to be true to the dance, the wonderful dance that you gave us. Rest in Peace.
NEW PICS (7/3): GNSH 2009 and some new misc pics have now been added.
ON THE TELLY: Check out the BBC's i-player for a great documentary on The Andrews Sisters, the original girl group from the 30's and 40's. I also know that 'Buck Privates' (Abott and Costello film also staring the Andrews Sisters with some good Lindy bits) was on BBC 4 on Friday night (6/3) which may well do the rounds again so keep your eye out for that too.
GNSH 2009 - A fabulous success. It was really great to see so many dancers from Nottingham and Sheffield down in Hertford this weekend. I know I had an amazing time and I'm sure the others did too. Great classes and really fun socials, very friendly and full of energy and I didn't leave the dancing till nearly 6am on Sunday, it was all too good to leave. Photos will be added to the site soon so keep an eye out. If you've any you want me to post on the site for you then just let me know.
UPDATE (12/2): Photos have finally been added to the site so take a look and see if you're on them.
IN THE NEWS: Dave and Shauna of the Leicester Lindy Hop Club are famous!!
Shauna (ably supported by Dave of course) is featured in the December 2008 edition of EASY LIVING MAGAZINE (pg 52). Click
here to see a black and white scanned version of the article.
Frankie Manning's Birthday Festival
go to www.frankie95.com and find out more - a once in a generation, not to be missed event.
New York City, USA - 21st to 25th May
Live jazz in Nottingham at the following venues...
The Lion Inn, New Basford (Shipstone Street Tram Stop) - Sunday lunch time jazz every week
Shaws Restaurant, Broad Street, Nottingham - Jazz every Friday eve
Skin Bar, Nottingham - Jazz nights on the 2nd Tuesday and last Sunday of every month alternating between The Decent Chaps and Mood Indigo
The Bell Inn, 18 Angel Row, Old Market Square, Nottingham - Mood Indigo on the last Saturday in the month (9.30 till midnight)
Joseph and Trisha workshop a resounding success
Joseph and Trisha, the fabulous international dance teachers, were back in Nottingham for a day of workshop classes for all levels of dancer followed by an evening dance with the Henley Farrell Easy Does It 10pc Swing Band on Sunday 7th December. It was a fabulous, if exhausting, day of classes followed by a quick re-fuel from the hot buffet and on to a great night of social dancing with this great Nottingham band and their truly wonderful singers. Thanks go to Joseph,Trisha and Charlotte for their great classes and for bringing their new performance group up from Hertfordshire to dazzle us with their slick show numbers - inspirational stuff and very entertaining.
Fond farewells to Colin and Nimfa
Two of our friends, fabulous swing dancers from the Leicester Swing Dance Society have said cheerio to these shores and we're very sad to see them go (and a little bit jealous too!). Thanks for a great party guys! We wish you all the best in Barcelona, keep dancing and maybe we'll see you out there for one of the great festivals they have at there soon. You'll be missed!
LindyShock 2008, Budapest11 dancers from Nottingham headed out to Hungary in November 2007 for the first ever international dance camp to be held in Budapest. It was an amazing experience for all, whether they were Intermediate, Inter-Advanced or Advanced dancers, the classes with Hasse & Marie (SWE), Joseph & Trisha(UK), Skye & Frida (USA / SWE), Vincenzo & Isabele (I), Janos & Ivett (HUN) were truly inspirational. How we all survived, with 3 classes a day starting from 10am and social dances with live music happening every night and lasting till 3 or 4am, we'll never know... But we did and we loved it! Another bunch of dancers are heading out again this year and we look forward to hearing all about it...