Swingin’ to Spring! (2023)

 

Fredericton Swing Dance is inviting community members, music lovers, and dance aficionados to Swingin’ to Spring 2023, our 7th annual swing dance event! It includes 2 days of of dancing, starting with a DJ’d swing social (Friday), live music by the The Alex Bailey Swing Band (Saturday) as well as workshop swing dance classes Saturday afternoon.

A beginner swing dance lesson is also included 7:00pm Friday and 7:00pm Saturday in the price of admission (no partner or previous experience required)! There will also be Mix & Match preliminaries Saturday afternoon and the finals 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.

Schedule: Friday May 12th

7pm-10pm Dance at the Centre communautaire Sainte-Anne – Richard Hatfield room (715 Priestman St)
7:00pm – Beginner lesson
8:00pm-10:00pm – Dancing with our Guest DJs!

Schedule (afternoon): Saturday May 13th

Workshops at the Fredericton Convention Centre (670 Queen St)
Note: You should be comfortable with the basic 6 count and 8 count step footwork for these classes!

12:00pm – 12:30pm: Registration and sign-in!
12:30pm – 1:30pm: Shufflin’ and Rollin’!
1:30pm – 1:45pm: 15 minute break
1:45pm – 2:45pm: Swing, Brother, Swing!
2:45pm-3:00pm: 15 minute break
3:00pm-4:00pm: Rhythm Sundae!     

 
Schedule (evening): Saturday May 13th
 

7pm-11pm Dance at the Fredericton Convention Centre (670 Queen St)
7:00pm Beginner swing dance lesson
8:00pm Live music and dancing with The Alex Bailey Swing Band!
TBA – Mix & Match finals

Workshop instructors:

We are super excited to announce our instructors for the weekend: Gabrielle Macklin & Priyanka Varkey!!

Gabrielle

Who would have thought running by the university swing dance office every day between classes would have started a decade long passion? For Gaby, that’s exactly what happened. One semester she started dancing with the University of Manitoba Swing Dance Club, and she’s never stopped. Transitioning from thirteen years of musical theatre to swing dancing was easy for Gaby, as for her, the joy and energy of Lindy Hop is the same joy and energy needed to put on a fantastic show – which is the same style she brings to her teaching. After having opportunities to dance her way across Canada, the US and the UK, Gaby has a singular goal when she teaches Lindy Hop – for people to walk away having a great time dancing with each other!

Priyanka has loved dance as long as she can remember and in her own words, “It doesn’t take much to get me moving”. She has danced all over Canada, the United States and Europe. She describes Lindy Hop as her first love but her influences go beyond to include Salsa, West Coast, Tango as well as Blues, all of which she enjoys, performs and competes in. Her varied understanding of different music and dance styles has influenced her Lindy Hop greatly and she channels these experiences into own personal expression of the dance. She has been teaching since 2014 with the philosophy of spreading the joy that movement brings.

 

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Class descriptions:

Shufflin’ and Rollin’!
Let’s get moving and keep that momentum going

Swing (out), Brother, Swing…
We’re going to explore, break down and build up this fundamental lindy move from the ground up

Get Rhythm in Your Feet
Add that extra swing spice to your dancing with footwork rhythms and musical movements

Note:
All workshops have a prerequisite of having done at least a few of the previous beginner 6 and 8 count classes.

A video from 2016

Billets

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.billets@gmail.com

Prices

Friday dance: $10
Saturday dance: $30
Workshops: $15 each at the door
Weekend pass (includes both Friday and Saturday dances as well as all 3 workshops): $75

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! We will accept cash at the desk 🙂

Facebook

You can find us on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/frederictonswing

As well as a Facebook event for each thing happening this weekend!

Friday night social:
https://www.facebook.com/events/165742443070485/

Saturday afteroon workshops:
https://www.facebook.com/events/546085024309450/

Saturday evening main event:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1634815796996518/

Questions?

Contact us

Fredericton Swing Dance