Two dances, two beginner lessons, eight workshops!
Fredericton Swing Dance is inviting community members, music lovers, and dance aficionados to Swingin’ to Spring 2025, our 9th annual swing dance event! It includes 2 days of of dancing, starting with live music by the The Thomists Big Band (Friday), followed by live music by the The Alex Bailey Swing Band (Saturday) as well as workshop swing dance classes Saturday and Sunday afternoon!
If it’s your first time or you need a refresher there is a beginner swing dance lesson at 7:00pm Friday before the music starts and again Saturday at 7:00pm (No experience or partner required! We do rotations in the class). The beginner lesson is included in the price of admission for both nights. There will also be Mix & Match preliminaries Saturday afternoon with finals that Saturday evening!
Indoor footwear is required at all events. There will be refreshments at the dances and a cash bar will be available on Saturday – a valid I.D. is required for the cash bar.
7:00pm – 11:00pm: Dance at the Écoles des Bâtisseurs Cafetorium inside Centre communautaire Sainte-Anne (715 Priestman St.)
7:00pm – 8:00pm: Beginner lesson with Fredericton Swing Dance instructors!
8:00pm – 10:00pm – Dancing with The Thomists Big Band!
10:00pm – 11:00pm – DJ’d music!
Friday night dance Facebook event
Workshops at the Student Union Building ballroom on campus (21 Pacey Dr.) with Lunou Poirot and Jonathan Caron
Note: You should be comfortable with the basic 6 count and 8 count step footwork for these classes!
12:15pm – 1:15pm: 60 minute lunch break
1:15pm – 2:15pm: Workshop 3: Doctor Swing Out!
2:30pm – 3:30pm: Workshop 4: Adaptation is the key
Workshop descriptions:
Saturday April 12 (10 am to 4 pm) @ SUB Ballroom
Yummy Feelings (all level) – 10:00 am to 11:00 am
It’s all about the way you connect, take the steps and move your body!
(15 minute break)
Feel Jazzy! (all level) – 11:15 am to 12:15 pm
Solo dancing is so important. Let’s see how it can help you grow and how to apply it to your partner dancing!
Lunch Break: 12:15 pm to 1:15 pm
Doctor Swing Out! (all level) – 1:15 pm to 2:15 pm
Let’s work on your swing outs and make them awesome!
*Prerequisite: knowing how to do a basic swing out
(15 minute break)
Adaptation is the key (intermediate/advanced) – 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Change your bounce, your way of connecting and anything can happen. You must know how to adapt your partner, the floor and the music!
(15 minute break)
Mix & Match preliminaries – 3:45 pm to 4:30 pm
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Notes:
Prerequisites for all workshops: basic 6 count and basic 8 count footwork
- What does all level mean? Whether you’ve been dancing for 10 years or 3 months, you will get something out of this workshop! 🙂
- What does intermediate/advanced mean? We will have two workshops for more experienced dancers, these may be a bit more challenging for newer dancers. If you have a full weekend pass, you’re still welcome to try of course!
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out!
7:00pm – 11:00pm Dance at the Student Union Building ballroom on campus (21 Pacey Dr.)
7:00pm – 8:00pm: Beginner swing dance lesson
8:00pm – 8:40pm: Live music and dancing with The Alex Bailey Swing Band!
8:40pm – 8:50pm: Mix and Match competitor meeting
8:50pm – 9:00pm: Mix and Match competition!
9:00pm – 11:00pm: More live music and dancing with The Alex Bailey Swing Band!
Saturday night dance Facebook event
11:30pm – 2am: Late night blues at the UNB Grad House (676 Windsor St.)
Still looking to dance after Swinging to spring? 
Come unwind and slow it down with some blues dancing at the Grad House on UNB campus! 10$ cover for this special after hours event, paid at the door (cash or card)
Please pay by e-transfer to frederictonswing@gmail.com or by cash Saturday evening during the event if possible!
Saturday late night blues dance (limited spots)
Workshops at the Charlotte Street Art Centre auditorium (732 Charlotte St.) with Lunou Poirot and Jonathan Caron
Note: You should be comfortable with the basic 6 count and 8 count step footwork for these classes!
1:15pm – 2:15pm: 60 minute lunch
2:15pm – 3:15pm: Workshop 7: Fine and Mellow
3:30pm – 4:30pm: Workshop 8: Meet me at the Rock Step!
Workshop descriptions:
Sunday April 13 (11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m) @ CSAC Auditorium
The need for speed (intermediate/advanced) – 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Think a bit outside the box and adapt to fast tempos to survive and enjoy the songs!
(15 minutes break)
Fun with Charleston! (all level) – 12:15 pm to 1:15 pm
Let’s play with some ideas and feel free!
*Prerequisite: basic knowledge of Charleston steps
Lunch break – 1:15 pm to 2:15 pm
Fine and Mellow (all level) – 2:15 pm to 3:15 pm
Take it slow and get comfortable dancing on slow tempos.
(15 minutes break)
Meet me at the Rock Step! (all level) – 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm
Learn how you can trade some steps, incorporate variations and be more musical.
**************************
Notes:
Prerequisites for all workshops: basic 6 count and basic 8 count footwork
- What does all level mean? Whether you’ve been dancing for 10 years or 3 months, you will get something out of this workshop! 🙂
- What does intermediate/advanced mean? We will have two workshops for more experienced dancers, these may be a bit more challenging for newer dancers. If you have a full weekend pass, you’re still welcome to try of course!
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out!
We are super excited to announce our instructors for the weekend: Lunou Poirot & Jonathan Caron!!
Hailing from Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Lunou and Jonathan have been pillars of the Quebec swing dance scene for several years. Through multiple projects in Montreal and Quebec City, teaching, coaching troupes, performing and organizing workshops, they have developed their teaching methods and their own dance signature. They have also been lucky enough to get to teach and DJ in several events, both in Canada and the USA.
Happy parents of two young kids, they want to keep sharing their passion and stay active in the scene to keep transmitting their love for the dance and its community. They’re VERY excited to come back to Fredericton for the second time, almost seven years after their first time teaching in New-Brunswick!
Wondering what Swingin’ to Spring looks like?
If you’re a local dancer able to offer a place, or coming from out of town and looking for a place to stay with friendly local swing dancers, please email: frederictonswing@gmail.com
Friday dance: $30 at the door (e-transfer or cash)
Saturday dance: $30 at the door (e-transfer or cash)
Workshops: $18 per workshop at the door (e-transfer or cash)
Workshop only pass: (early bird – must purchase by April 9th): $120 (paypal, e-transfer or cash)
Full weekend pass (includes dance socials with bands, 8 workshops): $170 regular (early bird – must purchase by April 9 – paypal, e-transfer or cash)
$150 student (early bird – must purchase by April 9 – paypal, e-transfer or cash)
Social Dance pass for Friday and Saturday evenings: $50 (early bird – must purchase by April 9 – paypal, e-transfer or cash)
Early bird pricing is now done!
E-transfer address: frederictonswing@gmail.com
This year there are no physical tickets. “Tickets” can be purchased in class, at the door or on this page through Paypal (Note: The Paypal price includes an extra 4% fee): Paypal is now closed!
Facebook event for each thing happening this weekend!
Friday night with The Thomists:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1178882797247444/
Saturday morning/afternoon workshops:
https://www.facebook.com/events/611568698463505/
Saturday evening main event:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1180372866936854/
Sunday morning/afternoon workshops:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1263823564685556/